Assignment: Performance Management
Length: 2000 words (+/- 10% or penalties will apply). The word count includes in-text citations but does not include the reference list.
Learning Outcomes: 1 - 5
You are to write an analytical report on a selected area of Performance Management as it relates to organisations and their employees.
The task includes:
i. Choosing a topic (choose one of the topics below).
ii. Searching the literature for relevant theories, concepts, and empirical findings.
iii. Writing a report that provides an in-depth analysis of a specific area within the topic using relevant literature (identified at ii.).
iv. Providing clear recommendations on policies and practices which should be developed and/or implemented by organisations to respond to issues identified as being of critical importance in performance management. These recommendations need to be clearly derived from the critical analysis (identified in iii) and supported by references.
v. Including a minimum of TEN scholarly or peer reviewed journal articles published within the last 10 years to support all the arguments presented in the report. You may cite the textbook and include articles dated prior to the last 10 years, but this does not count towards the minimum eight references. Websites (including dictionaries, encyclopaedias, business magazines available online, and blog posts) and will not be included in assessing whether you have met the minimum referencing requirements (i.e. these are not scholarly, peer reviewed sources and should be avoided in academic writing).
What is an analytical report?
An analytical report is a report that goes beyond simple summary and description. It requires an in-depth analysis of a focused topic. You will need to conduct a review of the current theory and research. It is recommended that you use the Griffith library catalogue to access scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles. You may also find Google Scholar useful.
Assignment Topics
Choose ONE of the following topics and focus on one specific area:
Topic 1: Performance appraisal: Issues and strategies for best practice
Suggestions for specific areas to focus on for Topic 1 include (but are not limited to):
• Objectives and/or performance standards
• Formal and informal meetings
• Self-evaluation
• Potential disagreements
• Supervisor training
Topic 2: Managing poor-performing individuals: Issues and strategies for best practice
Suggestions for specific areas to focus on for Topic 2 include (but are not limited to):
• Identifying and diagnosing performance problems
• Designing and implementing a development plan
• Role of the supervisor
• Coaching for development
Structure of your Analytical Report
Note: No title page, abstract, executive summary, or TOC required.
Your report should include the following sections (approx. % of word count):
Title (N/A)
• Include the topic title.
Introduction
• The introduction should introduce the topic, explain why it is of critical importance in performance management, and provide an overview of the report (major arguments/ directions).
• Use ‘Introduction' as a subheading.
Critical Analysis
• The analysis is more than just a summary of the literature. You need to conduct an in-depth analysis of a focused topic that:
o Highlights similarities and differences within the literature;
o Strengths and weaknesses of the PM policies, strategies, and practices reviewed.
• Include your own sub headings which relate to the themes being discussed within this section. The subheading should not be Critical Analysis.
Recommendations
• Make recommendations, based on the arguments presented in the body of the assignment, for policies and practices which should be developed and/or implemented by organisations to respond to issues identified as being of critical importance in performance management.
• You must reference relevant literature to support the recommendations.
• Use ‘Recommendations' as a subheading.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also Include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.