The Civil Service Reform Act indicates the intent of performance appraisal is to help the employee improve job performance and become a valuable employee. What is the term for this process?

• A. Performance Standards
• B. Performance Appraisal
• C. Unacceptable Performance
• D. Affirmative Action

Answer: (B)

Performance appraisal is the process described. It’s a formal review where a supervisor evaluates how an employee performs against defined standards and objectives, with the goal of identifying strengths, development needs, and concrete steps to improve. Under the Civil Service Reform Act, this appraisal is meant to help employees grow and become more valuable to the organization, guiding training and development and informing decisions about promotions, pay, and career advancement. The other terms don’t fit this exact idea: performance standards are the criteria used to judge performance, not the evaluation process itself; unacceptable performance simply describes failing to meet standards; and affirmative action concerns equal opportunity and workforce diversity, not performance evaluation.