Bell Curve

The Bell Curve, also known as a normal distribution curve or Gaussian distribution, is a statistical concept and is used to represent the distribution of a set of data points around the mean or average value. This curve is shaped like a symmetric bell followed by tapering off on either side of the mean. At work, the bell curve is commonly used to represent the profile of achievements or the ratings of a team of employees with most of them close to the average and only a few of them at the top or at the bottom.

Example of a Bell Curve:

For instance, a human resource department may incorporate the bell curve in evaluating employee performance during the annual performance assessment. Following the evaluation of employees' performance based on predetermined metrics, the HR department assesses and assigns performance ratings or scores for each employee. When these ratings are plotted on a graph, usually they resemble a bell curve, most of the employees being clustered around the average performance level, fewer employees having high performance ratings on one end of the graph, and even fewer employees having low performance ratings at the other end. The visualization allows HR professionals to analyze performance of the organization as a whole, look for outliers, and base their decisions on rewarding, promotion, or performance improvement on insightful data.