What is the role of HR, managers in performance?

My supervisor recently said our department had delayed to conduct performance appraisals. She blamed the human resource department for the delay. What is the role of HR and supervisors in managing staff performance. Jane

Dear Jane,
The responsibilities of HR department include designing the performance management system and selecting methods to be used in appraising employees, and training managers in conducting appraisals. Others are maintaining a reporting system to ensure appraisals are conducted on a timely basis, and maintaining performance appraisal records for individual employees.
Meanwhile, a manager’s responsibilities include evaluating the performance of employees, establishing a plan for improvement, completing the forms used in appraising employees and returning them to HR department.
Employee performance is measured in terms of results, which are determined by effort, abilities and role perception. Environmental factors too influence performance. For instance, an employee’s lack of time or conflicting demands upon it, inadequate work facilities and equipment, restrictive policies that affect the job, and lack of support from colleagues.
Therefore, environmental factors should be viewed not as direct determinants of individual performance but as altering the effects of effort, ability, and direction. For instance, unclear policies can produce misdirected effort. Similarly, a lack of training and guidance can result in underutilised abilities.
It should be noted that one of management’s greatest responsibilities is to provide employees with adequate working conditions and a supportive environment to promote performance.

Isaiah Kitimbo
HR Specialist & Journalist
Monitor Publications Limited
[email protected]