Performance management is a continuous process of identifying, measuring, and developing employee performance to align it with organizational goals. It involves ongoing feedback rather than annual assessments. Key elements include performance planning, managing performance through feedback, reviewing performance, and rewarding performance. While performance appraisals assess past performance and identify strengths and weaknesses, performance management is focused on ongoing feedback to help employees improve. An effective performance management system provides clear expectations and feedback, identifies good and poor performance, and facilitates employee development and organizational change.