FITNESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A001700230017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 5, 2001
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: February 23, 1955
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2001/08/07 ;TfA-RDP78-04718A001700230017-2
23 February 1955
t4EI O ,ANOU:4 FOR: Director of Training
St3HJFCT . Fitness Report
1. Immediately upon the adoption of the Fitness Report last fall.
lead to Its
taken which will
from 1000tto11,500 improvementdistributed
questionnaire was co
to those who were rendering Fitness Reports.
2. The questionnaire is being returned very slowly. As yet, an
insufficient number have been received to make a thorough analysis
profitable. A prey analysis of the 173 questionnaires that have
been received suggests three conclusionss (1) there are questions which
will need changing; (2) there is no overwhelming objection among super-
visors etisthcoonfreport irmed.anamelytthat;itnis(impossible to find a cruestion and
E Sta
that will not be objected to by someone.
3. Concerning the 50 items in Section IV, one of the most con.
troversial sections of the report, raters were asked to strongly approve,
approve, indicate whether the item was acceptable, disapprove, or
strongly disapprove the use of each item. The percentage of raters
indicating the various degrees of approval or disapproval for a typical
series of items are given below:
Strongly
e
A rentable
M892prove
Strongly
t isa~rove
Item t.rroy
A g pV
Can make decisions
on his own when
need arises
4,5
41
Has initiative
148
35
Can get along
with people
32
45
:{Wows when to seek
assistance
36
45
12
3
1
Calm
11
40
29
14
2
Tough minded
5
17
23
40
11
Stimulating to As-
sociates: a sparkplug 10 33
34
14
5
Admits his errors 26 39
24
5
2
Approved For Release 2001/08/07 : CIAP78-04718A001700230017-2
 ? Approved For Release 2001/08/07 : CIA-RDP78-04718A001700230017-2
4. A tentative conclusion fro n reactions to the fuestionnaire
is that from 10 to 15 of the 50 items in Section IV will nerd deletion
or modification.
5. It s?iould be noted that 50 per cent of the 17:) retz-ning
questionnaires have been with the Agency more than Li years. Thus, the
questionnaires have been completed by relatively experience l Agency
personnel.
5. One of the most controversial items concerning the Fitness
Resort is whether or not it should be shown to the Individual rated.
Only 23 per cent actually disapprove of the section concerning showing
the report as it now stands. 52 per cent believe that it ,:Aoujd be
required to be shown to an unsatisfactory employes and 50 jar cent
believe it should be shown to other than unsatisfactory erns loyees. In
terms of what people actually do, 45 per cent of the Fitne= s Reports
received and tabulated have been shown to the individual. '.these results
indicate the controversial nature of this problem and indicate that
any departure from the present method will require decisioi s at a high
Agency level.
7. The present Fitness Report was not designed to be applicable
to clerical personnel. It has received some criticism on c;rais account.
Of the 3F4 reports thus far tabulated, the maximum per cent of chocks
in the "Not Observed" column is 30. The next highest j.a 1'; per cent,
and for nest items it is below 10. Apparently, raters are finding it
possible to rate a large majority of their subordinates wits these
items. This is not to say that Section IV could not be imp:-owed from
the standpoint of its applicability to clerical workers.
''. Experience with fitness reporting has made It clear that
raters become confused if changes are made rapidly or ooon bz~:#ses so
fragile that the changes later are withdrawn. Experience vith fitness
reporting has also made it clear that the only solid basis on which
they can be revised are (1) studies of how raters actually ise the
:terns, and (2) questionnaires to determine which kind of items the
raters -themselves find most acceptable. Studies of both Its gads will be
undertaken. The slow rate of return of both the questionnaires and
the Fitness Reports is delzaying these studies. The result:: recorded
shove must be considered tentative until a number of Fitness Reports
and questionnaires sufficient to warrant A really thorough -aca.lyuis
have been received.
25X Bqa
ssess:nexa an avralur Lion Staff
5.E: -LE.T
Approved For Release 2001/08/07 : C A-RDP78-04718A001700230017-2
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