"What a Star-What a Jerk"
Assessing employees' achievements and shortcomings-performance evaluation-can be a daunting task for managers and HR professionals. In addition to acknowledging and applauding achievements, performance evaluations force managers and HR professionals to confront employees about problems and issues. This requires a great deal of assertiveness, empathy, and tact, but is ultimately very beneficial to the success of individual employees and organizations as a whole. Conducting performance assessments, communicating their results, and addressing problems as well as acknowledging successes helps employees meet expectations and take responsibility for self-improvement.
In this Discussion, you will examine a case study that involves a performance evaluation and the process of identifying and addressing a problem with an employee. You will assess the actions of the characters in the case study, read expert opinions on those actions, and formulate your own response to the scenario presented in the case study.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Read Chapter 9 in the course text, focusing on how performance appraisals are essential to the success and progress of employees within an organization.
Read Chapter 14 in the course text and consider the methods of handling employee problems of performance and of behavior.
Read the case study "What a Star-What a Jerk" in this week's Resources. Reflect on the information provided in the course text that might relate to this scenario. Consider how you would handle this issue or a similar issue from the standpoint of a manager as well as that of an HR professional.
Post by Day 4 your initial reactions to the case. Then, describe how you, as a manager, would have responded to the situation. Be sure to reference the advice of the four commentators at the end of the article, but formulate your own unique answer. Elaborate on any thoughts you have that may support or refute the commentators' claims. Finally, use the example from the case study as well as other scenarios you have experienced (in a previous job, in a project group for a class, or in another organization) and comment on the difference between problems of performance and problems of behavior.
Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.
By Day 6, respond to at least one of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question.
Expand on the colleague's posting with additional insight and resources.
Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.
In addition, you may also respond as follows:
Offer and support an opinion.
Validate an idea with your own experience.
Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your colleagues' comments. You are not required to post these final insights.
Required Resources
Readings
Course Text: Human Resource Management in Health Care: Principles and Practice
Chapter 7, "Employee Training"
Chapter 9, "Performance Appraisals"
Chapter 14, "Managers and Employee Problems"
Chapter 16, "Documentation"
Chapter 17, "Terminating Employees"