Figure 12-2 shows the elements of an effective appraisal system. Appraisal aproaches must identify performance related standards, measure those criteria, and then teedback employees and the if standards or measures are not hob-related, the evaluation can lead to inaccurate biased results, harming the managers' relationship with their employees and violating equal employment opportunity rulings. Without feedback im provement in human behavior is not likely and the department will not have accurate records in its HR information system on which to base decisions rang- job design to compensation. The HR department usually designs and administers the company's perfor mance appraisal system. Centraliation ensures uniformity. Although HR department may develop different approaches for managers. professiona workers, and other groups, uniformity within each group is needed to ensure comparability of results The department itself seldom evaluates actual perfor mance, however, According to one study, the employee's immediate supervi sor performs the evaluation 92 percent of the time because the immediate su pervisor often in the best position to make the appraisal. However, multiple raters-including peers and even subordinates, sometimes called 360-degree evaluations because the person is being evaluated from all directions offer additional perspectives at progressive companies such as General Electric, General Motors, and AT&T At AT&T, for example, 800 high-level executiv have rated their superiors and have been rated in return. As jobs and teams be come more fluid, some companies use electronic mail(E-mail) to track who people interact with and who should be the evaluators Key Elements of Performance Appraisal Systems