Ben says,
>1. Inequality in ability is a natural state of existence? True or false?
>
>2. An employees value is, to a large extent, determined by their
>performance? True or false?
>
>3. Not all employee are equally valuable to their employer? True or false?
>
>4. Each person is ultimately responsible for their own competency and
>their own learning? True or false?
To each of these questions, I would answer "Yes, but..." or "That
depends..." It really is not as clear -- to me -- as it is to Ben.
However, despite there being a lot of complexity and a lot of ambiguity
around all of these issues, rating, ranking, and evaluation are all part
of a manager's tool kit for doing the job.
So, for example, to the question is inequality of ability a natural state,
I answer, yes, but it applies to me, the manager as well as everyone else.
So I may be an average manager, a superb analyst, and an incompetent
welder. Someone else can't spell manager, is an intuitive but powerful
analyst, and a master welder. Are we unequal? Yes, but not in a
master-servant sense, which you seem to imply.
On the second question, the employee's value is also in part determined by
the environment and the management. Scott Simmerman's example of the
baseball player is a good one, but I have had people who were miserable
performers in my organizaiton and were highly regarded in another. Go
fathom. All I know is my style does not fit every person, and the work I
need done is not appropriate for everyone.
3. Not all employees are equally valuable to the employer, but if they
need a welder, and you are only a manager, then you better watch out...
4. Each person is responsible for their own competency, but their manager
is also responsible for their competency. Managers cannot get off the
hook by assigning responsibility to the individual, and then letting go.
It is not that simple. The manager owns the accountability for employee
growth as well.
In every case, "true - false" is a false dichotomy.
Rol Fessenden
--Rol Fessenden <76234.3636@compuserve.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>