What types of reviews does Workspark support?

Four types: self-assessments, peer reviews (from same-manager peers), upward reviews (from direct reports), and manager evaluations. Peer and upward reviews are optional and configurable per cycle.

How long does it take to set up a review cycle?

Under 10 minutes. Choose your review period, select which review types to include, set due dates, add reviewees, and launch. No templates to build, no consultants needed.

How often should we run review cycles?

That depends on your team. Many companies run semi-annual or quarterly cycles. You choose the review period and schedule that works for you.

How does the nine-box grid work?

Manager review ratings are mapped to a nine-box talent grid combining delivery/impact (x-axis) with behaviour (y-axis). Each position has a descriptive label like Star Performer, Key Contributor, or High Potential to guide talent management conversations.

Can we import reviews from our previous system?

Yes. Workspark supports CSV import of historical review data with multi-cycle support and automatic account matching. Imported reviews are read-only and provide context alongside native reviews.

Features

Performance reviews that work out of the box

Workspark gives you a complete, structured review process: self-assessments, peer feedback, upward reviews, and manager evaluations, with opinionated defaults that work immediately. Launch your first review cycle in under 10 minutes.

Workspark review tasks inbox — list of pending self-reviews, peer reviews, and manager evaluations

Four perspectives, one complete picture

Great performance reviews incorporate multiple viewpoints. Workspark collects feedback from every angle and synthesizes it into a comprehensive evaluation.

Self Review

Employees evaluate their own performance against tracked accomplishments, identify strengths linked to competencies, and set growth goals. The self-review is grounded in evidence, not recollection.

Peer Review

Colleagues who share the same manager provide feedback on collaboration, strengths, and development areas. Optional and configurable per cycle.

Upward Review

Direct reports give confidential feedback on their manager's leadership effectiveness and support. A valuable perspective that makes manager evaluations more complete.

Manager Review

Managers complete evaluations informed by self-reviews, peer feedback, upward reviews, and the reviewee's accomplishments. AI summarizes inbound feedback by theme so managers can quickly understand patterns.

Workspark manager review — strengths tab with competency tagging and structured evaluation

A structured lifecycle, not a free-for-all

Every review cycle moves through clear phases with configurable due dates. You always know what comes next, who's behind, and what's blocking progress.

You choose the review period and schedule that works for your team, whether that is annual, semi-annual, or quarterly.

1
Draft: Configure cycle, add reviewees, set due dates
2
Launch: Reviews are created and assigned automatically
3
Individual Reviews: Self, peer, and upward reviews are completed
4
Manager Reviews: Managers evaluate with full context from all feedback
5
Calibration: Optional leadership alignment for consistency
6
Sharing: Reviews are shared with employees
7
Signing: Employees acknowledge their reviews

Structured content, not blank text boxes

Each review captures feedback across defined dimensions, so reviews are consistent, comparable, and actionable.

Text sections

Accomplishments, strengths (linked to competencies), and growth areas (linked to competencies). Structured to drive development conversations, not just performance scores.

Three rating dimensions

Performance (overall level), delivery (quality and timeliness), and behaviour (collaboration and values alignment). Rated on a 1-5 scale from "Significantly Below" to "Significantly Above Expectations."

Core competencies

11 built-in behavioural competencies like accountability, collaboration, leadership, and problem solving. Tag competencies as strengths or growth areas during reviews.

Accomplishments surfaced automatically

Accomplishments logged during the review period appear directly in the review editor for both self-reviews and manager evaluations. Reviews are grounded in evidence.

AI-assisted quality and talent mapping

AI review quality suggestions

As reviewers write, AI evaluates feedback against six quality criteria: depth and specificity, impact and outcomes, self-awareness, alignment with role, professionalism, and rating alignment.

AI feedback summaries

When multiple peer and upward reviews come in, AI generates thematic summaries that identify recurring patterns and notable quotes across all sources.

Nine-box talent grid

Manager review ratings are automatically mapped to a nine-box grid combining delivery/impact with behaviour, to guide calibration and talent management conversations.

Results, analytics, and export

After a cycle completes, everything is available for analysis and reporting.

Cycle-level metrics

Review counts by type, status distribution, and rating histograms across all three dimensions.

Reviewee summaries

Aggregated ratings from every source with nine-box mapping, peer averages, and standard deviations.

Flexible filtering

Filter results by manager, unit, job title, grade, level, or rating range.

CSV export

Export reviewee result summaries or full review data in flat CSV format. Exports respect active filters.

Frequently asked questions

What types of reviews does Workspark support?: Four types: self-assessments, peer reviews (from same-manager peers), upward reviews (from direct reports), and manager evaluations. Peer and upward reviews are optional and configurable per cycle.
How long does it take to set up a review cycle?: Under 10 minutes. Choose your review period, select which review types to include, set due dates, add reviewees, and launch. No templates to build, no consultants needed.
How often should we run review cycles?: That depends on your team. Many companies run semi-annual or quarterly cycles. You choose the review period and schedule that works for you.
How does the nine-box grid work?: Manager review ratings are mapped to a nine-box talent grid combining delivery/impact (x-axis) with behaviour (y-axis). Each position has a descriptive label like Star Performer, Key Contributor, or High Potential to guide talent management conversations.
Can we import reviews from our previous system?: Yes. Workspark supports CSV import of historical review data with multi-cycle support and automatic account matching. Imported reviews are read-only and provide context alongside native reviews.