Pilot Survey

Survey

Merits

• Online capability of reaching a large mass of people quickly.
• Free to create a survey with a maximum of 10 questions.
• Easy step-by-step guided set up guide.
• Website calculates percentages and data for user.
• Survey is cost effective as no raw materials are used.
• Ability for participant to completing survey from various location with accessible Internet
• I was able to post a direct link to my survey on my face book page, SIG and instant messenger status.
• SurveyMonkey enables user to collect qualitative and quantitative data
• Boxes provided participants an opportunity to comment.
• Multi choice and drop boxes enabled user to give one click response

Limits

• By allowing anonymity I could not pin point individuals that made comments that I would like to ask follow up questions.
• Some questions were skipped
• I was not able to get an equal male to female perspective
• I was not able to identify who was a manager or worked in a supervisory role and who did not.
• I was not able to identify who worked in the Arts and who did not.

The survey produced was valuable. I discovered what other individuals thought were important skill or quality that a manager should possess. The questions asked will also be useful for my profession practice and towards my professional inquiry

As the pilot survey focuses on “what makes a good manager”, it was distributed to individuals in either managerial or supervisory positions and individuals that work for a manager. If repeated, I think it would be beneficial for me to focus on the Arts Sector as it relates closer to my professional practice. I would also split the survey into two for Arts managers and people who work under a manager In the Arts. I believe this could gain clearer statistics.

A box was provided with follow up questions so that individuals had the opportunity to add additional comments, allowing them to elaborate on further. From the boxes I discovered communication was the most prevalent skill that re occurred when participants wrote about management. Organisation was another prevalent word the re-occurred when individuals were asked how their manager could improve.

I am less hesitant to give my opinion when remaining anonymous, so I did not make it mandatory for individuals to reveal their identity on the survey. I believed this would create a free flow of information. The disadvantage of this decision was that I could not ask further individual follow up questions from comments I found interesting.  This could possibly be solved by not asking the participants about a company or individual they are directly affiliated to.

Sample survey results from 30 individuals:

10-Male

19-Female

01-Unknown

53.3% individuals working in a managerial or supervisory role.

60% individuals working in the Arts.

When individuals were asked to rank qualities and skills for a manager in order of most important too least important (Communication, job commitment, ability to delegate tasks, problem-solving skills, empathy with co-workers):

The majority (66.7%) ranked Communication as the most important quality or skill for a manager and  (50.0%) ranked Empathy with co-workers as the least important.

When individuals were asked in regard to your manager how important is the following (Manager Feedback, Manager interest in personal development, being comfortable sharing opinion with manager, praise and respect):

48.3% individuals thought respect was important for a manager to have

27.6% individuals thought praise from a manager is not important

When asked if individuals perform better at work if they have a good working relationship with their manager:

51.7% individuals strongly agreed

3.4% individuals disagreed

When asked if individuals are likely to achieve more if they are satisfied with the working relation ship they have with their manager:

55.2% individuals strongly agree

3.4% individuals disagree

In the survey I also asked individuals to comment making suggestions on how their manager or supervisor could improve at their role and communication seemed to be the most prevalent word used.

What is most significant to me in this survey is the importance of having good communication skills as a manager and the effect communication has on individuals that are being managed.