An exploration of Academics’ Views and Perceptions of the Successful Application of Performance Appraisal in the Context of the Jordanian Higher Education: A Case Study of a Private University

Abstract

Performance appraisal is a critical function within Human Resources Management that contributes to managing performance of employees. It is the base for making many decisions such as pay, promotion, transfer, and termination. In the context of Higher Education, performance appraisal is applied in many academic institutions around the world in the mean improving performance of academic employees and academic institutions alike. However, views on its application vary among scholars for different
reasons. With all the challenges that incorporate its use and application, it is difficult to abandon the practice. Managers in academic institutions need a tool that helps them manage the performance of employees and base their decisions upon it.

In the context of the Jordanian Higher Education, the research context of this study, academic institutions depend mainly on student evaluation with little else to support it. Students’ feedback is a valuable source of information. However, students are not best placed to fully assess and judge the performance of academics. This study focuses on exploring academics’ views and perceptions of the successful application of performance appraisal in the context of the Jordanian Higher Education. Considering the context that is significantly influenced by culture, this study explores the influence of ‘Wasta’, a social norm in Jordan, on academics’ views of performance appraisal. A qualitative approach is adopted to conduct research as well as an interpretivist approach to analyse twenty in-depth interviews conducted with nineteen academics and one HR manager in a single case study: a private academic institution in Jordan. This research study used the Social Capital Theory as a theoretical lens to assist in meeting its aim.

The findings of this study identified many institutional and non-institutional factors that affect the successful application of performance appraisal. This research contributes to knowledge and practice in respect of researching performance appraisal in Higher Education, Human Resources Management in Higher Education, and ‘Wasta’ in Higher Education. This study also offers suggestions for future research.

Date of Award	Jun 2019
Original language	English
Supervisor	Hefin Rowlands (Supervisor) & Caryn Cook (Supervisor)