Assignment : Player Positioning Exercise

Introduction

Player placement is a critical piece of the talent management picture. Consider these challenges, which can result from inappropriate placement of your employees:

Ø Taking an A player and placing them in a B position can result in frustration and demotivation. Eventually, the underutilized player will probably leave the organization.

Ø Taking a B player and placing them in an A position can result in lost opportunities for the organization. Here too, the frustrated player may well leave the organization.

Becker believes that effective talent management requires you to identify key positions and then fill those positions with your top players who are well matched to those roles. Some will be hired externally; others will be promoted internally.

When assessing existing employees, how can you decide which people to promote and where to place them? 

In this exercise, we use the Player Positioning Matrix shown here as a tool to support your talent assessment. Look carefully at the four quadrants in the matrix, based on different combinations of talent and placement.

Instructions

Use the Player Positioning Matrix above as a framework to assess your direct reports in your current workplace. If you have no direct reports, use a group of individuals with whom you are familiar. Create a Player Positioning Chart like the one below, with a row for each employee.

• Include 4 to 6 employees in your chart

• Use first names only and change the names if you wish

• For each individual, create a row in the chart

Your task is to decide which quadrant each person is in and to indicate the Type that you chose in the Positioning column. In the Rationale column, write a brief assessment of each employee's performance, explaining why you positioned him or her in the selected quadrant. Also include proposed managerial action, with a rationale of your next steps in managing the individual.

Record your findings using the Player Positioning Chart format shown in the example below, which is provided to guide you in this exercise.

This exercise is designed to give you practical experience in using the Player Positioning Matrix to assess, differentiate, and position your
employees. Be sure to include citations with your work.