Improving school performance through performance management: A critical review

Abstract

This study aimed at enhancing performance management in schools: A model for effective school management. Performance management as a management process is designed to link the organisational objectives with those of individual employees in such a way as to ensure that the individual and corporate objectives are as far as possible met. It is a systematic process of planning work and setting expectations, continually monitoring performance, developing the capacity to perform and periodically rating performance. Performance management involves taking desirable and effective actions that are a critical link between a school’s work output and outcomes aimed at facilitating efficiency and effectiveness. Managers must also interact with a variety of colleagues, peers, and co-workers inside the organisation. Understanding attitudinal processes, individual differences, group dynamics, intergroup dynamics, organisation culture, and power and political behaviour can help managers handle such interactions more effectively. This paper was based on library research, where literature regarding performance management was reviewed. Based on KPI’s theory, the paper demarcated performance management, explicated the four main stages of performance management, elucidated features of a successful performance management system and finally offered suggestions on how schools can improve their performance by adopting a successful performance management model.