What are strengths and weaknesses of meritocracy

Pros:

1. Meritocracy is probably the best system of people management around. It allows you to align the organization's goals with the workers' individual goals, a much more interesting tool kit then promoting people, for instance, based on time on the job.

2. It tends to make the most talented people happier than in other systems, and thus retain them around and eventually spill the untalented out.

Cons:

1. Meritocracy always has a subjective component, which age or time on the job, for instance, has not. This component may at times stir up the organization.

2. Meritocracy may create a too competitive culture, undermine camaraderie, and therefore has to be a controlled environment with rules in order to work. It is also very time consuming for management.