
Performance Evaluation: When Targets Create the Wrong Behaviour
From 'PERFPOD' and 'PM in the PM' by Richard Guyver - Performance Management Tutor
December 29, 2025 · 9 min · Season 1 · Episode 16
About this episode
This episode explores how poorly designed performance targets can lead to dysfunctional behaviour in employees.
Performance measures are meant to improve performance — but what happens when they do the opposite? In this episode, we explore a real-world style scenario involving Ken and Barbie, two employees in the same organisation, and a well-intentioned performance target that ends up driving dysfunctional behaviour. Using this story, we break down: How employees “game” poorly designed targets What ACCA PM means by dysfunctional behaviour How this links directly to the Building Block Model A must-listen for ACCA PM/APM students looking to strengthen their evaluation skills and avoid common exam traps.
People in this episode
Host: Richard Guyver
Topics covered
- performance evaluation
- dysfunctional behaviour
- performance targets
- employee behaviour
- evaluation skills
Keywords
- performance measures
- gaming targets
- Building Block Model
- ACCA PM
- evaluation skills
- exam traps
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ACCA, ACCA PM, APM
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