Final answer:
A 360-degree feedback appraisal is a process where an employee's performance is evaluated by various raters including supervisors, peers, subordinates, and customers. The system aims to provide a complete picture and foster growth but has been criticized for potential unreliability in ratings. Despite this, it remains a tool for performance assessment and professional development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to a 360-degree feedback appraisal, a process in which an employee's performance is evaluated by a variety of raters. This can include supervisors, peers, subordinates, and sometimes even customers, in addition to the employee's self-assessment. The intention behind this appraisal system is to provide a comprehensive view of the employee's performance, offering multiple perspectives that can be used for development and improvement.
Despite some studies, like Atkins and Wood (2002), indicating that the ratings provided in a 360-degree feedback appraisal can be unreliable and might not be directly correlated to an employee's actual performance, they nonetheless offer opportunities for growth. Tornow (1993) sees the discrepancy between self, peer, and supervisor evaluations as an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogues that can lead to better understanding and professional development.
Performance appraisals, including the 360-degree feedback system, are utilized not only for assessing job performance but also for identifying training needs, understanding the effectiveness of previous training, and making decisions related to an employee's position and compensation within the organization.
The complete question is: A process in which multiple raters evaluate an employee's performance on a number of exercises. Expantiate!