Fewer than half of employers have a clear strategy for performance management, according to new research.

Although nine out of 10 employers believe that performance management is a major organisational issue, responses from 49 HR departments across the private and public sectors reveal that only a quarter involve HR in the goal-setting process – with the majority relying instead on the board and management.

Other key findings from the IRS survey show that:

• one third of employers say they have a performance culture

• the most common method of communicating performance goals is a meeting between manager and subordinate

• various performance management initiatives are used – from employment development to reward – but with varying degrees of success.