Technological innovations in monitoring and evaluation: Evidence of performance impacts among Major League Baseball umpires

Abstract

This paper examines the performance-enhancing role of changes in monitoring, evaluation, and training technology in an experience-diverse expert workforce: Major League Baseball umpires. I find improvements in job performance across the league that is consistent with the timing of innovations in monitoring technology and later enhancements in training and feedback. Performance improvements associated with increased training and immediate feedback are more pronounced for younger umpires. Implications for the differential effects of evaluation and feedback across experience levels of firm employees are discussed.