Help

performance reviews

How to Write an Actionable Summary for Performance Reviews

The Actionable Summary feature in devActivity.com provides a structured way to document key feedback, achievements, and future goals during performance reviews. This guide will walk you through the steps to effectively use this powerful tool.

Screenshot of the Actionable Summary section with a rich text editor for comments
The Actionable Summary section with its rich text editor and suggested reference points.

Steps to Write an Actionable Summary

  1. Navigate to the Performance Review Details Page

    From your devActivity dashboard, go to the 'Analytics' section and select the specific 'Performance Review' you wish to work on. This will take you to the 'Performance Review - Details Page'.

  2. Locate the 'Actionable Summary' Section

    Scroll down the page until you find the section titled 'Actionable Summary'. You'll see a subtitle: 'Current review comments from managers and team mates.'

  3. Use the Rich Text Editor to Draft Your Summary

    Within the 'Actionable Summary' section, you'll find a rich text editor. This is where you will write your summary comments. The editor provides various formatting options to help you structure your feedback clearly:

    • Bold (B), Italic (I), Strikethrough (S)
    • Horizontal Rule (HR)
    • Headings (T with lines)
    • Unordered List and Ordered List
    • Link insertion

    As you type, you'll notice a helpful hint within the text area: 'You may use the following as reference: Overall Performance Assessment | Specific Achievements | Areas of Improvement | Future Goals | Action Plan'. Utilize these categories to ensure your summary is comprehensive and actionable.

  4. Document Key Feedback

    Based on the employee's performance, fill out the summary by addressing:

    • Overall Performance Assessment: Provide a general evaluation of their performance during the review period.
    • Specific Achievements: Highlight key successes and contributions.
    • Areas of Improvement: Identify specific areas where the employee can grow or needs to develop further.
    • Future Goals: Define clear, measurable goals for the employee's next performance period.
    • Action Plan: Outline concrete steps or resources to support the employee in achieving their goals and addressing improvement areas.
  5. Save Your Comments

    Once you have drafted your comprehensive summary, click the 'Add Comment' button, typically located at the bottom right of the comment box. Your summary will be saved within the system, becoming part of the official performance review record.

  6. Review and Share (Optional)

    The saved summary, along with other review details, is accessible to both the employee and their manager. You can also export the entire review to PDF or share it with other relevant stakeholders as needed, fostering transparency and alignment.

By following these steps, you can create impactful and actionable performance review summaries that drive employee development and contribute to a clear, consistent review process within devActivity.com.

Track, Analyze and Optimize Your Software DeveEx!

Effortlessly implement gamification, pre-generated performance reviews and retrospective, work quality analytics, alerts on top of your code repository activity

 Install GitHub App to Start
devActivity Screenshot