Employee surveys: guidance to facilitate effective action

Abstract

Modern employee surveys have the potential to add value to an organization by assisting planning and change. However, the survey literature shows that using the findings is a challenge (William Steinberg Consultants Inc., 2004). The aim of this article is to provide guidance on how to take action on an employee survey. The article defines employee surveys and explains the reason for their increasing use. Then, by combining information from the literature with the views of managers who frequently use employee surveys, we identify the main facilitators for action. These are: a clear action purpose for both the overall survey and individual topics; endorsement by senior management; and assignment of both a survey co-ordinator and topic specialists to plan and implement action. These personnel need expertise in the topics targeted for action plus knowledge of how to implement change.