Performance Appraisal of Civil Servants : comparative perspectives

Abstract

A number of European countries introduced new civil service performance appraisal systems over the past decade. The current reform trends in the EU member states emphasise the need for development of a modern performance appraisal model, where measurable performance targets, agreed between civil servants and their superiors, constitute the main performance appraisal criterion. There is also a visible trend of linking performance appraisal to other human resource management functions, such as promotion, professional development, remuneration, mobility, termination of employment. This paper provides a comparative review of good practice of performance appraisal in European countries. Comparison of European countries performance appraisal models provides an opportunity for learning from experiences and problems of others, taking into account particularities of national administrative systems. Improvements in the methods, criteria, ratings and style of communication are the most debated instruments. In the context of current changes of the Serbian civil service legislation, the emphasis is on development of professional capacities and introduction of modern performance appraisal system. The authors assess the current performance appraisal system in Serbia, pointing out its strengths and weaknesses, measured against the SIGMA Principles of Public Administration and give proposals for its improvement.