Performance Judging? Trial Balloon

[Jim_Woodward at beaerospace.com]

Hi Eric,
It is correct to say that currently, there is negative behavior associated 
with scoring be it retribution or any other name we can call it.  This is 
the darker side of human behavior I recognize that happens, but chose not 
to address in my email below.  This is due to 1 work experience I've had 
in the last 3 years.  In my previous employment, we underwent a tremendous 
institutional change from an "Engineering" to a "Program Management" led 
organization.  In doing this, the company also chose to utilize a 
far-reaching software tool that addressed resourcing across the entire 
organization, individual versus team assignments, scheduling buffers, 
predictability, and MOST of all, used the implementation of  this software 
tool to address negative human behavior in the work place.  The theory was 
that when attempting a to create institutional change, there must be a 
"graceful" opportunity to change (or exit) for those that do or do not 
wish to participate.  This one email alone cannot replace the months of 
"good-feeling" change meetings, 2 years of deployment, etc., that this 
institutional change needed to take root.  Believe it or not, when put in 
the spotlight people want to the right and good thing.  Very few people 
show up to work and say, "... I'm going to screw the company today - 
especially not when I'm in the light."  However, where no spotlight 
exists, other ideas not conducive to the greater good start to creep 
in.........  Anonymity is not always a good thing.

Yes, we can think of all the negative things that could happen when names 
are assigned to judging performance and posted for all to see and discuss 
at appropriate times.  What we know today is that we (read the emails) 
recognize there is a problem with the piloting/judging duality.  The 
performance of the pilot is available for all to see, so should the judges 
performance.  It is no mystery that judging takes place at a contest, so 
lets remove the veil and use the visible round flying, and newly visible 
results to communicate openly about  what we all know just took place  - a 
round of flights took place, and it was judged.  This is the most 
immediate memorable training event than could possibly take place.  For 
instance I'll use myself as an example, I study the other FAI and Masters 
pilots.  I use this observation to tidy up geometry, etc.  It would be 
GREAT for me to be able to get the concur/non-concur from what I think I'm 
seeing, by what the judges have seen.  .  In the long run, by fostering an 
open an communicative forum, I believe will be served better.   Some 
people may behave badly, but chances are they are behaving badly already. 
I'd bet that the far greater people would be better served, than worrying 
about a few that will choose to perform badly in any circumstance.  People 
given the chance to "self-correct" when the light is on, will in the 
majority, do so, when the light it on.

My opinion.  Eric, thanks for adding your story and example too.  And you 
are correct - leadership does take a hit sometimes.

Jim W.

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