Performance Management: Putting Research into Action

Feedback

For challenging goals to lead to high performance, they need to be accompanied by adequate feedback (Erez, 1977). However, not all feedback is helpful. Indeed a meta-analysis (statistical review) of 607 feedback interventions revealed that, in 38 percent of cases, feedback actually had a negative impact on performance (Kluger & DeNisi, 1996). Feedback can also be viewed as not accurate or useful, potentially leading to feelings of discouragement and anger (Brett & Atwater, 2001). It is thus important for managers to be aware of how to provide feedback in a manner most likely to bring about a positive change in behavior. Five principles suggested by DeNisi and Kluger (2000) for providing effective feedback are as follows:

First, ...