Set up and launch an end-to-end appraisal cycle in Zoho People. This guide is for HR administrators. First you set up the performance evaluation modules (KRAs, goals, competencies and skill sets) and map them to employees. Then you create an appraisal template, build the cycle from it and start it.

Applies to: Zoho People – All clients

Phase 1: Set up the performance evaluation modules

Before you start the cycle, set up the measures employees will be evaluated against.

• KRAs (Key Result Areas): go to Operations > Performance > Methods > KRA to open the KRA library. Add KRAs manually or use the bulk import option. Then use the Tag KRA button to assign them to employees by designation, department or location.
• Goals: go to Operations > Performance > Goals. Assign goals one at a time, or bulk import them with a template spreadsheet.
• Competencies: go to Operations > Performance > Methods > Competency. Add competencies to the library and map them to employees with the Tag Competency option.
• Skill sets: go to Operations > Performance > Methods > Skill Set. Build your skill set library and map the skills to employees by domain, department or designation.

Phase 2: Create an appraisal template

An appraisal template sets out the structure of your review process, so you don't have to start from scratch each time.

1. Go to Settings > Performance > Configuration > Appraisal Templates and click Create Appraisal Template.
2. Name the template and select the review phases to include, such as Self Appraisal, Multi-Rater Review and Manager Review.
3. Choose the outcomes of the process, such as Normalization and Salary Hike.
4. Configure the settings for each phase. For example, decide whether ratings and comments are mandatory, who selects the multi-raters, and the reporting hierarchy for manager reviews (for example, 2 levels: Manager and Department Head).
5. Define your rating scales, the overall module weightings (for example, 60% for KRAs, 30% for goals and 10% for competencies) and your ideal rating distribution for normalisation.
6. Set the Publish Configuration to choose whether results are shared manually or automatically.
7. Click Submit.

Phase 3: Set up the appraisal cycle

With your modules and template ready, build the cycle.

1. Go to Operations > Performance > Appraisal > Appraisal Cycle and click Add Appraisal Cycle.
2. Select the appraisal template you created and click Apply.
3. Basic Details: enter the cycle name, select the evaluation period and attach any reference guidelines for your employees.
4. Applicability: choose which employees are eligible for the cycle by filtering on Date of Joining, Employment Type, Location or Designation.
5. Review Settings: check the settings carried over from your template for Self Appraisal, Multi-rater and Manager reviews. If needed, set your normalisation distribution and default salary hike percentages.
6. Appraisal Letter & E-Sign: to send formal appraisal letters when the cycle is complete, turn on the appraisal letter setting, select a mail merge template and set up the E-Sign recipients.
7. Period Configuration: set the start and end dates for the overall Process Period, Self Appraisal, Multi-Rater Selection, Manager Review, Normalisation, Salary Hike and Publishing. Every phase must fall within the overall Appraisal Process Period.
8. Click Submit to save the cycle.

Phase 4: Start the cycle

1. Go to Operations > Performance > Appraisals and select the Active Cycles tab.
2. Optionally, click Manage Users to review the employees taking part. You can exclude employees or add new ones here, overriding the applicability rules.
3. When you've checked all the details, click Start Cycle. This launches the process and notifies your employees.