The 9-Box Grid question type helps organisations assess team members based on performance and potential. It is an effective tool for identifying high performers, underperformers, future leaders and for reducing bias by providing a standardised framework.
⚠️ Important: Organisations can modify these labels, descriptions, and rating scales to align with their specific evaluation criteria.
Key Features of the 9-Box Grid
Automated 9-Box Grid Placement: The team member's placement is automatically determined based on appraisal responses from both the manager and the employee.
Manual 9-Box Grid Placement: The placement on the 9-Box Grid is selected manually by both the manager and the team member.
Axis settings for the 9-Box Grid
The 9-Box Grid is structured around two axes, both of which are fully customisable based on the organisation's goals and requirements. They can represent any key evaluation factors that the organisation wishes to assess.
The 9-Box Grid question type is built on two main evaluation axes:
Vertical Axis: Represents one key evaluation criteria, for example:
Performance.
Engagement.
Readiness.
Horizontal Axis: Represents another criteria, for example:
Potential.
Attainment.
Motivation.
Vertical axis example
The vertical axis can be customised to measure different evaluation factors. Below is an example setup:
Performance Level | Rating | Description |
Does not meet | 0-3 | The employee struggles to meet expectations and needs improvement. |
Meets expectations | 4 | The employee consistently meets job requirements and goals. |
Exceeds Expectations | 5 | The employee surpasses expectations, consistently delivering high-quality results. |
Axis parameters
To determine an employee’s placement on the axis, the system uses rating-type questions from the appraisal. You can configure:
Average Calculation: Uses the average score from all rating-type questions.
Sum Calculation: Adds up the total score from rating-type questions.
This allows organisations to tailor performance assessments based on key evaluation criteria.
Horizontal axis example
This axis measures the employee’s ability to grow beyond their current role. It assesses leadership capability, adaptability, and readiness for advancement. Below is an example setup:
Potential Level | Rating | Description |
Mastery | 1 | Employee is highly skilled in their current role but may not have aspirations for a higher position. |
Bigger, Broader Role | 2 | Employee demonstrates an ability to handle more responsibility and could expand their role horizontally within the organisation. |
One Level Up | 3 | Employee is ready for promotion, shows strong leadership potential, and can take on more complex responsibilities. |
Axis parameters
Just like the vertical axis, the horizontal axis can be configured using:
Average Calculation: Averages all selected rating-type questions related to potential.
Sum Calculation: Sums up all scores from selected questions.
This ensures that the assessments are based on clear and objective data from the appraisal.
Grid settings
The organisation can configure the categories used within the 9-Box Grid to reflect its appraisal strategy. Below are some example categories, but these can be fully customised.
Example grid category:
Sustained High Performer: Consistently exceeds expectations.
High Performer: Meets expectations and is highly capable of taking on more responsibility.
Future Leader: Identified as having high growth potential.
Manager Override and custom options
Enabling Manager Override allows managers to manually adjust an employee’s grid placement if they believe automated results do not fully capture the situation.
Useful when an employee is undergoing changes such as a new role or responsibilities that are not reflected in their past performance data.
Add 9-Box Grid question type to your appraisal
To add a 9-Box Grid question to your appraisal, follow the steps below:
Click Manage appraisals, then click Create Appraisal.
Add a Section and an Introduction to your appraisal.
Click Add on the left sidebar.
From the drop-down box, select 9 Box Grid question type.
Configure the following settings:
Target: Determines who answers the question.
Employee.
Manager.
Employee and Manager.
Manager and Senior Manager.
Senior Manager.
Mandatory: Specifies if the question is required.
No.
Employee.
Manager.
Employee and Manager.
Manager if Employee answered.
Description: Provide additional context for the question.
Select question parameter:
Automated 9-Box Grid Placement: The team member's placement is automatically determined based on appraisal responses from both the manager and the employee.
Manual 9-Box Grid Placement: The 9-box grid selection is made by both the manager and the team member.
Type in axis parameters:
Vertical Axis and Row names.
Horizontal axis and Column names.
Choose the axis parameter calculation:
Average: Averages all selected rating-type questions
Sum Calculation: Sums up all scores from selected questions.
Set up your grid settings.
Click the Manager Override toggle to:
Enable: Managers can override automated appraisal results and manually adjust ratings, allowing flexibility where predefined criteria may not fully apply.
Disable: Appraisal results will remain automated, and managers will not be able to make manual adjustments.
Click Add new to add additional options.
Too Soon to Evaluate.
Due to Leave.
Select toggle to allow comments.
Click Save changes.