STEP 11:
EVALUATE THE FEEDBACK DISPLAY

Type of Display

There are two types of feedback display: graphic and narrative. Many feedback displays use a combination of styles to present data.

Graphic displays are charts or graphs that provide a visual picture of how managers view themselves in comparison to their raters and the instrument norms.

Narrative display is computer-generated feedback in text format rather than graphic format. It is both a presentation and a personalized interpretation of the scored data, as opposed to boilerplate recommendations for change. The text produced often incorporates some of the same strategies for framing feedback as can be found in graphic displays (see the section below [Step 13] on strategies for facilitating interpretation and change).

Narrative interpretation differs from development materials (discussed on pages 28-29) in that narrative is personalized, based on the manager’s individual feedback and output as a result of the scoring process. Development materials are off-the-shelf manuals, workbooks, and readings.

Clarity of Feedback Display

Open and review the sample feedback as if it were your own. It is probably best not to use your own feedback (if you’ve already taken the instrument) in this step, because your feelings about your own results may impede an objective analysis.

Carefully read through the instructions and look at the display. Can you understand it? How easy is this for you? Your own experience in trying to interpret the feedback is a good measure of how others will experience it. If it takes you several attempts to understand the graphic display, it is probably too complicated.

Although people should ideally never be handed instrument feedback without some guidance, it is not always possible to provide large groups of managers with intensive support. In general, the more interpretation and goal-setting that managers will have to do for themselves, the more you should be concerned about the clarity of the feedback display.