It is important to point out, however, that there is no necessary association between criterion
variance and criterion relevance. A criterion element as measured may have low variance, but the
implications in terms of a different scale of measurement, such as dollars, may be considerable
(e.g., the dollar cost of industrial accidents). In other words, the utility to the organization of what a
criterion measures may not be reflected in the way that criterion is measured. This highlights the
distinction between operational measures and a conceptual formulation of what is important (i.e.,
has high utility and relevance) to the organization (Cascio & Yalenzi,1978).