American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What element must be established for conduct to interfere unreasonably with work performance?

1. It must be subtle and indirect

2. It must result in formal complaints

3. It must have a tangible impact on performance

4. It must be publicly acknowledged

The correct answer is: It must have a tangible impact on performance

To determine whether conduct interferes unreasonably with work performance, it is essential to establish that it has a tangible impact on performance. This means that the conduct in question must be significant enough to noticeably affect an individual's ability to perform their job effectively. Tangible impact refers to results that can be observed or measured, such as decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, or an overall decline in job performance linked to the conduct. If the interference is merely subtle or indirect, as suggested in one of the alternatives, it may not reach the threshold necessary to demonstrate unreasonableness. Similarly, while formal complaints can indicate an issue, they are not a prerequisite for establishing that conduct has negatively affected performance. Public acknowledgment does not necessarily correlate with the tangible impact on an individual's work; rather, it relates more to how the conduct is perceived publicly. In summary, the requirement for tangible impact directly connects the nature of the conduct to measurable outcomes in work performance, making it the defining factor for the assessment of unreasonable interference.