Performance Management

This book serves as a textbook for an introductory course on performance management. It gives an overview over various aspects of managing performance of the modem enterprise by focusing on performance evaluation and measurement and performance improvement techniques. Most of the material is based on a thorough literature search and an extensive reference list has been included. The book has been sponsored by the Norwegian productivity research program TOPP and by the COMETT program of the European Community Commission. It has been applied as the text for a continuing education course both within TOPP and the COMETT project APECE. It will also serve as part of a course material for a master's degree in technology management. The book is aimed at an audience of business and technology oriented personnel at middle and higher management level in manufacturing industry. At the same time it is suitable as a textbook for business and engineering schools and colleges. is organized in five parts discussing productivity and The book performance, performance planning, performance review, performance improvement and performance influencing factors. The authors have worked closely together to obtain a well coordinated text without overlap. They have provided a draft. This draft has been circulated for comments amongst the authors and amongst external experts. Based on their input the manuscript has been revised. Eivald RfI}ren and Einar Printz Moe, chairman of the board and program manager for the TOPP research program respectively, have also provided valuable input to the book.

The modern way to improve productivity is by a process-oriented approach. This involves focusing on the performance rather than the efficiency in a company. This new way of thinking, commonly referred to as performance management, is clearly explained and discussed in this book. Performance Management provides readers with a detailed overview of managing the performance of the modern enterprise by focusing on performance evaluation and measurement and performance improvement techniques. The book is organized in five parts as follows: productivity and competitiveness, performance planning, performance review, performance improvement, and performance-influencing factors. Productivity or performance improvement has developed into a key issue for many organizations. The book is vital reading for managers and executives in business- or technology-oriented positions, especially quality managers, planning personnel, technical and production managers and personnel dealing with enterprise development, procurement, and customer service. Performance Management will also be suitable as a text for business and engineering schools and colleges.