Planning, Development & Review (PDR)
Planning, Development and Review provides a framework for staff to set performance objectives which are meaningful in their current role, contribute to career goals, and align to the University's strategic direction. PDR should also encompass development planning that will assist in achieving these objectives, and allow for a review of performance outcomes between staff and people leaders.
All staff members on continuing or fixed term contracts of greater than 12 months are expected to participate in PDR. There should be three PDR meetings each year which are documented after each meeting. The focus of PDR is on engagement in honest and open conversations.
Given the changes resulting from the Organisational Sustainability Project, the time frame for recording PDR conversations in SSO has been extended.
The revised dates appreciate that some leaders will benefit from time to establish new teams and build relationships.
For those who are less impacted by the OSP changes, completion of PDR Objective setting conversations can occur earlier and in accordance with the usual timeframe (March / April). There is no need to delay the recording of the conversation in SSO if completed in advance of the due date.
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PDR cycle
PDR Stages Conversation Outline Staff Services Online (SSO) Confirmation Deadline For academic staff, the IAP is used to support PDR conversations and is available in February Final Review for 2021 - Review achievement of work & development objectives against measures
- Two-way feedback
- Complete PDR Conversation Record
8 April 2022
(when not combined with objective setting)
Final review - if combining with
2022 objective setting
- Review achievement of work & development objectives against measures
- Two-way feedback
- Complete PDR Conversation Record
27 May 2022 Objective Setting - Establish and agree SMART work objectives
- Agree development objectives
- Two-way feedback
- Complete PDR Conversation Record
27 May 2022
For academic staff, the IAP is used to support PDR conversations and is available in July Mid Term Review - Review progress against work and development objectives
- Identify any blockages/issues
- Two-way feedback
- Supervisor provides coaching and guidance
- Complete PDR Conversation Record
15 August 2022*
*SSO confirmation optional
Final Review for 2022 - Review achievement of work and development objectives against measures
- Two-way feedback
- Complete PDR Conversation Record
6 February 2023 for current year
Parts of the University undertake operational and business planning at different times of the year. If it is necessary for individual PDR planning to take place at an alternative time, please consult with your Executive Dean/Director.
To ensure enough time for reviewing and confirming the Conversation Records form, it is recommended that formal PDR conversations take place two weeks prior to the final Staff Services Online (SSO) confirmation deadline (refer table).
It is an option to use the final review meeting to also set objectives for the next year, however it must be recorded in Staff Services Online (SSO) as 2 separate meetings, an Objective Setting meeting and a Final Review meeting.
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Recording PDR
PDR Form
Use the relevant PDR Conversation Record to document your PDR conversations:
- PDR Conversation Record – Academic Staff
- Academic Staff fillable form (PDF)
- PDR Conversation Record – Professional Staff
- Professional Staff fillable form (PDF)
Using SSO to record your participation in PDR
Confirm your completion of PDR through Staff Services Online as per the timeline above.
- Quick reference guide - Uploading your PDR to SSO
- Quick reference guide - Changing PDR Supervisor in SSO
- PDR Conversation Record – Academic Staff
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Support resources
Objective Setting Resources
- Objective Setting Tools
- PDR Preparation Template for Objective Setting
- Work Example Objectives - Staff
- Work Example Objectives - People Leaders
- Learning and Development Tools
Mid-Year and Final Review Resources
For Staff
For People Leaders
- PDR Preparation Template for Mid-term and Final Review
(refer to pages 3 and 4)
These support resources have been designed and developed by Veronica Lee of HRM Matters and Human Capital International (as indicated). Numerous sources were utilised in the research and development. The intellectual property of authors has been respected by fully researching and referencing the original source where it has been available. There materials are provided solely for the use of employees while employed by the University of Adelaide and have been provided with the permission of HRM Matters and HCI.
Academic Staff
Both the Adelaide Academic Role Statements and Individual Academic Profiles (IAPs) are used as inputs to PDR. The following diagram shows how they fit with PDR (or view the pdf):
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Training
Learning and Development offers online PDR training modules for staff and supervisors throughout the year that covers:
- Three online modules that cover the benefits of PDR, PDR in Practice and Preparing for Objective Setting
For further information about access to the online modules please visit: PDR Learning Program
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Policy and Procedure
PDR Forms, Templates, Information Sheets, Policies and Procedures can be found in the Staff Planning, Development & Review (PDR) Handbook Chapter.