Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188
In organizational development (OD), performance can be thought of as Actual Results vs Desired Results. Any discrepancy, where Actual is less than Desired, could consitute the performance improvement zone.
Performance management and improvement can be thought of as a cycle:
1. Performance Planning where goals and objectives are established
2. Performance Coaching where a manager intervenes to give feedback and adjust performance
3. Performance appraisal where individual performance is formally documented and feedback delivered
A performance problem is any gap between Desired Results and Actual Results. Performance improvement is any effort targeted at closing the gap between Actual Results and Desired Results.
Performance Management Cycle
Business Performance Management (BPM) is a set of processes that help businesses discover efficient use of their business units, financial, human and material resources.