Title: Behavioural factors influencing the institutionalisation of performance management in the Ghanaian public sector

Authors: Emelia Amoako Asiedu

Addresses: University of Environment and Sustainable Development, PMB Somanya, Eastern Region, Ghana

Abstract: Citizens' expectations for efficiency from public servants have caused governments to evaluate employee performance at the public sector. This study sought to establish how behavioural factors influence the implementation and institutionalisation of performance management systems in the public sector. Scholars of performance managements' attribute the neglect of the behavioural aspect of PM as a major factor to the difficulty of its institutionalisation (Dodoo, 1996; Nkrumah, 1991; Ohemeng, 2009, 2011). The qualitative approach was adopted using in-depth interviews in selected ministries in the public service of Ghana. The study found that a successful institutionalisation of PM in Ghana will require giving prominence to behavioural factors such as perception, work attitudes, management interactions and commitments. We conclude that, successful PM in the Ghanaian civil service, requires a shift from the regime where a PM system starts with an appraisal instrument, setting of targets, allocation of resources and evaluation to consideration of the behavioural factors.

Keywords: performance management; institutionalisation; behavioural approach; Ghana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMD.2022.130935

International Journal of Management Development, 2022 Vol.2 No.3, pp.185 - 206

Received: 21 Sep 2021
Accepted: 12 Mar 2022
Published online: 14 May 2023 *

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