What is the term for ranking employees from best to worst on traits until all are ranked?

The term that refers to ranking employees from best to worst on specific traits until all are ranked is known as alternation ranking. This method involves evaluating employees one by one and determining where they fall in relation to one another, creating a full ranking of the group being assessed. Each employee is considered in comparison to others until the entire group is ranked from the highest performer to the lowest.

In contrast, graphic rating scales usually involve scoring employees on specific criteria without directly comparing them against each other. Performance appraisals encompass a broader process of evaluating an employee's overall work performance, which may include various methods, not limited to ranking alone. Forced distribution is another evaluation method where employees are categorized into a set number of performance levels, often resembling a bell curve distribution, and does not involve a straightforward ranking of all employees from best to worst. This separation illustrates why alternation ranking is the most accurate term for this specific ranking technique.