Overlooking overkill

Kaiser, R.B. & Kaplan, R.E. (2004, April). Overlooking overkill: On the folly of linear rating scales for a non-linear world. In S.B. Craig (Chair) 360, the Next Generation: Innovations in Multisource Performance Assessment. Symposium presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Chicago, IL.

We all know that one way managers get themselves into trouble is by going overboard—when taking charge becomes micromanagement, when delegation becomes abdication, or when aggressive growth becomes overreach, or attention to detail becomes maddening perfectionism. The list goes on. But the rating scales commonly used to assess managers don’t reflect this simple fact. This paper illustrates the extent of this oversight and its implications for management development. We also describe a solution for capturing both deficiency and excess—as well as optimal performance. We also present data from our program of research attesting to the several benefits of this breakthrough in measurement technology.

Download paper: OverlookingOverkill(KaiserKaplan2004).pdf

Filed under: Conference Presentations

→