CCC Press Group is a renowned publishing company. It is actively involved in both digital and physical book retail as well as providing professional education services. With over 2000 employees within the group, CCC Press Group holds a prominent position in the cultural industry. One of the notable aspects of CCC Press Group’s success lies in its publication of highly acclaimed books and various comic books. These publications have consistently enjoyed significant sales volumes, contributing to the company's substantial profits. By effectively tapping into popular literary works and capturing a large market share, CCC Press Group has established itself as a leading player in the publishing industry.
In CCC, employees working in the Administrative Department are responsible for crucial administrative tasks including:
 Budgeting and Expense Management: Administrative professionals often assist with budget management, tracking expenses, and processing financial transactions. They may collaborate with finance departments to ensure adherence to budgets, reconcile invoices, and maintain financial records.
 Documentation and Filing: Managing and organizing documents, including contracts, agreements, and publishing materials. This involves ensuring proper filing systems, maintaining version control, and facilitating efficient document retrieval.
 Event Planning and Support: Assisting with the planning and execution of press‐ related events such as book launches, author signings, conferences, and promotional activities. This may involve coordinating logistics, managing invitations, and providing on‐site support.
 Scheduling and Coordination: Managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating appointments for executives, editors, and other staff members. This may involve arranging travel logistics, booking accommodations, and organizing itineraries.
 Administrative Support: Providing general administrative support to various departments within the press, including answering phone calls, responding to inquiries, and assisting with administrative tasks as needed.
These employees undergo two types of performance appraisals. The first type of performance appraisal is conducted on a monthly basis. Each employee is required to complete self‐evaluations, which are then reviewed by their direct manager. The monthly
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form seeks to use a result approach and assesses employee performance results in the three aspects of budgeting and expense management, documentation and filing, and event planning and support. However, there are no quantified measures for the performance results of these areas. Employees who achieve a completion rate of 90% or above are eligible for a performance‐based reward equivalent to 3% of their monthly base salary.
The second type of performance appraisal is conducted on a semi‐annual basis. This appraisal method includes evaluation criteria related to integrity, skills, effort, and performance. The General Manager of the Administrative Department conducts this appraisal for administrative employees. The results of this performance appraisal are divided into four categories: A, B, C, and D. Employees who receive an A or B rating are eligible for year‐end rewards. Conversely, those who receive a C or D rating may be subject to job rotation, indicating a need for improvement in their performance or skills. The performance appraisal form is shown in Table 1. In general, employees only receive evaluation scores without feedback.
The performance appraisal system has helped administrative employees develop a performance orientation. However, the company also has found some problems with the performance evaluation practices and the performance appraisal forms.


Table 1: Semi‐Annual Performance Appraisal Form for Administrative Employees
 ABCD
 Integrity and Professionalism (25%)
Adherence to ethical guidelines and standards specific to the press industry
Prioritization of organizational values and objectives over personal interests
Represent the organization positively
Skills (25%)
Problem‐solving and Initiative: Proactively identify, prevent, and address issues.
     
Adaptability and Flexibility: Handles dynamic and fast‐paced work environments, adapts to new technologies or procedures, and manages competing priorities.
Communication: Effectively convey information clearly and accurately to internal and external stakeholders.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with colleagues, departments, and external partners, actively participating in team projects, resolving conflicts, and contributing positively to a harmonious team dynamic.
Effort (25%)
Enthusiasm: Demonstrate a proactive and passionate approach to work, consistently seeking opportunities to learn and improve.
Sense of responsibility: Display punctuality, reliability, and accountability for tasks assigned. Support and comply with team decisions and priorities.
Performance (25%)
Meet or exceed expected performance standards
Final Grade
   Explain the performance evaluation approach(es) and evaluator(s) that the company currently uses to evaluate the performance of administrative employees. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of these practices used in this company.
Provide advice on how to address the weaknesses identified and to improve performance management practices in terms of performance evaluation approach(es) and evaluator(s).