Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales, also known as BARS, are a type of performance management scale that use behavior “statements” as a reference point instead of generic descriptors commonly found on traditional rating scales. Designed to add the benefits of both qualitative and quantitative information to the appraisal process, BARS measures an employee’s performance against specific examples of behavior that are given a number rating for the purpose of collecting data.
Establishing specific behaviors for grading, are meant to give the rating a higher degree of accuracy relative to performance. This is because you’re relying on unique, individual behaviors required for each individual position within an organization, instead of behaviors that can be evaluated in any position across the board. It is presumed that using a rating scale with specific behaviors for selected jobs, minimizes the subjectivity in using basic ratings scales. We’ll take a closer look at this later to see if it’s true.
For now, let us consider some examples of what BARS might look like.
The job being appraised belongs to a customer service representative:
A traditional rating scale would ask if the employee “answers phone promptly/courteously” and list the number ratings as “1-never, 2-not often, 3-sometimes, 4-usually, 5-always”. It is clear to see there will be a difference in the outcome of the appraisal with the more definitive BARS method.
The job being appraised belongs to a nurse:
The job being appraised belongs to a waiter.
While these examples are great at offering an insight to the effectiveness of the BARS method, not everything about Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales is perfect. There are several benefits to making the switch but also some downsides one should examine first.
After taking a closer look at the pros and cons of using Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales, one can expect that the method is best used by larger companies financially capable of pursuing the project. However, realizing that major manager input is mandatory, the company also needs to have understandable time and commitment expectations.
It would be ideal if the company did not have a large number of different positions but rather, groups of positions or departments made up of similar types of jobs. Being that this approach is still a measuring system used for rating employees, another suitable use for BARS is when you encounter bias challenges in the current performance management process.
It’s emphasis on behavior produces objective ratings difficult to distort.
If you want to include BARS in your performance management plan, it is highly recommended that you start by diligently researching the approach. Be prepared with a full understanding so that you can execute the method properly for your own organization. Also be sure to have a team onboard. As previously mentioned, managers will need to be greatly involved. The following steps will assist in developing the final product: