The key to a better worker

THE KEY to improving worker productivity may lie in how job performance is measured.And human resource professionals need to tailor measurement tools to the nature of the task.Janis Marville, director of human resources at the Central Bank of Barbados, made this point last Thursday during a break in the 11th annual Conference Of Human Resource Managers Of Central Banks In The Caribbean Region, at Hilton Barbados.She told the DAILY NATION that feedback was essential for workers.“But do we do it the same way if it is a manufacturing sector, if we’re selling goods as opposed to if it’s a service sector,” she queried.“So I think that is where the challenge comes,” she said adding that it was critical to know the different nuances associated with service delivery.“. . . Certainly we cannot measure and respond in the same way as if we were measuring goods where you can have a quantifiable perspective.” Marville noted that the literature showed that the focus was often on performance review and performance appraisal which involved looking at past behaviour.“We can’t change the past. The literature is pointing towards performance preview. These are the objectives I want to fulfil. What do I need to get there?” she asked. (NB)