What is performance appraisal?

Performance appraisal is fundamentally understood as the ongoing process of formally evaluating employee performance and providing feedback. This is because performance appraisal is not just a singular event; it emphasizes the importance of continuous assessment in which employees receive regular feedback on their performance, strengths, and areas for improvement.

This process allows managers to guide and support employees in their development, aligning individual performance with the organization's objectives. Regular feedback encourages employee engagement and can lead to enhanced motivation, job satisfaction, and productivity over time. In this context, performance appraisal is integral to talent management and helps create a culture of performance improvement within an organization.

The other options do not accurately represent the breadth and purpose of performance appraisal. A one-time evaluation process implies a lack of continuity and would not support ongoing development. An informal discussion about work-related issues does not encompass the structured and formal nature typically associated with performance appraisals. Lastly, while calculating bonuses can be a component of performance management, it is not synonymous with performance appraisal, which focuses more broadly on evaluating and improving employee performance.