Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is security‐oriented environment with a constitutional mandate to enforce offenders’ sentences by the court in a humane and safe manner that leads to their rehabilitation. Performance by employees especially in a security‐oriented environment is inevitably important and therefore has to be properly managed. Performance appraisal is one area of performance management that reinforces good performance. This study is meant to achieve the following objectives: To review literature regarding optimal performance appraisal processes in the DCS ; To conduct an investigation into the perceptions of DCS employees on how performance appraisal is done in the department ; To develop recommendations on how to improve performance appraisal conduct in the department. A literature review is conducted to put into perspective an ideal performance appraisal. Following this, qualitative and quantitative case study design methods were used to investigate how performance appraisals are viewed. Research participants were randomly sampled from Goodwood Prison, including Bellville Community Corrections. Their perceptions of the current system were tested and they were also asked how they thought it could be improved. Their input was collected by means of questionnaires. Collected data is then analysed, conclusions drawn and recommendations made on how performance appraisal could be improved. This study afforded DCS members an opportunity to interact with the researcher, in terms of representing their perceptions performance appraisal in the department. A major finding in this study is that the majority (70%) of DCS employees were not happy with the way appraisal is conducted in the department. Major causes of dissatisfaction included favouritism or lack of fairness. This is followed by lack of training. Respondents placed emphasis on the requirements for improvement in both of these areas. Based on the conducted research, the thesis offers the following recommendations to the DCS, namely making spiritual care a major player in increasing fairness and in eliminating favouritism which derails satisfactory performance appraisal in the department. Training is suggested as another way that improve performance appraisal in the department. In conclusion performance appraisal should be treated as important and given the attention that it deserves by management. This will result in better performance by employees and the department itself and is of utmost importance in a security‐oriented environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Departement van Korrektiewe Dienste (DKD) is sekuriteits‐en omgewingsgeörienteerd met ‘n konstitisionele mandaat om vonnisse van oortreders wat deur die hof opgelê is op ‘n veilige en menslike wyse toe te pas wat hul rehabilitasie tot gevolg hê. Produktiwiteit van werknemers is veral noodsaaklik en belangrik in ‘n sekuriteitsge‐orienteerde omgewing en moet dus gevolglik effektief bestuur word. Produktiwiteitsmeting is een fasset van produktiwiteitsbestuur wat goeie prestasie en hoër produktiwiteit bevorder. Die mikpunt van hierdie studie was om die volgende doelstellings te bereik: Om ‘n oorsig van die akademiese literatuur aangaande die optimale produktiwiteitsassesseringsprosesse in die DKD te bied ; Om die menings van DKD werknemers oor die proses van produktiwiteitsassessering in die DKD te ondersoek ; en Om voorstelle te ontwikkel vir die verbetering van produktiwiteitsassesseringspraktyke in die department. ‘n Oorsig van akademiese literatuur was gedoen om ‘n ideaal vir produktiwiteitsassessering in perspektief te plaas. Vervolgens is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe ondersoekinstrumente toegepas in ‘n gevallestudie om die opvattings omtrent produktiwiteitsassessering te ondersoek. Goodwood gevangenis, en Bellville Gemeenskapsgevangenis was die bronne vir deelnemers aan die ondersoek . Hul opvattings oor die huidige struktuur was getoets, sowel as hul menings oor hoe dit verbeter kan word. Hul bydrae was verkry deur middel van ‘n vraelys. Die versamelde data was ge‐analiseer, afleidings is gemaak , menings was gevorm en voorstellings is gemaak oor hoe produktiwiteitsassessering verbeter kan word. Die ondersoek het ‘n geleentheid gebied vir interaksie tussen lede van die DKD en die ondersoekbeampte in terme van verteenwoordiging van lede in hul menings oor produktiwiteitsassessering in die department. ‘n Hoofstaande bevinding van die studie was dat ‘n oorweldigende meerderheid van werknemers van die DKD ongelukkig was met die wyse van produktiwiteitsassessering in die department. Hoofoorsake van ontevredenheid was voortrekkery en ongelyke behandeling. Dit was gevolg deur ‘n gebrek aan opleiding. Respondente het klem gelê op die vereistes vir verbetering in albei areas. Hierdie tesis maak die volgende voorstellings, gebaseer op die ondersoek wat geloods is: gee prioriteitsposisie aan geestelike sorg as ‘n groot faktor in die verhoging van gelyke behandeling en die uitskakeling van voortekkery as ‘n duiwel wat bevredigende prestasie‐ en produktiwiteitsassessering in die wiele ry binne die department. Opleiding was voorgestel as nog ‘n wyse waarop produktiwiteitsassessering in die department verbeter kan word. Ten laaste, produktiwiteitsassessering moet as belangrik behandel word en die goedverdiende aandag van bestuur geniet. Dit sal verhoogde produktiwiteit/werksprestasie by werknemers en die department self tot gevolg hê en is van uiterste belang in ‘n sekuriteitsge‐orienteerde omgewing.