Which of the following should be the primary basis for evaluating performance?

• A. Personal popularity
• B. Job-Related Criteria
• C. Random assignment
• D. Department politics

Answer: (B)

Performance should be evaluated using criteria that reflect the job responsibilities and expected outcomes. This approach ensures the appraisal measures actual work performance, supports fair and actionable feedback, and helps the organization gauge progress toward goals. Choosing job-related criteria enhances validity and reliability and reduces bias. Personal popularity can skew ratings toward subjective impressions that have little to do with job success. Random assignment offers no information about ability or results, making ratings irrelevant. Department politics introduces bias and erodes trust and fairness in the process. For example, a customer service role should be judged on metrics like customer satisfaction, resolution rate, and adherence to service standards, not on who is more popular or who has influence in the department. Therefore, the primary basis for evaluating performance should be job-related criteria.