[Excerpt] As the workplace and employee dynamics shift in preparation for the future, so too do the methods that companies use to manage performance and assess their workforce. Companies have begun to move away from traditional performance appraisal methods, instead opting for the next new buzz term: a feedback culture. A survey of 300 HR leaders reported that 21% are either planning to or have done away with performance ratings. Meanwhile, companies such as Microsoft, Deloitte, and Adobe have turned to continuous feedback systems as a means for managing performance.