The Dreaded Bell Curve: Performance Appraisals and Mediocrity #16

Szilvia Olah's LinkedIn article critiques the bell curve performance review system, arguing that it rewards mediocrity and is often used by companies like Microsoft and Amazon to cut costs. Szilvia uses a real-life example of a high-performing team whose ratings skewed the bell curve, demonstrating that the system doesn't accurately reflect team or individual performance. Commenters largely agree, sharing anecdotes about ineffective appraisal processes and supporting the idea that strong leadership produces high-performing teams, contradicting the bell curve's assumptions. The linked articles provide further evidence of cost-cutting motivations behind the use of bell curves in performance reviews at major corporations. Overall, the article and comments advocate for abandoning the bell curve in favour of more accurate performance evaluation methods.

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