need to have ethnically based support. For instance, the rater – ratee dialogue during feedback sessions should examine how the subordinate can be helped to improve performance but not to favour them as co-ethnic workers or disfavour them because they do not belong to their ethnic group. Relationships in the workplace can also
undermine the impact of this particular appraisal system if they are based on ethnicity. The performance appraisal provides for discovering performance problems of fellow civil servants. But the senior officials may find themselves in a situation where they do not want to embarrass the ratee if they share a common ethnicity. As such, they become reluctant to criticize the ratee’s performance and shy away from providing honest opinions on the performance appraisal form. Respondents intimate that owing to a common desire for good relationships, a mediocre civil servant has chances of getting a satisfactory grade.