Harvard Business Review LogoJune 15, 2026iiievgeniy/Getty ImagesAs AI rapidly changes the division of labor between people and machines, organizations need ways of understanding employee capabilities that are more dynamic than just job titles,For much of aviation history, pilot training programs were geared toward two outcomes: the accumulation of a prescribed number of hours in the cockpit, and certification to fly a certain kind of aircraft. Airlines treated those outcomes as hard-earned evidence of competence.
The Pros and Cons of Continually Assessing Performance
As AI rapidly changes the division of labor between people and machines, organizations need ways of understanding employee capabilities that are more dynamic than just job titles, résumés, and periodic reviews. Continuous-assessment systems use signals generated during everyday work to track how skills are applied, how tasks are shifting to AI, and where new capabilities are emerging. Implemented well, these systems can improve staffing decisions, accelerate learning, and help companies adapt in real time by linking assessment directly to coaching, reskilling, and workforce planning. But they also carry significant risks, including surveillance concerns and incentives to optimize for narrow metrics. Their success ultimately depends less on technology than on transparent governance that supports development rather than control.
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