Excellence to Eminence

Culture Pulse Surveys

A second culture-related survey has been developed by the Measurement Culture action Team to assess and define culture at a local level (i.e. department or unit).  This twenty-four item Pulse Survey is based on Our Values.  Sample items include:

• I am treated with respect.
• Excellent performance is recognized here.
• There is a sense of teamwork and a willingness to help others in my department/unit.

As of June 2010, OSU Culture Pulse Surveys are used prior to unfreezing retreats for those retreats comprised of intact teams. The leader of an unfreezing retreat will always be involved in the decision to use a Pulse Survey, and in the group that is surveyed.

You can find more information in these Frequently Asked Questions.

Administering the OSU Culture Pulse Survey

Key Contacts:

• Leader of the Department/Unit and/or Retreat Group
• Unit Culture Strategist
• Anne Massaro, Ph.D., Project Lead for Culture Transformation, Office of Human Resources, Massaro.11@osu.edu
• Helen Carlon, Strategic Planning Analyst, Institutional Research and Planning, carlon.2@osu.edu

Process Steps:

1. The idea of using the Pulse Survey is discussed. The department/unit leader, unit Culture Strategist, and Anne Massaro connect. The purpose of using the survey prior to an unfreezing retreat is to:
   • Give the leader a snapshot of the current culture in his/her department/unit.
   • Inform segments of the unfreezing retreat
   • Serve as a measure of current state of the department/unit culture
2. The audience is determined. The leader and Culture Strategist decide if the survey will be fielded to participants of an unfreezing retreat or all members of a department/unit.
   • If the survey will be fielded to a group attending an unfreezing retreat, then a completed retreat roster is needed. If a decision is made to survey a whole unit/department, then organization numbers are needed to pull employee data from HRIS. The completed retreat roster or organization numbers are needed two months prior to the start of an unfreezing retreat.
   • The completed retreat roster or organization numbers should be sent to Anne Massaro at Massaro.11@osu.edu. 
3. Communication is finalized. The leader must confirm the e-mail communication that will accompany the Pulse Survey. The “subject” and “from” fields of the e-mail are customizable. Here is a standard, suggested message.
4. The survey is fielded. Helen Carlon fields the survey. Once Helen has all of the necessary information, she presents a timeline to the leader and Culture Strategist to confirm timing.
5. Survey data is retrieved. Helen retrieves survey data and shares it with those who have a need to know, including retreat facilitators when the survey is timed to inform an unfreezing retreat.  
6. Data is shared with a larger audience, as needed. When sharing survey data with a larger audience it is suggested that “Strengths” and “Areas for Strengthening” are shared rather than the entire survey results. This focuses attention on areas for celebration and areas for growth. All survey results are open to public records and should be shared, when asked.