Using IT for Non-Hierarchical Performance Assessment: New Ways to Develop Professionals in Health Care

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this article is to describe how technological innovations are being used to address the specific challenges of assessing health care professionals' performance and to discuss the theoretical implications of these innovations for human resources management. Performance management is specifically challenging for organizations employing skilled professionals, such as physicians, due to the complexity in defining performance and to the autonomy that professionals enjoy. Professionalism of employees implies that supervisors cannot evaluate adequately their subordinates' performance and, thus, alternative assessment systems are necessary. This explains why in health care schemes such as 360-degree feedback and peer review are increasingly used. We define these alternative assessment systems as "non-hierarchical performance assessment" and report exploratory data from an Internet search of performance assessment Information Technology (IT) solutions offered by IT providers. We use a classification of these IT solutions in order to identify and discuss new ways for assessing and for developing professionals in health care. We conclude by discussing differences and similarities between 360-degree feedback and peer review and by identifying current trends and possible future developments about how IT enables new assessment systems in this industry.