Oh, really? Let's say you work at Widget, Inc. producing Widgets. No, wait--no one makes Widgets anymore...no one actually makes things, except in Asian sweatshops. Okay, let's say you run reports or enter data (the modern-day equivalent of sweatshops). Naturally, there's a machine that measures your productivity. So if you work hard and have Good Numbers, you'll Get Ahead. Good Numbers are like Good Genes: the keys to success.
Right?
Let's examine this more closely. There are many factors affecting Productivity. One of them is how hard you work your little fingers. Another is how hard your machine works its little gears, or chips, or whatever makes it go. How fast? How often does it crash? Then we have the behavior of Other machines which your machine needs: the database server, the network, the printer, etc.
Well, about 6 months go by and it's time for that Review. The Boss calls you in and tells you your Numbers are bad. You're being compared with Jenn Schmoe in the next cubicle, and you just don't measure up. So you may as well forget that raise. It does no good to protest that Ms Schmoe's machine is newer than yours and twice as fast and crashes less often. Bosses don't like whiners and excuses.
Sometimes a person is led to wonder: do you suppose they deliberately keep the cheaper and slower machines because the loss in productivity is offset by the savings in raises they don't have to give? They put one ringer in there, a kiss-up who's been with the company since the Year One, and give her the hotshot equipment so she can make everyone else look bad.
Paranoid, you say? Well, consider this: they have an accountant whose sole job is to find creative ways to keep the Bottom Line down. So you know this guy is gonna think of everything--after all, he's got Numbers to maintain too.
Or let's say you've busted your ass all year to bring up your Numbers. You've never taken a break, never stopped for a cup of coffee. At last, they call you in for your review and it's "reward time". But wait! What about that mistake you made (like as not, it's a mistake the Boss made by giving you garbled instructions or changing his mind.) Or how about the time you spoke up at a meeting to bring up an objection to their latest pet plan? That day you couldn't stay for Mandatory Overtime because you collapsed with Appendicitis? You better believe those lapses will bounce back at you, big as life, on that Review form. "Has trouble Following Directions." "Not always dependable." "Not always obedient." Those little "minus" signs will subtract from your raise. So believe me, the Management is happy when you make that little slip. Their bottom line counts on it!
If you believe your boss wants you to be really productive, friends, you probably believe in the Tooth Fairy too. Sit back, relax, have a cup of coffee!