Performance Evaluation of Knowledge Workers at R&D department in Outsourcing Conditions

Abstract

Nowadays, the focus of industries is changed from efficiency of workers to efficiency of knowledge workers. Thus, the performance appraisal process of the knowledge workers is important. A basic drawback of previous methods for performance evaluation is their biased results due to influence of rater's personal motivations. In this study, by developing a Result Base Method (RBM) approach, the criteria of performance appraisal of knowledge workers in outsourcing conditions is identified in Hedayat-e-Farhikhtegan-e-Javan Institution (HFJ). Different models of data envelopment analysis (DEA) are validated on 25 knowledge workers working at the research and development department at the institution. The DEA was able to classify knowledge workers into efficient and inefficient ones. Based on project career development plans, a set of efficient knowledge workers was used to establish an internal best practice benchmark for improving the performance of other inefficient knowledge workers. The findings show that 4 knowledge workers are efficient. Our findings indicate that the non-radial model of data envelopment analysis owns more separation power comparing with other radial models.

Keywords

• Knowledge workers
• Performance appraisal
• Outsourcing
• Result base management
• Data Envelopment Analysis
• Non-radial models