Employee questionnaire

Employees' questionnaire

This questionnaire is designed to test your business' alignment with the 10 Business Excellence Principles. For each question in this section give your rating out of 10 for how well it is done in your workplace. We suggest that you answer from your experience of your immediate workgroup. (If you are part of a large organization, you will also need to consider the relations between your workgroup and the rest of the organization)

The questions are in the form of statements because that has proved to be best. The letters after the question (P1, P2 etc) refer to the Principle (see previous page).

(A full description of the Principles can be found in 'The Competitive Enterprise' by Geoff Bell or you can follow the Business Sustainability Assessment for managers path.)

For your report to be valid, you must compete at least 98 questions including all the most important ones (shown in bold).

I can do my work without fear? P1

I trust the business' management? P1

I feel secure? P1

I trust my bosses? P1

This business has fantastic internal communications? P1

The business demonstrates values that I like? P1

The senior managers are open and honest? P1

I feel that I am supported? P1

I have access to managers/team leaders when I need decisions made? P1

This a business where I can do my best work? P1

We are all treated equally? P1

This business knows where it is going and has plans to get there? P2

I contribute to the planning process in a meaningful way that I am very comfortable with? P2

I am represented in major decisions effecting strategic planning, products and service design, process redesign and business design? P2

I am given a say in this company? P2

There are no surprises for me after the planning process is completed?
(If surprises, score 0; if none, score 10.) P2

All parts of the business work together to achieve the business' objectives? P2

This business does not have political infighting and one-up-manship amongst its executives?
(If in-fighting, score 0; if not, score 10.) P2

This business is focused on achieving its Goals and objectives? P2

I know what this business is trying to achieve? P2

I know how we are going? (Ie, we have clear indicators of success that I have access to?) P2

I know how I contribute to the business' success? P2

This business is proactive rather than 'knee jerk'? P2

I understand what our customers value? P3

We actively try to find out what our customers dislike about our products and services? P3

We use customer input in product and service design? P3

We use customer feedback/complaints to improve our service? P3

Our products and services are of value to our customers? P3

Everything about this business is focused on providing what our customers value? P3

This business understands what its processes are capable of delivering (its process capability? P4

This business deliberately works to improve its processes? P4

We are enabled (provided with skills, knowledge, authority and power) to change processes in which we work? P4

Our managers spend considerable time working to improve processes (ie, making it easier for you to do your work)? P4

Systems are improved when things go wrong; people are not blamed? P4

When processes need to be improved, our managers/team leaders draw on the experience of all people who have knowledge of the processes? P4

Our performance management system is based on the capability of the processes to deliver? P4

We have plans to reach all targets? P4

Our managers are team members rather than 'bosses'? P4

My needs as an internal customer of the process are considered and met? P4

This business bases all its operational decisions on facts - data and information; rather than rumor and 'gut feel'? P5

This business does not gather data that it does not use?
(If it gathers much data that is not used, score 0; if it uses all data collected, score 10.) P5

This business does not demand reports that no one uses?
(If it produces many reports that are not used, score 0; if it uses all reports, score 10.) P5

This business evaluates its performance using indicators of success such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? P5

This business does not have KPIs and measurements that force me to work against the business' best interests? (If it has many such KPIs, score 0; if no such KPIs, score 10.) P5

This business makes comparisons with other companies to find better ways of doing things? P5

This business makes good use of the knowledge held in the company. P5

This business understands that all systems and processes produce inconsistent results? P6

Our managers do not over or under-react? (If it over or under react often, score 0; if seldom or never, score 10.) P6

I have been given the skills to allow me to understand variation? P6

Our managers clearly understand variation? P6

Our managers do not ask "why are this month's results different from last month's"?
(If ask, score 0, if not, score 10.) P6

Our managers have been given the skills to allow them to understand variation? P6

Data is always presented in such a way as to allow interpretation of the variation? P6

We work to make processes more stable by reducing 'special cause' variation? P6

We work to make processes more capable by reducing 'common cause' variation? P6

We are working to reduce the variation in all our products and services? P6

I am valued (appreciated) by this company? P7

I am respected? P7

I know what is expected of me in my job? P7

I am given adequate skills, knowledge, authority and resources to be able to do my job? P7

When people give me a task to do, they tell me why it needs to be done? P7

I get useful feedback on how I do my job that focuses on helping me; not blaming me? P7

I am always provided with training when I am expected to use new processes and technology? P7

This business provides a safe working environment (physically and mentally and free of harassment)? P7

My union never needs to be adversarial in representing my interests to the company. There is trust on both sides? P7

This business is continually learning (from others, from employees, from customers, from competitors, from technology)? P8

This business constantly searches for a better way (tries new concepts, ideas, products and services)? P8

This business encourages taking risks? P8

I am encouraged to question concepts and assumptions? P8

I can make suggestions without fear? P8

Our recognition and reward systems encourages innovation rather than sticking with the 'tried and true'? P8

Before new ideas are implemented, they are talked through by all those who will be affected to iron out any bugs and problems? P8

We have enough time to implement new ways of doing things? P8

When new ideas are to be implemented, I get enough information through formal channels about when, where, what, why, who and how? P8

When new ideas are to be implemented, I get adequate training? P8

When new ideas are to be implemented, we also change all necessary structures and systems? (eg reward and recognition systems; performance management system; technology; standard operating procedures; standards systems; communications systems; business structure; performance indicators; resources; job descriptions; performance agreements; business values; audit systems)? P8

When new ideas are implemented, we measure if the innovation is effective; if it delivers the benefits promised; if it provides value to the company, its customers and other stakeholders; if the costs are what were estimated? P8

Existing stock does not prevent us from innovation or implementation?
(If prevented, score 0, if not, score 10.) P8

The budget does not prevent us from implementing innovations when we need to?
(If prevented, score 0, if not, score 10.) P8

This business is skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge? P8

This business builds on, grows and protects its core competencies? P8

People in this business do not hoard knowledge? (If hoard, score 0; if not, score 10.) P8

People in the business copy from one another a lot? P8

This business shares its knowledge with others? P8

We make time to undertake meaningful reflection - thinking about what has happened or is happening, why it is happening? P8

This business operates ethically? P9

This business 'adds value' to the community in general? (Eg, it does nothing that will endanger the community's prosperity, health, safety or cleanliness) P9

This business works to reduce the unintended consequences (side effects) of its actions and policies? P9

This business works to reduce the waste and pollution it produces? P9

This business systematically decreases its economic dependence on underground metals and other minerals? P9

This business systematically decreases its economic dependence on fossil fuels? P9

This business systematically decreases its economic dependence on persistent synthetic substances? P9

This business uses a set of Environmental Performance Indicators to monitor environmental impact at production sites, the average environmental standard of appliances and profitability of its most environmentally sound products? P9

We constantly work to improve our industry: its code of conduct, how it operates, sharing of knowledge on what does and does not work well, regulations that affect us and regulators and community perceptions.? P9

This is a good place to work? P10

All things considered, I get value from working for this company? P10

The value I get from working here is increasing? P10

This business invests time and money to meet employees' needs? P10

This business invests in maintenance? P10

100

This business invests in process improvement and process reengineering? P10

101

This business invests in building its core competencies (ie, what it does very well)? P10

102

This business has had me diversify my skills to reduce the risk to my employment from a downturn in my part of the market? P10

103

This business is a good employer? P10

104

This business communicates its results to me in a manner that is meaningful to me? P10

105

This business will be around in 100 years? P10

Business name for the report