Workplace Success Stories - Best Practices 2003
Maximizing Employee Input in Managerial Decision-Making

Practice Name: Anonymous Management Survey Department: Administrative Systems Department Contact Person: Gina Blednyh, Adm. Analyst Phone: (510) 642-0239 Email: bledgina@uclink4.berkeley.edu Web: Dept/Unit Head: Kelley Haberer, Director Control Unit: EVCP

Workplace Issues Addressed: Communication, continuous improvement, trust, community Category: Performance Appraisal Process

Description of the practice
Staff provides input to department management by completing the annual department management survey. The director uses the survey to evaluate managers. Performance evaluations of managers are directly affected by feedback from this survey.

Benefits of adopting the practice
This practice helps employees feel empowered. There is a greater sense of trust between management and staff. It encourages communication between managers and employees and brings them closer together.

How this practice works
Each fall employees have the opportunity to evaluate their managers. Some employees complete up to three surveys -- one each for their manager, director, and supervisor. One employee reviews the data collected and the analyzed results go to the director. The results are addressed by the director at the performance review period. Individual managers have the option of sharing the data with their staff after the director shares the data with them.

What you need in place to replicate this practice
To replicate this practice a department needs top management support and a genuine respect for staff members. Survey questions should be developed with input from the staff. Questions must be meaningful to managers and staff. This survey is optional and voluntary. People need to trust that the survey is anonymous and that it is well managed. A department needs to be large enough -- this practice won't be effective with supervisors who have less than two employees.

Tangible improvements to the department as a result of adopting this practice
The management survey provides tangible input to the director regarding managers' abilities to effectively lead units. The survey also provides another tool to assist the director in evaluating direct reports.

Why this practice was so successful and is worth replicating
The success of this practice can be attributed to the underlying premise -- that the opinions and concerns of staff members are highly valued and considered integral to making important department decisions.

Related policies/guidelines:
Policy 23: Performance Appraisal