What does the critical incident method emphasize in employee performance evaluation?

The critical incident method focuses on identifying and documenting specific examples of an employee's behavior that significantly contribute to their performance, whether positive or negative. This approach allows evaluators to gather concrete evidence of actions that impacted the workplace, making the assessment more objective and actionable. By emphasizing key incidents, managers can provide employees with detailed feedback about their performance, highlighting areas where they excelled or where improvement is needed. This method encourages a deeper understanding of behaviors in various situations, helping both employees and supervisors discuss performance issues effectively.

In contrast, other approaches mentioned do not provide the same level of detail and specific focus on behaviors that define performance. Monitoring attendance and punctuality, for instance, addresses reliability but misses the qualitative aspects of performance. Similarly, documenting employee goals primarily focuses on setting objectives rather than assessing actual performance outcomes. Insurance claims management is unrelated to performance evaluation in the context of employee assessment.