Is The Use of Automated Performance Management Effective?
Manufacturers and retailers make all kinds of claims about the effectiveness of their performance management software. As with any claims made in marketing material, what is reported is designed to show the software in a best case scenario. Companies aren't likely to report on things that cast their products in a bad light.
To answer the question, the use of automated performance management (or performance management software) will likely enable people to do the process more quickly (at least eventually). However, and it's a very big however, whether the software will result in better performance management, and improved performance depends on the fit between the specific software and the company, AND, how managers, HR, and employees actually USE the software.
In other words, performance management software is just a tool, like any other tool. In the hands of skill users, it can be effective. In the hands of unskilled, or lazy managers, it's just as likely to cause harm as to bring about benefits.
The software is not a magic solution, any more than the performance management or appraisal forms will make or break the process of improving productivity.