Question

What are strengths and weaknesses of meritocracy

Answer 1

Pros:

1. Meritocracy is probably the best system of people management around. It allows you to align the organization's goals with the workers' individual goals, a much more interesting tool kit then promoting people, for instance, based on time on the job.

2. It tends to make the most talented people happier than in other systems, and thus retain them around and eventually spill the untalented out.

Cons:

1. Meritocracy always has a subjective component, which age or time on the job, for instance, has not. This component may at times stir up the organization.

2. Meritocracy may create a too competitive culture, undermine camaraderie, and therefore has to be a controlled environment with rules in order to work. It is also very time consuming for management.

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is : A meritocracy is a society in which power is granted according to merit. The positive aspect is that in theory you would have the most appropriate person in all aspects for a particular position. But the negative aspects would be: Who decides who is the best person to grant that power? It could be a particular person or it could be by democratically voting, although democracy is not always fair. Therefore, meritocracy is not necessarily fair, but it turns out to be a good alternative, better than many others.