One clarification on Steve’s response regarding 360 degree assessments.  ICMA recommends that a 360 tool be used to assess a manager’s strengths and developmental needs and to use the information from this assessment for personal and professional development purposes.  There are a number of significant downsides to using the 360 as a performance evaluation tool by a governing body for a City or County administrator’s annual evaluation....especially in an environment where there isn’t a lot of trust between the manager, staff and elected officials.

 

I’m happy to discuss the pros and con’s if you want to give me a call...but be VERY careful when using 360 as a performance evaluation tool

 

Dave Childs, ICMA-CM

ICMA Senior Advisor to NV and UT

P.O. Box 752

South Lake Tahoe, CA  96156

775.303.5063

dchilds@icma.org

 


From: Steve Bryant [mailto:sbryant@ICMA.org]
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 10:53 AM
To: Oregon City/County Management Association
Subject: RE: [occma] 360 evaluation

 

My take on this issue is that 360 degree evaluations are here to stay.  In fact, ICMA has endorsed the practice by making it a requirement for all credentialed managers at least once every five years.  Their recommended on-line assessment instrument can be purchased for $245 at http://icma.org/360 for ICMA members.  Although the ICMA process is intended as a professional development tool, rather than a city council evaluation tool, I think it could probably be useful in both situations.  The process works like this:  you choose anywhere from 4 to 20 evaluators (including staff, peers, elected officials, etc.) and provide e-mail addresses for each.  The ICMA service provider then sends an e-mail questionaire to each person which takes about 30 minutes to complete.  The service then provides the confidential results to you, the ICMA member which you could share with your elected officials if you choose.  Of course, there are many alternative models available.  I used a facilitator in Albany to conduct one for me using my department heads as the evaluators.  They shared confidential information to the facilitator using her form which was compiled and then presented to both me and the city council.  The city council also completed their own versions of a survey and the results of both surveys were discussed with me in executive session.  I found it to be a very positive experience, but I recommend limiting the surveys to top management personnel, council members, and perhaps other community leaders.  Good luck.

Steve


From: Steven Weaver [mailto:sweaver@ci.carlton.or.us]
Sent: Mon 9/25/2006 9:48 AM
To: Oregon City/County Management Association
Subject: [occma] 360 evaluation

Dear fellow city managers:

I am approaching my evaluation in October and the Mayor has decided to use
the 360 degree evaluation using surveymonkey.com.  Apparently she enters all
the email addresses of the employees, council and planning commission and
they send out a questionnaire and they return it back to the Mayor with the
responses without giving names.  I remember a discussion on the listserve a
while back about this topic but I wanted to respond to the Mayor in writing
as to why a 360 evaluation is a bad idea.  Any input would be greatly
appreciated?

Thanks.  

Steven M. Weaver
City Manager
City of Carlton
P.O. Box 458
Carlton, OR 97111

Phone: (503) 852-7575
Fax:     (503) 852-7761
sweaver@ci.carlton.or.us





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