Chapter 8 - Do You Think the San Diego Zoo's Old Appraisal System Needed to Be Changed?

Chapter 8

Case 1:

1. Do you think the San Diego Zoo's old appraisal system needed to be changed?

I think it needed to be changed because before they weren't taking it seriously and it was a low priority to them. Now with the new system the employees will get raises depending on their performance which in turn will increase company performance.

2. What do you think are the pros and cons of using a Web-based appraisal system?

The pros of using a web-based appraisal system is that it is convenient because a large group of people can be rated in less time and it will control personal bias. The cons of using a web-based appraisal system is that it gives too little attention to the overall performance of workers and in person interviews are more effective in rewarding or pointing out deficiencies in workers.

3. How do you the new appraisal system will affect employees and the types of employees who work at the zoo?

The new appraisal system will affect employees positively for those employees that are looking to grow with the company and be a part of the growth. When an employee is given targets and goals to reach, then they know what they are working towards and they are aware that if they reach the targets and goals there is a gain for them at the end. With this set, you will get employees that are willing to do the work and the time to get a job done right.

Case 2:

1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of a balanced scorecard approach to performance appraisal?

The first strength of the BSC approach is a focus on the company's strategic direction. A BSC approach helps management communicate the company's mission by linking performance measures to its mission and strategy. The balance scoreboard not only gives you a better idea of your workforce, but also creates better customer service for the customers involved. The balanced scorecard makes the CEO's of these companies make sure that their businesses are running accurately and if it is not, it will reflect in their pay. Thus, a good balanced scorecard identifies many cause-and-effect relationships within the business and helps employees and managers appreciate the roles of employee and task as well as the importance of each result to the overall corporate effort. The balanced scorecard method is a form of checks and balances for a company to ensure that the needs of all four shareholders are met.

Although there are many strengths to the balanced scorecard method, there are a few weaknesses. First, the balanced scorecard method might be too broad to truly judge performance. I believe that if a company deliberately