HR Glossary
Bell Curve (Forced Ranking)
A performance rating method that distributes employees across predefined performance bands.
Definition
The bell curve, or forced ranking, is a relative performance evaluation method where employees are grouped into fixed proportions — e.g., top performers, average, and low performers — following a normal distribution curve.
Why It Matters
It's a widely debated method in modern performance management, with many companies moving toward continuous feedback models instead.