360 Degree Feedback

Web Resources | Books/Chapters | Articles

The method by which employee performance is evaluated by everyone in the circle that surrounds the employee is increasingly in evidence. In a survey in 1992, 12% of the companies canvassed indicated they were using such a method. By the following year 26% were using 360 degree appraisals and more recently, an English survey found that one-third of the 119 companies in the sample were using the process.

Although an increasing number of articles and books document and analyze the trend they can be somewhat difficult to locate. The number "360" shows up in a variety of contexts. Sometimes it is followed by the degree symbol, which cannot be searched. Often, as well, the words following the number vary. For example, the method is often referred to as "360 degree feedback" or "360 degree appraisal" or "360 degree assessment". In addition, the following terms are sometimes used: "upward appraisal" or "upward feedback" or "multi-rater feedback" (with "multirater" sometimes written as one word). For these reasons this brief guide is designed to assist you in the information gathering process.

At this time there is not a specific subject heading that will direct you to books on the subject. The ones that are available are found under such general headings as: "Employees-Rating of", "Performance-Evaluation" and "Organizational Effectiveness". Using the number "360" in a word search in combination with another relevant term is a more efficient way to locate books.

Web Resources

Sample Feedback Survey from LMI's Center for Effective Organizations

360 Degree Feedback Vendor Comparison Evaluating Your Options By N. Elizabeth Fried, Ph.D., CCP

New Books

Update March 2009: New Book

"The Art & Science of 360 [degree] Feedback" by Richard Lepsinger and Anntoinette Lucia. HD58.9.L47 2009

"360[degree] Feedback" in The Handbook of Work Based Learning by Ian Cunningham, Graham Dawes, and Ben Bennett. HF5549.5.T7C853 2004

"360-degree feedback" in Educational Leadership : Personal Growth for Professional Development by Harry Tomlinson. EDU stack LB2806.T68 2004

"360-Degree Feedback: What It Is, What It Isn't and When It Works Best" in Coaching Competencies and Corporate Leadership by Tracey Weiss with Sharyn Kolberg. HD57.7.W4537 2003

"Be Careful in Implementing 360-Degree Feedback" in The Human Capital Edge : 21 People Management Practices Your Company Must Iimplement (or avoid) to Maximize Shareholder Value by Bruce N. Pfau and Ira T. Kay HF5549.P449 2002

"Making 360-Degree Feedback Work for Your Organization " in Effective HR Measurement Techniques edited by Maureen J. Fleming & Jennifer B. Wilson. HF5549.15.E34 2001

Previous Book Recommendations

"360-Degree Feedback" in Performance management: key strategies and practical guidelines by Michael Armstrong.
HF5549.5.R3A76 2000

"360-Degree Accountability for Performance" in Rethinking democratic accountability by Robert D. Behn.
DBW stack JK768.7.B44 2001

360 Feedback: The Powerful New Model for Employee Assessment & Performance Improvement by Mark Edwards.
HF5549.5. R3E33.

"Making 360-Degree Feedback Work for Your Organization" in Effective HR Measurement Techniques. Maureen J. Fleming and Jennifer B. Wilson, ed.
HF5549.15.E34 2001

"Multisource (360 Degree) Feedback: Surveys for Individual and Organizational Development" in Organizational Surveys: Tools for Assessment and Change. Allen Kraut,ed.
HD58.9.O76.

The Art and Science of 360 Degree Feedback by Richard Lepsinger.
HD58.9.L47.

"360-Degree Feedback" in The Center for Creative Leadership handbook of leadership development. Cynthia D. McCauley, Russ S. Moxley, Ellen Van Velsor, editors.
HD57.C38 1998

"The Case For 360-Degree Feedback Appraisals: More IS Better!" in The truth about managing people -- and nothing but the truth. Stephen P. Robbins.
HF5549.12.R632 2002

Maximizing the value of 360-degree feedback: a process for successful individual and organizational development by Walter W. Tornow, Manuel London, and CCL Associates.
HF5549.5.R3M26 1998

The power of 360 [degree] feedback : how to leverage performance evaluations for top productivity by David A. Waldman, Leanne E. Atwater.
HD58.9.W35 1998

The problems one encounters in searching for books exist, to a lesser degree, in the search for articles. One of the best databases for this subject (although certainly not the only one) is ProQuest - ABI/Inform Global Research. There is not a specific subject heading for "360 degree feedback". The closest heading is "subordinate appraisal of management feedback" (which can be searched quickly by simply entering the following command: su(subordinate appraisal)). Many articles on the subject do not show up under this subject, so it is best to use a variety of strategies (e.g., word searches such as - "360 and appraisal"). Selected examples from ProQuest Direct are provided below.

For two reviews of the Edward's book, 360 Degree Feedback see: HR Focus, Vol. 73, No.10, Oct. 1996, p.21 and Compensation & Benefits Review, Vol.28, No.5, Sept./Oct. 1996, p.62 (both of which are available in the Business Library. For a critical view of this appraisal method see: "360 Degree Feedback: Will the Circle Be Broken?", by Bob Filipczak et al, in Training, Vol.33, No.10, Oct.1996, p.24.

Additional articles:

"How to square the circle on 360-degree feedback"Alan Bailey. Personnel Today. Sutton: Mar 15, 2005. p. 17

"...link 360 degree feedback and appaisal" Peter Goodge. People Management. London: Jan 27, 2005. Vol. 11, Iss. 2; p. 46

"5 questions to ask before implementing a formal 360 program" Anonymous. Canadian HR Reporter. Toronto: Sep 13, 2004. Vol. 17, Iss. 15; p. 21

"Turning Appraisals Around " Margaret Kubicek. Training Magazine. Sutton: Sep 2004. p. 20

"The Use of 360 Degree Feedback Technique in the Evaluation of Management Development"
Shaun Tyson, Peter Ward. Management Learning. Thousand Oaks: Jun 2004. Vol. 35, Iss. 2; p. 205

"360 aggregate reporting advances human asset management" David Hallam. Development and Learning in Organizations. Bradford: 2004. Vol. 18, Iss. 3; p. 16

"Participant Input into Rater Selection: Potential Effects on the Quality and Acceptance of Ratings in the Context of 360-Degree Feedback", J Bret Becton, Mike Schraeder. Public Personnel Management. Washington: Spring 2004. Vol. 33, Iss. 1; p. 23

"CASE STUDY: V&A looks to the future with 360-degree feedback" Ceri Thomas. Training Journal. Ely: Jan 2004. p. 34

"360-Degree Feedback With Systematic Coaching: Empirical Analysis Suggests A Winning Combination" Fred Luthans, Suzanne J Peterson. Human Resource Management. Hoboken: Fall 2003. Vol. 42, Iss. 3; p. 243

"A Question of Leadership -- Should managers be able to review the ratings their subordinates receive from 360-degree-feedback instruments?"Sylvester Taylor, Cynthia McCauley. Leadership in Action. San Francisco: May/Jun 2003. Vol. 23, Iss. 2; p. 12

"Learning from others' 360-degree experiences" Mehrdad Debrayen, Stephane Brutus. Canadian HR Reporter. Toronto: Feb 10, 2003. Vol. 16, Iss. 3; p. 18

"Feedback, feedback everywhere...but how effective is the 360-degree approach?"Anonymous. Training Strategies for Tomorrow. Nov/Dec 2002. Vol. 16, Iss. 6; p. 19

"The dark side of 360-degree feedback" Scott Wimer. T + D. Alexandria: Sep 2002. Vol. 56, Iss. 9; p. 37

"360-Degree Feedback As A Competitive Advantage", Human Resource Management, Vol.32, No.2, Summer/Fall, 1993, p.353.

"360-degree feedback for a competitive edge", David Antonioni, Industrial Management, Vol. 42, No. 3, May/Jun 2000.

"360-Degree Feedback: The Whole Story", Training & Development, Vol.47, No.1, Jan. 1993, p.69.

"The 360-Degree Third Degree" Bristol Voss, Journal of Business Strategy, V.14, No.5, Sep/Oct 1993, p.8.

"A 360-degree view of HR", Allan Halcrow, Workforce, Vol. 81, No. 6, Jun 2002.

"Closing the circle: Participant views of a 360 degree feedback programme", Christopher Mabey, Human Resource Management Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2001.

"Conquering the Fear of Feedback", HR Focus, Vol. 71, No.3, Mar 1994, p. 9.

"The dark side of 360-degree feedback", Scott Wimer, T + D, Vol. 56, No. 9, Sep 2002.

"Designing a 360(degree) feedback system to improve employee performance", Carey Peters, HR Focus; Vol. 77, No.9, Sep 2000.

"Designing an Effective 360-Degree Appraisal Feedback Process", Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 25, No.2, Autumn, 1996, p. 24.

"Getting in on the 360 review", David S. Bernstein, Computerworld, Jun 18, 2001

"Going around in circles with "360" tools: Have they grown too popular for their own good?" Michael H Frisch, HR. Human Resource Planning, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2001.

"How'm I Doin'?", Management Review, Vol. 86, No. 5, May 1997, p.9.

"How to Manage Performance and Pay with 360-Degree Feedback", Compensation & Benefits Review, Vol.28, No.3, May/June 1996, p. 41.

"The Impact of 360-degree Feedback on Management Skills Development", Human Resources Management, Vol.32, No.2, Summer/Fall 1993, p.325.

"Managing five paradoxes of 360-degree feedback", Jai Ghorpade, The Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 14, No. 1, Feb 2000.

"Online 360-degree feedback encourages bottom-up decision-making", Larry Shetzer, Canadian HR Reporter; Vol. 13, No. 19, Nov 6, 2000.

"The Power of 360degree Feedback: How to Leverage Performance Evaluations for Top Productivity", Stephane Brutus, Personnel Psychology, Vol. 52, No. 1, Spring 1999.

"Searching 360-Degrees for Employee Evaluation", Incentive, Vol. 170, No.10, Oct. 1996, p. 40.

"What Do Others Think of You at Work?", Management Services, Vol. 41, No.3, March 1997, p. 6