Performance management as a tool to improve performance outcomes at a water trading entity.

M. Tech. Business AdministrationOver the past few years, there has been increasing evidence in the literature on performance management of the importance of performance management (PM) as a tool to increase desired employee outcomes. The South African public service is facing significant challenges on several fronts in sustaining its human resource management so that it will be instrumental in providing quality service delivery to all public stakeholders in the 21st century. The continued success of any public institution in the service industry depends on its employees' contribution and commitment. This means that human resources are a vital resource that contributes to a public institution's effectiveness. In order to improve service delivery in the public sector, performance management was introduced as a means of improving employee outcomes in the Water Trading Entity (WTE). The purpose of this study was to investigate how the current performance management practices within the WTE (e.g., providing employees with feedback on strengths and weaknesses; development needs; resources needed by employees; as well as opportunities for monitoring) are related to the achievement of specific desired performance outcomes. The research was undertaken in the WTE that operates within the Department of Water Affairs