TIPS FOR SUCCESS [Team Performance Appraisals]
Performance evaluation concepts have been developed almost exclusively with individual employees in mind. This reflects the historic belief that individuals are the core building block on which organizations are built. But as we’ve witnessed, more contemporary organizations are restructuring themselves around teams. How should organizations using teams evaluate performance? Four suggestions have been offered for designing an effective system that supports and improves team performance.
1. Tie team results to organization goals. It’s important to find measures that apply to important goals the team should accomplish.
2. Begin with the team’s customers and its work process to satisfy customers’ needs. The final product the customer receives can be evaluated in terms of the customers requirements. Transactions between teams can be evaluated based on delivery and quality. And the process steps can be evaluated based on waste and cycle time.
3. Measure both team and individual performance. Define the roles of each team member in terms of accomplishments that support the team’s work process. Then assess each member’s contributions and the team’s overall performance.
4. Train the team to create its own measures. Having the team define its objectives and those of each member ensures everyone understands their role on the team and helps the team develop into a more cohesive unit.
Things to think about: What concerns would you have about being part of a team evaluation? Should individual performance be measured too?