Your First Review Cycle
A Review Cycle is a time-bound feedback collection period. Each Review Cycle has a type, a set of Participants, a start date, and a deadline.
Cycle types
Section titled “Cycle types”FeedbackPulse supports four cycle types:
| Cycle Type | What it collects | Typical length | Typical frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Review | Self-assessments + Manager evaluations | 1-2 weeks | Quarterly or annually |
| Peer Review | Feedback from colleagues (360-degree) | 1-2 weeks | Quarterly or annually |
| Engagement Survey | Team sentiment across multiple dimensions | 1 week | Quarterly |
| Pulse Survey | Quick temperature check (3-5 questions) | 2-3 days | Weekly or biweekly |
How to create a Review Cycle
Section titled “How to create a Review Cycle”- Go to Reviews or Surveys from the main navigation
- Click Create New Cycle
- Select the cycle type
- Choose Participants (all Employees, specific Teams, or individual selection)
- Set the start date and deadline
- Review the summary and click Launch
Cycle lifecycle
Section titled “Cycle lifecycle”Each Review Cycle moves through these states:
Draft → Launched → In Progress → Closed → Results Available- Draft — Created but not yet sent to Participants. Can be edited freely.
- Launched — Notifications sent. Participants can begin responding.
- In Progress — At least one Participant has submitted a response.
- Closed — Deadline has passed. No more responses accepted.
- Results Available — Data is aggregated and visible in Analytics.
Rules and constraints
Section titled “Rules and constraints”- Once a Review Cycle is launched, Participants cannot be removed. You can add more Participants or extend the deadline.
- A User can be a Participant in multiple active Review Cycles simultaneously.
- Performance Reviews require the reporting structure (Employee → Manager) to be set up before launch.
- Engagement Surveys and Pulse Surveys do not require a reporting structure.
- The minimum deadline is 1 day after the start date.
Monitoring completion
Section titled “Monitoring completion”The cycle dashboard shows completion status for each Participant:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | Submitted their response |
| Yellow | Started but not yet submitted |
| Gray | Not yet started |
Automated email reminders are sent at configurable intervals as the deadline approaches.
Viewing results
Section titled “Viewing results”After the deadline:
- Performance Review results are visible to the Employee’s Manager and all Admins
- Engagement Survey results are aggregated and visible to Admins and Managers
- Pulse Survey results update in real time as responses arrive
All results are preserved in Analytics for historical comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”Q: Can I cancel a Review Cycle after launching it? A: Yes. Go to the cycle page and click Cancel Cycle. Participants are notified. Any responses already submitted are discarded.
Q: What happens if a Participant misses the deadline? A: Their status shows as incomplete. Admins can extend the deadline to give more time.
Q: Can an Employee see their Manager’s evaluation? A: This depends on your Organization’s visibility settings. By default, Employees see their Manager’s evaluation after the cycle closes. Admins can configure this per cycle.