Why Conduct Performance Appraisals?
In some cases the performance appraisal is not used to sustain or improve job performance but to collect data on performance history in case of legal challenges. In other cases it is used as a resource for decisions about pay, promotions or workforce reductions. Yet performance appraisals often fail as a tool for these objectives as well. For example, courts often view appraisals as biased and, therefore, less valid than other, more “factual” sources of legal evidence. And HR professionals might believe that managers have written their appraisals with an eye toward rewarding certain employees. As a result, performance appraisals are considered by many to be an unreliable tool for improving performance and an ineffective tool for legal defense and employment decisions. Improving Employee Performance So what works? Many believe that the most effective and sustainable solution for improving performance is to focus on intrinsic motivation. High performance comes when people love what they
