Is Performance Appraisal System Anachronistic in Tertiary Institutions in Ghana? Evidence from the University of Cape

Abstract

Until recently, performance appraisal (PA) has been admired by many organizations due to its relevance. However, in recent times, there has been a controversy over the use of PA systems. Many employees have come to believe that PA’s purposes are out of date and as such cannot play any meaningful roles for most organizations. This study therefore, examined the extent to which PA system has been anachronistic in terms of its purposes as perceived by employees in the University of Cape Coast. A quantitative method with random sampling technique was used. The sample size was 233. The results of the study revealed that PA system is still perceived to be useful although the perceptions amongst respondents in terms of its purposes varied. While some employees perceived the purposes to be administrative, others consider its purposes to be more of developmental. However, most senior staff considered the current PA exercise as mere formality, which is there to reflect on the institutional culture of assessment. To them PA system is a waste of time and therefore anachronistic. Thus the University should reconsider and redesign its PA system to be in line with the aspirations of its employees by including them in its execution.