Exercise 6-1 Choosing a Performance Appraisal Form Vendor The goal of this exercise is to critically review the performance appraisal forms offered by various vendors. Steps: 1. Conduct a Google search for performance appraisal vendors and identify five that you will use for this exercise. Useful websites include, for example, those maintained by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM),a HR-Guide,b and Capterrac. 2. Evaluate the performance appraisal forms that the vendors provide. Examine if the forms contain the following components: (Hint: Section 6-1 Useful Components of Appraisal Forms provides greater detail about each of these components.) Basic employee information Accountabilities, objectives, and standards Competencies and behavioral indicators Major achievements and contributions Developmental achievements Developmental needs, plans, and goals Performance touchpoints Employee comments Signatures 3. Second, assign a score from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to each form on each of the features listed below, and note the reasons for the score you assign. Total the score for each form. (Hint: Section 6-2 Desirable Features of Appraisal Forms provides greater detail about each of these features.) Simplicity Relevancy Descriptiveness Adaptability Comprehensiveness Definitional clarity Communication Time orientation 4. Next, review how the form computes the overall performance score. (Hint: Section 6-3 Determining Overall Rating clarifies and provides examples of these strategies.) Does it use a judgmental or mechanical strategy? Does it include space for Comments or Feedback? 5. Examine the vendors website to determine what other performance management software/applications/solutions they offer. These may include, for example: Skills-matrices and competency worksheets App-based software that allows for real-time performance measurement entry Observation checklists Employee evaluation dashboards Rater training programs 6. Based on your critical assessment, identify the top two appraisal forms and the top two performance appraisal vendors (Note: The top two forms may or may not come from the top two vendors). For the forms, remember to take into account all three aspects listed in Step 2 (i.e., components, total score for features, and overall score computing method). For the vendors, consider issues such as customizability, ease-of-use and implementation, and cost. 7. Prepare a brief report, including a 10-minute presentation describing the best vendors and forms you found. a. Make sure to highlight why you chose the particular forms/vendors. b. Note at least two improvements that could be made to each of the top-two forms.