ABSTRACT
The introduction of the system in the Asia Pacific region has shown that an adaptation to other cultural standards is also feasible. The first thing that strikes the reader from the perspective of an academic researcher is the fact that, because the system has only been in place for a short period, no data seem to be available as yet on its effectiveness, either as a whole, or in terms of its component parts. The idea of a skills database which anyone can sign up for on a voluntary basis is an innovative one. From the point of view of an academic, an interesting question is how well this works in practice. It is a little surprising that the designers of the system seem to have opted for a fairly conventional appraisal system supplemented by an assessment centre, rather than a more comprehensive performance management approach.
