Factors Influencing Implementation of Performance Management Programmes in South African Universities

Performance management is a concept that helps in the improvement of results by providing the means for individuals to perform well within an agreed framework of planned goals, standards and competency requirements. It includes developing an understanding about what needs to be achieved and how it must be achieved. Hence, the aim of this study was to review the factors influencing implementation of performance management programmes in South African Universities. This study was a conceptual study that examined the factors that influence successful implementation of performance management programmes, and classified the importance of a performance management system in South African Universities. An archival investigation was used to conduct the study through in-depth study of past literatures, such as textbooks, newspaper articles, company websites, journals and conference publications. This approach was chosen because it was the most effective method to carry out an informative review of the factors that influence successful implementation of performance management programmes, and classify the importance of a performance management system in South African Universities. In this study, the researchers reported that performance management implementation is influenced by a number of factors which include but not limited to shortage of staffs in the human resource department. In addition, human resource personnel require training on how performance management should be implemented. The study also reported that there is only a partial trust in the relationship between managers and the staffs. In other words, employees often resist the implementation of performance management and are either ready or educated about the performance management system. However, if properly adopted, the study suggested that effective implementation of performance management system will improve employees and organisational performance. Such policy must be discussed with all stakeholders so that they will not be caught unaware. Hence, performance management needs to be piloted before final implementation. Keywords: Organizational Performance, Performance Management, Business Policy, Stakeholders, Human Resources, Literature Review.