{"id":1151,"date":"2009-12-15T01:00:02","date_gmt":"2009-12-15T09:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/?p=1151"},"modified":"2009-12-15T08:39:43","modified_gmt":"2009-12-15T16:39:43","slug":"1151","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/?p=1151","title":{"rendered":"Employee Engagement Surveys \u2013 Cost-cutting strategy when using a vendor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Guest Author:\u00a0 Stephen B. Jeong, Ph.D.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Those of you in smaller organizations who have worked in HR\/OD for even just a few years are sure to be familiar with organizational surveys. You then also know \u2013 depending on the size and complexity of the organization \u2013 how costly this effort can be when you hire a vendor to carry this out.\u00a0 To help control your cost in conducting your employee survey, let me try to separate out the \u201cessentials\u201d from the \u201cnon-essentials\u201d or those that can be done at a lower cost.<\/p>\n<p>In just about any survey effort, there are five major steps:\u00a0 (a) survey questionnaire planning &amp; design, (b) data collection, (c) data analysis, (d) data interpretation, and (e) reporting\/results presentation.\u00a0 Again, if you\u2019re working with a vendor, you\u2019ll need to take into account a sixth, project management fees.\u00a0 The following table illustrates the average cost proportion breakdown by major phase or step:\u00a0 (table repeated below due to possible add placement)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Survey step\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cost proportion (%)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is the cost justified?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Questionnaire design\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\n<strong>Data collection\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No<br \/>\nData analysis\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No<br \/>\nData interpretation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No<\/strong><br \/>\nReporting\/presentation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\nProject management\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\nTotal\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 100%<\/p>\n<p>As you can see, vendors typically charge a significant amount for data collection, analysis, and interpretation (typically over 50% of the total cost).\u00a0 Regarding data collection, technology has come a long way in just the past 5 years such that in many cases, any one of a dozen online survey tool will do the trick; they are secure, flexible, and, most importantly, cost just a fraction of what a vendor will typically charge.<\/p>\n<p>When working with a vendor, one should always request that the obtained data be sent to you in a MS Excel file (for up to 62,000 employees) or a DAT file.\u00a0 Once received, data can be organized and analyzed by an in-house analysts or statistician using popular statistical packages (e.g., SAS, SPSS).\u00a0 If an analyst is not available, you can often negotiate the cost of advanced analyses primarily because analytical techniques \u2013 e.g., regression, factor analysis, cluster analysis \u2013 necessary for most organizational surveys are relatively straight-forward, requiring little actual time.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, accuracy and validity of the interpreted data depend more on the validity of the questionnaire design than on a consultant\u2019s experience or analytical skills.\u00a0 You know more about your organization than any outside consultant can ever know.\u00a0 Hence, if possible, use an in-house analyst or statistician.\u00a0 If not, negotiate with the vendor to around 5% of the total project cost.\u00a0 Profit margin for data interpretation is high; meaning there\u2019s usually quite a bit of room for negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>Table Repeat:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Survey step\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cost proportion (%)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is the cost justified?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Questionnaire design\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\n<strong>Data collection\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 No<br \/>\nData analysis\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No<br \/>\nData interpretation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No<\/strong><br \/>\nReporting\/presentation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\nProject management\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes<br \/>\nTotal\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 100%<\/p>\n<p><em>Stephen B. Jeong, is currently the Managing Director of Waypoint People Solutions &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/waypointps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">www.waypointps.com<\/a>, a human capital consulting firm that focuses on high precision employee diagnostic surveys using cutting-edge measurement technology and methodologies. He holds Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational psychology from the Ohio State University and has been advising private, public, and government organizations since 2000.\u00a0 He can be reached at stephen.jeong@waypointps.com.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guest Author:\u00a0 Stephen B. Jeong, Ph.D. Those of you in smaller organizations who have worked in HR\/OD for even just a few years are sure to be familiar with organizational surveys. You then also know \u2013 depending on the size&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,33,8,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-engagement","category-finance","category-strategies","category-vendors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1151"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1154,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions\/1154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/systematichr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}