Person and system effects in performance appraisal: Ratings as a function of the degree of performance responsibility and errorfulness

Performance ratings were examined as a function of person and system effects on ratee performance. Degree of responsibility for production of various parts, as well as levels of productivity, system produced error, and person produced error were manipulated in two studies. Findings were substantially similar across the two studies. In each study, ratings were found to be lower when the ratee had greater responsibility for production than did the system. The responsibility effect in each study depended on the level of productivity, with system responsibility yielding higher ratings than person responsibility under the low productivity condition, but not under the high productivity condition. Implications of the findings for appraisal and performance management are considered. Possible future research directions and the importance of understanding person and system effects on ratees and raters are discussed.