Today I attended a (mandatory) training workshop relating to the Developmental Review, a process which is aims to “help to align the objectives of the Reviewee with the goals of the Unit* and with those of the University” and “to develop the capability of all staff, by focussing on the employee’s current role and their future career plans”. In other words, it’s a Staff Appraisal scheme.
Basically the reviewee discusses goals for the next couple of years with the reviewer and identify any training or other needs that would help achieve those goals. The two meet again at the end of the review period to see whether the goals have been reached and agree aims for the next couple of years. And so on.
I have, in a previous existence, been involved with conducting appraisals as a reviewer as well as participating as a reviewee, and found the experience reasonably positive because it is reviewee-led and focussed on career development rather than being tied to pay. This time round, however, the only career development goal on the horizon for me is retirement so I’m not sure I’ll get much out of it unless someone can suggest a way of bringing the date forward…
*Don’t ask me what “the goals of the Unit” are. I have no idea.
