If you’re looking for HR Associate Linda Parks this month, you’re likely to find her behind a closed door, hunkered down in front of her computer. That’s because she’s in charge of the deployment of Lehigh’s re-designed Goals Performance Success (GPS) online performance management system.
“I’ve cleared my schedule for September,” Linda recently told Spotlight. “I’ll be focused on getting comfortable with the new GPS.”
As the university’s contract with its prior vendor came to a close during the 2012-2013 fiscal year, Human Resources gathered feedback from across campus. After considering several options, the department selected Computer Aid of Allentown to implement a new version of GPS that would better meet the performance management needs of Lehigh’s staff.
A consistent critique of the old system was that the performance appraisal was too long and complex. The new system streamlines the process in a number of key ways. For example, the performance description scale now includes five levels instead of nine (similar to the modifications made in last year’s form). The process of completing the form has also been re-vamped to make it more user-friendly.
“In the new system, you’ll complete each section of the form and then the software puts them together into the completed appraisal,” Linda noted, “We believe it will be easier to work this way, instead of working in the full form. There will be less scrolling and confusion.”
Because Computer Aid is also Lehigh’s position description (PD) tool software provider, the new GPS will also work hand-in-hand with your PD. When you begin your form, your key accountabilities will already be in place. Then, if your key accountabilities change during the year, you’ll be prompted to sync the PD tool and the GPS form. That update happens with a simple click.
After Linda is fully versed in the new system, she’ll be offering training workshops to employees. “I’m happy to work directly with departments who might want to have a special training session for staff,” she said. If you prefer, you can sign up for group sessions that have been scheduled in October and November. Just go to the HR Registration Tool.