Performance appraisals refer to a number of activities through which organisations seek to assess employees and develop their competencies and enhance their performance (Fletcher 2001 cited in Steptoe-Warren 2013:74)

Performance appraisals provide an opportunity for the employer and the employee to discuss an individual's performance, development and training needs (Steptoe-Warren 2013: 74).

The aim of performance and development is to ensure that the employee has the skills, knowledge and abilities to do their job effectively.

This can be achieved using a number of methods, for example:

360 degree feedbackappraisal interviewscritical incident methodessay method (Steptoe-Warren 2013)