What a Difference Effective Performance Management Makes. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the Department of Agriculture has verified something we knew all along.
Effective performance management has a positive effect on an organization's bottom line! The Mission of FNSFNS administers nutrition assistance programs for the Department of Agriculture.
The mission of FNS is to provide children and needy families better access to food and a more healthful diet through its food assistance programs and comprehensive nutrition education efforts. FNS works in partnership with the States in all its programs. States determine most administrative details regarding distribution of food benefits and eligibility of participants, and FNS provides funding to cover most of the States' administrative costs.
Performance Management Processes at FNSThe Southeast Regional Office of FNS has a performance management program that closely aligns its performance management processes with its organizational goals. Planning. The Region has developed a structured method of establishing its mission and vision statements and its strategic goals. The Region cascades those goals to each supervisor's performance plan by using the organization's general balanced measures of Leading Change, Leading People, and Business Acumen. The Region clarifies those general measures with specific objectives in tailored Leadership Action Plans with related Win- Win Agreements. These plans and agreements are based on a supervisor's specific role in the accomplishment of the organization's goals. Monitoring. A major aspect of the program is its strong emphasis on communication. To keep the lines of communication as open as possible, supervisors and employees review their plans on an ongoing basis to ensure that all activities continue to align with the Region's strategic plan.
Other communication support includes a variety of internal web sites and an employee newsletter. The newsletter includes information on the goals that have been met and progress toward other goals that have not yet been achieved. Developing. The Region emphasizes individual employee development. Each employee must have an individual development plan. Employees also participate in a variety of developmental opportunities, such as the FNS University's .
FNS uses a three- level rating system- fails to meet, meets, or exceeds. All performance plans include general expectations for each element, while the Win- Win Leadership Agreements spell out specific results required for each rating level.
Rewarding. FNS uses a variety of cash and non- monetary awards to reinforce its desired results. It has unique internal peer and spirit awards, certificates of merit, spot awards, and time- off awards. As part of its quarterly newsletter, the Region lists the names of award recipients for the quarter and includes information about the recipient and his or her contribution. The Results—So Far. The end result of incorporating effective performance management into its day to day operation has been an increased understanding of the role employees play in individual programs and in Regional performance. Additionally, under these initiatives, the Southeast Regional Office has saved more that $4. The Southeast Regional Office was a recipient of the 2.
OPM Director's PILLAR Award (Performance, Incentives, and Leadership Linked to Achieve Results). OPM created the PILLAR Award to recognize and publicize exemplary employee performance management programs processes, and practices that support alignment of employee performance with organizational strategic goals as well as results oriented and customer focused performance.
Public Relations - Encyclopedia - Business Terms. Related Terms: Community Relations; Press Kits; Press Releases. Public relations describes the various methods a company uses to disseminate messages about its products, services, or overall image to its customers, employees, stockholders, suppliers, or other interested members of the community. The point of public relations is to make the public think favorably about the company and its offerings. Commonly used tools of public relations include news releases, press conferences, speaking engagements, and community service programs. Although advertising is closely related to public relations—as it too is concerned with promoting and gaining public acceptance for the company's products—the goal of advertising is generating sales, while the goal of public relations is generating good will. The effect of good public relations is to lessen the gap between how an organization sees itself and how others outside the organization perceive it.
Public relations involves two- way communication between an organization and its public. It requires listening to the constituencies on which an organization depends as well as analyzing and understanding the attitudes and behaviors of those audiences. Only then can an organization undertake an effective public relations campaign. Many small business owners elect to handle the public relations activities for their own companies, while others choose to hire a public relations specialist. Managers of somewhat larger firms, on the other hand, frequently contract with external public relations or advertising agencies to enhance their corporate image.
Employee Relations & Human Resources. Employee relations is the one discipline within. 15 tips for effective employee communication. They know an engaged workforce makes for a more successful. Lee Iacocca had some cautionary words on the perils of ignoring the need for effective communication. Successful inductions start with an effective employee handbook; Successful inductions start with an. Start your induction program the easy and effective way. ER Strategies has over 30 years of employee relations.
But whatever option is chosen, the head of a company is ultimately responsible for its public relations. GOALS OF PUBLIC RELATIONSSome of the main goals of public relations are to create, maintain, and protect the organization's reputation, enhance its prestige, and present a favorable image.
Studies have shown that consumers often base their purchase decisions on a company's reputation, so public relations can have a definite impact on sales and revenue. Public relations can be an effective part of a company's overall marketing strategy. In the case of a for- profit company, public relations and marketing should be coordinated to be sure they are working to achieve the same objectives. Another major public relations goal is to create good will for the organization. This involves such functions as employee relations, stockholder and investor relations, media relations, and community relations. Public relations may function to educate certain audiences about many things relevant to the organization—including the business in general, new legislation, and how to use a particular product—as well as to overcome misconceptions and prejudices.
For example, a nonprofit organization may attempt to educate the public regarding a certain point of view, while trade associations may undertake educational programs regarding particular industries and their products and practices. STEPS IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNEffective public relations requires a knowledge, based on analysis and understanding, of all the factors that influence public attitudes toward the organization. While a specific public relations project or campaign may be undertaken proactively or reactively (to manage some sort of image crisis), the first basic step in either case involves analysis and research to identify all the relevant factors of the situation. In this first step, the organization gains an understanding of its various constituencies and the key factors that are influencing their perceptions of the organization.
Effective internal communications is commonly understood by practitioners to improve employee engagement (see. Setting goals and objectives makes your. Knowing how to set goals and objectives in the planning of your communication activities makes you much more effective. Employee Relations Share Tweet. A strong team is a large part of what makes a business. Structure is important for coordinating tasks properly and ensuring effective channels of communication. Depending on the nature. Employee communication. Principles for an effective employee communications strategy. Employee Relations; Employment Law; HR Function. STAFF EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE. Consistently makes effective and economical use of all appropriate resources even under unusually difficult operating conditions. Makes effective use of appropriate resources under varying.
In the second step, the organization establishes an overall policy with respect to the campaign. This involves defining goals and desired outcomes, as well as the constraints under which the campaign will operate. It is necessary to establish such policy guidelines in order to evaluate proposed strategies and tactics as well as the overall success of the campaign. In step three, the organization outlines its strategies and tactics. Using its knowledge of the target audiences and its own established policies, the organization develops specific programs to achieve the desired objectives.
Step four involves actual communication with the targeted public. The organization then employs specific public relations techniques, such as press conferences or special events, to reach the intended audience. Finally, in step five the organization receives feedback from its public. How have they reacted to the public relations campaign?
Are there some unexpected developments? In the final step, the organization assesses the program and makes any necessary adjustments. AREAS OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPublic relations is a multifaceted activity involving different audiences as well as different types of organizations, all with different goals and objectives. As a result, there are several specific areas of public relations. Product Public Relations. Public relations and marketing work together closely when it comes to promoting a new or existing product or service.
Public relations plays an important role in new product introductions by creating awareness, differentiating the product from other similar products, and even changing consumer behavior. Public relations can help introduce new products through staging a variety of special events and handling sensitive situations. For example, when the Prince Matchabelli division of Chesebrough- Pond's USA introduced a new men's cologne, there were twenty- one other men's fragrances being introduced that year. To differentiate its new offering, called Hero, Prince Matchabelli created a National Hero Awards Program honoring authentic male heroes and enlisted the participation of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America to lend credibility to the program. Similarly, when Coleco introduced its Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, public relations helped increase awareness through licensed tie- in products, trade show exhibits, press parties, and even window displays in Cartier jewelry stores.
Public relations is often called on to give existing products and services a boost by creating or renewing visibility. For example, the California Raisins Advisory Board organized a national tour featuring live performances by the California Dancing Raisins to maintain interest in raisins during a summer- long advertising hiatus. The tour generated national and local publicity through media events, advance publicity, trade promotions, and media interviews with performer Ray Charles. Public relations can interest the media in familiar products and services in a number of ways, including holding seminars for journalists, staging a special media day, and supplying the media with printed materials ranging from . Changes in existing products offer additional public relations opportunities to focus consumers' attention. An effective public relations campaign can help to properly position a product and overcome negative perceptions on the part of the general public. Employee Relations.
Employees are one of the more important audiences a company has, and an ongoing public relations program is necessary to maintain employee good will as well as to uphold the company's image and reputation among its employees. The essence of a good employee relations program is keeping employees informed and providing them with channels of communication to upper levels of management. Bechtel Group, a privately held complex of operating companies, published an annual report for its employees to keep them informed about the company's operations. The company used surveys to determine what information employees considered useful.
A range of other communication devices were used, including a monthly tabloid and magazine, a quarterly video magazine, local newsletters, bulletin boards, a call- in telephone service, and . Suggestion systems are another effective way to improve employee- management communications. Other public relations programs focusing on employees include training them as company public relations representatives; explaining benefits programs to them; offering them educational, volunteer, and citizenship opportunities; and staging special events such as picnics or open houses for them. Other programs can improve performance and increase employee pride and motivation.
Public relations can also play a role in recruiting new employees; handling reorganizations, relocations, and mergers; and resolving labor disputes. Financial Relations. Financial relations involves communicating not only with a company's stockholders, but also with the wider community of financial analysts and potential investors.
An effective investor relations plan can increase the value of a company's stock and make it easier to raise additional capital. In some cases special meetings with financial analysts are necessary to overcome adverse publicity, negative perceptions about a company, or investor indifference. Such meetings may take the form of full- day briefings, formal presentations, or luncheon meetings.
A tour of a company's facilities may help generate interest among the financial community. Mailings and ongoing communications can help a company achieve visibility among potential investors and financial analysts.
Annual reports and stockholder meetings are the two most important public relations tools for maintaining good investor relations. Some companies hold regional or quarterly meetings in addition to the usual annual meeting. Other companies reach more stockholders by moving the location of their annual meeting from city to city. Annual reports can be complemented by quarterly reports and dividend check inserts. Companies that wish to provide additional communications with stockholders may send them a newsletter or company magazine.
Personal letters to new stockholders and a quick response to inquiries insure an additional measure of good will. Community Relations.