Feedback is information about actual conditions that can be compared to intended goals or results. Without feedback, no one can perform to standard. Feedback informs progress, enables corrections and, eventu-ally, signals attainment of the objective.
For most “hard” tasks (i.e., tasks involving tangible products or other immediate and readily measured effects of one’s actions), feedback is generally available without much effort on anyone’s part. We are aware of our actions and their effects.
But, for “soft” tasks (i.e., tasks where the effects of our actions are not tangible, immediate nor readily measured), the feedback loop is essen-tially open. This is especially true when the main effects of a person’s actions are the reactions of other people.