Poor Performers: Supervisors' and Subordinates' Responses
Abstract
This report is second in a series entitled 'The Effective Use of Feedback in Organizational Settings: A Process Centered Approach'. Forty-two three- or four-person groups with appointed supervisors worked on a clerical task for three 10-minute sessions and received feedback on their performance. Supervisors evaluated subordinate performance and provided feedback for the subordinates. Four variables were manipulated in a two-phased study. These were the supervisor's influence over subordinate pay (high power), the degree of interdependence between supervisors and their subordinates (high and low), the nature of feedback to subordinate (general, specific with a focus on quantity, and specific with a focus on quality), and the level of subordinate performance reported to the supervisor. It was found that the responses of supervisors toward subordinates were influenced by both the level of subordinate performance and by the degree of interdependence. Subordinates, on the other hand, were influenced by the leader's power as it interacted with the nature of the feedback. These influences were entirely upon attitudes and beliefs; they did not influence performance on the task after feedback.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA128747
Entities
People
- Daniel R. Ilgen
- James W. Frederickson
- Terrence R. Mitchell
Organizations
- Purdue Research Foundation