Minderleistung

Minderleistung is a term used in German to describe a performance level that falls short of defined standards, targets or contractual requirements. It is a broad, non-technical concept applied in various fields to indicate suboptimal achievement rather than complete failure.

In practice, Minderleistung appears in several contexts. In human resources, it refers to employees who do not meet agreed performance targets and may trigger performance reviews, coaching or a performance improvement plan. In service contracts and SLAs, Minderleistung denotes failure to achieve key performance indicators, which can lead to remediation, service credits, penalties or renegotiation of terms. In education or training, it describes results that do not meet expected learning outcomes or competency standards.

Causes of Minderleistung are diverse and may include insufficient resources, inadequate training, inefficient processes, unrealistic targets, low motivation, or external factors beyond the individual's control. Indicators include KPI shortfalls, missed deadlines, increasing defect rates, customer complaints or repeated non-compliance with service levels.

Responses to Minderleistung typically involve monitoring and feedback, targeted training or coaching, process optimization, and adjustments to targets or incentives. In contractual contexts, remedies may include corrective actions, penalties, or renegotiation; in persistent cases, termination or contract changes may be considered. To prevent disputes and misunderstandings, organisations often define thresholds, measurement periods and consequences for Minderleistung in policies, performance agreements or SLAs, using clear quantitative criteria and documented remediation steps.

See also: Unterleistung, Leistungsmanagement, Leistungskennzahlen, Service Level Agreement.