I can’t wait for my next performance review (and other delusions)

On a quirky US website called Wisegeek, the tortured ritual of the performance review/appraisal/work plan (let’s call it the PR) is seen as a continuation of an assessment culture that occurs in high schools. “These early experiences of being graded are not that different from the performance review, a regular occurrence in the workplace, where a manager or supervisor formally or informally judges your work performance over a specified period of time,” says Wisegeek. This is a telling comparison – academics venturing into the PR process are often reminded of those long, nervous walks to the head teacher’s office where a grilling awaits.