Wal-Mart Social Corporate Responsibility

Executive Summary

In this report the importance performance appraisals are seen as a way for organizations to measure how well their employees are doing their current position. For a sales representative the traits method is used to measure the performance of an employee at Fossil. In specific, the graphic rating scale is created in accordance to the job description of a customer service representative to rate how well the employees in their positions. The graphic scale measures the three most important areas that Fossil uses to measure the success of their employees. People, place and product are the areas that are focused on in the appraisal and to see how they are doing on scale of 1 being outstanding and 5 being unsatisfactory. The appraisal is not only performed by the manager, but also by the employee himself or herself allowing him/herself to become aware of his/her weaknesses before and therefore bring them up at the meeting, and ask for advice from the manager on how to improve in the coming days. The appraisal form includes a section where the employees are able to evaluate themselves before the initial meeting with the manager, and post any comments and concerns so that when the manager and the employee get together to work on a plan to improve in areas that need to be improved.

Performance appraisals are taken more seriously when done by the manager compared to others in the company. Because managers have a better vision and know the core values besides the CEO’s and VP’s of a company, and the authority they hold within the work place allows them to be taken seriously by employees.

Performance appraisals are important part of performance management systems, and are used on an annual or bi annual basis by managers of the organizations to evaluate an employee’s performance relative to the requirements of his/her job. The results obtained in the performance appraisals are then used to show the employee where improvements are need and why. Performance appraisals are a tool that organizations use to maintain and enhance their productivity and meet their goals. Studies have shown that companies with strong performance management systems can outperform their competitors 40-50% in the areas of growth, productivity, profitability, and market value of a company. Some feedback is better than no feedback, and even negative feedback ensures employees that they do matter and are cared for.

For a sales representative I decided to do the graphic rating scale in the traits method in order to see how employees are doing in the position they are hired for because the traits method is designed to measure the extent to which an employee posses certain characteristics. This form of appraisal greatly fits into the role of a sales representative and in order for an individual to be successful in a sales role, they need to posses