Performance System Technologies
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 Professor Ramona 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.
Mission
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.
Philosophy
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.
Objectives
The objectives of PST are twofold. 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.
Methodology
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 doctorates, 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.
Current and past consultation and placement sites
- High Sierra Industries (HSI) & WARC
- Medical School, University of Nevada, Reno
- Behavior Analysis Program, University of Nevada, Reno
- Sierra Nevada Academy
- McNeel International: Olefinas, Guatemala