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10.3 Develop and institutionalize targets and/or key performance indicators (KPIs) for individual managers and departments to support women's business success

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Description of Best Practices

Set targets for each department, based upon staffing needs, skills gaps, budget, and anticipated staffing levels for the timeframe identified 

Ensure that the targets are a realistic reach for each unit. Targets may be set at company, division, department, and individual levels 

Create accountability for reaching targets, by embedding them into manager/supervisor performance reviews, individual or company performance contracts, KPIs, compliance matrices, or other performance review frameworks 

Utilize available labor market metrics to set SMART targets

Challenges of Implementation

Performance of managers/supervisors is not related to KPIs, and the KPI system is not used within an organization 

Lack of talent maps, competency matrices, or other analyses available to provide a clear picture of staffing gaps and priorities 

Limited talent pools with the required skills and competencies 

There may be limited willingness or buy-in from leadership to set or report on targets for hiring women

Weak data management systems, making it difficult to monitor and track progress 

Resistance or resentment from male staff to setting targets that promote hiring of more women 

Lack of incentives to reach targets 

Top leadership is not walking the talk and/or has no specific targets for themselves (targets are only set for mid-management levels) 

What Success Looks Like

Departmental targets established, linked with corporate targets and KPIs on balanced representation of men and women, and aligned with corporate business goals 

Active engagement of leadership and management to set targets at the unit level and embed those into company performance frameworks 

Clear accountability for achieving targets and mitigation measures for failing to meet targets for everyone in a leadership role 

Actions taken to adopt recruitment and hiring policies and practices to support achievement of targets 

Training and support provided for recruitment and hiring staff and department managers to ensure a successful target-setting process 

HR data shared to support the target-setting process 

Communication among department heads to ensure alignment of targets 

Resources and Tools

Guide: Workplace Audit Guide (Victoria State Government) 

Guide: Measuring and Evaluating (UN Global Compact) 

Guide: Setting Targets (WGEA) 

Article: How to Set Goals – the Smart Way (Fair HQ) 

Article: How We Set Targets (Medium)