We often get asked to compare two sets of 360 degree feedback - normally this year's against last year.  We have a general aversion to using numbers in our reports so we like to avoid bar charts and other averaging mechanisms.  I've written before on the futility of someone saying they are 68% at Managing People.  And it gets worse if you start arguing that you have gone from 60% to 80% at Leadership. 

But it must be useful to compare one year with the last.

In working with one of our 360 clients recently, we came up with two options. 


This example retains our favoured block report style which identifies who said what.  And simply overlays the various years.  This is simple and powerful.

We also tried out a spidergraph report.  Although the averaging still gives cause for concern, I have to say that this report is graphically appealing and at a competency level gives a very effective high level overview.



While we are limited graphically here, the two charts give a simple method of comparing high level movement.

It is often Bowland Solutions role to draw out the best practice in this area and I believe we are working up some great solutions.  As ever, we always recommend using the rating scores as a method of highlighting areas.  The real 360 degree feedback will remain in the narrative section of the report.

Brendan