Define the role of top management in Performance Management.
Answers
Role of Top Managers in Performance Management
The top managers play a lead in the entire process by setting trends for the lower rung and acting as role models for the employees. Their responsibility is to design policies which ensure an efficient management of performance in an organization and to define and act upon the core values relating to performance. Top management plays a vital role in convincing the line managers that performance management can be instrumental in the achievement of business goals and thus ensure that they take this aspect seriously in their work front for maximizing employee satisfaction and productivity.
Top managers are expected to develop a high performance culture in an organization by ensuring the following:
By communicating an organization’s mission and values to its customers and employees.
By clearly defining the work expectations and communicating to everyone for ensuring success in the achievement of business goals and facilitating an overall performance improvement.
By keeping the employees informed about their progress towards the achievement of goals and suggesting corrective actions for non-achievement of performance.
By establishing a shared belief amongst the employees regarding the importance of continuous improvement in performance.
A remarkable example is Infosys Technology Ltd., an international IT company and a world leader. The chairman Mr. Narayan Murthy was dedicated and committed towards an efficient management of performance of the employees for developing a vast talent pool in the organization. He considered his employees as the most powerful wealth responsible for driving the success and the future of his organization. He introduced the best reward systems in the industry for retaining the existing talent and the attracting the best from the industry. He encouraged an open communication and provided them with an opportunity to interact with the management and share ideas in meetings. He established a Leadership Institute in Mysore for grooming the future leaders for successfully tackling the challenges of the changing markets. Similary, the management of United Parcel Service of America (UPS), selects only those people who fit into their organizational culture for efficiently managing their performance and projecting a positive image before the customers.