Part 1 Appraisal today. Part 2 Deciding on the aims of appraisal: the organizational perspective; the participants' perspective; setting realistic aims for appraisal. Part 3 The content of appraisal: appraising for assessment and comparison - appraisal of personality, appraising job-related abilities, rating scales, improving rating scales; appraising to motivate and develop - results-oriented appraisal, competency-based appraisal; overview of appraisal methods. Part 4 Appraisal as an element in performance management: how appraisal fits in - individual vs team achievement, line-driven appraisal, appraisal as part of a feedback loop, excessive bottom-line emphasis; appraisal and pay - merit pay, direct and indirect links with merit pay, appraisal and wider reward policies; in conclusion. Part 5 Designing appraisal systems: aims (1) - the organizational perspective; aims (2) - the consultation process; organizational structure and culture; who should appraise? - self-appraisal, peer appraisal, multi-level, multi-source appraisal, appraisal by superiors, upward appraisal, in conclusion; who should be appraised?; the administration of appraisal - frequency, documentation, timing. Part 6 Training and the implementation of appraisal: background briefing and documentation; training the appraisers - assessment skills, appraisal interview training; training appraisees; other issues in appraisal training - appraising diversity, training to motivate, who does the training?. Part 7 Monitoring and maintenance: performance indicators for performance appraisal - short-term criteria, long-term criteria; methods and sources of evaluation - measuring attitudes to appraisal and its perceived value, assessing equity - the fairness of the distribution, measuring levels of commitment; in conclusion. Part 8 Appraising - and developing - potential: the conventional appraisal process as a means of assessing potential; career review panels; the interview in assessing potential - behaviourally-based interview methods; using psychometric tests in assessing potential - how can tests assess potential?, the ways in which tests are used, the pros and cons of psychometric assessment of potential; assessment centres - setting up and running ACs, issues in the use of ACs, an evaluation of ACs; assessing potential - summary and conclusions. Part 9 New frontiers for appraisal: appraisal in the public sector; appraisal issues with professional and scientific staff; designing and implementing appraisal for professional staff - designing appraisal, appraisal training; appraising potential amongst professional staff. Part 10 Appraisal - neither deadly disease nor panacea: in conclusion. (part contents).