Performance appraisal in the Chinese state-owned coal industry

Performance Appraisal (PA) is a western management concept that is meant to improve individual and, concomitantly, organisational performance. Although performance appraisal systems have come under a plethora of criticisms, they continue to be a platform of human resource management systems. This study focussed on the practices in state-owned coalmines in China. In contrast to the majority of previous studies on PA practices in China, and as a result of increasing pressure from intensified market competition, Chinese state-owned enterprises were found to be utilising modern PA measures as effective tools to enhance their management efficiency and productivity. This paper describes the implementation of performance appraisal in the state-owned coal sector, indicating some interesting variations upon western practices, and provides valuable insight into the significant changes occurring in PA in China.