Unpacking the strategic integration gap through a systematic literature review of performance management in higher education institutions

This systematic literature review synthesizes contemporary evidence on Performance Management (PM) implementation within global higher education institutions from 2021 to 2025. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodologies, a systematic search was conducted in Scopus and ERIC. Using targeted Boolean queries that combined performance management and higher education keywords, 14 eligible empirical studies were selected and analyzed through narrative synthesis. The findings reveal a persistent “strategic integration gap,” in which evaluation systems are often viewed as administrative burdens rather than core managerial drivers. However, a transition toward agile, socially responsible evaluation is evident through the integration of Green Human Resource Management and Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, evidence suggests that high-quality, developmental PM processes can actively mitigate professional burnout and enhance the affective commitment of academic staff. Ultimately, this review provides timely insights into the post-pandemic trajectory of university governance, highlighting a potential shift from rigid bureaucratic compliance toward context-tailored and human-centric measurement frameworks.