Performance: Its meaning and content for today's business research

Abstract

Performance, as a concept, is a subject open to wide variability as it is a somewhat imprecise word when it functions as a placeholder in research. By using definitions from the Oxford English Dictionary and other research disciplines, this paper provides a wideranging discussion of the meaning and content of the term performance in the business performance research. The paper reviews numerous characteristics of performance, such as its being a subjective entity that is non-random in character; while it is governed by its relevance to a particular environment, and operates from a particular objective, by virtue of a set of chosen characteristics. It contains elements that are both static and dynamic;and it is possible to characterise via three states: unformed or random, formalised or systematic, and deformed or over-bureaucratic. Also, an encapsulating model of performance, whereby performance acts as a frame around performance management, performance assessment and performance measurement is proposed. Studies of performance as a concept in itself are practically non-existent in the business research; the value of this paper, therefore, lies in its attempt to explicate previously undocumented models of performance.

Success factors of energy management in energy-intensive industries: Development priority of energy performance measurement

“…The measured entities must be relevant to a particular environment, they must have relevant objectives, and the entities must be reduced to relevant, recognisable characteristics [47]. The measured entities must be relevant to a particular environment, they must have relevant objectives, and the entities must be reduced to relevant, recognisable characteristics [47].…”

“…The measured entities must be relevant to a particular environment, they must have relevant objectives, and the entities must be reduced to relevant, recognisable characteristics [47]. Furthermore, the choice of performance metrics is always subjective because the entire space of how performance can be defined can never be captured [47]. Furthermore, the choice of performance metrics is always subjective because the entire space of how performance can be defined can never be captured [47].…”

“…These are related to systems where (i) measures are not valid or reliable; (ii) measures are biased towards describing only a few of the relevant characteristics [47]; (iii) measures are improperly balanced between static and dynamic elements [47]; or (iv) measures are not properly maintained. These are related to systems where (i) measures are not valid or reliable; (ii) measures are biased towards describing only a few of the relevant characteristics [47]; (iii) measures are improperly balanced between static and dynamic elements [47]; or (iv) measures are not properly maintained.…”

Towards an extended set of production line performance indicators

“…The number of the peer-reviewed and grey publications on performance management confirms that there is an increasing interest in this hot topic over the last decade. Although a well researched area, the topic of performance management still offers numerous and uninvestigated research opportunities (Folan, Browne, & Jagdev, 2007).…”

Quality assurance strategy for distributed software development using managed test lab model

“…Past studies have stated usefulness of extracting data mining information to analyze defect features from the log files of testing toolkits to improve the overall software evolution process [6,7]. These tools are eventually formalized by company managements to assess overall performance and compliance features for simple artefacts and also for the integrated module [8].…”