HRM in the Public Sector

HRM in the Public Sector

Please discuss some of the challenges of doing performance appraisal. What is your recommendation to meet these challenges?

According to Faizal (2005), performance appraisal is a controversial management practice in any context, but particularly in the public sector. The public sector faces various concerns when engaging in performance appraisal practices. The system could, for example, be influenced by cultural, organizational, and political factors. It is, for example, possible that favoritism could significantly impact the effectiveness of the performance appraisal system. This could also influence the promotion process, which could be directly connected to performance appraisal. When they are not provided with sufficient information regarding the performance appraisal procedure and result, employees may also experience significant uncertainty regarding their employment and their esteem in the eyes of top management. These challenges can all be met by means of effective communication. Employees need to be aware of the benefits of performance appraisal, as well as what exactly the procedure and result will involve. Managers in charge of the performance appraisal should provide employees with the opportunity to communicate their concerns should they not agree with the results of their appraisal.

2.

What do you see as the major Human Resource Management issue in the public sector?

When determining the most important issues in the public sector, it is important to first cultivate an understanding of the major functions of personnel in this sector. Public servants primarily work to provide government services to the public. As such, personnel in this sector act as the catalyst for the relationship between the public and its government. One of the most important issues to keep in mind here is therefore the fact that public servants should be chosen and trained for their particular talents in the area where they will work. If this is not done effectively, public servants will be unable to provide the level of service expected by the public, which could lead to a breakdown in the relationship between the public and the government. Human Resource managers are therefore faced with the challenges of 1) finding suitably talented individuals for public sector positions; and 2) training these individuals to continually deliver excellent services to the public (Moir, 2008).

3.

Please discuss some of the importance of the labor relations in the public sector.