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Create a performance review

Create a performance review from scratch with the New review wizard. The wizard asks for the title, review types, target group, scoring system, features, deadline and visibility, then saves the review as a Draft. Participants aren't notified until you launch it.



 Before you start

  • You need the Reviews > Create reviews permission. You become an owner of every review you create.
  • Check that each employee's manager is correct in their profile. Manager and direct report reviews use the manager on file at launch.
  • To start from an existing questionnaire instead, see Use review templates.


 Step by step 

  1. Go to Performance > Reviews.
  2. Click New review at the top right.
  3. In Create a review, click From scratch.
  4. Basic information: enter a Title and, optionally, a Description. Click Continue.
  5. Review types: select who evaluates the people in the review: Self review, Manager to direct report, Peer and/or Direct reports to manager. Click Continue. See Get started with performance reviews.
  6. Target group: choose None (will decide later), All employees, Manual selection or Dynamic group. Click Continue. See Choose the target group.
  7. Scoring system: choose Final question, Custom weights or Without score. Click Continue. See Scores, score scales and potential.
  8. Features: turn on or off Allow action plans, Include competency assessment, Add potential score and Allow review edits. Click Continue. See Review features, visibility and launch.
  9. Timeline: pick the deadline date and time. The SCHEDULED REMINDERS card shows when the automatic reminders will be sent. Click Continue.
  10. Visibility: set Grant managers early access to responses, Restrict results visibility and Make peer review anonymous. Click Create review.
  11. The review opens in Draft. Add the questions for each review type in the Questionnaire. See Build the review questionnaire.
  12. When everything is ready, click Launch review. See Review features, visibility and launch.
Creating a performance review from scratch, step by step


 

Default values in the wizard

Setting Default
Scoring system Final question
Allow action plans On
Include competency assessment Off
Add potential score Off
Allow review edits Off
Grant managers early access to responses On
Restrict results visibility Off
Make peer review anonymous Off

 

Rules and behavior

  • If you leave the deadline empty, then you can still create the review, but you must set a deadline before launching it.
  • If the deadline is in the past, then the review can't be launched.
  • If you choose None (will decide later) in Target group, then you must choose the people in Edit > Target group before launching.
  • If your company doesn't have Enterprise, then Custom weights is shown as an upgrade option and can't be selected.
  • If your company has e-signature, then Allow action plans shows an extra option, Require electronic signature.
  • If you click Edit on a draft, then you can change every setting. After launch, some settings are locked. See Manage an active review: participation, peers, reviewers and status.
  • If you create a review, then you are added as its first owner. You can add more owners in Edit > Basic information > Owners.
  • Automatic reminders are sent to reviewers with pending evaluations 7 days and 1 day before the deadline.

 

Limitations

  • You can't set a start date in the wizard. You choose Launch now or Schedule for later when you launch.
  • You can't make a review recur automatically.
  • You can't attach files to a review.
  • You can't create a review from the Factorial mobile app.
 


 Troubleshooting

  • Symptom: "I don't see New review." → Cause: you don't have Create reviews. → Fix: ask an admin to add the permission to your permission group.
  • Symptom: "Custom weights has an upgrade badge." → Cause: custom weighted scoring is part of Enterprise. → Fix: use Final question, or ask your admin about upgrading.
  • Symptom: "I can't click Continue on the first step." → Cause: the Title is empty. → Fix: enter a title.


 

FAQ

1. Can I save a review halfway and finish later?
Yes. Once you click Create review, the review is saved as a Draft and you can edit it at any time with Edit.

2. Do employees get notified when I create the review?
No. Nobody is notified until the review is launched.

3. Can I preview what reviewers will see?
Yes. In a draft review, click Preview at the top right to open the Questionnaire preview.

4. Can I copy last year's review?
Yes. In Performance > Reviews, open the actions menu of the review and click Duplicate. The copy has no owners or targets.

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