Book excerpt: Based on a previous book by the same authors, Understanding Performance Appraisal delineates a social-psychological model of the appraisal process that emphasizes the goals pursued by raters, ratees, and the various users of performance appraisal. The authors apply this goal-oriented perspective to developing, implementing, and evaluating performance appraisal systems. This perspective also emphasizes the context in which appraisal occurs and demonstrates that the shortcomings of performance appraisal are in fact sensible adaptations to its various requirements, pressures, and demands. Relevant research is summarized and recommendations are offered for future research and applications. Graduate-level students, organizational development consultants and trainers, human resource managers, faculty and scholars, and psychologists in human resource management as well as other professionals who conduct research on performance appraisal programs will find this book not only interesting but also a valuable resource.