Till a few years ago, for most surveys, a paper form had to be filled. This process was expensive, since the survey form had to be printed on paper, transported and distributed to employees. The process was time consuming since filled forms had to be collected , the data entered manually to compile the survey results. The response rate was low, since some employees were not comfortable giving feedback.
Today, in most companies, all computers are connected over a LAN and in large companies all branches are interconnected. All employees can access the companies intranet without a login and this makes it easy to administer surveys online. The company can use a third party online survey software and save on printing and paper costs.
The survey software company uses inputs from the human resource department to formulate the survey and administers it to employees online. The employees are assured that their feedback will remain confidential. Using the software, the employer can monitor the feedback and response rate in real time.
The growth of most companies is directly related to the satisfaction level of its employees. Any organisation spends a lot of time and money recruiting employees for various functions and training them. The organisation benefits only if the employee spends at least a few years working for them.
However, it is difficult for the management or employer to correctly gauge the satisfaction levels in the organisation. Even if employees are unhappy, they may not complain to their immediate superior or the human resources department, since it could aggravate the problem. They will start applying for jobs elsewhere and the employer will know of it only when they receive the resignation letter.
Though most employees are asked for feedback during their annual performance appraisal, it is an informal process. Employee surveys are a popular method used to gauge the sentiments of the employees in an organization. Based on the results of the survey, suitable steps can be taken to improve the working environment to keep the employees happy. For a higher response rate, the surveys are formulated by the human resources department, but administered by a third party survey company, so the employee is assured of anonymity.
About surveys, methods used