Survey of Organizational Excellence - 2009

SOE FAQ's

What is the Survey of Organizational Excellence?

Simply, the Survey of Organizational Excellence is an anonymous tool, administered by U.T. Austin that provides Mr. Kennedy and the Business Affairs organization with information on our areas of success and identifies areas that require improvement.

When will the survey be distributed this year?

February 2 – March 2, 2009. Beginning on February 2, the survey will be available online.  All employees will be reminded to complete the survey no later than March 2. UT Austin will compile the survey results during March.

What do they do with the information obtained?

Mr. Kennedy reviews the information with his direct reports and shares the information in Town Hall meetings with all Business Affairs employees.  The Business Affairs executive team is also tasked with creating an action plan to address the areas of concern. 

Since there are so many Business Affairs employees participating, does it really matter if I fill out the survey?

Each voice counts and needs to be heard, so that’s why each employee is encouraged to participate by taking the survey. In 2007, 85% of employees participated and action was taken on several areas of concern.  The 2009 participation goal: 90%.  You can make a difference!

Can employees take the survey in Spanish?

Yes, the survey is available on-line in Spanish or English. Also, some people may prefer to have a printed survey in either language and those would be available by letting your supervisor know that is your preference. Training and Development staff will schedule sessions for employees to complete the survey.  Employees may even attend a session where the survey will be read in English or Spanish, if that is a need. Just let your supervisor know so arrangements can be made.

What does “organization wide” mean?

In this case, the organization wide refers to the departments within the Vice President for Business Affairs at UTSA.

Why are demographic questions asked? 

It allows the survey office to do comparisons between organizations. Demographic data is not used to identify individuals and you are not required to answer these items if you choose not to. 

If I’m really honest in my responses how do I know I won’t get in trouble or jeopardize my job? 

Your supervisor has no way to track your responses back to you. This is your opportunity to let your employer know how you feel while under the protection of anonymity (no identity). The other thing to remember is that if you are not comfortable with any item, you always have the option of not answering it. If a particular item does not apply to you, you may always select the N/A (not applicable) response. 

We have had a lot of turnover in leadership. How do I respond to this survey? 

Your answers should be about your supervisor today. How are things going with the current leadership? This is your workplace and your opportunity to give feedback about how it looks and feels from where you sit within the organization today. 

Example 1; my supervisor just left and now I report to a new one who has only been here a week. Answer the questions based on your new supervisor. Example 2: My supervisor recently moved to another department and now I report to the supervisor next level up. Answer your questions based on the supervisor next level up.

Who is the survey referring to when the question is about my supervisor?

You should be referring to your immediate supervisor, the person who gives you day-to-day direction.

Example:         

Judy is a Training Coordinator in Training and Development under Human Resources.

Anne is her immediate supervisor.
Barbara is the AVP for Human Resources
(Anne’s supervisor)

When Judy answers questions about her supervisor, she should answer about her interaction and relationship with Anne.

What does “immediate workplace” mean because my department falls under a larger department?
 
Your immediate workplace refers to those reporting to a single supervisor or within a defined part of the organization.  The term,  “immediate workplace“, is used so that we focus on the parts of the organization that we have the most knowledge of and therefore are best able to provide a clear picture.

For example, Judy is a member of Training which reports to Human Resources. Her “immediate workplace” refers to her peers in the Training section only.

What does “All responses are anonymous” mean? 

It means your name or identity will not be connected with your response. For a full explanation refer to http://www.orgexcel.net/survey/anonymous.html

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