Guidelines for implementation of a performance management system in a level 2 public hospital

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The intention of this study was to formulate guidelines for the implementation of Performance Management System (PMS) regarding line managers (LM) and employees (E) in a level 2 public hospital in the North–West Province. From a preliminary evaluation it was evident that the implementation of performance management as outlined in the NWPG policy No. 13, was not effective. The results of the research was to provide baseline data of the current policy implementation by the line managers and employees; an indication of the ability of the PMS to reach its goal of improved performance between line managers and employees in the long term; and the barriers to the policy implementation discovered over the course of the study. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: Based on the statement of the problem, the following research questions were asked: * How is PMS implemented from the perspective of line managers in a level 2 public hospital? * How is PMS implemented from the perspective of employees in a level 2 public hospital? * What guidelines can be formulated for line managers and employees regarding PMS? AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: The principal aim of this study was to formulate guidelines for implementation of PMS by line managers and employees. The objectives below of the research which are derived from the principal aim were: * To describe the implementation of the PMS from the perspective of line managers in a level 2 public hospital. * To describe the implementation of the PMS from the perspective of employees in a level 2 public hospital. * To formulate guidelines for line managers and employees regarding PMS? RESEARCH DESIGN: A quantitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used in this study to reach the overarching aim and respective objectives. RESEARCH METHOD: The researcher firstly conducted a literature review to understand implementation of PMS and related constructs. Thereafter the researcher used two similar structured questionnaires for both LM and E to collect data. The questionnaires were developed to measure the perceptions of both LM and E in the implementation of PMS in a level 2 public hospital. The questionnaires were based on the six steps (performance planning, developing performance criteria, performance monitoring, performance review and assessment, annual performance assessment and performance assessment outcomes) of the current PMS policy used in a level 2 public hospital. The study is based on transformational leadership whereby the line managers (LM) as nurse leaders with transformational characteristics are assumed to be empowering the employees (E) and creating enthusiasm for nursing practice. Minor adaptations were made to the questionnaires prior to administration to the nursing personnel in a level 2 public hospital in North West Province. An all inclusive sample was taken, representative of a larger population and this amounted to twenty four line managers (n=24) and fifty five employees (n=55) that participated in the study. RESULTS: There were problems identified from both the line managers (LM) and employees (E) inperformance planning, developing performance criteria, and monitoring performance, organizing and the process of performance review and assessment and lastly the annual performance assessment. The main two main findings are: * The effect size of all the questions indicates a practically visible and thus significant difference with regard to LM and E perceptions of the implementation of PMS. * There is statistical evidence of improper implementation of PMS from both groups regarding some of the performance implementation items. Based on the empirical evidence and the problems identified from the results, guidelines for the implementation of PMS were formulated. It is suggested that these be used and implemented to streamline the PMS in level 2 public hospitals.