The past few years have been fun and informative as we explored new uses for on-line surveys with our clients. Here are just a few ideas that may start you thinking about how you might use on-line surveys in your organization...
- PRE-CONFERENCE PLANNING: If you are planning a conference and want to collect participant views on important issues in advance, try an online survey. One client wanted to bring key stakeholders in the aquaculture industry together to set future directions and strategic infrastructure priorities to build the sector. To see the survey we developed after one meeting with the conference sponsors, click here
- LAUNCHING A NEW ORGANIZATION: We have helped launch a national organization of public schools that attract international students, a child protection agency and others by surveying key stakeholders on 'start-up' issues.
- EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK: One of the "50 Best-Managed" companies in Canada wanted to gather feedback from its employees in one of its plants. We walked in one morning during break and helped every employee complete the survey in about 15-20 minutes. We came back in a couple of days, rolled down a huge overhead door in the shipping section of the plant, projected the on-line survey results on the door and gathered all of the employees together to view them. There were lots of positives and a few areas that needed improvement. Management agreed to employee suggestions on-the-spot.
- CLIENT DIAGNOSIS: Several Human Resource consulting firms use our standardized surveys to diagnose their clients' HR management practices as part of a government-supported, "Employer of Choice" program.
- SUPPORTER FEEDBACK: A major international disaster relief organization wanted to better understand its supporter base in Canada. Over 650 Canadians have responded to the questionnaire so far. To see what the questionnaire looks like on-line, click here (please do not respond unless you are a supporter).
- USER FEEDBACK: A major provider of services to disdavantaged persons wanted to gather performance feedback from clients and their families. We adapted one of our standard questionnaires to meet their needs.
- PROGRESS REPORTING: A major Canadian financial institution uses a Sequus on-line survey as a structured way to monitor and report on progress in implementing its strategic plan.
- THE VIRTUAL 'SWOT': Taking stock of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is a standard step in the strategic planning process. Doing it on-line can save lots of meeting time. Several of our strategic planning clients have tried this and have been pleased with the results.
- FOUNDATION PERFORMANCE: A major foundation used our on-line services to survey recipients of foundation funds. The request to do so, came to Sequus two weeks before its 5 year planning session. The survey was developed, deployed and the results made available days in advance of the session.
- SCHOOL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: We have helped schools gather feedback from students, teachers, parents and others through online surveys tailored to their age and level. We have recently surveyed a Christian School system and several First Nations schools.
- PUBLIC SECTOR ISSUES MANAGEMENTWe have used online surveys to help government departments and agencies deal with important issues by surveying stakeholders in advance of meetings. Recently we have helped with the formation of labour market development strategies, dealt with physician shortages, helped launch new services for children in crisis, helped understand new immigrant and their employer perspectives on the challenges of immigration.
- LAW FIRM PLANNING: Sequus has a history of involvement with the legal profession. We have helped law firms with planning, by surveying their staff, have helped legal aid develop strategies through multiple surveys and have done the same for the Law Foundation.
