The views of your staff are critical. Their ideas and attitudes about the organization have a serious effect on financial performance and growth, so you need to do the research right to get a true picture.
A seasoned research partner can help you choose which survey option meets your organization’s needs. Consider the following criteria to make the best decision when selecting an employee survey provider:
- Benchmarks: To know what the results of your employee survey are really telling you, you have to consider them in specific contexts. An experienced research partner / survey provider should have benchmark data – by region, industry, and function – so you can do just that.
- Reporting: Reporting is an important part of any survey. You need reports that are clear and meaningful, and also appropriate for different groups, such as front-line staff or senior executives. Good reporting lets you share findings throughout your organization effectively and efficiently.
- Customization: Often, a standard questionnaire that has been proven to get results will work fine. But your organization and its culture are unique, so you will likely want to customize a few questions. Your professional survey provider partner should offer you the option of blending proven questions with your specific needs, requirements, and circumstances.
- Deployment methods: Although most organizations do their surveys online, you need to include staff members who do not have easy or regular computer access. You want a survey provider who can design and deploy online, on smartphone or tablet or if needed via printed questionnaires – or all three.
- Cost-effectiveness: An experienced survey provider can provide a valid and reliable questionnaire and a systematic process to make sure that you can launch the survey without breaking your budget. Think of the time and money your organization will save by not having to start from scratch.
- Tools for action: Ask potential survey partners if their data analysis can pinpoint areas for specific improvement and then help you implement those improvements.
- Project management: The survey process has many elements and stages, and each one needs to be done right so that your organization gets the information it needs from the survey. An experienced professional survey provider can see the survey through, from concept to completion and beyond, and make sure the project runs smoothly at each stage and through the whole process.