How does the 360-degree feedback method address the court's six stress issues depicted in Gerhart and Newman's reading?

Since the Brito case, there has been growing evidence that the courts have very specific standards and requirements for performance appraisal.  The courts stress six issues in setting up a performance appraisal system.

1.  Courts are favorably disposed to appraisal systems that give specific written instructions on how to complete the appraisal. Presumably, more extensive training in other facets of evaluation would also be viewed favorably by the courts.

2.  Organizations tend to be able to support their cases better when the appraisal system incorporates clear criteria for evaluating performance. Performance dimensions and scale levels that are written, objective, and clear tend to be viewed positively by courts in discrimination suits. In part, this probably arises because behaviorally oriented appraisals have more potential to provide workers feedback about developmental needs.

3.  As pointed out by every basic personnel book ever printed—and reinforced by this text—the presence of adequately developed job descriptions provides a rational foundation for personnel decisions. The courts reinforce this by ruling more consistently for defendants (companies) when their appraisal systems are based on sound job descriptions.

4.  Courts also approve of appraisal systems that require supervisors to provide feedback about appraisal results to the employees affected. Absence of secrecy permits employees to identify weaknesses and to challenge undeserved appraisals.

The courts seem to like evaluation systems that incorporate a review of any performance rating by a higher-level supervisor.

5.  Perhaps most importantly, the courts consistently suggest that the key to fair appraisals depends on consistent treatment across raters, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

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The 360degree feedback method addresses the courts six stress issues depicted in Gerhart and Newmans reading in the following ways 1 Specific Written Instructions and Training 360degree feedback Typic... View the full answer