There are many hallmarks of successful companies, and while these organizations have unique traits, practices, and systems that set them apart, there are a few worth noting for their use of continuous performance management and feedback practices.
Some companies that have adopted and incorporated continuous performance improvement systems into their operations include:
Microsoft – It shifted away from stack ranking (where management teams review employee performance and rank individuals on a curve) to embrace more dynamic models, such as bi-monthly performance reviews. In these structured reviews, managers and employees discuss things like personal and professional development and goal progress.
Accenture – It also moved away from stack rankings and annual reviews. Instead, Accenture emphasized more frequent and timely feedback alongside equitable compensation, humanizing the process and working directly with employees to have what Ellyn Shook calls “coaching conversations.”
Adobe – Like Microsoft and Accenture, Adobe’s leadership teams realized that its annual review process had become overly complicated, time-consuming, and heavily procedural. It also ditched the stack ranking approach in favor of more frequent check-ins where managers and employees review performance benchmarks, goals, and gaps constructively.