Performance Management Best Practices

Defining Phase Best Practices

The Defining Phase is the phase where preliminary management processes are performed.  These preliminary processes are those outside of traditional performance management, but which are critical to the success of your performance management initiative.  They include mission/objective identification, strategic planning, performance scope development and performance team development.  Defining phase processes are the executive processes that don’t necessarily include participation from all levels within the organization.

Planning Phase Best Practices

The focus of the Planning Phase is to start the buzz and get your organization prepared for the cultural changes that will take place during your successful performance initiative.  This is the phase where you gain employee acceptance into the performance initiative and put employees into a high performance mindset.  It also includes baselining current performance and setting future goals, breaking down functional barriers, identifying key processes that drive business success, and ensuring a successful performance management implementation through training.

Executing Phase Best Practices

The Executing Phase involves implementing the planned activities outlined in the defining and planning phases.  This is where we develop metrics, align performance to organizational objectives, identify cross-functional processes, and integrate data.  During the executing phase the performance management team must maintain a climate of open communication with business unit liaisons and executive management, as this is where executive goals are transformed into action.

• Procurement Management
• Change Management

Monitoring Phase Best Practices

The Monitoring Phase is where we track performance in all areas of the organization.  This phase involves ensuring that key indicators and thresholds are in acceptable ranges and enforcing quality characteristics.  This is where we develop our quality management plan, identify data quality metrics, examine information supply chains and improve processes.

• Business Intelligence Management
• Performance Data Management
• Quality Management

Reporting Phase Best Practices

The Reporting Phase is the nuts and bolts of the performance management initiative.  This is where the performance management team analyzes its findings and communicates system, organizational and individual performance to the stakeholders.  The reporting phase is the final phase in the Lifecycle Performance Framework, but in many cases it’s the first phase of the decision-making processes.  This guide covers the performance reporting process, business intelligence tools, performance improvement strategies, SLAs, dashboards and scorecards, and customer satisfaction.

• Project Performance Management
• Service Level Tracking
• Customer Satisfaction Management
• Scorecard / Dashboard Management