Which of the following is a downside of the trait performance appraisal method?

The trait performance appraisal method emphasizes assessing individual employee characteristics, such as reliability, teamwork, or leadership qualities. A notable downside of this approach is that while it may be relatively inexpensive to implement, it is also prone to various errors, such as bias and subjectivity in ratings. This can lead to inconsistencies in evaluations and may not accurately reflect an employee's actual performance because it is based on perceived traits rather than quantifiable results.

Many performance appraisal methods that focus on measurable outcomes provide more objective results. Conversely, a robust identification of successful behaviors, which speaks to the strengths of this method, can sometimes overlook how these traits practically affect job performance. Similarly, a comprehensive overview of employee performance is often challenging to achieve through trait assessments alone, as they may not capture all aspects of performance effectively.

Therefore, the assertion that the trait method is inexpensive but error-prone aligns closely with the limitations of this approach, reinforcing the reason that option B is the correct response.