Visual Input Systems Analysts, Inc.

(VISA, Inc.)

Announces

"Total Interface Feedback™"

"Paper Based" using Optical Scanning Technology

A Strategic Human Resources Tool

A Multi-Dimensional 360 Degree Feedback System.

Total Interface Feedback Has Gone OnLine!

Total Interface Feedback allows for the evaluation of performance and behavior from one's boss, subordinates, peers, and people outside the organization with whom the employee interfaces. Although similar to 360 Degree Feedback, Total Interface Feedback goes one step further - it tailors the rating/evaluation criteria to the employee's profession/career specialty.

The power and versatility of Total Interface Feedback is made possible by VISA's pioneering in "Smart Paper" - Paper that is changed into personalized, pre-identified optical scanning forms by the Xerox 4890 Highlight Color Laser Printer. We create our forms literally from scratch -- in computer-created personalized and individualized sets onto which the recipient records his/her choices and opinions.

VISA's Total Interface Feedback program-product is a complete turnkey system. We have minimized the work and effort required by the HR department and the participating employees with our Smart Form Processing. Following are the steps:

• A VISA professional will meet with you to determine your requirements, i.e., the proper set(s) of evaluation statements, their grouping into categories (or dimensions,) and to tailor the reports desired.

• You supply VISA with the employee data base (in dBase, Access, Excel, ASCII flat file, or Lotus.)

• We request a file with the basic information necessary to identify, locate, and classify each employee.

• VISA sorts the file alphabetically within company (or by department, if desired.) We then add a consecutive locator code with a self-checking digit is added to each record.

• The "locator code" is a unique identifier code requiring the fewest number of digits for a given population. With a self checking digit, the locator code for an employee population under 10,000 is 2 - 5 digits in length.

• A peer selection booklet is printed (by VISA or your company) for each participating employee. The booklet lists the employee names and their locator codes in an easy to find sequence.

• VISA prints a personalized computer letter to which is attached a personalized optically scannable peer evaluator nomination form. We mail these forms to each participating employee in a window envelope with a business reply envelope.

• The employee selects six (6) peers and his/her supervisor selects six (6) additional peer evaluators. Customers, clients, outside contractors can also act as evaluators in this system. The reverse side of the nomination form allows for a total of four write-ins (two each for the employee and supervisor.)

• VISA's high-speed scanner optically scans the peer nomination sheets. We key enter the names and addreses of write-in candidates. We maintain positive identification by wand-scanning the laser printed bar code printed on the form. Our program reads and positively verifies each locator code.

• After deciding the degree of job-specialty customization desired, VISA and the client company develop a set of evaluation statements for each job class or specialty (or one set of statements for the company as a whole if desired.)

• VISA randomly computer-selects three or four peers from each of the employee's and supervisor's selections. (We pick four if one or two write-ins are entered for either the employee or supervisor.)

• The anonymity of Total Interface Feedback is insured utilizing a random selection algorithm governed by the following parameters:

   

  • six (6) company evaluators per employee - three (3) from the employee's and three from the supervisor's nominations.
  • outside candidates written in by the employee or supervisor increases the limit of evaluators per employee one (1) each - to seven (7) or (8) eight, respectively.
  • maximum number of rating sheets sent to any one rater is eight (8) regardless of the number of times they were picked.
  • the computerized selection of evaluators is geared to maximize participation in the rating process. Those who are selected by only one or two employees are given a good chance to act as evaluators.

• VISA generates a personalized computer letter followed by one to eight laser individualized optically scannable (job specific) rating sheets. (For integrity in mailing, VISA prints the sets in alphabetic order in groups by number of sheets.) These evaluation sheets are each self identified for the scanner and the bar code reader.

• • The evaluation sheets can be computer customized for each job or professional specialty i.e., Accounting, Marketing, MIS, Management etc. - so that accountants, salesmen, computer programmers, management executives, etc. are each evaluated by their own set of statements.
  • The practical limit of the number of different job specialties selected is determined by the company - not VISA.
  • To enhance the degree of anonymity, we print only the name of the person being rated on each rating sheet. We have encoded the rater's identification number for file integrity and reconciliation.

    Each employee receives a complete evaluation package which is mailed in a window envelope. Confidentiality is insured once again by mailing to the employee's home.

  • The evaluation package includes:: personalized cover letter, "Interpreting and Understanding the Data Package"; graphic analysis and verbatim comments.
  • All participating employees receive evaluation forms during the same week - not spread out over several weeks as in most systems. This eliminates any seasonal/cyclical biases.

• VISA receives and optically scans the returned evaluation forms. The scanner automatically reads and verifies the employee evaluator and employee - encoded on the form. VISA's scanner reads each rating from both sides of the form simultaneously.

• VISA's key entry specialists key the verbatim comment field into a word processing program.

• We use on-line bar code scanners to read the laser imprinted bar code to positively identify each comment with evaluator and evaluator. All employee evaluator comments are processed and spell checked.

• Reconciliation of evaluations and a compilation and tabulation of evaluators and employees show management who has not turned in their rating sheets - and the effect on the reporting process.

• When given the go ahead, VISA's computers compile the evaluation data and generate state-of-the-art graphical reports - personalized for each employee in a five page set - including a personalized cover letter. We print these report sets on the high speed Xerox Highlight Color Laser Printer.

• We insert the self-addressed report sets in window envelopes along with an instruction/interpretation booklet. These are mailed to the employee's home address to insure confidentiality.

• Following are the features of the Global Feedback Reports as currently developed:
  • The report is a five duplex page set (computer compiled) starting with a personalized computer letter.
  • The eleven dimensions (the logical grouping of statements into characteristics such as "leadership" and "teamwork") are arranged in sequence for each individual from strongest to weakest.
  • The employee's ratings for each statement are reported in frequency distributions, averages, and scaled bar graphs.
  • Each score is presented adjacent to stacked bar graph showing overall company (department/group) low, average, and high scores.
  • The final page shows the verbatim comments from up to six colleagues.
  • The statements and their arrangement into dimensions are customized to the individual being rated. Since each set is computer generated, there is no need to perform any mechanical grouping to accommodate this diversified reporting.
• Report cycles after the first reflect the tracking of the individual's ratings from the previous year(s.) Historical tracking by employee dimension year-to-year allows for continued employee development.

Whereas the descriptions and procedures reported herein specify discrete numbers and parameters for clarity, this system can - and in most cases will be - modified and customized to suit the needs of the client company

For more detailed information please contact:

Geoffrey B. Dougherty,
President,
Visual Input Systems Analysts, Inc. (VISA. Inc.)
1789 Hamilton Drive, P.O. Box 554,
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 19481

Founded in 1970
(800) 621-1492

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mail@visainc.com
© 1996 Copyright Visual Input Systems Analysts, Inc.