Viva Glint Questions

Tjada Butler 20 Reputation points
2026-10-19T17:03:37.5433333+00:00

Hello, I am looking to customize a question that contains tokens for a new viva glint survey. I would like to know if by altering this if I would lose benchmarking on this question or if I would still get the benchmarks from previous feedback on that question.

Also, how would I update the Token for just that one survey?

Another question I have is, do we need to set a "Key Outcome" for the survey? It is a new survey so we might not have a suitable one yet. Will we still be scored if we do not choose one?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Microsoft Viva | Other
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Jack-Bu 7,220 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-10-19T17:35:19.87+00:00

Hi Tjda,

Viva Glint benchmarks are built on the exact wording of its standard questions. A customized question does not carry an external benchmark by default. If the edit is minor, you can link the question back to the matching Viva Glint standard question (from the Question Library or the survey's Questions section), which restores external benchmarking. This works when the edited question keeps the same intent and subject as the standard one. If the edit changes the meaning, Microsoft recommends duplicating the standard question and customizing the copy, so an invalid benchmark is not attached to it.

Please note that mapping a copied question links it to external benchmarks only. It does not bring over internal benchmarks or trend history from the original question.

If you only need to update the token for a specific survey, the change can generally be made within that survey's question configuration rather than modifying the question globally across all surveys.

For a cycle in an approved Recurring Engagement program:

  • Open the program and select the specific cycle under Upcoming and Live.
  • Choose "Yes, edit the survey". This unlinks that cycle from the program, and the cycle cannot be relinked later.
  • Go to Questions, select the ellipsis next to the question, then Edit Question.
  • Update the question text, and make the same change in every language the survey includes.
  • Save, then re-approve the program so reports reflect the change.

Before saving, check the prompt that shows whether the question is used in other programs. If it is, you can duplicate the question and editing the copy, so other surveys and the original standard question stay unchanged.

The Key Outcome is set in Reporting setup and is the main result the survey reports on. It also feeds the Driver Impact analysis. It is set at the program level, and changing it later updates all past cycles, so a provisional choice can be corrected once a better fit is available. Your individual question scores are not dependent on it.

For reference:

Link custom questions to Viva Glint benchmarks | Microsoft Learn

Viva Glint benchmark collateral | Microsoft Learn

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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-19T17:05:45.72+00:00

    A token-related wording change can retain the external benchmark only when the question’s intent and referent remain equivalent; to limit the change to one survey, use cycle-level editing only if this is an approved Recurring Engagement program.

    These actions require Viva Glint Administrator permissions.

    Benchmark impact

    Benchmarks and historical trends are separate:

    • Minor wording substitution: If the token merely substitutes equivalent organizational terminology without changing who or what the question measures, edit the existing standard item and retain its benchmark.
    • Meaning or subject changes: Duplicate the standard item, customize the copy, and remove its inherited benchmark. Microsoft advises against comparing materially changed wording with the standard benchmark. ^1^
    • Custom copy that remains comparable: You may map it to the corresponding standard question under Benchmark, but that mapping supplies only the external benchmark. It does not carry over the original item’s internal benchmark or historical trend. After adding or changing a mapping, reapprove every survey program using that question so reports receive the correct benchmark information. ^2^

    Do not change a Question ID simply to preserve history. Microsoft limits that operation to completed cycles where identical items have different IDs and the trend is already broken. ^3^

    Update the token for only one survey

    If this is an approved cycle in a Recurring Engagement program:

    1. Go to Configuration → Survey programs.
    2. Open the program and confirm it is Approved.
    3. Under Upcoming and Live, select the specific cycle.
    4. Select Yes, edit the survey. This unlinks that cycle from the program.
    5. Open Questions.
    6. Hover over the item and select … → Edit Question.
    7. Edit Question text, update every configured language, and select Save changes.

    The edit applies only to that cycle; future cycles continue using the program version. An unlinked cycle cannot currently be relinked, although unlinking itself does not affect reporting. Replacing or duplicating the item can still interrupt internal trend continuity. ^4^ ^5^

    The documentation confirms that question text is editable, but it does not document the exact control for replacing an employee-data token inside an individual question. Before saving, preview the cycle and confirm that the token resolves correctly. If the program is Ad Hoc, Lifecycle, Always-On, or 360, do not use the Recurring-cycle procedure above; the applicable token workflow is not established by the available documentation.

    Key Outcome and scoring

    A Key Outcome is the survey’s headline result. It can be one rating item or an aggregate index, and it becomes the most prominent score in most reports. Individual rating questions still have their own calculated scores; the Key Outcome determines which result receives primary placement. ^6^

    However, the documentation does not confirm that every survey type can be approved or launched with the Key Outcome field blank. Check your survey’s Reporting section:

    1. Open Configuration → Survey Programs → your survey → Reporting.
    2. If the UI requires a Key Outcome, select the most suitable rating item or aggregate for now.
    3. Configure Driver Impact Outcomes separately if driver-impact analysis is required.
    4. Select Save & Continue.

    A Key Outcome is configured at the program level, not per cycle. Changing it updates all past cycles, and the newly selected outcome is added to all reporting roles. Therefore, avoid using a temporary outcome in an existing program unless that retroactive reporting change is acceptable. ^7^

    References

    1. Viva Glint benchmark collateral
    2. Link custom questions to Viva Glint benchmarks
    3. Change Viva Glint survey item IDs for expired survey cycles
    4. Understand Viva Glint programs and cycles
    5. Viva Glint Questions setup
    6. Understand Viva Glint reporting features
    7. Viva Glint Reporting setup
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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