Abstract:
The objectives of this research paper are to study the theories, concepts and principles pertaining to performance appraisal and to identify the value of performance appraisal in administration. The main concern of this study is the theories and practices of performance appraisal in public administration. The author attempts to find out the attitude of government officers toward the performance appraisal system as prescribes by the Civil Service Commission, the practical problems of performance appraisal and how to overcome them. The methods used in this study were documentary research, interviewing and questionnaire survey. The author used the Department of Industrial Promotion, Ministry of Industry as the case study. Questionnaires had been distributed to 344 government officers ranging from C.1 C.5 in 8 divisions under the department of Industrial Promotion asking for their opinions on present performance evaluation system. 215 questionnaires (62.5%) were sent to government officers ranging from Cl 2 3. Another 129 (37.5%) questionnaires were from C. 4-5 officers. The responses amounted to 202 questionnaires or 58.7% of total questionnaires. 121 were from C.1 2 3 officers (56.2%) while 81 were from C.4 5 officers (62.7%). The results of this study showed that the methods which various government agencies used in appraising their staff were not of the same standard. In most cases, these methods were inefficient. The problems of the governmental performance appraisal system could be summed as follow: 1) There was no specific performance standard for each positions. Then there was no criteria of satisfactory performance which could be used to measure the achievement of each government official. 2) Many government agencies do not identify the job description of each position within their departments clearly, some were left out of date. It was also found that some government officer do not perform the same job as specified in their job description and thus make it hard for an accurate appraisal. 3) The Civil Service Commission which acts as the central personnel management bureau does not prescribe any rules and regulations or standard evaluation forms which should be used compulsory by every government agencies. 4) Most government agencies valued performance appraisal only when annual promotion is dued. The real objective of performance appraisal, which are staff development and work improvement, was overlooked. 5) Since performance appraisal in government office is done on a yearly basis, the evaluation is rather broad and lack of sufficient details. Recency error may occur which may deviate the fact. Besides, the officer does not have the opportunity to rectify their performance during the year since the appraisal is done only once a year. 6) The supervisor who is responsible for performance appraisal does not have systematic criteria. Some used personal acquaintance and some avoid to put it hard on their subordinates. Seniority still have influence. Almost every officers will automatically entitle to a salary increase at the year end. 7) The quota system as initiated by the Cabinet in 1979, limited the number of distinctive officers who deserve special salary increase. The system not only demorales and discourages efficient officers but also suggests favouritism. 8) The government officers do not quite understand the rational of performance appraisal. They in turn view performance appraisal as fault findings and try in every way to cover their mistakes. To cope with the above problems, the author suggests some guideline for effective performance appraisal in government offices as follows: 1) The Government agencies as well as the Civil Service Commission should pay more attention to the job description Efforts should be made to identify the job description of each position, together with the job standard and the criteria of satisfactory performance of that position. These information should be adapted regularly. 2) The Civil Service Commission should lay down all rules, regulations, procedures, forms pertaining to performance appraisal so that every government agencies could perform according to the same standard. The administrative detail may differ depending on the specification of each job. 3) The Civil Service Commission, as well as, government agencies should encourage the use of performance appraisal in staff development rather than remuneration only. Policy and guidelines regarding this matter should be made. 4) To cut down recency error, performance appraisal in government agencies should be done twice a year as was done in the Civil Service Commission. This would enable all government officers to upgrade their performance during the year. 5) To make performance appraisal more meaningful, government agencies should made clear to their staff at all levels the value, rationale, principle and practice of performance appraisal so that both parties (the one who evaluate and the one who is evaluated) will have mutual understanding which might help build up recognition and cooperation among all concern. 6) The problem of quota system which limited the number of officers who deserve special salary increase may be compensated by some other rewards such as certification of appreciation from the head of the division for their distinctive services etc. This might help boost up morale and build up credibility of performance appraisal. Finally, the author believes that if the Civil Service Commission and government agencies pay more attention to performance appraisal by finding ways and means of how to improve the system and make the best use of it, performance appraisal will be an indispensable and invaluable tool of successful personnel management and operations in every government agencies.