Definition
Criticism is part of personnel management and is usually dealt out when, despite sufficient knowledge and skills, an employee deviates considerably from agreed goals and the employee is responsible for these deviations and shows a lack of awareness of the problem and little insight into his or her own part in causing the problem. The discussion should be conducted in an appreciative and objective manner, with coherent arguments and on the basis of verifiable examples.
The result of the discussion should be a goal agreed with the employee, which concerns his or her behaviour and working methods and possibly also includes personnel management measures (e.g. personnel development). The goal attainment should be reviewed in due course.