What are the main advantages and disadvantages of 360-Degree Feedback?

i agree mr ramandra

Companies have attempted to improve employee performance evaluations in the21st century by expanding feedback to include peers, subordinates, and internal and external customers, along with conventional supervisor evaluations, according to the Business Dictionary definition of360 degree feedback. This feedback mechanism gets its name from the all-around feedback on competence-based performance. Like any evaluation tool, the360 degree feedback has common advantages and disadvantages.

Advantage1: Organization

• According to Star360 Feedback, "360-degree feedback has the greatest impact when used to evaluate and improve the performance of whole organizations." Companies can use data collected on feedback programs to monitor consistent patterns or areas of weakness for employees within the organization.

  Advantage2: Individual Growth

  • From an individual perspective, an all-around feedback mechanism helps employees see whether a consistency exists in the way their performance is viewed by more than just the manager. "Individuals receive specific information that allows them to understand how others perceive them.  

    Disadvantage1: Dishonest Feedback

     Without an anonymous system, backlash from supervisors or retaliation from colleagues could limit workers' willingness to share true feelings in the feedback process.

     

    Disadvantage2: Consistent Interpretation

    Subordinates observe different behaviors in a supervisor than that supervisor's same-level colleagues and his managers. Additionally, customers have a different perspective on an employee's behaviors.

     

Advantages :

• Peers and direct reports have more regular contact than supervisors
• The self knows what others cannot know
• Self-ratings force employees to focus on what is expected in a job
• Self ratings are best accepted by employees
• Each person has a unique perspective
• Greater reliability in the feedback exists because of the increased number of ratings
• The feedback process opens communication within the system3.

Disadvantages:

• How to interpret the findings when they differ from group to group.
• As each rater sees a different behaviour, how do we know the basis upon which the ratings are observed?
• 360-degree feedback ignores the system in which the behaviour occurs.
• There may be the fear of retribution from the supervisor if the rating is unfavourable.
• Self ratings are “unreliable, biased and inaccurate”
• There is “no empirical research to support upward appraisal for any purpose”

Main advantage is that it eliminates bias and discourages the Team Leaders / Heads from indulging in sycophancy & boss appeasement.

Main Disadvantage is that if this practice of feedback is carried out in organisations which are not professionally managed and have poor ethics, it can certainly be disasterous for the team members who give negetive feedback of their bosses.  

Some of the well-known advantages of360-degree feedback are:

·         Employees get a broader perspective of how they are perceived by people they interact with at work;

·         It gives workers a more rounded view of their performance;

·         Feedback is perceived as being more valid and objective, thus leading to results acceptance  and required actions.

Despite the dramatic rise in its popularity, the360-degree feedback is far from being perfect. The disadvantages of using this tool, as highlighted from practice, are:

·         Employees do not always give honest feedback;

·         Lack of action following feedback;

·         Poor implementation of the360-degree tool will negatively affect employees motivation;

·         Employees might be put under stress when receiving or giving feedback.

Ramesh Narayanaswamy           very good answers