[johan_larson]

I've seen various performance management systems at eight different employers now. My conclusions:

1. Some feedback is useful. Sometimes it's hard to be sure how you're doing, particularly if you're not super-sensitive socially.

2. More is not better. Once a year is plenty.

3. It's mostly subjective. Trying to draw clear lines is probably a waste of time. A very experienced organization may be able to create some guidelines, but they should be guidelines, not rules.

4. In the end it's all about whether you are making the boss happy. The only reason to involve anyone other than you two in the process is when some of your work is genuinely out of view of the boss.