Conference 7.286::digital

    Steven,
    
    I've seen the survey and several other engineers have as well, but
    everyone I've talked to is reluctant to fill it out as ther is no real
    provision for anonymous response. It must be filled out from VTX (i.e.
    your account or a captive "general" account). We don't have access to a
    captive general account so most everyone has opted not to respond. (at
    least in my limited survey). 
    
    In the intro it states the responses are confidential, but I no longer
    believe in the tooth fairy.
    
    John 

    There's the internet as well.....  I filled mine out on the
    internet; much more fun than VTX.

    I personally don't want to remain anonymous.  I hope someone calls me
    on ANY part of the survey.  I'll be happy to embellish to anyone my
    opinions around my job, my manager, and Digital.
    
    Toodles.....JPs
    

    the internet isn't automatically anonymous by any stretch of the
    imagination.

    
    .2 you're dead on.  I filled out the survey not concerned at all that my 
    name is stamped to my response.  How the hell is anything going to get
    better if people don't clearly articulate the issues/problems/morale/etc.
    If the survey is self-serving, and nothing but a mutual admiration
    society, with everyone telling each other how great things are, what a 
    wonderful job everyone is doing, and what a wonderful place MCS is to
    work in, why go through the exercise.
    
      

    
    guaranteed, NOTHING in Digital is anonymous or confidential no matter
    how many times they try to convince you it is.  Get used to the idea
    that EVERYTHING you say can and will be used against you....

Jeez - the paranoia in the US must be wall to wall. How does anyone expect 
things to improve if surveys are ignored. The ABU management (I speak as a 
very lowly member thereof) take the employee surveys very seriously and we 
are measured on improving the poor areas.

I saw an article about a fair degree of belief in the US that the current use of 
USAF bases for Luftwaffe training exercises was proof the Bill & Hill had 
sealed a pact with Germany & the US to herd half the US population into 
concentration camps. I thought it was a joke but now I'm not so sure!

Paul

    
    >Jeez - the paranoia in the US must be wall to wall
    
    Jeez. I guess you just have to get burned yourself once or twice before 
    you stop assuming other people are just paranoid.
    
    Jeez. Give us some credit and try to be a little less condescending
    when you don't have the facts. 
    
    
    
    

    If one is looking to be anonymous in one's opinions of MCS, notes
    like 4591.5 is taking the wrong tack.
    
    re: .1

For anonymous internet mail, send a message to [email protected]


						-Paul

    In addition to the confidentiality issue, I believe there is a more
    common issue as to why people don't fill out the survey.  APATHY...
    
    I have NO confidence that anything will be done about any issues raised 
    by the survey.  I did fill out a survey, but also made a comment
    reflecting my opinion stated here.  
    
    Steve Pitt

    I filled out the survey and then sent my comments directly to Rick
    Horrigan entitled, "Risking Not Being Anonymous", within 15 minutes I
    had a response back from him basically assuring me that my comments
    were NOT abnormal... Folks I hope apathy didn't stop you from filling
    out this survey.
    
    

    Apathy is no excuse.  It's been going on too long.  Thats one of the
    major problems.  I, for one, can't continue to be apathetic, knowing
    that probably nothing will come out of it; but I can state my position
    and feel good that I've communicated my perception of the problems. 
    I've "done my part" and if no-one does anything about it, it's not for
    MY lack of trying.  They can no longer say "we didn't know".
    
    Toodles.....JPs
    

    RE: ABU survey mentioned in .6
    
    I too am a member of the ABU.  I've also studied a little statistics. 
    When I pointed out that the analysis of the survey in our area was
    COMPLETELY wrong from a statisitcal methods point-of-view, I was told
    it would be too hard to do it right.
    
    BTW, the results they got showed positive improvement.  I'm not saying
    they were wrong.  I AM saying they would be more accurate if they were
    based on tea leaves in the bottom of a cup.
    
    [email protected]
    Sydney

re.6:

>Jeez - the paranoia in the US must be wall to wall. How does anyone expect 
>things to improve if surveys are ignored. The ABU management (I speak as a 
>very lowly member thereof) take the employee surveys very seriously and we 
>are measured on improving the poor areas.

I've been in this company over twelve years and have seen many employee 
surveys come and go. Up until this year I always filled them in. It never 
made a difference. Management would get the results, which would confirm 
their worse fears, run around like headless chickens for a week, and then 
all would go back the way it was.

I guess I'm just a slow learner.

Dave.

    
    Maybe a survey of 'WHO in MCS would 'YOU' like to get rid of" would
    have a better taste in everyone's mouth......
    
    
    Come On John, get with the program, whack a few VP's over there, and
    shake the tree from the top!  Ic Customer Satisfaction is the key to
    your metrics, then LET THE CUSTOMER DECIDE WHO GOES AND WHO STAYS!
    
    A little more 'logic' and a little less politics would do that org real
    good!
    
    chet
    
    

    I was with the company for close to 20 years before being "shoved".
    I've seen many surveys.
    I've seen very little results from surveys.... Except TFSO's. 

My management would fall down laughing at the idea I might not
let them know how I feel. I filled out the survey and gave my
opinion loud and clear. If you ask me, the only part that they
really needed was the freeform text. liesl

    RE: .14 by Bill Poole (bogus statistical analysis of survey results)
    
    Bill, are you referring to the SPT MCS Employee Satisfaction survey
    we did in May?  I thought that was supposed to be analysed by a company
    called InfoCorp, but I just re-read the cover letter and it actually
    says InfoCorp "will enter the data and produce a report for the week of
    3 June for processing."  Processing?  Hmmm, does sound a bit weasel-worded
    now that I think about it...

    I filled it out and left the text area blank.  I'm definately not
    afraid of being TFSO'd but I'm not silly enough to think that these
    things are taken seriously by anyone who can make a change.
    
    I almost didn't bother with the survey.  Afterall, how many times does
    management have to be told that rationing post-it-notes isn't going to
    save the company?  Or that cutting out travel and training is a great
    way to cut your long-term business and continue to lose your best
    people?
    
    Bob

    I agree with several back. How can change possibly happen if the
    problem is not stated??? The key is giving rational thought out
    possible solutions, not whinning sniveling complaints. We can all 
    find plenty to complain about, but can you offer a possible solution?
    We owe the process a chance. Yes we have been surveyed to death in the 
    past to no avail, but how much of the food chain above us was in place 
    for these surveys? I have personnally sent mail BP and was amazed at 
    the speed and response from it. Everything will not get resolved the
    way we personally would like but change will happen. To use an old
    phrase, " Some people make things happen, some watch things and some 
    wake up and say WHAT HAPPENED?" Where do you fit in ?

    I have to agree with .21 There are far too many people in this company
    who walk around with negative attitudes. Here was a chance where you
    are being asked to say what you think could be improved, but what do
    they do, they all sit back and complain. The old saying, "you can drag
    a horse to water but you cant make it drink" seems to apply all too
    often.
    
    You have to realize that Digital does not owe you any favours, you are
    employess of the company. If you do not like it then leave! If you are
    given the chance to express what you feel than seize the day, and make
    your statement. If not then just keep quite we do not need people
    walking around with long faces, it is bad for moral.
    
    Steven

    Moral?
    
    Laurie.

    re .22 "if you don't like it then leave"
    
    I know I'm taking this out of context, but I expect the DECplus folks will 
    tell you that an employer CAN NOT take that attitude. 
    
    r

    So I got the spelling of one or two words incorrect, but the point was
    still recieved. I do not believe that Digital actually take's that
    attitude, but it certainly is the attitude of a fair few of its
    employees.
    
    Steven

re.22:

You'd rather see people leave than the problems get fixed that are causing 
them to be unhappy? 

Dave.

        Re .22
        
�	If you are given the chance to express what you feel than seize 
�	the day, and make your statement. 

	Steven,

	I felt exactly the same way when I'd been in MCS as long as 
	you have!  Mark this note, then come back in a few years when 
	you've sent off a dozen or more of these surveys and let us know
	what changed.

	Ian.

    Most people in most positions at most levels throughout the company
    sincerely want to help improve situations, I have found.  The problem
    is that changes in the organization and business directions cause all
    the quality short term work that is done to go by the wayside.  This
    leads to zero confidence that anything will ever come of the survey
    of the quarter.  Been there, done that, have the old tee shirts from
    all of the previous programs.  This is not negative, just realistic!
    
    Marty

    re: .22
    
    Steven buddy,those drugs must be working out for you eh ;^) ?
    Just kidding.  Seriously though, sometimes it seems like a waste 
    of time filling out surveys with information management is already 
    aware of.  If I were to fill out a survey, the feedback I'd give is 
    obvious stuff.  If your input isn't obvious, I suppose it wouldn't 
    hurt to fill one out, but I wouldn't be overly optimistic about any 
    outcome.
    
    Just my 2 cents,
    
    Terri

    The point is to not sit back and whine about a problem. If you do not
    want to fix the problem then leave. The preffered response is to make
    the problem AND the possible solution known, and then IMPLEMENT the
    solution. Remember that many in the higher management were not here
    for the previous rounds. What is obvious to us may be screened/filtered 
    from those that need to know!
    

Stop whining or leave?  More Output?  Shouldn't this be under the 
"New Employee Partnership" note?

Jim

    Stop whining or leave?  Aw, that just does not cut it, as the prior
    note, that said something like, "Stop whining and fix it!"  
    
    Just remember that when the Generals are leading, the Privates do not
    do much but provide cannon fodder.  If you are a private, you are not
    empowered to sign a peace treaty, and if you do, then no one else will
    listen or honor it.  
    
    Decisions are made by the powers that be, and if you are not to be,
    then you can just whine, like the squeaky wheel.  
    
    Dave