Weirder that you think every group has a 2 and exactly one 5. You don't see the problem with that?

Re-read and think about what was written - the 2s aren'tcoming from the line managers, you're barking up the wrong tree in the stack ranking process. I just explained that stack ranking gets scaled and adjusted by the brass, and I just in this example rated everyone a 4 and 5.

Again, as an older manager today, I can see myself in my 20s in the resistance and stubbornness to 'how corporations work' espoused in comments like yours. I sympathize, but I warn you against being naive and ideological, because unfortunately human groups be human groups, and organizations for better or for worse behave in predictable patterns. You might as well know as much as possible so you can deal with it better.

Do you think every group of people contains someone who is operating at 40%?

Nope! In fact I think stack ranking is horrible. But you missed the point I was making (and then re-made). I think you read 40% of what I wrote.