The root cause of perceived appraisal politics using evidence from the South Korean public sector

The purpose of this study is to investigate the root causes of Perceived Appraisal Politics (PAP) within the public sector in South Korea. Scholars in the field of Human Resource Management (HRM) have identified the determinants of PAP in an effort to mitigate it. However, the complex interactions among those determinants and root causes have been overlooked. Therefore, we adopt a novel methodology in this study that combines Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and fuzzy-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (f-DEMATEL). The findings indicate that the root causes of PAP include the presence of cliques, ambiguity of appraisal policies and goal ambiguity within organisations. Among these, cliques and goal ambiguity emerge as the most crucial factors, exerting a strong impact not only on PAP itself but also on other relevant determinants. This study constitutes one of the first attempts to combine ISM and f-DEMATEL techniques for PAP. The results provide a foundation for understanding the comprehensive outline in relation to the determinants of PAP. Human Resource (HR) practitioners in the South Korean public sector can refer to our findings to establish an effective strategy to curtail PAP for inclusive and impartial appraisal systems.