3.5Giving Feedback: The SBI Model

The SBI model (Situation, Behavior, Impact) structures feedback so that it is specific, objective, and actionable.

Structure

• Situation: When and where did the behavior occur?
• Behavior: What specifically did the person do? (Observable facts, not interpretations)
• Impact: What was the result of that behavior?

Examples

Constructive feedback:

Situation: "In yesterday's sprint review..." Behavior: "...you presented the test results with clear metrics -- pass rate, coverage delta, and the two open risks." Impact: "The product manager said afterward that it was the first time she really understood the quality status. That kind of clarity builds trust in QA."

Corrective feedback:

Situation: "On the bug report you filed for SHOP-234..." Behavior: "...the steps to reproduce were missing the browser version and the specific test data you used." Impact: "The developer spent 2 hours trying to reproduce it before asking you for more details. That slows down the fix and creates frustration."

Follow up with a question, not a demand: "How can we make sure reproduction steps are complete before filing?"