HOW AND WHY TO IMPLEMENT A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PUBLIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS: THE APPROACH AND THE EXPERIENCE OF A LARGE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ITALIAN CENTRE

The implementation of a Performance Management System is complex in public research institutions: the sector peculiarity, the presence of multiple stakeholders with different needs, the difficult identification of the performance indicators, the lack of specific skills, the shortage of resources and the need of flexibility are the principal reasons for this complexity. The purpose of the present report is to describe an exportable model for the implementation of a Performance Management System, built on Quality Management tool, able to improve the institutional performance, through processes of organizational evolution, based on the involvement of employees. This model has been applied in an Italian Research Institute. The contribution of employees, with their professional and soft skills, and the commitment of the management, in the self-assessment of the organisation, are the key factors for the model implementation. This approach can help to solve the critical issues of implementing a performance management system.