Performance management is about creating a culture which encourages the continuous improvement of people skills, behaviours and contributions to the organisation. It’s a key part of the relationship between staff and managers.

Explore our resources, including factsheets and reports, detailing managing performance, appraisal and reviews, feedback and using competency frameworks. Listen to our podcasts to keep up to date with the latest thinking on performance management.

All topics A-Z

Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Four Factsheets about Performance management
Factsheet
Performance-related pay
Introduces performance-related pay and issues linking employee pay and performance
Factsheet
Performance reviews
Understand the basics of performance reviews and how to ensure the process adds value to the organisation
For Members
Factsheet
Performance management: an introduction
Understand how to build an effective approach to performance management, including the tools that can support it
Factsheet
Competence and competency frameworks
Examines the history, principles and current practice around competence and competency frameworks
For Members

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

One Guide about Performance management
Guide
Technology use in employee performance management
Guidance on how technology can be leveraged to support employee performance management
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Three Reports about Performance management
Report
People analytics: driving business performance with people data
A global survey of multiple professional perspectives on people data and people analytics
Report
Driving performance and productivity
Research findings from Towards Maturity explore how learning interventions lead to business benefits
Report
Strengths-based performance conversations: an organisational field trial
Our organisational field trial shows what difference strengths-based performance conversations can make in the UK public sector

Case studies

Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.

Two Case studies about Performance management
Case study
Performance management: BBC
A case study on using evidence-based practice to reinvigorate performance management practices
Case study
Solving business problems with people analytics: Novartis
Evolving a new approach to performance management

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

Three Thought leadership about Performance management
Thought leadership
Is spotlighting strengths the way to success?
Taking a strengths-based approach and reframing failure to positively influence outcomes
Thought leadership
The positive side of anxiety
Moderate levels of stress can be harnessed to good effect. Work-anxious employees who are motivated are likely to harness anxiety to help them focus on tasks
Thought leadership
Is it 'engagement' or simply good management practice?
Being all in it together is intrinsic to employee engagement. But in an age of individualism, should we measure workplace satisfaction differently?

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

Two Podcasts about Performance management
Podcast
Driving performance with people analytics
People metrics are not often black and white, but how can you better utilise people data to paint a truer picture of employee performance?
Podcast
Harnessing Pressure to Drive Performance
Episode 182: We often view pressure at work as negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But is eliminating all stress really a good thing when it comes to optimising employee performance?

Evidence reviews

Evidence reviews enable you to ask the critical questions and use evidence for better decision-making.

Four Evidence reviews about Performance management
Evidence review
Knowledge work performance: An evidence review
Our research explores the definition of knowledge work and the key factors that support knowledge worker performance
For Members
Evidence review
Performance feedback: An evidence review
Our research explores the factors that make feedback effective in improving performance and how this can be put into practice by people professionals
For Members
Evidence review
People performance: an evidence review
Our research explores individual and team performance, how it can be measured, and which models can be used to evaluate it
For Members
Evidence review
Performance management: Could do better?
Applying evidence-based practice to this crucial area of people management
For Members

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

19 Bitesize research about Performance management
Bitesize research
Improving feedback to improve performance
This research outlines recommendations for making feedback discussions more constructive
For Members
Bitesize research
Overcoming common barriers to successful teamwork
What are some of the most common challenges that negatively impact teamwork and what practices can leaders and people professionals adopt to overcome these?
For Members
Bitesize research
Evidence-based approaches to handling rejection at work
Research explores how to manage rejection in the workplace to minimise negative outcomes with practical tips for people professionals and managers
For Members
Bitesize research
Effect of perceived fairness in the context of failed promotions
An examination of how employees’ perception of fairness affect their response to an unsuccessful promotion
For Members
Bitesize research
Challenge of cultivating creativity in employee performance
What happens when employees are put under pressure to be creative?
For Members
Bitesize research
Can AI feedback improve employee performance?
Exploring the impact of AI feedback and whether it’s a passing trend or here to stay
For Members
Bitesize research
Are personality tests over-rated?
The impact of widely-used personality scales on performance and development remains unclear
For Members
Bitesize research
Ratingless performance reviews
Are ratingless performance reviews the way forward?
For Members
Bitesize research
Is it curtains for performance evaluation?
Exploring the effectiveness of performance evaluation
For Members
Bitesize research
The impact of job redesign on performance
A systematic evidence review
For Members
Bitesize research
Evaluating the impact of human resource management systems
Read more about the impact of HRM systems
For Members
Bitesize research
Managing the fallout from social comparison
Read how leaders can manage social comparison
For Members
Bitesize research
Building a firm foundation for performance pay
Why it pays to review rewards on a regular basis
For Members
Bitesize research
HRM and talent management – driving performance
Exploring the relationship between HR management and high performance practices
For Members
Bitesize research
What makes flexible working work?
Insights on flexible working in practice
For Members
Bitesize research
Speaking the new language of teamworking
Get insights into working together better
For Members
Bitesize research
Performance measures – getting employees’ input
View a summary of key findings from this study
For Members
Bitesize research
Making the move from performance ratings
Provides insights into one organisation’s move from formal performance ratings
For Members
Bitesize research
Performance priorities – a sign of the times?
Why are organisations moving away from traditional annual performance reviews and changing their approaches?
For Members

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tauilored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.

People Management Accredited Programme

Develop your confidence as a people manager and to gain the knowledge you require to ensure the success and wellbeing of your team. You will cover all aspects of the employee lifecycle, including defining team skills needs, policies performance and developing people.

HR in Practice

Build your confidence by learning the fundamentals of HR and discover the importance of UK employment law, including contractual and HR policy issues. Further your career by gaining an understanding of recruitment techniques and recognising different types of under-performance.

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