The main purpose of appraisal is to give the appraisee the opportunity to reflect on their work and learning needs in order to improve their performance. This can be achieved through discussing their development and feedback on their job performance in a way that is constructive and motivational.

Appraisal should be ideally:

• a piece of ‘two-way’ rather than ‘one-way’ communication
• a process rather than an event
• a tool for development as well as for assessing performance.

It is also important to be clear on a couple of things that appraisal is not. First, appraisal is not a disciplinary process or a disciplinary discussion. There are other, separate processes for addressing serious issues to do with conduct or capability, which should be followed and used appropriately. Second, it is not a discussion you ‘save things up for’. Whether containing praise or criticism, merits or mistakes, timely feedback is really the only sort of feedback that has value. So there should essentially be no surprises in the appraisal discussion.

[Source - http://www.faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/e-learning/appraisal/what-is-appraisal]

News about appraisal : Real Estate Appraiser Optimistic about the Future: Appraisal Institute Survey

CHICAGO (July 17, 2013) – More than three-fourths of U.S.
real estate appraisers are very or somewhat positive about the demand for their
services over the next one to two years, according to an Appraisal Institute
survey released today.

Eighty percent of residential appraisers and 78 percent of commercial
appraisers said they are upbeat about their future, according to the survey
conducted in May-June by the nation’s largest professional association of real
estate appraisers.

“Appraisers have faced a challenging real estate market in recent years, and
it’s great to see that so many valuation professionals are feeling optimistic
about the future,” said Appraisal Institute President Richard L. Borges II, MAI,
SRA.

According to the survey, 95% of residential appraisers and 49%
of commercial appraisers said there is currently more demand for their services
than a year ago.

Additional survey results include:

- Eighty-four percent of residential appraisers said their local residential
real estate market is strong, and 46 percent of commercial appraisers had
the same opinion about their local commercial markets.

- Eighty-six percent of residential appraisers and 55 percent of commercial
appraisers said demand for their services is strong.

- Thirty-two percent of residential appraisers and 45 percent of commercial
appraisers anticipate more demand for their services during the ensuing one
to two years.

“Real estate trends are typically local in nature, and it’s a positive sign
for the nation’s economy that appraisers around the country reported increased
demand for their services,” Borges said.

The online survey polled 591 real estate valuation professionals May 31-June
17. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

[Source: http://appraisalscoop.com/]