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Creating Performance Elements

Updated

To expedite the process for creating performance elements, it is highly advised to have available the element descriptions, standards groups, and any applicable associations (i.e. pay plan or grade).

  1. Click Admin.

  2. Click Manage Performance Element Library under Other Performance Configuration.

    USA Performance Admin Dashboard image showing Manage Performance Standards Library (listed under the category "Other Performance Configuration") selected.

  3. The Performance Element Library tab will show all elements and can be sorted to show those for which the administrator can view only, add to templates, or have full edit rights. Click Create Performance Element.

    USA Performance dashboard image showing "Create Performance Element" button selected.
  4. The Element Info tab will be the default display. Use the dropdown menu to determine the Organization that should be assigned this element. Only organizations for which you are granted the Performance Element Library permission will be available for selection. 

  5. Complete the Search Name, Element Name, and Element Text fields. 

    • The Element Name is the official name of the element and will appear on performance plans. 
    • The Search Name is visible only to administrators and can be used to identify elements within the Performance Element Library.
    • The Element Text is used to enter the official description and expectations for a specific performance element within an employee’s performance plan.
    USA Performance image showing how to Create Performance Element and enter Element Info
  6. Next, click the *Standards tab. You must either assign a previously created standards group or create a new standards group. Please note if you attempt to click Create Element, you will receive an error. 

*Standards Tab 

The Standards tab in the Create Performance Element workflow allows administrators to attach an existing performance standards group or create a new one, defining the rating-level expectations (e.g., Level 1–5) that will be applied to the performance element.

Standards determine how employee performance is evaluated, so this step ensures the element includes the appropriate rating criteria. Here are the fields and descriptions: 

Assigned Standards Group Table

This table is initially empty because no standards have been attached yet.

Columns appearing in this table (once standards are selected):

  • Standards Group Name – The name of the standards group attached to the performance element.

  • Number of Standards / Levels – Shows how many rating levels the group contains (e.g., 3 or 5).

  • Organization – Indicates which organization owns or created the standards group.

  • Created By – User who originally created the group.

  • Last Updated By – User who most recently modified the group.

  • Last Updated – Date/time of the last update.

  • Action – Options to remove or modify the assigned standards group.

  • Display Records (Dropdown): Allows choosing how many rows appear in the table (e.g., 10, 25).

  • Pagination Controls (First, Previous, Next, Last): Navigates through multiple pages of results if more than one standards group is assigned.

  • Select from Standards Group Library (Button): Opens the full Performance Standards Library, allowing admins to select an existing standards group to attach to this performance element. This is the most common method for populating rating-level criteria.

  • Create New Standards Group in Library (Button): Opens the "Create Performance Standards Group" page, allowing admins to build a brand-new rating-level standards group if none of the existing ones meet their needs.

  • Create Element (Button): Saves the performance element along with the selected standards group.

  • Cancel (Button): Discards any unsaved changes and returns to the previous page.

USA Performance dashboard showing how to Create Performance Element Standards Info as an Admin.

 

To select a standards group from the Standards Group Library

  1. Click Select from Standards Group Library. Standards groups can be sorted within the table view.

    USA Performance dashboard showing the standards button of how to select one from the standards group library in the create performance element option.
  2. Use the Search field to populate standards currently in the Standards Group Library. Administrators will be able to see all standards groups; however, administrators will only be able to view/edit/assign the standards groups for which they have permissions granted for that organization.  

  3. Click View/Edit to open the standards group for review.

    USA Performance admin view of how to create a performance element and how to see view, edit, or assign as an action for the standards in a group.

  4. Review the Performance Standards Group details, including the Organization, the asterisk-marked Level Name, and its Level Text description. Remove any outdated levels if needed. After editing, scroll to the bottom and click Save Standards Group or Save & Assign Standards Group to save your changes.

    Image of USA Performance admin view of the button to save/assign/cancel the standards group

  5. If edits are not necessary, click Assign. The standards group will populate on the Assigned Standards Group table.

    Image of USA Performance admin view when creating a Performance Element how the button to select from standard group library is available to assign a standard to a performance element.
  6. After all standards have been added click Create Element. 
  7. Your action will be confirmed with a return to the Manage Performance Elements Library tab.

 

To create a new standard group in the Standards Group Library

  1. If the applicable standards group is not available, click Create New Standards Group in Library.

    Image showing the admin view of USA Performance of how to create a new standards group in library is selected under the standards tab with creating a new performance element.
  2. Complete all required fields and any applicable optional fields. An asterisk (*) denotes a required field.
  3. Use the drop-down menu to determine the organization for which this standards group will be applicable.

  4. Click Save Standards Group if additional edits are needed.

    Image showing the admin view of USA Performance of how to save the standards group

  5. Click Save & Assign Standards Group when complete. You will receive a confirmation message.

    Image showing the admin view of USA Performance of how to save and assign the standards group.
  6. After all standards have been added click Create Element. 
  7. Your action will be confirmed with a return to the Manage Performance Elements Library tab.

 

Associations Tab 

The Associations tab is used to define which Pay Plan, Series, and Grade combinations the new Performance Element applies to, ensuring it is available for the correct employees when building performance plans.

This ensures that each element is properly filtered and available only where relevant in the performance planning process.

Image showing the admin view of USA Performance of how the associations tab is available under the create performance element tab.

These three dropdown fields create a Pay Plan–Series–Grade combination that will be added to the association table below.

  • Pay Plan*: This mandatory field designates the pay system (e.g., GS, ES, SL/ST) and the corresponding employee category to which it applies.

  • Series*: This mandatory field specifies the occupational series (e.g., 0301, 0343) and determines the job-type specificity.

  • Grade*: This mandatory field specifies the grade level(s) to which the element applies (e.g., GS-07, GS-12) and ensures that the element is accessible only to employees at the designated levels.

  • Add (Button): Adds the chosen Pay Plan–Series–Grade combo to the table below; multiple combos can be added.

  • Search (Field + Button): Allows searching for existing associations to review or update.

  • Reset (Button): Clears the search criteria and restores the default view.

Associations Table Fields

Once associations are added, they display here:

  • Pay Plan–Series–Grade: Shows the fully combined classification applied to the performance element.

  • Action: Provides options to remove an association if it was added in error or is no longer needed.

  • Create Element (Button): Saves the new performance element, including its associations and standards.

  • Cancel (Button): Discards changes and returns to the previous screen.

 

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