We know who is better the same way we know how to set the metric. There is no escaping "values" :) Metrics do complicate cliques and nepotism; but they can als

We know who is better the same way we know how to set the metric. There is no escaping "values" :) Metrics do complicate cliques and nepotism; but they can also be used to reinforce them. Rarely is performance as clear cut as speed in a race. Metrics that boil down to approval from coworkers -- how helpful was this person? how professional (1-5) was their communication? -- often do more to conceal bias than prevent it.