Lending validity and consistency to performance measurement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest a performance evaluation technique that allows for the inclusion of qualitative data in a way that is more easily quantified. Design/methodology/approach – The performance evaluation technique described in this paper is a combination of two existing techniques: the balanced scorecard and the analytical hierarchy process. Findings – These two methods are found to complement each other quite well. An example illustrates the combined usage of the two techniques and the inherent advantages of the combination. Research limitations/implications – Use of analytic hierarchy process, without reliance on one of several commercially available software programs, may prove to be unwieldy and time consuming. Practical implications – This paper demonstrates a technique allowing managers to use qualitative measures in performance evaluations without concern that the results will be judged to be unsubstantiated and overly subjective. Originality/value – This paper combines two existing methods. The strengths and weaknesses of these two methods combine to create a technique that is superior to the use of either one in isolation.