Effects of structural characteristics of teams on perception ofperformance appraisal systems: Kocaeli information sector

The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of the team structural characteristics on performance evaluation perception of team members. Thus, the research model is designed in the framework of four basic features of the structure of the team (team size, members of the knowledge, skills and experience, team leadership, mutual dependency) and five main dimensions of the performance evaluation system (perceived system information, participation in decisions and process, justice, compensation and reward systems, providing feedback). The firms in information sector and applying team-based performance appraisal system are included in the research. This research is based on qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative data of the research were obtained from the interviews conducted with 22 team leaders and members. Survey techniques were used in the context of quantitative research methods. Quantitative data were collected by using "structural characteristics of teams" and "perceptions of performance appraisal system" scales originated from qualitative data. Data from a total of 397 team members were obtained. The quantitative data was evaluated by using SPSS 23.0 software package whereas qualitative data was evaluated by using content analysis. According to the finding of the research outputs; it is determined that the most important dimension of the structural characteristics of the team are knowledge, skills and experience of the members whereas the the least important dimension is size of team. When team-based performance appraisal system perceptions were examined, it is determined that team member has a level of perception in comparison with structural characteristics of the team. Accordingly, it was found that member have the highest perception in high costs and reward systems while the lowest perception in justice. The relationships between main variables show that there is positively meaningful relationship between characteristics of the team structure and perceived system information, justice and providing feedback. When interaction between dependent and independent variables are examined; it is concluded that the team members with low perception of team characteristics have low perception in system information, participation in decision and process, justice, providing feedback and compensation and reward systems in comparison with the team members with high perception of team characteristics. Apart from this, it is determined that there is a dependency and direction of variables between sub-dimensions of the team characteristics and sub-dimensions of the performance appraisal system is determined. In addition, it is determined that there is difference in dimension of the demographics of the team and team members and dimension of characteristics of the team structure and perception of the performance appraisal system. In the future, generalization of the results will be achieved by performing similar works including participants form different sectors in the scope of the study. Keywords: Structural Characteristic of Team, Team-Based Performance Appraisal Systems,Team Members