The Impact of Decision-Making Methodology on Job Evaluation Outcomes

This research investigated the impact of different consensus decision-making methodologies and individual needs on compensation committee decisions using the Factor Evaluation System (FES), the U.S. Civil Service's nine-factor job evaluation system. Differences between subjects' initial evaluations and final group evaluations were assessed to investigate the impact of three consensus decision-making techniques (the traditional consensus approach, Nominal Group Technique, and Delphi Technique) on job evaluation outcomes. Also, subjects' scores on a job evaluation decision-making satisfaction questionnaire were used to assess their perceived satisfaction of the decision-making process. Results indicate that the traditional consensus approach yielded higher evaluations, the Nominal Group Technique yielded lower evaluations, and no change was found using the Delphi Technique. Furthermore, differential levels of satisfaction were found across the techniques.