3. Survey Feedback
One tool for assessing attitudes held by organizational members, identifying discrepancies among member perceptions and solving these differences is the survey feedback approach. Though some type of survey method was prevalent in various organizations earlier, Institute for Social Research (ISR) of University of Michigan, USA developed a comprehensive questionnaire for conducting survey of different aspects of an organization.
Objectives
i. To assist the organisation in diagnosing its problems and developing action plan for problem solving.
ii. To assess the group members to improve the relationships through discussion of common problems.
Process of Survey Feedback
Survey feedback usually proceeds with sequential activities involving data collection, feedback of information, developing action plans based on feedback and follow up.
i. Data Collection
The first step in survey feedback is data collection usually by a consultant based on a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire may include different aspects of organizational functioning. ISR has prepared questionnaire which includes questions on:
- Leadership
Managerial support, managerial goal emphasis, managerial work facilitation, peer support, peer goal emphasis, peer work facilitation, peer interaction facilitation.
- Organizational Climate
Communication with company, motivation, decision making, control within the company, coordination between departments, and general management.
- Satisfaction
Satisfaction with company, satisfaction with the supervisor, satisfaction with the job, satisfaction with pay, satisfaction with the work group.
The questionnaire is administered personally either by the members of consulting firm or by organization’s personnel. After questionnaires are competed, data are classified, tabulated and analysis is made to arrive at some meaningful conclusions.
ii. Feedback of Information
After the data are analyzed feedback is given to the persons who have participated in the filling up of questionnaires. The feedback may be given either orally or in a written form. In oral system of feedback, it is provided through group discussion or problem solving sessions conducted by the consultant. Alternatively, feedback may be given in the form of a written summary of findings. Whatever the method of giving feedback is adopted if should be constructive and suggestive, rather, threatening and emotion hurting as survey feedback is aimed at identifying weaknesses which must be overcome through follow- up actions and not the fault-finding technique for criticism.
iii. Follow-up Action
Survey feedback programmes is not meaningful unless some follow-up action is taken based on the data collected. One such follow- up action maybe to advise the participants to develop their own action plans to overcome the problems revealed through a feedback or as is more commonly the case, follow up action may be in the form of developing some specific OD interventions particularly process consultation and team building by the consultant.