U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Performance Management (PM) is far more than appraisal. In the broadest sense, it's about translating goals to results. Performance Management focuses not only on individual employees, but also on teams, programs, processes and the organization as a whole.

Performance Management programs should have a long-term perspective, emphasizing employee development and process improvement. As such, optimal Performance Management programs are integrated with an agency's leadership development, succession planning, and training programs.

In the public sector, results are mission-focused. It is often more challenging for public agencies to define and measure results than private sector organizations, whose results are almost exclusively tied to financial goals. In addition, public agencies are required to comply with complex rules and regulations that govern their performance management and other human resources programs.

Organization Development (OD) increases the effectiveness and health of groups by applying behavioral science principles. OD aims to understand and change processes and dynamics to achieve better functioning of the organization. OD usually involves multiple steps, including assessment through interviews, focus groups, or surveys; identifying core problems; providing feedback; planning and carrying out interventions or training; evaluating results; and transferring knowledge and competencies to the organization. Because OD and PM are interlinked, an organization may require services from both of these areas.

To help your organization achieve success, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides a full range of these consulting services through our Performance Management and Organization Development (PMOD) Solutions area. Drawing on our expertise across the HR spectrum and our nationwide network of professionals, we can assist any federal, state, county, or municipal agency. We understand government because we are government. And because we operate on a cost-recovery basis, we can often provide more cost-effective solutions than private sector consulting organizations.

Does your agency need to...

• Align performance expectations with organizational goals?
• Effectively measure, communicate, and reward results?
• Build customer and employee perspectives into your performance standards?
• Appropriately differentiate and reward levels of performance?
• Improve recognition of individual and group contributions?
• Improve accountability for individual and group performance gaps?
• Meet standards of the Human Capital Assessment and Accountability Framework (HCAAF)?
• Improve its SES performance-based pay system?
• Help employees understand your performance appraisal process?
• Help managers learn to deliver effective performance feedback and coaching?
• Foster ongoing employee and supervisor development?
• Increase commitment to the organization?
• “Raise the bar” on performance and increase overall effectiveness?
• Prepare for a Performance Appraisal program audit?
• Improve morale?
• Cope with change?
• Resolve "people problems"?

We can provide the following services to help you achieve a results-oriented performance culture:

• Assessment of your current performance appraisal programs and practices
• Development of performance plans aligned with organizational goals
• Writing elements and standards that include credible measures of performance
• Design of performance rating metrics that effectively differentiate levels of performance
• Identification of critical job performance elements that define results to be achieved
• Competency analysis to identify behaviors important for job success
• Design of reward systems linked to your performance appraisal program
• Assistance implementing pay-for-performance systems
• Technology solutions to streamline the performance management processes
• Integration of performance management with your agency’s strategic planning, rewards, succession planning, and career development programs and processes
• Workshops to train supervisors and employees on setting objectives, reviewing performance, and delivering feedback -- customized to your agency’s needs
• Training to help supervisors improve their own coaching skills
• Implementation of multi-rater assessment for manager and executive development planning
• Coaching and workshops to help managers and employees develop themselves
• General consulting on individual performance issues
• Team building and improvement of group dynamics
• Change management
• Organizational stress management
• Conflict resolution

If you want to take advantage of our expertise, contact:

Eric G. Carbone, M.B.A., Ph.D.
Manager, Performance Management and Organization Development (PMOD) Solutions
Human Resources Consulting Program
Center for Talent Services
U.S.Office of Personnel Management
(404)832-1350
eric.carbone@opm.gov

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