PUBLIC-SECTOR PERFORMANCE-APPRAISAL EFFECTIVENESS - A CASE-STUDY

Performance appraisal usage is expanding in public sector organization s across the U.S. Organizations employ the formal appraisal process wi th the belief that it provides them with a host of potential human res ource benefits. In this study, 254 members of a large public sector or ganization were surveyed to assess the degree to which the organizatio n's formal performance appraisal system was perceived as being effecti ve in serving functions typically associated with the appraisal proces s. In addition, differences in manager/subordinate perceptions were an alyzed and suggestions for improving the appraisal process were solici ted. This research demonstrates that a properly developed appraisal pr ocess can serve both managers and subordinates in a number of importan t areas. At the same time, several critical functions of the appraisal process were found to be less than effective. A discussion of the imp lications of these findings to both academics and practitioners is inc luded.