Growth Studio connects performance insights to structured action plans in 15Five. It provides tools for talent visualization, individual development, performance improvement, and succession planning.
Available in: Perform and Total Platform packages.
Feature Structure
Growth Studio contains four capabilities:
- Explore — Two visualization tools: the Talent Matrix (9-box grid of review cycle ratings) and the Org Chart (hierarchical org view). Both surfaces support direct plan creation.
- Individual Development Plans (IDPs) — Collaborative, growth-oriented plans for career development, skill-building, and promotion readiness.
- Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) — Formal, HR-governed workflows for structured performance improvement with locked expectations, required acknowledgment, and audit logging.
- Succession Nominations — An HR-only tool for identifying critical roles and documenting potential successors with readiness indicators and approval workflows.
IDP vs PIP Comparison
| Attribute | IDP | PIP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Career growth and skill development | Formal performance improvement |
| Who can create | HR, managers, or employees (configurable) | HR only |
| Governance | Collaborative — flexible, no locked dates | HR-governed — locked expectations after publishing |
| Employee access | Immediate | Blocked until the start date |
| Acknowledgment | Not required | Required |
| Approval workflow | Optional and configurable | Required |
| Audit log | No | Yes |
Key Rules
- Growth Studio requires Growth Studio access enabled for the account.
- IDPs are collaborative and growth-oriented. PIPs are formal and HR-governed.
- PIP expectations and milestones lock after HR publishes the plan.
- Employees cannot access a PIP until the plan's start date.
- Succession Nominations are restricted to HR and Admin roles.
- The Talent Matrix displays data from the most recent review cycle only.
What You Can Do
Set Up
- Configure Growth Studio settings
- Configure IDP settings and templates (Admin)
- Configure PIP settings and templates (Admin)
- Configure Succession Nomination settings (Admin)
Manage
- Create an Individual Development Plan
- Track and update an Individual Development Plan
- Create a Performance Improvement Plan (HR)
- Manage an active Performance Improvement Plan
- Acknowledge a Performance Improvement Plan (Employee)
- Nominate a successor for a critical role (HR)
- Review and approve a succession nomination
Analyze
- Use the Talent Matrix in Growth Studio
- Navigate the Org Chart in Growth Studio
- Export a PIP packet for compliance
Common Questions
- Individual Development Plans: Feature Overview
- Performance Improvement Plans: Feature Overview
- Talent Matrix: Feature Overview
- Succession Nominations: Feature Overview