We will have many discussions around whether the term 'Peers' is correct, or if 'Direct Report' is appropriate, and what we mean by 'Line Manager'?

Inevitably, the direct report term finds favour, it is factual in so much that it denotes someone who 'directly reports' to the feedback recipient, and is less controversial than 'subordinate'.

The term 'Peers' will sometimes be changed to 'Colleagues', with an additional prefix to denote if they are 'Internal Colleagues' or 'External Colleagues'...a valid distinction if the external colleagues group can offer an opinion worth separating from the internal ones (which they usually are able to!).

Line Manager denotes that person who has direct supervisory control over the feedback recipient  day-in and day-out....they may well have another manager who they report into, but this will often be in relation to a specific project - there can, as in the words of 'Highlander'....be only one....

The terms given to all of these respondents is as important as the rating scales terms, or wording of the question, or guidance text in the invitation email - it should all be thought about and reflect the culture of the organisation.

We always work very closely with our clients to ensure they give consideration to this; why go to all the trouble of implementing a tailored online solution, if you don't shape it to suit you?

John