Letter: Performance objectives not always relevant to mission

A reader writes that some objectives were generic and "were not necessarily appropriate at the "grassroots" level."

Regarding "DOD, OPM issue proposed rules for NSPS": It has be my experience that [a] higher-level review of performance objectives does not ensure appropriateness in and across the organization. It tends to create generic objectives based on overall high-level organizational objectives. The importance of critical support objectives is diluted and exceptional performance is not rewarded fairly.

Case in point: My supervisor spent hours in training learning how to create meaningful objectives for his organization where he felt that he could evaluate performance. When forwarded to the higher-level review, the objectives were changed and did not represent the day-to-day tasks performed in support of the mission. End result was consistent (generic) objectives that were not necessarily appropriate at the "grassroots" level.

James Bickerton

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