


We all know that, whenever there’s a problem to
solve,
good “intelligence” is critical. Your ability
to
succeed
depends on how well you understand
the
issues at
hand – so you can address the real
causes instead
of being distracted by the “symptoms.”
Through an effective survey,
you can get the
information you
need to appropriately frame –
and identify solutions for – any business problem.
As the great philosopher,
Yogi Berra, once said,
“You can observe a lot just
by watching.” We’ve
found that you can learn a lot – just by asking.
For example, you may have customers with concerns
about your organization’s service, responsiveness, or
commitment to quality. Maybe your managers aren’t
fully in tune with your business mission – or perhaps
your
employees are dissatisfied with their benefits.
Whatever the
situation, we’ve found that, if you ask
people what
they think – and the best ways to improve
things –
they’ll actually tell you.
Unfortunately, too few organizations know the right
questions to ask, how to frame them the right way,
or what to do to organize the answers.
Why Most Surveys Don’t Work
Surveys are the most efficient, and cost-effective, way
to learn about your customers, both external and internal.
But most organizations (and consultants), view surveys
as an end – simply a way to collect data. That’s why
the typical survey report is voluminous, filling five- and
six-inch
binders with an abundance of indices – as well
as comparisons to national and industry norms. The result:
Scores of statistics, a flood of facts, and a deluge of detail.
But there’s no real information. There’s nothing readily
available in the report to help you create a strategic context,
build your business case, or generate an effective solution.
Instead, you wind up buried in binders – a profusion of
pages, precipitating “sound and fury, signifying nothing”
(Shakespeare, not Berra).
What You Need to Know About Surveys
The fact is that surveys are never an end. Your real
objective is to improve a business process, increase
the
impact of a business resource, or solve a business
problem.
Surveys are a key means to that end.
When done well, surveys don’t dwell on data, but
produce perspective – providing insight
into the various “constituencies” you must please to ensure your initiative’s
success.
Effective surveys have three things in common:
Helping You Get the Right Information – to Solve the Real Problem
With Strategic Planning Associates, LLC, you’ve truly got the “power” to succeed. Our firm has a long, and successful, track record of using surveys to reduce costs, improve productivity, and enhance organizational effectiveness. The box above shows areas in which our surveys can help you gain valuable insights – and make a change for the better.
Like X-rays, a well-designed survey is an invaluable tool in diagnosing problems and developing an effective treatment plan. With Strategic Planning Associates, you can be sure that your survey will be “just what the doctor ordered” – for the good health of your organization.
To learn more about how we can help your organization with its
survey needs,
contact us at info@strategicplanningassociates.com

©2006 Strategic Planning Associates, LLC
Home • What's New • Services • Our Firm • Success Stories • Contact Us • Site Map