The know-how for implementing pay-for-performance at the
federal level is cause for concern, said the General
Accounting Office following a study of demonstration
projects at various agencies sponsored by the Office of
Personnel Management.
The projects do not demonstrate the characteristics of
high-performing organizations that use such systems, such
as a continuous review and revision process to achieve
results, accelerate change, and facilitate communication.
Additional work is needed to strengthen efforts to ensure
that performance management systems are tools to help
agencies manage on a daily basis, said GAO.
For example, review of the projects at the Navy and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology suggest
that employee performance is not being evaluated with
objective and fact-based information needed to allow
managers to make meaningful distinctions between top
and mediocre performers, GAO said.
