Introduction of Formal Performance Appraisal of Academic Staff

Abstract

Historically, higher educational institutions (HEIs) have been independent institutions, backed by an ideology that led staff to expect and enjoy high levels of independence and autonomy, relatively free from any sense of management, commercial responsibility and accountability. However, in recent times, the education sector has been subject to increasing levels of scrutiny and regulation spurred on by central government initiatives related to standards and quality, and ever increasing expectations from students and other customers. These developments have heralded changes in human resources policy reflected in staff appraisal systems. The article describes the management challenges that established educational institutions now face under six key headings, with issues that range from the ‘hard’ (agreement on targets, clarification of structures) to the ‘soft’ (clash of ideologies and cultures). Proposals for improved implementation are given and, drawing heavily on Contingency Theory, two ‘new models’ are presented to help support the analysis.