Chapter 4: Using the Performance Management Module

The true value of the Performance Management module lies in how it’s used to drive individual and organisational success. This chapter offers practical guidance on the module’s key functionalities, including goal or objective setting, conducting performance reviews, and giving constructive feedback. Each section is designed to provide step-by-step instructions to help you maximise the system’s potential.

By understanding how to effectively utilise these features, you’ll empower your organisation to build a culture of continuous improvement and achieve measurable outcomes.

Before You Start

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Before you start:

Click here to find out how to update the Master Data Library.

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Key elements to include:

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Creating a Performance Agreement

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The following section will guide you through creating a performance agreement. The guide assumes you do not have an existing agreement for the current performance cycle and that you wish to create one.

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Click on the following tabs to expand the step-by-step instructions.

Create a blank agreement

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Use a performance agreement template

PM Create PM agreement employees – Template.png

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Copy from a previous agreement

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Copy an agreement from another employee (Managers only!)

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PM Create PM agreement employees – Another - List.png

PM Create PM agreement employees – Template – Preview.png

PM Create PM agreement employees – Another - Create.png

PM Create PM agreement employees – Another - Agreement.png

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Objective-Setting Phase

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The Objective-Setting Phase Explained

When creating a performance agreement, it is important to understand the WHY. Why is it important to set objectives?

The answer is simple: to bring clarity. Having a clearly outlined goal makes it easier for managers and employees alike to achieve success. For helpful tips on approaching the objective-setting phase, please visit the Before You Start page.

The following guide will help you in setting your objectives, and will assume you are using all of the following sections in a performance agreement:

The Performance Management module is modular and can be configured to suit your unique performance management processes. For examples of how different combinations of review setup settings work, or of different performance management configurations, please see the Tips and Use Cases chapter.

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Below is an example of a complete performance agreement that uses all available sections.

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Our Example's Settings

Based on your review setup, you may be using some (or all) of the aforementioned performance agreement sections. Not all sections are mandatory. If a section (such as Stretch Goals) or a feature (such as Perspectives) does not apply to your review setup, you can skip its tutorial and proceed to the next step.

For our example, the following review setup settings have been enabled:

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Additionally, the automatic distribution of item weights has been enabled for all settings:

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The setting to add or delete items on a list (such as the Values and Behaviours list) has been disabled:

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How to Complete the Objective-Setting Phase

Expand the following collapsible blocks to learn more.

PRIMARY GOALS

Primary Goals

Overview of the process

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Add perspectives

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Add KPAs

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Add KPIs

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OR

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If you are unsure which setting is active, please contact your performance management administrator.

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STRETCH GOALS

Stretch Goals

Overview of the process

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Add perspectives

The process for adding perspectives in the Stretch Goals section is the same as Primary Goals. Click here to jump to the tutorial.

Add KPAs

The process for adding KPAs in the Stretch Goals section is the same as Primary Goals. Click here to jump to the tutorial.

Add KPIs

The process for adding KPIs in the Stretch Goals section is the same as Primary Goals. Click here to jump to the tutorial.

For more information regarding the settings used to configure Stretch Goals, click here. Once completed, your Stretch Goals section may look similar to our example below:

PM Create Blank Agreement - Stretch Goals.png

VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

Values and Behaviours

The objectives in this section are automatically populated when the performance agreement is created. For more information regarding the settings used to configure Values and Behaviours, click here.

Once completed, your Values and Behaviours section may look similar to our example below:

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LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS

Leadership Behaviours

The objectives in this section are automatically populated when the performance agreement is created. For more information regarding the settings used to configure Leadership Behaviours, click here.

Once completed, your Leadership Behaviours section may look similar to our example below:

PM Create Blank Agreement - Leadership Behaviours.png

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PM Create Blank Agreement - Leadership Behaviours - Tag Message.png

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PM Create Blank Agreement - Leadership Behaviours - Link Action Plan.png

PM Create Blank Agreement - KPI Action Plan Screen.png

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KEY COMPETENCIES

Key Competencies

The settings governing the Key Competencies section is explained here.

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ACTION PLAN

Action Plan

An action plan can be linked to a performance agreement, with actionable steps and milestones to track progress.

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GENERAL COMMENTS

General Comments

General comments, from the employee as well as the manager, can be made on the performance agreement. Click +GENERAL COMMENT to add a new comment.

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Submitting Your Objectives

To ensure you are ready to submit your objectives, ask yourself the following questions:

If you have gone through this list and double-checked your performance agreement, you can use the toolbar at the bottom of the screen to finalise your objectives:

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PM Employee Dashboard

PM Manager Email Received

PM Manager Dashboard

PM Manager Review PM Agreement

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PM Manager Submit Objectives Confirmation

PM Objectives Approved by Manager - Employee Email

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Editing Your Objectives

PM Manager to Modify Objectives

PM Manager to Modify Objectives Approval Screen

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Viewing or Printing the Performance Agreement

PM Manager to Modify Objectives

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Next Steps

The next phase of the performance management process has started: the Check-In Phase. Your performance manager may contact you to discuss your performance during a check-in. Use this time wisely and ensure check-ins happen regularly. For more information, proceed to the next part of this chapter.

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Check-In Phase

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The Check-In Phase Explained

Once performance objectives have been submitted and approved, the Check-In Phase will start.

This is an integral part of the performance management process, as it provides time for employees to work on achieving the objectives in their performance agreements, while managers can monitor their progress and provide feedback.

The Performance Management module's check-in functionality works best when paired with one-on-one discussions between employees and managers. By digitally recording content from check-ins, employees have a reference point, and managers can efficiently track the employee's progress. However, check-ins in the Performance Management module are not mandatory and can be disabled.

Remember, a performance management process is not one-size-fits-all; it is imperative that employees and managers discuss how they will approach it.

Activating Check-Ins

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Conducting a Check-In

For our example, we will assume that Emily Collins, the performance manager, will kick off the check-in phase with her reportee, Christoph Sutherland.

Emily Collins and Christoph Sutherland PM

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The manager does not need to review all the objectives at each check-in. Select a few objectives and provide feedback, then select another set of objectives for the next check-in.

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Reviewing a Check-In

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Check-In Notification Emails

The system automatically sends the following emails for check-ins:

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Next Steps

The next phase of the performance management process is the Ratings Phase. For more information, proceed to the next part of this chapter.

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Ratings Phase

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The Ratings Phase Explained

The Ratings Phase of the performance management process focuses on evaluating the employee based on the objectives specified in their performance agreement. If the dual participation option is enabled in the review setup, both the employee and the manager will be involved in the rating process. However, if this option is disabled, only the manager will enter the details into the Performance Management module, while the employee will be able to review them.

For our example, the following review setup settings have been enabled:

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For our example, we will assume that Emily Collins, the performance manager, and her reportee, Christoph Sutherland, will complete the Ratings Phase together. 

Emily Collins and Christoph Sutherland PM

Please note: since the dual participation setting has been activated for our example, we will explain both the employee's and the manager's roles in the process. If this setting does not apply to your review setup, you may skip the sections explaining the employee's involvement. Moreover, Emily can complete the manager rating and the final rating simultaneously. This means Emily can view Christoph's comments for each objective while she is rating him, but not his self-rating score.

Employee Self-Rating

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Manager Rating and Final Rating

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Ratings Notification Emails

The system automatically sends the following emails for the Ratings Phase:

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Next Steps

The first review period of the performance management cycle has been completed. If a second review period has been created for the review year, the next phase is the Recontracting phase. Navigate to the next section for more information.

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Re-contracting Phase

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The Recontracting Phase is similar to the objective-setting phase described earlier, with one key difference: a performance agreement has already been completed for the current performance year, and now a new one needs to be established. This guide assumes that you do not have an existing agreement for the current review period and that you want to create a new one.

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Click on the following tabs to expand the step-by-step instructions.

Create a blank agreement

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PM Create PM agreement employees – Blank – Agreement Screen.png

Use a performance agreement template

PM Create PM agreement employees – Template.png

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PM Create PM agreement employees – Template – List.png

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Copy from a previous agreement

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Copy an agreement from another employee (Managers only!)

PM Create PM agreement employees – Another.png

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PM Create PM agreement employees – Template – Preview.png

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PM Create PM agreement employees – Another - Agreement.png

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Completing the Performance Cycle

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Once each phase for each review period has been completed, the overall summary of the performance agreement can be used to review the performance cycle:

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This summary provides several important pieces of information:

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