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Approaches to performance appraisal in TQM-driven organizations: does control vs learning approach matter?

Soltani, Ebrahim, Liao, Ying Ying, Iqbal, Abdullah, van der Meer, Robert (2023) Approaches to performance appraisal in TQM-driven organizations: does control vs learning approach matter? Production Planning and Control, . pp. 1-22. ISSN 0953-7287. E-ISSN 1366-5871. (doi:10.1080/09537287.2023.2189638) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:89969)

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PDF Author's Accepted Manuscript
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 March 2024.

Contact us about this Publication
[thumbnail of PPC Manuscript_Approaches to performance appraisal.pdf]
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2023.2189638

Abstract

While prior research studies provide insights into how Total Quality Management (TQM) and Performance Appraisal (PA) are incongruent, they rarely offer any compelling evidence that identifies the reasons behind the incongruence. We argue that the ‘why’ of TQM goals (i.e., control and learning) have consequences for the PA processes and purposes. Drawing from attribution theory and the duality inherent in TQM, our aim is to investigate how an organization's preferred approach to TQM could result in different PA processes and purposes particularly in relation to the manager's understanding, diagnosis and attributions of employee performance variation. To reach this purpose, a qualitative, inductively oriented investigation was conducted. Our findings suggest the disutility of a unilateral focus on either control or learning in terms of designing a PA system solely for the purpose of supporting one goal at the expense of the other. Rather, mutual understanding of the causes of performance variation and a recognition of shared responsibility for performance outcomes should become the core of the organisation’s approach to TQM – if the PA system is to achieve the aim of continuous quality improvement and learning. We also present several working propositions that not only delineate how each goal of TQM could lead to different PA processes and purposes but also are of value to guide future research.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/09537287.2023.2189638
Uncontrolled keywords: total quality management, performance appraisal, control, attribution theory, qualitative case study
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Accounting and Finance
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Abdullah Iqbal
Date Deposited: 31 Aug 2021 14:07 UTC
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2024 00:05 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/89969 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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