Performance Management: Putting Research into Action

Concluding Comments

The purpose of this chapter has not been to argue definitively for or against using forced ranking. Instead, by describing challenges and opportunities, the goal has been to help interested parties understand the forced ranking debate before settling on a course of action for their own organizations. Clearly, there are many successful companies using the process and also many successful companies that do not. There remains much more to learn. We know little, for instance, about how cultural differences influence the effectiveness of forced ranking. Given the global nature of today’s economy, practitioners and researchers would benefit from a deeper appreciation for how the process aligns with cultural values and legal frameworks ...