A new article by SHRM highlights the increase in the older worker population. Businesses will need to consider the type of policies that can be implemented to attract and retain older workers. These policies will need to touch on areas like recruitment strategies (e.g., benefits packages), training and development opportunities (e.g., job enrichment), and work arrangements (e.g., flexibility about when and where work gets done). Taking time to review policies will help ensure that businesses manage their talent and expertise.
Business and IO Blog
Performance Management: Technical and Management Skills
HBR Article: “Research: Do People Really Get Promoted to Their Level of Incompetence?” (link)
Problem: Do workers eventually get promoted into positions that they are not suited for (also known as the Peter Principle)?
Approach: Authors used sales data from 214 firms to examine whether organizations promote salespeople who would make good managers vs those who made good sales.
Findings: 1) higher likelihood of getting promoted with higher sales rank, 2) negative relationship between sales performance and manager performance, 3) predictors of actual manager quality were not emphasized by organizations
Discussion: Results demonstrate that top sales people may not necessarily be the best managers.
Practical performance management strategies for organizations: 1) promotions ≠ changes in responsibility, 2) using dual track career ladders, 3) identify managers and let them manage
PHRRG Conference
Last week, graduate students had the opportunity to present research proposals to the Personnel and Human Resources Research Group. I received valuable feedback on a future research study that examines effective work design for an age diverse workforce. So happy for the opportunity to meet so many leaders in the field!
Jackie Torres, PhD 