NCJ Number
127276
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 66-70
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Effective performance appraisals, which are part of a continuous process of organizational evaluation and viewed positively by employers and employees, contain five major components: content, form, training, a reward system, and an accountability system.
Abstract
The content of a performance appraisal consists of specific expectations from the employer, which are stated in measurable terms specific to the job and its description. The actual appraisal session should give the supervisor a chance to revise performance expectations according to the employee's input. The format used by an agency during its evaluation should be objective, clearly understood, and reliable. Forms should be appropriate to each type of position within the organization. An effective appraisal will emphasize training for employees who need to improve some area of performance. Similarly, supervisors must be trained in conducting the performance appraisals. A reward system for superior performance should include both material and intrinsic benefits; for the system to be effective, the rewards must be withheld from employees who do not meet expectations. An accountability system, closely related to the reward system, is essential in maintaining the credibility of the entire appraisal process.