What is a performance appraisal and how does it differ from a performance review?
A performance appraisal is the formal evaluation of an employee's job performance against established expectations, typically conducted annually or semiannually. The terms performance appraisal and performance review are often used interchangeably, though performance appraisal sometimes implies a more formal, rating-driven evaluation while performance review can include continuous feedback models. Both produce documented assessments that feed into compensation, promotion, and development decisions.