How To Create SMART goals Based On Employee Survey Results
What are the ways to create SMART goals based on survey data?
- Thematic Data Analysis
- Integrate Data Results Into Discussions
- Use the Data as part of SWOT Analysis
Businesses can fast track towards success by implementing the principles of SMART goal setting. SMART is an acronym that stands for the five elements of Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based goals. The features are employed to construct actionable plans for outstanding results. The SMART goal is typically applied to project management to minimize errors. While it is a useful tool in project management, it can equally be practiced to increase employee performance that benefits the entire welfare of an organization.
Project planning can be a daunting task. With plenty of factors to consider in resource acquisition and finding the right people to be on the team, a project plan is vulnerable to errors. Once a part of the program starts to lag, the domino effect of forcing drastic changes in the schedule is expected to happen. Employing the SMART criteria in project management will aid managers in assessing their success before the project even starts. Integrating the SMART goals into a project plan can be quite a tedious job. Yet, once applied correctly, the results can be outstanding.
Other than creating a seamless project plan, SMART serves its purpose in improving the performance of an organization. Employees are valuable assets of an organization and the key to success. Yet many businesses take advantage of them because they will do anything to keep their jobs. With this, employees tend to lose motivation. Once an employee gets demotivated, customer satisfaction may bear signs of decline. Why? Because employees are the forefront people of the company. In any business, it is the employees who face customers to either sell a product or provide a service. If you see your organization’s customer satisfaction declining, it is high time you check up on your employees. To perform this, a simple employee survey will help you understand their insights. The data that you will infer from the survey will serve as the basis for establishing SMART goals.
Thematic Data Analysis
Thematic analysis or TA is a commonly used qualitative data analysis method. Patterns are identified through the processes of data familiarization, data coding, and theme development. With the advancement and automation of data in light of the continuous innovation of technology, thematic analysis runs through a Thematic software solution. This software eliminates the bias factor of humans. It can identify trends in sentiment and particular themes. Thematic analysis is a method that focuses on identifying patterned meaning across a dataset.
Regarding employee performance and satisfaction, you can quickly point out responses that repeat the same concerns. With this, you are exercising your judgment. While it can be as visible and as easy as that, you only obtain the problem and not the solution. Say, your employees find it challenging to use the new software. In this situation, you can use thematic analysis as a means to gain insight and knowledge from the data you have gathered. Once you have coded and consolidated information, you will be able to recognize a pattern that will support you in setting SMART goals. With this, you can increase employee satisfaction that leads to the improvement of organizational performance.
Integrate Data Results Into Discussions
Once the thematic analysis has been used to recognize patterns of employee behavior, the data or information collected must be then presented in discussions. Spreadsheets, graphs, bar charts, and column tools are quick and easy ways to inform the management of survey results. It is vital to take note that the data must come from reliable survey results and presented in a way that is not misleading. Since most employee surveys yield qualitative data, you should be able to understand the meaning of variables and how the data are coded through thematic software.
Use the Data as part of SWOT Analysis
To measure the success of incorporating SMART goals based on survey results, perform a SWOT analysis that will help the organization to identify changes or improvements. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning model that allows organizations to point out the areas they are doing well and where they can improve. This is done both from an internal and external perspective. If employee satisfaction increases due to the application of SMART goals within the organization, then you should see significant changes in customer satisfaction feedback rating. Should you fail to incorporate the SMART goal seamlessly, then there could be a decrease or no difference at all in the customer feedback.
Key Takeaway
Whether you are a small business with only 50 employees or an empire company with thousands of employees and several satellite offices, the success of your business depends on your ability to establish and achieve goals. Employing SMART goals within an organization’s framework based on employee survey results can lead to tremendous improvement in the overall performance. Take note: employees are assets. Satisfied employees indicate satisfied customers, which then translates to a successful and growing business.