Nowhere to hide for underperforming managers

Citation

(2000), "Nowhere to hide for underperforming managers", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 19 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd.2000.02619cab.003

Nowhere to hide for underperforming managers

Nowhere to hide for underperforming managers

Recently Pilat's Human Resource Consulting arm completed a ground-breaking global project for the Credit Suisse First Boston Group. A virtual Human Resource function promoted executive assessments by the Internet. The target group included all vice presidents, directors and managing directors in the global support operation of the bank - a total of 1,500 managers.

In common with most major organisations the performance of all senior managers in CSFB is assessed each year as part of the performance appraisal process. The results of the appraisal are used to support the determination of bonus payments and career progression.

In many organisations, performance assessments are conducted solely by the individual's manager. Increasingly now there is a migration to more sophisticated approaches using 360 degree feedback where subordinates, peers, other colleagues and sometimes even customers can also provide their view on an individual's performance.

In June 1999, the bank asked Pilat to develop a totally new approach, using the Internet for the collection of assessments for 360 degree feedback. In October, a fully secure, encrypted and password controlled nomination process was operated on the Internet from the Pilat offices and each of the 1,500 participants was able to nominate their chosen feedback providers.

The client's assessment of the process was glowing. In their words:

The results achieved by the Internet based nomination and assessment process exceeded our expectations. The transparency of the process and availability of information on progress meant that all of the participants were confident of the integrity of the process.