Employee surveys and their key functions
Employee surveys have two key functions:
An employee survey first asks employees for feedback on aspects of their work that affect performance (the diagnostic function). It then helps identify and realise opportunities for improvement (the intervention function). An employee survey is more than data collection. It is not simply a short-term project centred on a questionnaire: the preparation and follow-up processes are just as important.
Table of Contents
Diagnostic functions of employee surveys
Analysis, evaluation and monitoring are the diagnostic functions of an employee survey. The difference between analysis and evaluation lies in when the survey data is collected: examining a change process afterwards is an evaluation, whereas examining it beforehand is an analysis. Monitoring is not evaluation, as it checks whether agreed measures have been carried out. For example, where objectives have been agreed, a survey can be used to check and assess their implementation.
- Analysis function
- Information about the situation in the organisation, such as job satisfaction, workplace climate and leadership style
- Strengths and weaknesses analysis, for example of HR and information policies or training provision
- Taking stock and identifying needs for specific projects, such as restructuring
- Analysis of specific issues, such as sickness absence or quality awareness
- Evaluation function
- Information about changes and developments in the organisation
- Assessment of management strategies and tools
- Assessment of individual measures or improvement projects
Put simply: checking your tyres before winter is an analysis of the current situation. Checking them after winter is an evaluation: how much wear has winter caused?
- Monitoring function
- Checking whether specific measures have been carried out and implemented
- Checking changes in the behaviour of managers and leaders in relation to the instrumental functions of employee surveys
Intervention function of employee surveys
The intervention function follows on from the survey itself, based on the objectives and how the results will be used. The survey itself is already an intervention.
Intervention function:
- Communication throughout the organisation, from the top down and from the bottom up
- Communicating the organisation’s and leadership philosophy
- Starting reflection and dialogue processes
- Deriving and implementing change processes from the results
What is LamaPoll?
LamaPoll is a survey tool for creating employee surveys and measuring employee satisfaction. You can use it to create, conduct and analyse all types of employee survey. Create your employee survey in just a few steps, apply your organisation’s corporate design and invite employees conveniently by email or via your intranet. You can quickly gain insights that help improve employee satisfaction. You can register for our survey tool free of charge and immediately conduct surveys for up to 50 employees with no obligation. If you need more responses to your online employee survey questionnaire, simply choose one of our monthly plans. You can also use our employee survey questionnaire templates and examples.
