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Holistic Organizational Effectiveness Survey©
Assessing HR and OD Strategy and Execution...and Beyond

Overview and Instructions

Thank you for participating in this Holistic Organizational Effectiveness Survey. The survey is sponsored by the NJ Organizational Development Learning Community and conducted by Quantisoft, LLC, a New Jersey based full-service survey company. The survey was developed by Quantisoft with input from the Survey Steering Committee* (listed below).

Survey Co-Sponsors

  • ODNLI (Organizational Development Network of Long Island)
  • Triangle OD Network (North Carolina)
  • South Florida Organizational Development Network (SFLODN)
  • Arizona Organizational Development Network (AzODN)
  • OD Network of New York
  • Minnesota OD Network
  • Institute for Sustainable Enterprise (ISE)/Center for Human Resource Management Studies (CHRMS)
  • St. Louis Organization Development Network (STL-ODN)
  • Organization Change Alliance - Metro Atlanta Area

Project Objectives

  1. Assessment of Organizational Effectiveness - Assessing and learning about organizational effectiveness on a broad holistic "total organization" perspective across a diverse group of organizations.
  2. Analysis of Survey Results - Learning what organizations need to do to achieve optimal short and long-term performance.
  3. Identifying Large Scale Gaps and Shortfalls in Organizational Effectiveness - Gaining insight for helping organizations to avoid situations that can result in their significant or catastrophic failure, harm to their reputation and possible injury/death (e.g. MF Global failure, Costa Concordia disaster, BP Gulf oil spill, Toyota accelerator failures, Kodak & Borders Books failure to adapt, Lehman Brothers/AIG failures, 9/11 attack security failure, Massey Energy mine explosion, I-35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Enron/Arthur Andersen/Worldcom failures, etc.).
  4. Communicating Survey Results - Providing senior business leaders, OD and HR professionals, functional managers and consultants with information and insight for redefining, broadening and strengthening holistic organizational effectiveness.
  5. Defining the Future Direction of Organizational Effectiveness - Identifying new, expanded roles for the C-Suite, OD, HR and functional managers for achieving total organizational effectiveness excellence.

Instructions

  • Your input is completely anonymous. All of your answers will be aggregated with the answers from other participants across many industries.
  • The survey will take most people approximately 20 - 30 minutes to complete.
  • Your time and comments are sincerely appreciated. Your comments should explain the reasons for your ratings and include suggestions for increasing organizational effectiveness. Please do not include the name of your company/organization or the names of individual people in your comments.
  • Outside consultants are asked to complete the survey with respect to the single client they have the most experience with, and to identify themselves as an external consultant in the demographic questions.
  • People in the academic community are asked to complete the survey assessing their university, college or school.
  • Submit your survey by clicking on the Submit button at the bottom of this page.

Send the Survey Link to your Colleagues and Friends

  • Please share the link to this survey with your HR and OD colleagues, managers at all levels and in all functional areas across your organization, and consultants within and outside your organization, and encourage them to participate.

Receiving the Survey Results

  • To receive the survey results just include your e-mail address at the end of the survey.

*Survey Steering Committee

  • Phil Binaso - NJOD Learning Community Board
  • David Brinkerhoff - Abbott Smith Associates and NJOD Learning Community Board
  • Howard Deutsch - Quantisoft, LLC
  • David Jamieson, Ph.D. - University of St. Thomas
  • Lucille Maddalena, Ed.D - Maddalena Transition Management and NJOD Learning Community Board
  • Tara Seager - Ally Solutions Group and President, NJOD Learning Community Board
  • Allison Wright - Ally Solutions Group and NJOD Learning Community Board


Business Success Drivers

A series of statements about key organizational business success drivers follows. In answering each question, consider your organization's "overall effectiveness" and how it impacts "short and long-term bottom-line results". Please answer each question by clicking the most appropriate answer.


Section 1: Strategy
  1. Developing and keeping the organization's mission, vision and values relevant
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Developing strategies for executing the changes needed to compete effectively and achieve the vision, mission and values
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Communicating the organization's vision, mission and values in words and behavior to inspire and engage employees
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Aligning and executing strategies in a way that meets financial goals and is consistent with core values
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Achieving appropriate balance between making important investments and critical decisions with a "long-term view" while also meeting shorter-term objectives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Focusing the total organization on identifying and meeting/exceeding customer expectations
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Solving organizational problems systemically
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Identifying, adopting and integrating new technologies for competitive advantage
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Innovating to stay ahead of the competition
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Gathering and using competitive intelligence to guard against being blind-sided by competitive companies, products, technologies, etc.
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  11. Protecting against intellectual property theft
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  12. Adapting to new and constantly changing regulations while minimizing the impact on the organization's performance
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  13. Selecting and monitoring suppliers and business partners to ensure they effectively support the organization's mission, vision, values and business strategies
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  14. Section 1 Comments

Section 2: Senior Leadership Team
  1. Achieving a high level of trust and respect between the senior leadership team and employees
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Defining, strengthening and communicating the organization's brand internally and externally
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Creating a sense of urgency about achieving organizational objectives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Being aware of and sensitive to the needs of employees
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Engaging employees and focusing resources to execute strategies and achieve organizational objectives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Identifying and attracting leadership talent
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Developing and retaining leadership talent
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Demonstrating leadership courage, decision making and problem solving and expecting it from others (e.g. doing what is right and making important hard decisions)
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Senior leaders connected and knowing what is going on at all levels in the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Being accessible to talk with people about important business issues
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  11. Managing the organization's assets to achieve long-term growth, competitiveness and profitability
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  12. Addressing crisis situations urgently and ethically with appropriate timely communications to all affected parties
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  13. Overall effectiveness of the senior leadership team
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  14. Section 2 Comments

Section 3: Governance
  1. Ensuring that corporate governance (the Board) is independent, engaged and carrying out its roles effectively
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Providing the Board with comprehensive, unfiltered information for making appropriate, informed decisions
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Taking action on directives from the Board
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Section 3 Comments

Section 4: Culture
  1. Continuously fostering a culture of ethical behavior with employees, customers, suppliers and communities where company business is conducted
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Eliminating fear and discrimination throughout the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Supporting and respecting employee work/personal life balance
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Demonstrating a passion for customers and continuously meeting or exceeding their expectations
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Building a strong sales culture, aligning the total organization in support of sales growth and excellence
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Facilitating innovation and empowering employees at all levels of the organization to recommend innovations and improvements, and to challenge the status quo and current organizational norms without fear of retribution
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Strengthening processes and the quality/customer service culture to drive customer satisfaction, acquisition, retention and profit
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Positioning enterprise M&A and strategic partnerships for success from a cultural perspective
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Facilitating smart risk-taking
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Enhancing the productivity and performance culture
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  11. Making employee and customer safety a top priority always
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  12. Strengthening the culture of collaboration, resiliency, agility and adapting to change
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  13. Managing change to implement strategies and compete successfully
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  14. Addressing organizational culture during organizational realignments, consolidations and mergers & acquisitions
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  15. Managing and constructively resolving conflict
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  16. Helping employees and internal organizations adapt to changes and be more resilient as they integrate new technologies and initiatives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  17. Section 4 Comments

Section 5: Organizational Structures, Systems and Processes
  1. Eliminating organizational silos and internal politics as barriers to organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Using information technology to support learning and innovation
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Creating knowledge management systems to ensure critical knowledge is retained when people leave the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Encouraging and supporting collaborative partnerships across organizational boundaries
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Building organizational systems and structures that support employee engagement, satisfaction and performance
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Sharing essential business knowledge across organizations and functions
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Aligning strategies, people, organizational structures, systems and processes to meet the demands of the work and customers, and to enhance productivity and profitability
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Providing safe, productive work environments
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Integrating acquired/merged organizations to achieve a "one organization" profile with a common culture, processes, technology, business practices and other key drivers of organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Section 5 Comments

Section 6: Workforce Excellence
  1. Strengthening the organization's "employer of choice" reputation (attracting & retaining high-performing people)
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Hiring, promoting and retaining a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Building skills and competencies in multi-cultural sensitivity and supporting diversity across the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Making targeted, high-impact development of people a priority
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Fostering continuous learning and knowledge sharing
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Building skills for innovation and flexibility in the workforce
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Ensuring employees have the skills and abilities to meet the demands of the business
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Matching the right people to the right positions
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Retaining high-performing people
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Identifying and dealing with low-performing managers and employees
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  11. Section 6 Comments

Section 7: Performance Measures and Reward Systems
  1. Defining clear and attainable individual and organizational objectives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Assessing organizational effectiveness holistically
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Assessing ongoing employee satisfaction and engagement, and making changes based on the findings
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Providing timely, specific and accurate performance feedback to employees that meets the organization's and employees' needs
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Rewarding/compensating employees based on individual and organizational performance and value added to the organization
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Providing a compensation plan that changes with the organization's changing needs for talent acquisition and retention
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Providing a compensation plan that does not reward inappropriate risk taking
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Reinforcing the organization's values through reward and recognition systems
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  9. Using a broad range of enterprise and organization-unit balanced scorecard measurements (financials, learning and growth, business processes and customers) to ensure continuous improvement and achieving business strategies and objectives
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  10. Using an HR/OD scorecard to assess and ensure HR's/OD's ongoing effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  11. Section 7 Comments

Section 8: Technology and Business Process Effectiveness
  1. Assessing IT customer satisfaction to ensure IT effectiveness and employee performance using technology
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Implementing information technology (hardware/software/networks) that facilitates productivity, information adequacy/availability/access/data integrity/security, quality and customer support
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Implementing business processes that are "employee and customer friendly" and that enable efficient/effective transactions and ongoing business operations
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Providing training in the use of technology enabling employees to be productive and get the most value from technology
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Providing employees with timely and knowledgeable technology support (by phone, e-mail and at their desks) facilitating productivity and customer support
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Section 8 Comments

Section 9: Financial Planning, Management and Measurement
  1. Preparing annual and long-term financial plans that are realistic, avoiding the need to take excessive risks to achieve financial goals
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Ensuring accuracy/integrity of all financial and operational measurements/reporting
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Analyzing and acting on financial data/results to increase business performance (e.g. cost containment, inventory management, asset management, sales/revenue generation, etc.)
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Section 9 Comments

Section 10: Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation
  1. Conducting independent, objective internal and external audits to ensure regulatory compliance and that controls are being followed
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Having in place a Board and C-suite driven ERM (enterprise risk management) program that assesses the organization's risk culture and key risk areas (including strategic risks, financial and compliance risks, economic risks, human resources related risks, IT/ business process/operational risks, customer concentration and retention risks, supplier and external business partner risks, sales and marketing risks, product risks, reputational/customer acquisition and retention risks, health and safety risks, and environmental impact risks, etc.)
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Having a tested comprehensive organization-wide contingency/disaster recovery plan
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Section 10 Comments

Section 11: Environmental, Sustainability and Responsibility
  1. Being proactive in how the organization addresses issues related to environmental sustainability
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Minimizing negative impact of products, processes and services on the environment
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Meeting increasing expectations for socially responsible and sustainable business practices
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Ensuring accountability for business ethics among employees at all levels
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Developing skills and competencies in supporting socially responsible business practices, ethics, and governance
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Embedding socially responsible values and results in corporate drivers and key metrics
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  7. Using capital, human and other resources/assets in a responsible and efficient manner
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  8. Section 11 Comments

Section 12: Overall Organizational Effectiveness

Taking into consideration all of your answers to questions in this survey, please rate your company's/organization's:

  1. Awareness of the "broadly defined" organizational effectiveness issues identified in this survey
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  2. Availability of expertise and resources to assess and ensure "broadly defined" organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  3. Overall approach for assessing organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  4. Overall approach for continuously increasing organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  5. Current overall level of organizational effectiveness
    Effective   Somewhat effective   Neutral   Somewhat ineffective   Ineffective   Don't know  
  6. Section 12 Comments

Section 13: About You (Demographics)

Your responses will be used for categorization only and they will be kept confidential. Please answer each question for the Company/Organization you evaluated:

  1. Your Functional Area: (Please choose only one answer. If you oversee multiple functional areas, please choose "General Management"):
  2. Industry of Company/Organization evaluated:
  3. Country of Company/Organization evaluated:
  4. Number of Employees in Company/Organization evaluated:
  5. Does the Company/Organization evaluated have a labor union?
    No   Yes  

Please include the name of the company/organization responded about so that we can publish a list of the companies and organizations that are evaluated in this anonymous survey. The company/organization name will not be linked to the answers to survey questions.

  1. Name of Company/Organization evaluated:

To receive the survey results, please provide your e-mail address. Your e-mail address will be kept confidential and it will not be linked with your answers to this survey.

  1. Your E-Mail Address:



This survey is being conducted by Quantisoft, LLC as an independent survey company in collaboration with the NJOD Learning Community.