Strategic plans and performance objectives define the results to be accomplished, but selecting a suitable set of performance technologies for your organizations requires more than just knowing the intended benefits. The systematic procedures described in the article will guide you through practical processes and valuable tools for identifying…

Describes strategies for improving performance appraisal systems and examines common features of appraisal systems in large companies. Highlights include rating scales; ranking; forced distributions; tying performance appraisal to strategic business goals; frequency of reviews; development plans versus evaluation only; and group review meetings.…

Describes a five-step approach to performance management which includes (1) redefining tasks; (2) identifying skills; (3) determining what development tools are necessary; (4) prioritizing skills development; and (5) developing an action plan. Presents a hiring model that includes job analysis, job description, selection, goal setting, evaluation,…

Notes advantages of effective feedback in improving quantity and quality of employees' performance. Presents set of guidelines for giving corrective feedback in four categories: deciding whether to give corrective feedback; deciding what to say when giving feedback; deciding how and when to give feedback; and deciding how to handle receiver's…

Presents 10 rules for effectively using graphs as performance improvement tools. Pie charts, bar graphs, cumulative graphs, and scatter diagrams are discussed, and a case study illustrates how setting goals and using graphs for feedback on performance can be effective. (LRW)

Identifies essential elements for a useful needs assessment audit as a performance improvement tool. Pertinent terms are defined; a needs assessment audit checklist is provided; rating the needs assessment process is discussed; and other approaches to needs assessment are described. (Contains five references.) (LRW)

The author suggests that stagefright cannot be ignored; but it can be overcome, and self-confidence built, if the fears that cause it are analyzed, experienced, and accepted by the performer. He suggests some psychological techniques for doing so. (SJL)

Discussion of ethics focuses on the role of human performance technology professionals in helping corporate ethicists. Highlights include definitions of ethics, morals, values, and business ethics; ethics in academia and in business; and application of the knowledge of ethics to decision-making. (Contains 18 references.) (LRW)

Surveys holders of doctorates in speech communication to discover the greatest barriers to dissertation completion and the forms of emotional support perceived as most useful. Offers advice to help doctoral candidates succeed in completing a dissertation. (SR)

Describes an operations audit as a means of reporting the effect of such interventions as training programs on organizational productivity; discusses the value of an accurate mission statement; describes an audit conducted to learn effects of management training programs at Lutheran General; and reviews steps and measurement techniques of…

Maintains that more valid student evaluations of teacher performance on the college level will result if evaluation questionnaires reflect specific teaching situations and student cohorts. The Echo technique (which is based on reflecting evaluative comments in the student's own words) is suggested as a means of producing more valid evaluations.…

Presents two rating scales, one for teacher self-evaluation, the other for student evaluation of teaching performance. (SS)

Reports on the development and measurement of a course to improve the communicative performance of tax enforcement officers. Includes an account of a unique content-analytic system for measuring communicative performance in situations considered flexibly formulaic transactions with objectives and prescribed strategies. (JMF)

Describes a performance technology approach to paperwork reduction for managers that looks at information as a stimulus designed to prompt or initiate a desired behavior or response from the reader. Guidelines for improving performance through the use of information that serves as directions or feedback are given. (LRW)

This article presents guidelines designed to assist instructional developers in improving their performance in workload estimates for prospective training development projects. Also provided is a description of an instructional systems development model for estimating, which includes front end analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation. (LRW)