Low-performing

Describing something or someone that is not achieving expected or desired levels of success, output, or efficiency. This applies to various contexts including businesses, educational institutions, individual employees, or even specific systems or processes. A low-performing entity often struggles to meet set benchmarks, goals, or targets, and may require intervention, improvement strategies, or restructuring to enhance its effectiveness and output. It can also imply substandard quality, slow progress, or a general lack of achievement compared to peers or established standards. The term suggests a gap between actual performance and potential, highlighting areas needing improvement. Recognizing and addressing low performance is crucial for sustained growth, profitability, and overall success.

Low-performing meaning with examples

• The company's subsidiary was identified as low-performing, consistently missing its sales targets and generating minimal profit. Management decided to implement a turnaround strategy. They replaced several key personnel and launched a new marketing campaign. The overall focus was to improve customer satisfaction to hopefully turn around the subsidiary's low-performing status. The company closely monitored progress to evaluate the success of the implemented strategies.
• After analyzing student assessment results, the school identified several low-performing classes in mathematics and science. The school decided to allocate additional resources to support these struggling classes. Teachers received professional development, and tutoring programs were implemented to bring the students up to par. This ultimately led to a considerable performance boost for the low-performing math and science classes.
• The financial analyst deemed the investment portfolio low-performing. The portfolio's returns lagged behind the market average due to poor asset allocation. The analyst recommended diversifying holdings and shifting to less volatile investments. These adjustments were implemented to reduce risk and enhance overall performance and to bring the previously low-performing portfolio more in line with market trends.
• The production line exhibited low-performing equipment, resulting in frequent breakdowns and significant production delays. Engineers implemented an overhaul of the line and also invested in employee training. The changes included preventative maintenance and improved machine management to address the underlying causes of the low-performing equipment. The goal was to optimize the production rate.
• The employee's annual review indicated a low-performing assessment in several key areas, including communication and project management. A performance improvement plan was created and implemented by the human resources team. The PIP included specific training goals and frequent progress checks to address their low-performing abilities and to help them achieve the company's expectations.