What is a multisource assessment system and what are the sources typically used? What are the strengths and limitations of each rating source?
What will be an ideal response?
Multisource assessments involve an employee's supervisor as well as other people familiar with the employee's job performance. These raters typically include the employee, his or her subordinates, peers, and even the company's internal and external customers.
Self-assessments: These self-evaluations allow employees to provide performance documentation that their supervisors don't have and convey their developmental goals and desired career tracks to the firm. The problem is that employees' level of accuracy concerning their own performance is potentially less than accurate. .
Peers: Peers tend to get a good look at each other's task and interpersonal behaviors, especially when work is done in teams. For peer ratings to work well, employees must believe the process is fair.
Subordinates: This group has a unique and important perspective on their managers' behaviors, strengths, and limitations. One shortcoming of subordinate feedback is that subordinates are often reluctant or even afraid to give their supervisors negative feedback. Rater trust and anonymity are critical.
Internal and external customers: Both of these groups have a moderate opportunity to observe employees' task and interpersonal behaviors. Incorporating customer feedback into the rewards process expands the range of stakeholders employees will seek to please. Because external customers do not see or understand the work processes and rules that influence employees' task behaviors, they often cannot easily separate an employee's task behaviors from the regulations, policies, and resources that affect and constrain the employee's options.
Supervisors: Most firms require a supervisor's manager to ensure that he or she has been diligent in conducting an employee's performance assessment as well as confirm the results of it. Promotion and transfer decisions are usually based on supervisors' ratings.