assignment 3

JWI 520: People Management
Academic Submissions and Evaluations

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copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
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JWMI 520 – Assignment 3 (1178) Page 1 of 4

Assignment 3: Player Positioning Exercise

Introduction

Player placement is a critical piece of the talent management picture. Consider these
challenges, which can result from inappropriate placement of your employees:

Ø Taking an A player and placing them in a B position can result in frustration and
demotivation. Eventually, the underutilized player will probably leave the organization.

Ø Taking a B player and placing them in an A position can result in lost opportunities for
the organization. Here too, the frustrated player may well leave the organization.

Becker believes that effective talent management requires you to identify key positions and then
fill those positions with your top players who are well matched to those roles. Some will be hired
externally; others will be promoted internally. When assessing existing employees, how can you
decide which people to promote and where to place them?

Frustration

T
A
L
E
N
T

PLACEMENT

In this exercise, we use the Player Positioning Matrix shown here as a tool to support your talent
assessment. Look carefully at the four quadrants in the matrix, based on different combinations
of talent and placement.

Demotivated
Player

Star
Performer

Under
Performer

Frustrated
Player

JWI 520: People Management
Academic Submissions and Evaluations

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWMI 520 – Assignment 3 (1178) Page 2 of 4

Instructions

Use the Player Positioning Matrix above as a framework to assess your direct reports in your
current workplace. If you have no direct reports, use a group of individuals with whom you are
familiar. Create a Player Positioning Chart like the one below, with a row for each employee.

• Include 4 to 6 employees in your chart

• Use first names only and change the names if you wish

• For each individual, create a row in the chart

Your task is to decide which quadrant each person is in and to indicate the Type that you chose
in the Positioning column. In the Rationale column, write a brief assessment of each employee’s
performance, explaining why you positioned him or her in the selected quadrant. Also include
proposed managerial action, with a rationale of your next steps in managing the individual.

Record your findings using the Player Positioning Chart format shown in the example below,
which is provided to guide you in this exercise. This exercise is designed to give you practical
experience in using the Player Positioning Matrix to assess, differentiate, and position your
employees. Be sure to include citations with your work.

Player Positioning Chart (example)

Employee Positioning Rationale

Susie Type: Right
Player, Right
Position (Star
Performer)

Excellent analyst, always looking to learn new skills and
improve her performance. Provides great support to
every team to which she is assigned. Very quick to get
up to speed in a new project or assignment. Her
presentations were good to start with, but she has
improved them with the addition of new ways to present
data for a non-technical audience.

Next steps: Provide stretch assignments to develop this
employee’s capacity for teamwork, management, and
presentation.

Fred Type: Right
Position, Wrong
Player (Under
Performer)

Capable project manager but coasting in his present
role. Has the ability but not the desire to learn and
develop. Generally completes projects on time and on
budget. Communicates appropriately with coworkers

JWI 520: People Management
Academic Submissions and Evaluations

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWMI 520 – Assignment 3 (1178) Page 3 of 4

and stakeholders, but does not energize his team. In 2
years, he has not introduced any new approaches to
project planning or improved his team’s performance.

Next steps: Move to a more appropriate role that uses
his administrative skills. Replace with a person who is a
stronger team lead and has more motivation to grow
their skills.

JWI 520: People Management
Academic Submissions and Evaluations

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be
copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This
course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

JWMI 520 – Assignment 3 (1178) Page 4 of 4

RUBRIC – Assignment 3: Player Positioning Exercise

CRITERIA Unsatisfactory Low Pass Pass High Pass Honors
1. Create Player
Positioning Chart
with 4-6 employees.

Weight: 25%

Does not create a
Player Positioning
Chart with 4-6
employees.

Creates a Player
Positioning Chart
but includes too
few employees
or does not
follow the chart
format correctly.

Creates a Player
Positioning Chart
with 4-6
employees and
the chart is
adequately
formatted.

Creates a Player
Positioning Chart
with 4-6
employees and
the chart is well
formatted.

Creates a Player
Positioning Chart
with 4-6 employees
and the chart is
excellently
formatted.

2. Assign each
employee to a
Positioning
quadrant.

Weight: 25%

Does not assign
each employee to
a Positioning
quadrant.

Assigns some
but not all of the
employees to a
Positioning
quadrant.

Assigns all of the
employees to a
Positioning
quadrant but
does not provide
much variety of
Player types.

Assigns all of the
employees to a
Positioning
quadrant and
provides a good
variety of Player
types.

Assigns all of the
employees to a
Positioning
quadrant and
provides an
excellent range of
Player types.

3. Write a rationale
for each Player,
explaining clearly
why you placed
each one in the
particular quadrant.

Weight: 40%

Does not write a
rationale for each
Player, explaining
clearly why you
placed each one in
the particular
quadrant.

Writes a
rationale for
some but not all
Players, or gives
a poor rationale
of why you
placed each one
in the particular
quadrant.

Writes a
satisfactory
rationale for all
Players and
explains clearly
why you placed
each one in the
particular
quadrant.

Writes a good
rationale for all
Players, with
thoughtful
analysis of why
you placed each
one in the
particular
quadrant.

Writes an excellent
rationale for all
Players, with
thorough review of
past performance
and analysis of why
you placed each
one in the particular
quadrant.

4. Clarity, Logic,
Writing Mechanics,
and Grammar

Weight: 10%

Mechanical errors;
writing has an
unclear flow;
student fails to
follow formatting
instructions.

Mechanical
errors; writing
has an unclear
flow; student
does not fully
follow formatting
instructions.

Some
mechanical
errors; writing is
adequate has a
clear flow;
student follows
formatting
instructions.

Few mechanical
errors; writing is
good with a clear
and coherent
flow; student
follows formatting
instructions.

Minimal minor
mechanical errors;
writing is excellent
and succinct, with a
clear, coherent
flow; student
follows formatting
instructions.