Performance management paradigms in educational organizations

In the current context of globalization and technological integration, performance management in educational organizations becomes fundamental to ensure the quality of education and to meet the requirements of the beneficiaries. This paper explores epistemological contents and specific paradigms of performance management, emphasizing the need for continuous quality improvement in the relationship with the beneficiaries of educational services. It argues that performance, a managerial concept quantifiable through efficiency and effectiveness, represents a subjective reality, interpretable and oriented towards achieving the organization’s objectives. The epistemological approach to performance management includes principles and standards that facilitate the alignment of human resources, organizational culture, and communication system to enhance organizational performance. Performance evaluation tools, such as management based on profit centers, management by objectives, and balanced scorecard, are discussed in the context of their adaptation to the specifics of the pre-university education system. The study emphasizes the importance of communication and the need to improve the information system in school organizations, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, as well as to increase the quality of educational services. The paper proposes an integrated approach to the paradigm of performance management, complementary to that of quality management, to meet the contemporary challenges in education.