Is there any relationship between productivity and performance appraisal?

Answer 1

Espousing on the importance of performance appraisals,Linda S. Pettijohn a renowned HR scholar and others have regarded it as a fundamental part of any organization (Pettijohn et al 2001). Agreeing with Pettijohn et al, Mejia et al (1990) also averred that "performance appraisalis a process of identifying and measuring people's performance in an organization".

Several researchers have defined performance appraisal systems in different ways. According to Edwards and Pinnington (2000), performance appraisal is the formal means of setting, measuring and meeting performance expectations. Bennington & Baix (2005) also describes performance appraisal as a management concept from the west aimed to improve individual and organizational performance, he further elaborates that the structure put into place for measurement and assessment of employee performance in an organization is known as the Performance Appraisal System.

There are various reasons for performance appraisal systems (Mount 1984). Such reasons may be for improvement purposes or in taking decisions about an employee. Mejia et al (2004) classifies appraisal systems into developmental; for training purposes or administrative linked to promotion or termination. It is believed to be for corrective reasons such as, coaching, promotions and pay rewards (Murphy and Murgulies 2004). They are aimed at continuous improvement, annual cull; reward high achievers and enable managers address performance without conflict (Redman and Wilkinson 2009). However, despite the clear aims of performance appraisal systems, there are a number of downsides in its implementation. Brumback (2003) is of the view that performance appraisal is traditionally done via ratings which frequently turn out to be biased. Organizations therefore need to work in hand with performance management to put things in place. Mejia et al (2004) notes that worker's morale may be lowered after appraisals and this can pose problems for peers and management, he advices some measures of performance management be adopted to resolve such issues.

According to the CIPD (2010), there is no right way to carry out an appraisal. It argues that some organizations appraise employees individually, collectively, via customers, managers, and subordinates. Whatever type is used, it is expected that an effect will emerge on both the appraised and his organization as past researches have recognized that there is a gap amongst managers and employees in performance management theory and its practical (Bratton and Gold 1999). An overview of the above analysis leads us to support that Performance appraisal is carried out using various methods with varying effects.

In conclusion, performance appraisal system was created to be an effective way of managing employee and employer performance through identification, evaluations and feedbacks to ensure performance development. An effective performance appraisal system helps both parties to identify their weaknesses and directs them on what needs to be done to improve. A number of errors have also been associated with performance appraisal systems. That is why Soltani et al (2001) in a survey by the Institute of Employment Studies, showed that despite the fact that performance appraisal is everywhere, it often fails both the employees and the organizations.

This definition however stipulates that, it is difficult to relate performance appraisals to productivity. Woodburn (2004) acknowledges this in his work, "engaging marketing in performance management", noting that performance measurement is not easily associated to productivity. Still, there is a lot of shove on it thereby creating pressure on the workforce with little or no long term gain. Apart from the fact that Performance appraisal is time consuming and costly, it may also demoralize employees who feel they have not been appraised fairly therefore, leading to fall in performance.