March 07, 2007
Communications Survey 2006
In July 2006, Lou Wetherbee conducted the Library’s second survey on internal communication. Thanks to all of you who participated. The first survey took place in March 2004. That survey indicated that information flowed fairly smoothly across the library and between departments, but that vertical communication was less fluid.
Lou Wetherbee has analyzed the results of this Summers Survey. In general, she has noted improvements in seven areas:
• Receiving timely information need to do "my job"
• Personal understanding of the role of each staff member in the overall library effort
• achieving broader staff representation on committees
• in the perception of staff that they can freely communicate with Jennifer
• in the perception of the library web site (UL@ND) as a good place to find answers on policy questions or procedures.
• in understanding by staff that communication is a shared responsibility of supervisors and staff members.
• the responsiveness of departments to each other when asked for information.
Although the scores in these areas improved, there seems to be some slippage in other areas.
• staff comfort in communicating with their immediate supervisors and with the associate directors.
• faculty participation in librarywide meetings.
• the comfort of employees in all categories with disagreeing with their co-workers in public meetings.
Of the nine listed actions taken to improve internal communication (and morale) after the last survey, six received very positive ratings. These included: the Town Hall Meetings, the May Institute, the Directors lunches, Open Forums, the Staff Newsletter, and the PEEPS Program.
Other actions were less successful. 34-40% of the respondents didn’t recognize the other three listed actions, (library policy template, committee charge templates, and communication expectations for decision-makers). Among those who did know these items, the opinion about their effectiveness was fairly evenly split .
Some responses were ambiguous. On April 11 (time to be set), Lou Wetherbee will host an open meeting to allow individuals to offer additional input and to suggest specific behavioral changes that could further improve communication . More details will be posted in April.