I'm assuming you're just naive and lack the experience to see through this BS. This type of system can be gamed 'til the cows come home! Here are some corrections to your description:
Currently Windows is in calibration, where we stack rank and reward behaviors that can easily be sold to one's boss. This is not done on a team basis, an organizational basis or really any rational basis at all. Everyone at a given level competes with everyone else at the same level for the next level of management's affection. Those who kiss ass up and trash talk their co-workers/competitors are rewarded in various ways. Usually with an ego boost but occasionally with a monetary reward.
Stack ranking is not based on what you accomplished at all rather how your managers perceive what you accomplished. There are three main pillars: how close you are to your manager, how effectively you can trash-talk any competing co-workers and how you helped your manager sell your accomplishments to his or her boss.
There is no perfect system, but to be frank, the calibration and review system rewards people more for their political skills than technological merits and therefore is pretty damn good practice for a career in playing corporate politics and approval seeking behavior in general.
Currently Windows is in calibration, where we stack rank and reward behaviors that can easily be sold to one's boss. This is not done on a team basis, an organizational basis or really any rational basis at all. Everyone at a given level competes with everyone else at the same level for the next level of management's affection. Those who kiss ass up and trash talk their co-workers/competitors are rewarded in various ways. Usually with an ego boost but occasionally with a monetary reward.
Stack ranking is not based on what you accomplished at all rather how your managers perceive what you accomplished. There are three main pillars: how close you are to your manager, how effectively you can trash-talk any competing co-workers and how you helped your manager sell your accomplishments to his or her boss.
There is no perfect system, but to be frank, the calibration and review system rewards people more for their political skills than technological merits and therefore is pretty damn good practice for a career in playing corporate politics and approval seeking behavior in general.