Company and individual goals should be adjustable as well. Consistency is vital to the success of an appraisal program. Confusion and frustration often result when Manager A completes appraisals one way, Manager B completes them another way, and Manager C doesn't complete them at all. Companies need a system that outlines specific job behaviors for each job classification, so, for example, two programmers are rated on identical criteria rather than being rated subjectively. To ensure accuracy and employee acceptance, every employee should be rated fairly and consistently.
Consistent procedures have legal ramifications as well.
Consistently applied documented procedures provide companies with the evidence they require in the event of a dispute. A performance log is one of the most important features of an appraisal software package. This feature enables a company to monitor the performance of its employees throughout the year, thus making yearly evaluations easier and more accurate. For example, when an employee completes a goal and wants to inform the supervisor of its completion, the employee can send the information to the supervisor via E-mail. The supervisor now has a complete chronological listing of each employee's performance record with date and time stamps on every entry to use during the review process.