Good appraisal forms usually include a combination of the following components: Employee information: this section of the form includes basic employee information such as job title, division, department and other work group information, relevant dates, and pay grade or salary classification.

Accountabilities and objectives: If the organization adopts a results approach, this section would include the name and description of each accountability, agreed upon objectives, and the extent to which they have been achieved. This section can also include a subsection describing conditions under which performance was achieved, which may help explain why the employee achieved a particular level (high or low) of performance.

Competencies and behavior indicators: If the organization adopts a behavior approach, this section of the form includes a definition of the various competencies to be assessed, together with their behavioral indicators. Achievements and contributions: Some forms include a section in which a rater is asked to list the two or three major accomplishments of the individual being rated during the review period.

Needs, goals and plans: This section of the form is future-oriented and includes information about specific goals and timetables in terms of employee development. Some organizations choose to create a separate development form and do not include this information as part of the performance appraisal. Performance touchpoints: Some forms include sections to be completed by different raters involved in different types of performance touchpoints, who have firsthand knowledge of and are affected by the employee’s performance.

Employee comments: This section includes reactions and comments provided by the employee being rated. In addition to allowing formal employee input, which improves the perceived fairness of the system, the inclusion of this section helps with legal issues because it documents that the employee has had an opportunity to participate in the evaluation process.

Signatures: The final section of most forms includes a section in which the employee being rated, the rater, and the rater’s supervisor provide their signatures to show they have seen and discussed the content of the form. Before implementing appraisal forms, make sure that all their necessary components are present.