Even though a vendor processes the forms and provides counseling to recipients, the Postal Service is considering trimming more questions and moving to a software system, Edwards says. Most agencies use 20 to 30 questions, having found raters become jaded and comments disappear if forms are too long. VOA's engineering shop learned to seek feedback only on those behavioral attributes that presented the biggest problems in the office, Witt says. Agencies also have discovered that even with fewer questions, filling out feedback forms can become a huge burden on employees. USPS employees are expected to hand out forms to 14 peers and direct reports.
Most agencies expect people to have at least five or six people in their feedback circles.
That means one person can end up rating many colleagues. Witt with 10. Both say that's too many. Lessons Learned Those experienced with 360-degree feedback offer a number of cautions to organizations considering adopting it. Do not attempt a 360 program without enthusiastic support from top officials, they warn.