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Frequently Asked Questions –
Organizational Benchmarking Survey

1. What is the purpose of the survey?

ITD’s Executive Team is interested in providing employees the most productive and satisfying work environment possible. In order to accomplish this, it’s important to provide employees a format for sharing their experiences and perspectives. This survey will establish a benchmark of those perspectives, which will allow the department to identify areas of strength and weakness.

2. Who is conducting the survey?

Oasis Consulting, an independent firm operating out of Las Vegas, and which has extensive experience with governmental agencies, will conduct the survey.

3. Will our responses be confidential?

Yes. None of the information supplied will be associated with individual employees. Each individual employee’s responses will be combined with those from other employees.
All responses go directly to Oasis Consulting Services.

4. What identifying information is provided to Oasis Consulting Services?

For analysis purposes, some identifying information will be asked:
• Your SUPERVISOR’s first and last name. At no time will you be asked to provide your own name.
• Years of service; this will be asked in terms of blocks of time, such as ‘Less than one year’, ‘one to five years’, etc.
• Whether you are a classified or temporary employee.
• Your occupational group, such as Crafts, Trades, Technical, etc.

5. Why is it necessary to include years of service and other types of demographic information?

Years of service and other identifying information is for purposes of analysis. There may be certain groups within the department which respond differently than others, and it would be useful to know that for purposes of recruitment, retention, etc. This type information will help to identify ways to make ITD the best possible place to work for everyone.

6. Who will get the results?

The combined results of the survey will be reported to all ITD employees early in 2009.
Supervisors and Managers will attend a workshop to receive an aggregated summary report and to identify beneficial steps they can take to improve employee satisfaction in their areas. Workshop participants will receive a report of the combined survey responses of their employees, ONLY IF AT LEAST FOUR OF THEIR EMPLOYEES RESPOND. If fewer than four employees respond (or if a supervisor has fewer than four employees reporting to him/her), then that supervisor WILL NOT RECEIVE A REPORT. Combining employee responses in this way serves to assure confidentiality.
For those supervisors with fewer than four employees, a determination will be made whether it is possible to combine their results with those for another supervisor in the same situation, to assure that there are at least four responses. Although somewhat less conclusive than if the report were based only on direct reports, this type of report provides each supervisor with useful information regarding strengths and opportunities for improvement in their part of the department.

7. The survey asks me to identify my supervisor, my years of service, and my job category and whether I am a classified or temporary employee. Does that mean that department management will be able to identify who responded to the survey?

No. This demographic data is used to understand how different groups or geographic areas experience ITD as an employer. Management will not see any of the individual responses nor will the consultant share individual responses.

8. How will I receive the survey?

The survey is electronic. Each employee will receive an email with detailed instructions and a link to the survey.
Employees can take the survey from their home computers or any other computer from which you can access the internet.
Alternate options will be provided to employees who do not have access to a computer. Employees will either be allowed access to a designated headquarters’ or district office computer. In outlying regions it might be most effective to complete the survey after you complete your on-line time sheet.

9. How long will it take to complete the survey?

Completing the survey takes approximately 30 minutes.
Employees can take the survey on work time.

10. There is no option on the survey if I have no opinion on the question. What should I do?

· If you leave the question blank, it will be treated as ‘No Opinion’

11. Who can I contact with questions?

TJ Brown, Oasis Consulting Services: tj@consultantoasis.org or 702-562-3695
Mary Harker, Human Resource Manager: (208) 334-8010
Marcia Aitken, Training & Development Manager: (208) 334-8042