STACK RANK Meaning and
Definition
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Stack ranking, also known as forced ranking or rank and yank, is a performance evaluation and management approach used to assess and compare employees within an organization. It involves categorizing employees into grades or levels based on their performance, skills, or attributes.
In stack ranking, employees are ranked against each other rather than evaluated against predefined criteria. The rankings are typically determined by a combination of subjective evaluations and objective measures, such as productivity, goals achieved, or customer feedback. The aim is to create a top-to-bottom ranking of employees, with a clear distinction between high performers, average performers, and poor performers.
The primary purpose of stack ranking is to identify and reward high-performing employees and motivate underperformers to improve or face potential consequences. It is often seen as a competitive process that promotes healthy competition and drives performance improvement within the organization.
However, stack ranking has been a topic of debate among management experts and human resource professionals. Critics argue that it can create a cutthroat work environment, foster unhealthy competition, and demoralize employees who are consistently ranked at the bottom. Moreover, it may lead to biases, as subjective evaluations can be influenced by personal preferences or relationships.
Despite its potential drawbacks, stack ranking continues to be used in some organizations as a tool for performance management and talent development.
Common Misspellings for STACK RANK
- atack rank
- ztack rank
- xtack rank
- dtack rank
- etack rank
- wtack rank
- srack rank
- sfack rank
- sgack rank
- syack rank
- s6ack rank
- s5ack rank
- stzck rank
- stsck rank
- stwck rank
- stqck rank
- staxk rank
- stavk rank
- stafk rank
- stadk rank
Etymology of STACK RANK
The term "stack rank" is a compound word formed by combining "stack" and "rank".
"Stack" originates from Middle English "stakis" and Old Norse "stakkr" which meant a "pile of something". Over time, it evolved to refer to a neatly arranged pile or collection of objects.
"Rank" comes from Old French "rançon" meaning "row" or "line". It further derives from Frankish "hring" meaning "circle" and Latin "circus" meaning "ring" or "circle". Eventually, "rank" came to signify the ordering or grouping of people or things based on a particular criterion.
When these two words combine, "stack rank" implies arranging or organizing items, people, or tasks in a hierarchical or sequential way, usually by importance, value, or performance. It is widely used in business contexts for performance evaluations, project management, or comparison of individuals or objects.
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