Abstract

This case is about Zoological Society of San Diego (ZSSD), a nonprofit organization that operated the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, and San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, and how it implemented a new online employee performance management system. Before this, ZSSD did not have an effective system for employee performance. Appraisal was almost non-existent in the organization with it being given a low priority. The organization had a paper-based system, but there were no consequences for not filling up the forms and sending it to the HR department. In 2005, as part of ZSSD’s new strategic plan, the organization decided to lay emphasis on employee accountability and a make a shift to pay-for-performance system that was tied to goals. The HR team led by the new HR Director Tim Mulligan (Mulligan) decided to opt for an online employee performance management system - Halogen eAppraisal. As per the new system, each employee was rated on two categories - goals and leadership competencies. The goals flowed from the overall organizational objectives while the organization had involved managers in identifying the required leadership competencies. After rolling out the new system in a phased manner, ZSSD said that the new system had not only resulted in 100 percent completion rate of performance appraisals, the system had also helped the organization transform its culture and increase employee accountability.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the issues and challenges in employee performance appraisal and performance management. Analyze ZSSD’s new performance appraisal system that rated employees on goals and leadership competencies. Analyze the respective advantages and disadvantag

Keywords

Performance appraisal, Performance review, Performance management, Performance evaluation, Talent management, Goal Management, Competency Management, Career Development, Performance Journals, HRIS, HR systems, Vendor selection, Performance appraisal software, Organizational culture, Halogen Software, Halogen eAppraisal, San Diego Zoo