What is a performance support tool?

• A. A resource used at the point of need; example: a mobile job-aid checklist that guides a technician through critical steps during a task.
• B. A training module delivered online.
• C. A quarterly performance review form.
• D. A motivational poster in the workplace.

Answer: (A)

Performance support tools provide on-the-spot guidance to help perform tasks correctly at the moment you’re doing them. The mobile job-aid checklist shown in the example fits this idea perfectly because it sits right where the work happens and walks the technician through the critical steps, reducing hesitation and memory load. This is different from an online training module, which is a self-contained learning activity done before or outside the actual task and isn’t typically used as you work. A quarterly performance review form is used after the fact to assess performance, not to guide action during the task. A motivational poster, while potentially helpful for mindset, doesn’t offer actionable, task-specific instructions at the point of need. So, the essence of a performance support tool is just-in-time, practical guidance embedded in the workflow to support immediate performance.