Conducting Midterm Performance Reviews: An Exercise for Teaching Performance Management

Abstract

Although the annual performance review has received much criticism from practitioners and researchers alike, organizations continue to use coaching and/or reviews to maximize employee effectiveness and minimize liabilities. A semester class is a great context to practice skills relating to tracking and reviewing performance. This article describes how management instructors can implement performance reviews as an experiential exercise designed to improve students’ confidence related to receiving performance feedback. During a “Performance Appraisal Week,” instructors conduct individual performance reviews designed to discuss individual students’ class performance and elicit student–teacher feedback. Students experience the emotions of a professional face-to-face review, practice multiple-source and multiple-measure feedback interpretation, engage in performance-related dialogue, and consider plans to meet goals. During a full-class reflection and debrief, students apply concepts and discuss elements of performance management systems, and they build their confidence in how to navigate performance-related feedback discussions.