430.303—Definitions.
Terms used in this subpart are defined as follows:
Appointing authority means the department or agency head, or other official with authority to make appointments in the Senior Executive Service.
Appraisal period means the established period of time for which a senior executive's performance will be appraised and rated.
Balanced measures means an approach to performance measurement that balances organizational results with the perspectives of distinct groups, including customers and employees.
Critical element means a key component of an executive's work that contributes to organizational goals and results and is so important that unsatisfactory performance of the element would make the executive's overall job performance unsatisfactory.
Other performance elements means components of an executive's work that do not meet the definition of a critical element, but may be important enough to factor into the executive's performance appraisal.
Performance means the accomplishment of the work described in the senior executive's performance plan.
Performance appraisal means the review and evaluation of a senior executive's performance against performance elements and requirements.
Performance management system means the framework of policies and practices that an agency establishes under subchapter II of chapter 43 of title 5, United States Code, and this subpart, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding both individual and organizational performance and for using resulting performance information in making personnel decisions.
Performance requirement means a statement of the performance expected for a critical element.
Progress review means a review of the senior executive's progress in meeting the performance requirements. A progress review is not a performance rating.
Ratings: (1) Initial summary rating means an overall rating level the supervisor derives from appraising the senior executive's performance during the appraisal period and forwards to the Performance Review Board.
(2)
Annual summary rating means the overall rating level that an appointing authority assigns at the end of the appraisal period after considering a Performance Review Board's recommendations. This is the official rating.
Senior executive performance plan means the written summary of work the senior executive is expected to accomplish during the appraisal period and the requirements against which performance will be evaluated. The plan addresses all critical elements and any other performance elements established for the senior executive.
Strategic planning initiatives means agency strategic plans, annual performance plans, organizational workplans, and other related initiatives.