Faculty of Education - Theses

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End date: 1999 × Start date: 1980 × Type: Masters Research thesis × Subject: Attitudes × Subject: Employees ×

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    The effectiveness of review planning at the University of Adelaide
    Young, Judith Margaret ( 1995)
    This study investigates the response of academic staff in two faculties (A and B) to the implementation of a new performance appraisal scheme termed Review Planning at the University of Adelaide. Review Planning requires academic staff to participate in annual discussions with their head of department or senior colleague regarding their current work performance and their individual goals for the next 12 month period particularly in relation to professional development. These sessions are designed to create conditions under which staff motivation is enhanced and to assist heads and staff with strategic planning for their departments. Review Planning was introduced to all staff of the University in 1991 and is a condition of the Australian Universities Academic Staff (Conditions of Employment) Award (1988). Most staff have participated in the process at least once but until now no formal review has taken place to explore the response of staff to the implementation of Review Planning. The findings of this study provide a useful comparison with the work of other writers in the field of appraisal from both the private and public sectors. Some contrasts can also be made with studies of related schemes operating within higher education institutions in Australia and overseas. Faculties A and B were chosen because they are both large containing numerous departments and provide contrasts in gender discipline funding and staffing. A quantitative approach to this study was chosen over other qualitative methods as it seemed the most appropriate given the large size of the sample population and the relatively short time frame in which to work. A survey was conducted through use of a questionnaire which was circulated to all academic staff of the two faculties. It was anticipated that there would be some differences in response to the implementation of the scheme at the faculty level or on the basis of gender but no meaningful differences were found Instead an overall view of the response of staff from the two faculties was gained. The key findings of this study show that most full time academic staff have participated in Review Planning and many have found the interviews to be a positive experience. However staff and heads do not yet see a clear link between Review Planning and longer term strategic planning. Staff believe that there are few opportunities and limited resources available for professional development and this affects their motivation. Training materials are viewed as being helpful to staff in their preparations for Review Planning but workshops have not been well attended. Heads of departments generally agreed that Review Planning is a demanding and time consuming role for which training is required.