Employee performance management is a legitimate pressing issue for most organizations that have reached a certain scale. At critical junctures, companies must manage their growth wisely to capitalize on the momentum while ensuring that an upwards trajectory does not lead to an over-extension of resources .

Due to its flexibility and multiple capabilities, employing a human resources information system (HRIS) to tackle the handling of a performance management strategy seems to make sense: an HRIS is already helping to manage the company’s HR data, after all, why not address performance management too?

Data-driven platforms exist to supply actionable insights that can fulfill the goals of any performance-focused company. Organizations can say goodbye to recording and reviewing data on spreadsheets and Word documents, and apply input backed by people science to optimize workflows.

Data management alone does not tell the full story

While an HRIS might be proficient at the data management component of data collection, it cannot process a vital aspect of the company’s approach to performance management – the employee’s actual experiences and wellbeing. As Deloitte research points out, employees who are more satisfied with their company’s approach to performance management are 1.3 times more likely to meet their targets – and are more than double as likely to be innovative in their work approach; for example, being creative in problem-solving.

But relying solely on an HRIS negates these critical points. This is because the innovation driver for an HRIS is its competitors: HRIS platform providers often mirror one another’s platforms instead of being driven by user needs.

HRIS platforms are designed based on logical sequences and process flows, but rarely do they incorporate input from specialists in the field of organizational psychology. Occupational psychologists and people scientists systematically analyze how the performance management process can be used to engage and motivate employees throughout the performance process, rounding out the necessary ‘human’ information that should be prominent in a human resource platform.

HRIS platforms can be exceptional at simplifying and providing universal HR data management functionality, but they are often a collection of discrete databases, with newer features tacked on rather than a single, holistic, integrated system built with performance imperatives in mind from the get-go.

Fortunately, an effective performance management and employee experience platform like Culture Amp can work together with the HRIS to make the jobs of time-poor HR professionals easier. Using such a service, HR teams can provide higher impact in their reporting and goal-tracking to the boardroom – both easing progress tracking and ensuring the goals of the individual are aligned with the goals of the firm.

Streamlining HR processes and performance reviews

There’s clearly the need for a dedicated performance management system, as the multidisciplined H&H Group found when implementing Culture Amp’s all-in-one Performance and Engagement tool for its over 3,400 global workforce, including 290 employees based out of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ)

While other organizations were reporting low engagement rates with traditional performance appraisal systems, 85% of H&H Group’s ANZ employees reported successfully turning around a full performance cycle – the highest completion rate since introducing a formal performance management tool.

Using Culture Amp’s platform, H&H Group managed to put in place a feedback-focused performance culture in under six months. In that brief period, 84% of Group members independently requested performance feedback from peers and direct reports without needing any prompting from HR or line managers – showcasing just how H&H workers were engaged  across the board, from  team members to leaders. A dedicated employee experience platform would not only cover surface-level performance management, but a platform like Culture Amp flips the script and simultaneously extends support for existing HR system functionality, by leveraging technology that focuses on culture and on humanizing the employee experience, placing employee usability functions at the forefront

Culture Amp’s platform is built from the ground up to track, analyze and present performance data in an easy-to-use and comprehendible manner, by tapping cutting-edge research, powerful technology, and the largest employee dataset in the world. For example, instead of opening various windows and scouring the platform, only data applicable for employee performance reviews and goal-setting is initially surfaced. Across the business, Culture Amp makes the right information visible to a company’s various stakeholders, which is why the most innovation-driven outfits like Salesforce, Unilever, PwC and BigCommerce depend on Culture Amp daily.

Studies also indicate that the classical performance review process is not as informative or useful as was once believed, with nearly nine out of ten HR leaders stating that the process doesn’t yield accurate enough context about performance. Culture Amp propagates a culture of frequent feedback so that the data gathered can be turned into actionable, measurable insights constantly, so managers can set and track realistic goals for their staff.

Even though an HRIS is not custom-fitted to surface and focus on performance management, it is still the go-to platform for managing other HR support processes like payroll and employee benefits. Nonetheless, a thought-through, integrated platform like Culture Amp can sync with HRIS platforms so that all data can be unified and presented holistically, providing a comprehensive view of the organization’s performance.

Positive culture development can only occur with good performance management. Culture Amp helps define the balance between development and performance, so that employees are on an upward career growth trajectory while hitting company goals and targets. This is not only critical for sustainable business performance, but is one of the most effective ways to keep employees engaged and retain them longer.

Ultimately, a performance management system is only as good as the questions asked to measure performance.  Culture Amp has dedicated templates designed and validated by experienced and knowledgeable people scientists who have studied occupational behaviors in-depth, helping ensure the data collected will, in turn, be valid and effective in measuring performance.

Synchronize your HR tools sooner rather than later, and streamline employee performance management & reporting today. Still not convinced how an employee experience platform can address HR pain points such as saving on time costs, provide easier intuitive usability, and successfully align both company and individual goals?  Find out with this 3-minute Culture Amp demo that shows the platform in action from A-Z, showcasing how to drive better, performance-oriented business workflows.