Figure 3.
The conceptual framework is titled Meta Communicative Decision Systems in Performance Appraisal Contexts. At the top is a box labelled Formal Performance Appraisal System. It includes official policies and procedures, formal evaluation criteria, and managerial communications, documented promises. An arrow points downward to an oval labelled Theme 1, Performance Appraisal Paradox. The oval includes rhetoric versus reality and moving goalposts. Below the oval is a central box labelled Employee Decision Making. The box includes engagement, effort allocation, trust slash distrust, and turnover intentions. Theme 1 and Employee Decision Making are connected by a two directional arrow. On the left is an oval labelled Theme 2, Social Capital Networks. It includes peer validation, collective intelligence, and reality checks. On the right is an oval labelled Theme 3, Multi layered Communication. It includes promise decoding and pattern recognition. Theme 2 and Theme 3 are each connected to Employee Decision Making using two directional arrows. At the bottom centre is an oval labelled Theme 4, The Unwritten Contract. It includes accommodation provision and power dynamics. Theme 4 is connected upward to Employee Decision Making using a two directional arrow. Arrows labelled seeking validation, developing decoding, collective pattern recognition, network protection, and interpreting signals connect the theme ovals. Dashed arrows create Feedback Loop 1 and Feedback Loop 2 between the formal appraisal system and employee processes. Feedback Loop 1 includes negative spiral, effort withdrawn, reduced performance, and further promise breaking. Feedback Loop 2 includes network amplification, shared experience, collective cynicism, and amplifies distrust. At the bottom is a box labelled Organisational Outcomes. Negative outcomes include reduced engagement, erosion of trust, increased turnover, and legal compliance risks. Positive outcomes include if promises kept, trust building, enhanced engagement, and increased productivity.Emergent integrated framework: meta-communicative decision systems
Source: Authors’ own work