Performance Management

Measuring Performance at University

There are two easy ways to measure performance. Quantitative measurements are usually based on numbers or statistics, while qualitative means to judge something with opinion (Bernard, 2006).

Lecturers measure performance quantitatively. This is because they will measure progress through grade reflection. For example, getting a First in an assignment means I’m doing well.
They may also reflect quantitatively on my attendance. A high percentage of lecture attendance shows good commitment from a student to the course or module.

A personal tutor is also going to evaluate performance with these numbers, but is also interested in how the student is feeling about what they are doing. Therefore they will take a more qualitative approach to assessing the student’s progress.
In meeting with my personal tutor, I have been asked questions such as ‘How do you feel you are coping with the work load?’ and ‘How have your interests in the course modules changed since the beginning of the year?’
This approach is more personal, and therefore is motivational, as it feels like there is someone else interested in your outcomes that you can work to impress.


Skills That Make a Good Mentor

An article about mentoring in the Sunday Times explains what is needed from a mentor to a mentee (2008).
A good mentor is someone who has plenty of experience to share with his or her mentee. This will be beneficial to the mentee, who may wish to avoid or achieve certain outcomes. They can learn from and use this experience, so that the same mistakes are not made again, improving chances of success.
The relationship must be an honest and open one between mentor and mentee. Without trust and an ability to listen to what each other have to say, they will be ignorant of each other’s messages, and the relationship will collapse.
Mentors must be insightful and able to analyse things from all angles. Their ability to encourage ideas and strategies out of the mentee will make the mentee feel more in control over what they are doing. Telling them what to do is more likely to reduce a mentee’s self-confidence.


Experience with a Mentor

A man that has been very influential to me over the last two years is the mentor of my band ‘Tramp Etiquette’.
The fact that he is referred to as the ‘Tramp Daddy’ reflects the closeness of our relationship. It is a comical name, and shows that we can be relaxed, as we are connected through friendship as well as professionalism.
As he was previously involved in the music industry he has a lot of advice about it to share with us. This previous experience also means he has improved our connections within the live music scene around London and southeast England. We therefore now have more experience with gigs.
He has also helped to improve our writing skills, by encouraging ideas out of us, and promoting persistence, making us want to challenge ourselves beyond our current abilities.


Mentors are vital for the growth of any individual or business owner. They help us to analyse our own lives and decisions for ourselves, rather than doing it for us. This way we can better understand our outcomes and processes, as if we are seeing them from a less bias viewpoint.


References:

Bernard, H. R. (2006) Research methods in anthropology: qualitative and quantitative approaches. 4th ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Sunday Times (2008) Entrepreneurs: a mentor can tune your skills. [online]. Available from: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article3778514.ece [Accessed 28 April 2010]