The University of Nevada, Reno’s Performance System Technologies (PST) Program specializes in performance system analysis and consultation for public and private organizations.  The program offers performance system consultation that results in the alignment of organizational and employees’ goals and performance.  This approach promotes lasting performance improvement for the organization and its employees.

Under the supervision of Dr. Houmanfar, consultation is provided by a team of advanced graduate students in Psychology.  All team members are trained in the methods and principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Behavior System Analysis, and Performance Management. 

PST is committed to help organizations succeed by engaging in performance improvement practices that meet the financial needs of the employee while increasing organizational profitability.

Consultation practices of PST are based on the technologies developed in the area of Behavioral System Analysis (BSA). In broadest terms, BSA refers to the application of the principles and techniques of applied behavior analysis and system analysis to the management of behavior in organizational settings. BSA assumes that individual and organizational outcomes are a function of the supporting environment and therefore seeks to develop environments in which individual and organizational objectives will be met. According to BSA, organizational improvement processes should help organizations achieve a self-regulating state that responds to the ongoing demands of their business environment. This outcome is achieved by alignment of mission, organizational processes, organizational products, organizational resources (e.g., work material, labor utilization and financial resources), and market demands.

The objectives of PST are two fold.  First, the provision of services based on a theoretical perspective that focuses on the ongoing analysis of interactive behaviors (and the related products) of employees as they actually occur in organizational settings.  The second objective is to help organizations understand how to succeed by engaging in organizational improvement practices that prove critical, worthy, and lasting.  Simply stated, our primary goal is to design and implement a technology of broad-scale performance improvement so that employees will be more productive and satisfied in the work place, and top and middle management are more informed performance outcomes, thereby assisting organizations to be more effective and efficient in achieving their long term goals.  

Too often the analysis begins with identifying the resources for a given process, and justifying the existence of the process. We jump to conclusion by deciding that we ought to bring more resources, more training, more people or different technology. 

PST practitioners believe that, in order for any organization to reach its potential, the values of the employee must be in line with those of the company.  This understanding is carried out in the methods employed by PST practitioners.

Phase 1: Development

PST consultants meet with senior management for an overview of the mission, the products and the impact of the product on the customer.   This process also includes an assessment of performance measurement, and the design of a pay for performance system. 

Phase 2: Implementation

Managers attend a leadership program in which they are trained on management practices that have proven effective within the performance system.  Employees complete a PC based training program that will introduce them to the PST philosophy and methods of the PST system. 

Phase 3: Maintenance

Under the supervision of PST’s team of Ph.D.’s, University of Nevada advance graduate students provide ongoing consultation to address performance deficits and develop improvement plans.  This process includes development of performance measurement, employee and manager training, ongoing administration of performance system, integration of system with Human Resources, and ongoing manager assistance and performance improvement planning.

Behavior Analysis Program, University of Nevada, Reno

Sierra Nevada Academy

McNeel International:  Olefinas, Guatemala

Dr. Houmanfar received her MA and PhD from University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) before joining the faculty in the Department of Psychology at UNR in 1998.  She is currently the Program Coordinator of the Behavior Analysis Program, Director of Self-paced Personalized System of Instruction for introductory psychology, and Director of Performance Systems Technology Program at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Dr. Houmanfar has served as the Director of Organizational Behavior Management Network and editor of Organizational Behavior Management section of Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.  Currently, she is serving as the senior co-chair of the Association for Behavior Analysis, editor of the Performance Systems Analysis of Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, and an editorial board member of Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. 

 In the area of improving human performance Dr. Houmanfar has published articles and chapters, delivered more than 100 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences, and has co-edited a book, “Organizational Change” (available through Context Press).  She has consulted with organizations to improve productivity in both the public and private sector.  She currently teaches introductory and organizational psychology at the undergraduate level, behavioral systems analysis at the graduate level, trains graduate students in organizational consultation, and conducts research in the areas of instructional design, verbal networking systems in organizations, productivity improvement, and incentive systems. 

The University of Nevada, Reno

Last Modified: Friday, July 27, 2007
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