On 16th September 2025, Alumni Relations Committee at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow organized a special session in hybrid mode on Performance Management System. The keynote speaker for the session was Ms. Pragya Mathur, Business HR at DB Corp Ltd (Dainik Bhaskar Group), Noida.

Ms. Mathur began by highlighting the distinction between performance appraisal and performance management. She explained that appraisal is often seen as a one-time, retrospective, short-term event, while management is a continuous, prospective, and long-term process.

The speaker emphasized the importance of performance planning and goal setting, ongoing feedback, employee involvement, evaluation, and performance review as key pillars of effective performance management. She introduced the concept of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), stressing that goals should be objective and measurable.

Ms. Mathur pointed out that in corporate settings, peers can often become competitors, and hence organizations should implement 360° feedback mechanisms to ensure a balanced evaluation. She encouraged students to understand the bigger picture, assess the eligibility period for employee appraisal, and be aware of common rating errors such as central tendency, recency effect, similarity effect, halo effect, and horn effect.

She further discussed practical aspects of HR, stating that there should be no double promotion policies and that HR professionals must understand the organization’s products and business thoroughly. She compared HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems) to an employee’s “kundali,” highlighting how technology supports better performance tracking.

The session also shed light on the significance of induction programs from the very first day of joining a company, as well as the need for HR professionals to develop strong business acumen alongside people management skills.

The event was highly interactive, with students engaging actively in discussions, asking questions, and gaining real-world insights into performance management practices. It concluded with a vote of thanks, appreciating Ms. Mathur for sharing her expertise and valuable experiences.

Write up -Ms. Sameeksha Srinet

Photographs- Ms. Tanya Dua