Dear Renu Nayyar,
Prima facie you must know the difference between KRA and Job description.
Job Description : Are the ones talk about the routines and functions one may have to handle on day-to-day basis. For example for an Admin Manager
- Keeping the office premises neat and clean
- To ensure all office equipments are maintained perfectly and working condition, and AMCs for the same are entered into with service provider wherever necessary
- Keep all electrical wires and cables in a concealed manner so as to comply with electrical safety
- Monitor the Attendance Recording System, generate an MIS report w.r.t to late comers, absentees, etc. and send to higher ups
(these are all to name a few)
However, the KRA (or KPA) are something different. The Key Result Areas or Key Performance Areas should not talk about the day to day routines at any cost. It should be developed based on the problems or issues that a department may be facing and how to address such things.
The KRAs must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound. For the same administration mananager, the KRA may be like this
- To reduce Electriciy expenses by 20% from the curernt level of Rs.1.5 lacs per month by March 2011.
- To obtain 'patta' from the Government Authority for the Proposed building at Anna Nagar, on or before December 2011
- To complete the project of "Centralized Airconditioning system" in the existing premises with a budget of Rs.15.00 lacs on or before March 2010
The above KRAs are specific, quantifiable and time limit also give. Hence the admn person will start working on this. Based on the same, he may develop a team and address those issues. And the performance review will also be done periodically to achieve the above KRAs. In case of any support required from the management, he will ask for. At the end of the review period, it is also easy for the reviewer to assess the KRAs in clear terms and award the person accordingly.
A well defined KRA is half solved.
Another example for KRA - in a manufacturing industry for an Electrical Manager
- To reduce electricity consumption from 100.00 units for a ton of cement to 80 units per ton by March 2011.
A vague KRA may look like this. This is for an HR Manager
- Keep all employees motivated
- To ensure recruitment of right people
Hope you must have understood by now what is "Job description or routines" and what is KRA by now.
If you have any doubt, plese write back
V. Balaji