Talent matrix (4-box)

The talent matrix (4-box) places each reviewee in one of four boxes according to two axes, for example Performance (horizontal) and Potential (vertical). Each axis is scored from the skill categories you assign to it. OpenAleph has a matrix for each review cycle (the 4-Box matrix tab) and a Company talent matrix that aggregates the latest results of every employee.

How positions are calculated

• Each axis is linked to one or more skill categories of the framework.
• For each reviewee, OpenAleph takes the ratings of their submitted reviews on the skills of those categories, converts each rating into a percentage of the scale's maximum, and averages them using the skills' weights. The axis score goes from 0% to 100%.
• Each axis has a threshold (the "cut") between low and high. The two cuts split the chart into four boxes, numbered 1 to 4. Box numbers are fixed references used in analytics; each box also has a name you choose.
• People without a submitted review on the axis skills are not placed.

Set up the matrix of a cycle

A cycle can start with a matrix already configured: when you create it, the summary step lets you pick a saved configuration or the Group default (see Create and launch a review cycle). Otherwise, or to change it:

1. Open the cycle and go to the 4-Box matrix tab.
2. Click Configure now (when there is no matrix yet, No talent matrix yet) or the settings icon (Talent matrix configuration).
3. In Set up the talent matrix, answer How would you like to set up the matrix?:
   • Use an existing configuration: start from one of the talent matrix templates saved for the group. Pick one (the default one is tagged Default) and click Use this configuration. If none exists, No group configuration to use is shown.
   • Configure from scratch: choose the axes, their skill categories and the box limits yourself, then click Continue.
4. If the cycle already had a matrix, a warning reminds you that the new one replaces it: people already reviewed may land in a different box, but their reviews and answers are untouched.

Configure from scratch

The Talent matrix configuration (4-Box) window has three steps, with a 4-Box preview on the side:

1. Axes: What do you want to evaluate? Name the Horizontal axis (for example "Performance") and the Vertical axis (for example "Potential"), and pick one or more skill categories in the Categories list under each. Click Next.
2. Boxes: What do you want to call them? Give each quadrant a name (Box 1 to Box 4, all mandatory). The fields suggest what each box covers: Box 1 "Low performance, Low potential", Box 2 "High performance, Low potential", Box 3 "Low performance, High potential", Box 4 "High performance, High potential". Box numbers are fixed references used in analytics. Click Next.
3. Thresholds: Where do you draw the line? For each axis (horizontal cut and vertical cut), set High-from, the percentage where "high" begins; "low" goes from Low-from up to that value. Scores always range from 0% to 100%. On a cycle configured from scratch the values start at 0%, so set them before saving (a saved configuration starts at 50%).
4. Click Save. The message "4-box matrix configuration updated successfully." confirms it, and people are placed immediately.

Read the matrix

• Each reviewee appears as an avatar (their initials) in their box. Hover over or click an avatar to see the person's name and scores on both axes.
• When several people overlap, click the group to open a list and choose one.
• Click a person to open Analysis details with their reviews (see Results and exports).
• Use Zoom in, Zoom out and Recenter to navigate.
• Use Search to find a person, and Filter to narrow the matrix by profile fields (department, job title...) or by the dominant answer to the True/False question.
• Export › Export PDF or Export Excel downloads the matrix. The spreadsheet lists each person with their job title, box and both axis scores.

The Results tab of the cycle also shows each reviewee's axis scores and box label, and the Overview tab a People per box chart.

Company talent matrix

Go to Skills › Company matrix to open the Company talent matrix: an aggregated 4-box view of each employee's latest review result.

Who appears depends on your role:

Employees don't have access to this page.

The page offers Search employees, Filter, Export (PDF or Excel), zoom controls and the settings icon (Talent matrix configuration). Click a box title to open the list of its Members, then a member to see their analysis.

If nothing is configured, the page reads No company talent matrix yet ("Once a company-wide 4-box configuration is published you will see employees positioned here."), the settings icon is greyed out and a Configure now button opens the same Set up the talent matrix window as on a cycle (Configure from scratch or Use an existing configuration).

Once the company matrix exists, admins can use the settings icon to rename its axes and boxes (Company talent matrix configuration › Rename axes and boxes). Only the names are editable there: thresholds are managed company-wide.

Saved configurations (Talent matrix templates)

Below the company matrix, the Talent matrix templates list holds the group's reusable configurations. A new cycle starts from the default one, and any cycle can be switched to another.

Admins manage them:

1. Click New template, fill in the Configuration name (for example "Sales teams") and go through the same three steps (axes, boxes, thresholds; the cuts start at 50%). Click Save. "Configuration created." confirms it, and the list shows the configuration with its axes and categories, for example "Performance (Technical skills) · Potential (Leadership)".
2. In the options of a template (Template options), choose Edit template, Make it the default or Delete template. The default configuration is tagged Default ("New cycles will start from this configuration.").
3. A template tagged Incomplete has no category on its axes or no thresholds: it can't place anyone, so it can't be used to prefill a cycle.

Deleting a configuration (Delete this configuration?) doesn't affect cycles already using it: they keep their own copy. Only new cycles are affected.

Common questions

The matrix is empty although the cycle is configured.

Only reviewees with submitted reviews on the skills of the axis categories are placed. Check the progress in the Reviewees tab.

Why did someone change box after I changed the configuration?

Positions are recalculated with the new categories and thresholds. Reviews and answers are not changed.

The cycle launched without a matrix.

No configuration was picked and the group has no usable default. Set it up in the 4-Box matrix tab.

Can a manager see the whole company on the company matrix?

No. Managers see their reports (direct and indirect) and the reviewees of cycles they run.