Performance Management Success

This book provides managers, leaders and practitioners with a dynamic framework that links several variables associated with performance management which can be applied across organizations and industries worldwide. Based on empirical evidence and experiences, this book provides a critical understanding of the interrelationship of organizational culture with performance management process (PMP) planning and implementation. The elements of the framework are approached from a macro-level-view and are balanced with conciseness and realism based on applied success studies, making this book a valuable educational, training and development resource tool for leaders and managers at all levels.

The topic of performance in organizations is like the weather—everyone likes to talk about it, but few understand what is truly happening—or understand why? Individuals and organizations are no different when it comes to performance, regardless of performance level of focus: individual, team, unit, or organization-wide. Teams and organizations often miss opportunities to not only improve performance, but also leverage and sustain high performance. Organizational performance, organizational culture and organizational success are interrelated and should reinforce one another. This can be achieved through an effective performance management process (PMP) that lives, functions and thrives at multiple levels within institutions. This book will help organizations and institutions achieve performance management success by identifying comment elements, along with some patterned variation, that are applicable to a successful PMP. 

Featuring hands-on resource reference tools for immediate use and application, this book is useful for leaders, managers, scholars, students and policy makers in management, leadership, and organizational culture.

“At last!!!  A practical, useable guide to Performance Management – perhaps the most important but yet the least mastered of all management responsibilities.  Tony Barth’s guidance will help you design and implement a system that will improve not only your team members’ performance, but yours as well.  P.S. This resource guide is not just for Human Resource Managers – but for ALL levels of leaders and managers.” (Nance Dicciani, Ph.D., Former President and CEO, Honeywell Specialty Materials, Honeywell International; and Senior Executive Vice President, Rohm and Haas Company)

“Tony Barth has done it again, applying his vast human resource management wisdom and experience to the important subject of Performance Management.  Written for leaders at every level, this practical guide explains his comprehensive process for developing employees to achieve the organization’s goals. This book should be in every manager’s tool-kit.” (GeorgeM. Schwartz, Ed.D., Chair of Professional Studies, Immaculata University; former Senior Human Resource Business Partner with GE and Rohm and Haas Company)

“Tony Barth IS Mr. Performance Management.  Having worked both with, and for, this professional businessman has been both a unique learning experience and my pleasure.  Not to sound cliché, but Tony has probably forgotten more about the subject of Performance Management than most people in leadership positions will ever know.  Too much literature on this topic today seems destined to do nothing more than sell consulting services; that is clearly NOT Tony’s modus operandi.  His intention, as it has always been is to help inform and educate – so as to transform the hearts and minds of leaders so that they can humanly maximize organizational effectiveness.  Performance Management Success does precisely that.” (David Spirk, President & Lead Consultant, Spirk & Associates; former Director and Senior Human Resource Business Partner in various Fortune 100 international organizations)

“There is no hotter topic over the last several years facing organizations as they struggle to get value from their Performance Management processes.  Tony Barth clearly recognizes the strategic value the process holds at both the organizational and individual level.  Tony strips the heaviness and complexity off the process, and coherently lays out the core essentials in a way that leaders and managers of organizations at any level can easily understand not just what to do, but the why.  This work will become your Performance Management bible thanks to the unique and pragmatic perspective shared here.  It truly is a Best Practice resource.” (Dave Gartenberg,  Vice President, Human Resources, Slalom Consulting; former General Manager, Customer Services and Support Human Resources, Microsoft Inc)

“Performance Management takes valuable time and is hard work, but is it worth it?  Done right, you bet it is.  Tony Barth’s work provides leaders with a practical hands-on guide for immediate application that will yield a high ROI.  Tony’s years of experience helping organizations succeed by helping individuals succeed, one person at a time, will be your go-to resource for getting the most out of your investment in Performance Management and, more importantly, your investment in people.“ (Dianne Carmody, Americas Marketing Director, Houghton International)

“The ability to attract, develop, and retain outstanding talent sets high performing organizations apart, and an effective Performance Management process is critical to sustaining an organization’s success.  Tony Barth has distilled his decades of human resource experience into practical Performance Management practices that should be used by all levels of management.  His insights will help leaders create and enhance the organizational culture in which talent can thrive.” (Lee Johnston, Non Executive Chairman of the Board, Delta Phoenix Inc.; former Rohm and Haas Company and DuPont Company senior executive)

 “The connection between Organizational Culture, Organizational Performance and Organizational Success is critically important for top management.  Tony Barth’s guide definitely provides a contribution towards application of Performance Management Best Practices by providing a comprehensive framework of performance from the strategic organization stage up through organization and individual evaluation stages.  His framing of barriers, and solutions, is highly unique and most instructive. As both a workbook and resource reference, it will be very appealing to a wide range of senior managers, new managers, and professionals, as well as graduate business schools who teach Performance Management. Great work!” (Mary Van Brunt, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business, Arts, and Media – Cabrini University)

“Performance Management processes are often challenged as ineffective by management and skeptically viewed by employees. There is no perfect or totally objective system.  In Performance Management Success, Tony Barth helps to reverse that view – and totally captures and distills the essence of elements that provides success in managing performance.” (Carol Asselta, SPHR; SHRM – SCP, Managing Partner, AKziom Consulting; former Director of Human Resources, American Water; former Director of Human Resources, Exelon)

“I learned about Performance Management at Rohm and Haas many years ago, featuring a curriculum designed by Tony Barth (including goal setting, employee development,coaching & feedback, and recognition).  I have not only taught these skills and techniques for countless years ever since, I have personally used them to supervise my own employees.  They work!  Thank you Tony for contributing to my training & development in this critical leadership and management area.” (Tom Sauer, Manager, Training & Development, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center; former Human Resources Manager, Rohm and Haas Company)

Tony Barth, as an early practitioner and leader of best practices exchange, was a co-architect during the mid 1980's in developing a High Performing Organizational (HPO) Network - involving several leading Fortune 100 organizations from chemical manufacturing and process industries - for the purpose of studying and applying best practices in support of high performing leadership organizations. The currency of his best practice exchange work continues today with his Performance Management Success guide. He is the creator and co-author with Wiaan de Beer of Sleeping Giants – A Wake-Up Guide for First Line Leaders of All Organizations (North American Business Press, Amazon).  He is President/CEO of Barth Associates LTD, a Human Resource and Organizational Effectiveness consultancy. Tony has also served Cabrini University in an adjunct faculty professor role since 2002 – supporting the Business Administration Division.

Wiaan de Beer has a BA degree in Psychology and an Honors degree in Performance Studies from South Africa.  He also holds a Master’s degree in Teaching, Writing, and Criticism – from West Chester University, PA USA.  Wiaan teaches Language Arts, Video Production at the High School level, while also serving as a Program Manager at Barth Associates LTD.