Feedback in work groups - A description of actively seeking and passively receiving feedback in work groups

In this empirical study, feedback in work groups was studied descriptively. Research questions were asked regarding the extent to which work groups actively seek (FS) and passively receive feedback (FR) about their performance. Specific attention was paid to the issue of the feedback and the source being used to attain it.

Feedback appeared to be passively received more than actively sought, although both FR and FS about the work group did not occur very often. They most often occurred within the work group itself, less often within the organizational context or within the circle of customers and clients. The frequency with which feedback is actively sought is higher on results, methods and strategic choices than on effort and image. Furthermore FS and FR mostly occurred where there were close relationships in which there is mutual interaction about the general performance of the work group. An interesting aspect of the results is that, even though FS did not occur very often, people generally regarded it to be very important for performance.