In the forced distribution method, the rater is required to assign individuals in the work group to a limited number of categories similar to a normal frequency distribution. As an example, employees in the top 10 percent are placed in the highest group, the next 20 percent in the next group, the next 40 percent in the middle group, the next 20 percent in the second-to-lowest group, and the remain ing 10 percent in the lowest category. This approach is based on the questionable assumption that all groups of employees will have the same distribution of excellent, average, and poor performers. In short, this method makes no sense unless employees have been selected randomly. If a department has done an outstanding job in selecting people with the result that 20 percent should be rated in the top the 10 percent left out will probably become unhappy at best and for greener pastures at worst.