1 Is the information described in the Bloomberg item likely to be helpful for improving employee performance or is it simply an online form of management surveillance and instrumental behaviour control? Explain your answer in terms of the performance appraisal and management concepts covered in this chapter. As discussed in the case study on goal-setting in chapter 2, organisational theory emphasises the importance of individual employee ‘self-regulation’ and ‘self-assessment’ in effective performance management. In this chapter, we highlighted some practical implications relevant to this insight:

•

Regular, timely and specific feedback on the progress in achieving goals can have a positive reinforcement effect;

•

Self-regulation via participative goal-setting and reflection on feedback has more positive motivational effect than externally imposed standards, controls and feedback.