Performance management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Performance management - Essay Example Performance management concept links the individual interests and objectives with the mission and strategic objectives of the organisation thus enabling employees to focus on the performance objectives (Aguinis 2012). Historical development of performance management Some of the earliest theorists of scientific management include Fredrick Winslow Taylor who advocated for scientific management concepts with the aim of improving the productivity of each individual employee. According to Taylor, simplification of the jobs would increase employee productivity, and enable cooperation in the organisation. Ideally, Fredrick Taylor contributed to performance management through advocating for the replacement of the ‘rule of thumb’ and replace it a scientific method that could enhance the efficiency of work in the organisation. Taylor’s second scientific management principle is geared at matching workers to their jobs depending on the job description, skills and capabilities of each individual inn the organisation. ... ocation of the work between management and workers in a manner that managers spend most of their work time while laying out strategies and training while workers perform the routine activities in an efficient manner. Taylor made a contribution to performance management through ensuring job description, task specialization and incentive schemes for the highly performing employees (Aguinis 2012). Another early theorist of performance management in organisations was Mc Gregor. He came up with improved performance appraisal methods and measures of improving organisational effectiveness. According to Mc Gregor, performance management should involve appraisals that cater for administrative needs such as salary levels and promotion opportunities, information need such as the need for feedback and suggestion and finally motivation of the workforce. McGregor challenged the original notions of Taylor since employees could not be machine parts that can be redesigned or even eliminated. He perce ived employees as individuals with unique needs thus introduced a human relations approach to performance management. According to his theory X and Y, theory X asserts that average employees dislike work and thus individuals must be coerced since they tend to avoid both work and responsibility. Some of the modern methods that have been implemented in order to encourage this category of employees perform effectively include punishments and rewards (Bacal 2011). Theory Y asserts that work is natural just like play and people will apply self-direction and control in attaining organisational objectives, thus eliminating the need of coercion and punishments. In addition, employees will accept and seek more responsibility if rewards are associated with achievement and creativity of the individual