Self-assessment (also known as a self-evaluation or a self-appraisal) is an important part of the performance appraisal process where the employee himself gives feedback or his views and points regarding his performance.
Usually, this is done with the help of a self-appraisal form where the employee rates himself on various parameters, tells about his training needs, if any, and talks about his accomplishments strengths, weaknesses, problems faced, etc.
If employees understand their objectives and the criteria used for evaluation, they are in a good position to appraise their own performance.
Many people know what they do well on the job, and what they need to improve. If they have the opportunity, they will criticize their own performance objectively and take action to improve it.
Also, because employee development is self-development, employees who appraise their own performance may become more highly motivated.
Though a self-appraisal is not a part of the system, the employee should at least provide a list of his or her most important accomplishments and contributions over the appraisal period.
This will prevent the manager from being blind-sided when the employee complains, perhaps justifiably.
Self-appraisal has great appeal to managers who are primarily concerned with employee participation and development. For compensation purposes, however, its value is considerably less.
Some individuals are masters at attributing good performance to their own efforts, and poor performance to someone else’s.
Thus, self-appraisal is the process of evaluating one’s own performance this can help to increase employees’ commitment to the appraisal process, perceptions of appraisal fairness, and satisfaction with the appraisal process.
Self-appraisal can also be useful for identifying are for development.
According to J. Trzebinski, “Self-appraisal is a general belief in one’s abilities to achieve aims”.
According to Keitsing, “Self-appraisal is the continuous process of gathering information about one’s professional performance, reviewing it, and then planning future action and support to aid development”.