In the property development industry, success is never accidental. It requires long-term planning, disciplined execution, strong governance, and—most importantly—alignment across the entire organization. As companies grow larger and become publicly listed, this alignment becomes harder to maintain. Different departments move at different speeds, employees focus on short-term tasks, and leadership struggles to ensure everyone is heading in the same direction.
This is why a Performance Management System is no longer a “nice-to-have” for property developers. It is a strategic necessity.
The experience of Golden Land Berhad, a main board listed property development company, provides a powerful example of how a well-designed Performance Management System can bring clarity, trust, and focus back into a complex organization.
In a testimonial shared by Stewart Yap, CEO of Golden Land Berhad, the impact of the sandmerit KPI 123 workshop goes far beyond KPI setting. It reshaped how the company thinks about vision, culture, and performance.
Why Performance Management System Challenges Are Common in Property Development
Property development is a high-stakes, long-cycle business. Projects often span years, involve multiple stakeholders, and require close coordination across land acquisition, design, construction, finance, sales, compliance, and corporate governance.
In such an environment, many organizations struggle with:
- Unclear or loosely communicated vision and mission
- Employees focusing only on their immediate tasks without seeing the bigger picture
- KPIs that create fear instead of motivation
- Performance evaluations that feel subjective or unfair
- Leadership teams overwhelmed by the complexity of setting meaningful KPIs
Without a structured Performance Management System, even strong companies risk misalignment and internal friction.
Golden Land Berhad recognized that these challenges could not be solved by software alone. What they needed was clarity, structure, and a professional process.
Clarifying Vision and Mission Through a Performance Management System
One of the most significant outcomes highlighted by Stewart Yap was the ability of the workshop to help the company clearly define its vision and mission.
In many organizations, vision statements exist—but only on paper. Employees may have heard them before, yet struggle to explain what they actually mean in daily work.
The sandmerit approach ensured that:
- The vision was clearly articulated
- The mission was translated into practical meaning
- Everyone understood the company’s long-term goals
A Performance Management System only works when people understand why they are doing what they do. By anchoring KPIs to a clearly defined vision and mission, Golden Land Berhad created a strong foundation for alignment.
Turning Strategy Into a Clear Direction for Every Employee
Having a vision is important, but execution requires direction.
Stewart Yap emphasized that the system provided a clear roadmap for the organization. Employees were no longer guessing where the company was headed or how their role contributed to that journey.
Through the Performance Management System:
- Strategic goals were broken down into understandable objectives
- Departments knew their priorities
- Individuals understood their specific responsibilities
This clarity reduced confusion and increased focus across the organization. When employees know what matters most, decision-making becomes faster and more consistent—an essential advantage in the property development sector.
Helping Leadership Focus on What Truly Matters
Another key benefit of engaging sandmerit was professional guidance in identifying critical business priorities.
In large organizations, leaders are often pulled in many directions. Without a structured Performance Management System, it is easy to spread attention too thin across too many initiatives.
The sandmerit process helped Golden Land Berhad’s leadership:
- Identify the most impactful areas of the business
- Focus resources where they mattered most
- Avoid distractions that dilute strategic execution
This focus is particularly important for a listed company, where leadership must balance growth, compliance, profitability, and stakeholder expectations.
Shifting the KPI Mindset: From Fear to Growth
One of the most common obstacles in implementing a Performance Management System is fear. Employees often associate KPIs with punishment, pressure, or unrealistic demands.
Stewart Yap openly acknowledged this reality. However, the workshop successfully changed this perception.
Through clear explanation and engagement, KPIs were repositioned as:
- Tools for personal development
- Instruments for professional growth
- Guides for improvement rather than punishment
When KPIs are framed correctly, employees stop resisting them and start using them. This mindset shift is critical for building a sustainable performance culture.
Fairness and Transparency as the Foundation of Trust
Trust is the backbone of any effective Performance Management System.
Golden Land Berhad benefited from sandmerit’s emphasis on fairness and transparency in appraisal processes. Employees could clearly see:
- What was being measured
- How performance was evaluated
- Why outcomes were determined
This transparency removed speculation and reduced internal politics. When people understand the rules, they are more willing to engage and perform.
For a public-listed property developer, such fairness is also essential for strong governance and organizational credibility.
Strengthening Team Bonding Through Structured Engagement
Performance management is often seen as purely technical, but it has a strong human dimension.
The workshop included ice-breaking and interactive elements designed to strengthen relationships and communication between team members. These activities helped break down silos and build mutual understanding.
In property development—where cross-functional collaboration is essential—strong team bonding directly improves execution quality. A Performance Management System that strengthens relationships adds value far beyond metrics.
Why Professional Expertise Matters in KPI Design
Stewart Yap candidly admitted that setting individual KPIs for a large organization is extremely complex.
Designing effective KPIs requires:
- Deep understanding of different roles
- Alignment between individual, departmental, and corporate objectives
- Significant time and specialized expertise
Golden Land Berhad recognized that attempting to do this internally would be inefficient and risky. By engaging sandmerit, they gained access to a systematic, professional, and proven process.
This ensured that KPIs were not generic or superficial, but meaningful and aligned with the company’s strategic direction.
Performance Management System as a Long-Term Capability
What sets sandmerit apart is that the workshop is not a one-off event. It is part of the broader sandmerit KPI 123 framework, which integrates:
- CEO-level strategic coaching
- Team alignment and mindset development
- Systemized KPI tracking and review
This end-to-end approach ensures that insights gained during the workshop are sustained through daily execution.
For Golden Land Berhad, this meant building a long-term capability rather than implementing a short-term initiative.
Why Property Developers Need a Strong Performance Management System
The property development industry is becoming more competitive and regulated. Companies can no longer rely solely on experience or intuition.
A strong Performance Management System helps property developers:
- Align large teams with long-term projects
- Build trust through fairness and transparency
- Translate vision into daily execution
- Develop people, not just track results
- Support governance and accountability in listed environments
Golden Land Berhad’s experience demonstrates that performance management, when done right, becomes a strategic asset rather than an administrative burden.
Final Reflection: Performance Management Is About Leadership, Not Control
At its core, a Performance Management System is a leadership tool.
It enables leaders to communicate direction, build trust, and align people around shared goals. Golden Land Berhad’s journey shows that when performance management focuses on clarity, fairness, and growth, it strengthens both culture and execution.
For property developers aiming for sustainable success, investing in a professional Performance Management System is not optional—it is foundational.
Watch the full testimonial video here:
https://youtu.be/abN7r_duKpE
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