Total quality management and performance appraisal: an experimental study of process versus results and group versus individual approaches

This study investigated the effect of a process versus a results focus as w ell as a group versus individual-based approach to performance appraisals. Four experimental conditions were investigated, with dependent variables of appraisal satisfaction, perceived accuracy of the performance appraisal, e xpectations of performance improvement, and actual performance. The results showed that a process focus appraisal had a more positive impact than an e xclusively results-oriented appraisal on ratee appraisal satisfaction, perc eived appraisal accuracy, and expectations of performance improvement. Subj ects receiving process appraisal feedback also showed a greater improvement in actual performance during a subsequent trial compared to subjects that did not receive process feedback. No differences were found between the gro up- and the individual-based performance appraisal conditions. Implications of these findings for appraisal processes in general, and total quality in itiatives in particular, are discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Son s, Ltd.