TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance Appraisal or Praising Performance? The Culture of Rhetoric in Performance Management in Ghana Civil Service
AU - Bawole, Justice Nyigmah
AU - Hossain, Farhad
AU - Domfeh, Kwame Ameyaw
AU - Bukari, Hamza Zakaria
AU - Sanyare, Francis
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - This article examines the practice of performance appraisal as a critical element of administrative culture in the Ghana Civil Service (CS). It relies on three focus group discussions with senior civil servants to analyze the practice and its implications for performance of civil servants in Ghana. The article argues that: leadership seldom gives the needed attention to this administrative practice; the process lacks objectivity; it is fraught with superstition, spirituality, and fear; appraisers are rarely trained; and civil servants only become more interested in performance appraisals (PAs) during promotion-related interviews. The article therefore concludes that this process has become rhetoric rather than an important practice and that performance only gets praised rather than being appraised. The article recommends an overhaul of the PA system by integrating it into a holistic performance management program; integrating PA training into civil service mandatory training programs; and the revision and computerization of the PA system.
AB - This article examines the practice of performance appraisal as a critical element of administrative culture in the Ghana Civil Service (CS). It relies on three focus group discussions with senior civil servants to analyze the practice and its implications for performance of civil servants in Ghana. The article argues that: leadership seldom gives the needed attention to this administrative practice; the process lacks objectivity; it is fraught with superstition, spirituality, and fear; appraisers are rarely trained; and civil servants only become more interested in performance appraisals (PAs) during promotion-related interviews. The article therefore concludes that this process has become rhetoric rather than an important practice and that performance only gets praised rather than being appraised. The article recommends an overhaul of the PA system by integrating it into a holistic performance management program; integrating PA training into civil service mandatory training programs; and the revision and computerization of the PA system.
KW - Ghana Civil Service
KW - administrative culture
KW - performance appraisal
KW - performance management
KW - rhetoric
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887087518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01900692.2013.773030
DO - 10.1080/01900692.2013.773030
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84887087518
SN - 0190-0692
VL - 36
SP - 953
EP - 962
JO - International Journal of Public Administration
JF - International Journal of Public Administration
IS - 13
ER -