Abstract:
This study investigated the influence of employee trust propensity on performance appraisal and employee performance in Ghanaian telecommunications companies. It pursued four research objectives: examining the performance appraisal methods used, evaluating the standards for employee performance assessment, analyzing the impact of performance appraisals on employee performance, and assessing how employee trust propensity influences these appraisals and performance outcomes. The study employed quantitative and descriptive methods, using a questionnaire distributed to a select sample of 127 individuals from a pool of 190. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 21, applying descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations and inferential statistics like regression and correlation. Findings revealed that the companies utilize traditional and innovative performance evaluation approaches, focusing on output productivity, job quality, and work efficiency as critical indicators. A significant positive correlation was found between performance evaluation systems and employee performance, with the regression model indicating that trust propensity significantly enhances the effectiveness of performance evaluation systems. The recommendations for optimizing performance appraisal systems in Ghanaian telecommunications companies emphasize improving transparency and building a culture of honesty to foster employee trust. Ongoing training for managers on unbiased evaluations and implementing robust feedback mechanisms are suggested to improve the effectiveness of appraisals. Additionally, it is advised to regularly review and adapt appraisal systems to align with the evolving industry dynamics and effectively meet organizational and employee needs.
