Performance Management from a China HR Expert Perspective: Focus on Future not Past

Oct 11, 2012 - Organizational behavior study and performance management have come a long way since “Skinner’s Box” and Aubrey Daniels. This is especially true in China where simplifying performance management based solely on performance review is a common practice, and problem.

As part of its ongoing series providing business intelligence and experienced China market expertise, Z. H. TANK speaks at length with Willie Ye (叶诚为), Greater China Human Resources Director for ARKEMA Group. Over the course of 45 minutes, Mr. Ye explains how managers and executives can get more out of performance reviews and “positive reinforcement” at workplaces.

Ye begins with warnings about chronic missteps made in human resource management in China, including misdirected bonuses, poor understanding of expectations, manager subjectivity, performances not in line with promotions, lack of development opportunity and the consequences of non-participation.

Meanwhile, drawing on decades of experience, as well as China-specific case studies, Ye recommends best practices for performance management. In particular, Ye introduces a system called SMART for HR managers to practice the effective performance management. Throughout, Ye’s stresses that “performance management is about the employee’s future behavior, not about the past achievements.”

Finally, during a 10-minute Q&A session, Ye addresses the subject of employee diversity at multinational corporations. Diversity, in his view, is not purely based on ethnical or cultural backgrounds. Even in ethnically homogeneous workforce, he sheds light on how HR managers may forge diversity programs that will tremendously enhance corporate culture and overall business performance.


About Willie Ye (叶诚为):
Mr. Willie Ye’s career spans three decades. He is currently the Greater China Human Resources Director for ARKEMA Group, which currently has six sites operating in Greater China with over 1800 employees. Prior to joining ARKEMA, he was the HR Director for NCH China and Deputy General Manager of HIMA Group, respectively. Mr. Ye is also a noted academic, acting as a corporate mentor for the MBA programs at Shanghai University, East China Normal University and Shanghai International Studies Institution. He is among the most-sought speakers at China’s HR seminar and conferences. Mr. Ye also guest-lectures and acts as supervising board member for EM-Lyon--Shanghai Campus.

About Z. H. TANK
Z. H. TANK is an online library of webinars for Chinese elite business executives and professionals to sharpen their management know-how. Through customized webinars, homegrown and global industry leaders share with the audience the latest trends, best practices, hot topics, and technologies that impact the world of business. The bilingual library of webinars also aims to enable the seamless integration between global perspective, know-how and local business wisdom. Z. H. TANK is a sibling brand of China business intelligence specialist Z. H. STUDIO.

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