Behavioral Effects of Officer Evaluation in the US Army.
Abstract
The US Army's officer evaluation system has a material effect on the motivation and behavior of Army officers. The processes and behaviors generated by the evalution system impact significantly on the Army's organizational climate. Current and past evaluation systems have been based on untested, and in some cases false, assumptions. These fallacious assumptions cause certain dysfunctional behaviors among members of the officer corps. Rating officials are affected, as are officers being rated. The author presents an extensive original model which depicts typical and predictable behavioral responses of officers in eight different evaluative circumstances. Extrapolating from effects on individual behavior to collective effects on the entire officer corps, the sociological influence of the evaluation system is explored. It is argued that officer motivation, performance and professionalism can be enhanced through reassessment of assumptions, and through application of tested behavioral science theories of motivation to the officer evaluation process. The notion of motivation as a resource is suggested and broadly tied to national security issues. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 12, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA059992
Entities
People
- George W. Tate
Organizations
- United States Army War College