Chapter 7: Data Gathering

Hawthorne Effect

Anyone being observed in that circumstance is likely to want to make a good impression and to complete the work in the most diligent way

False client, practitioner

Data gathering is conducted to benefit the practitioner, not the client True or False

- Determine approach to be used - Announce project - Prepare for data collection - Collect data - Do data analysis and presentation

Data gathering process

False rarely appropriate

Focus groups are always appropriate for very sensitive issues True or False

False more than one

In almost all instances, using one data collection method is necessary to ensure valid conclusions about the trends, factors, and causes of organizational, process, team, and individual performances True or False

True

In combination with other methods, surveys can provide breadth where others provide depth True or False

Anonymous

Information can be shared outside the interview but separated from the source

False presenting problem, underlying problem

Interventions designed to address underlying problems but that do not address presenting problems are likely to produce only a short-term, negligible impact. True or False

False unethical

It is ethical when a practitioner discloses who made a particular comment during an interview or focus group session even after pledging to the respondent that comments would remain anonymous True or False

Online environment

Social media websites, wikis, online bulletin boards, and review websites can illustrate past, current, and prospective employee and customer attitudes about the organization.

Snowball sampling

a researcher begins with one or more participants and concludes each interview by asking the interviewee who else he or she would recommend interviewing

Surveys

address a broad number of subjects and explore a wide range of issues, as opposed to a deep investigation of one or two issues

Observations

allow the consultant to collect data on actual behavior rather than reports of people's behavior

Observations

allow the practitioner to get closer to seeing how these issues play out during the course of an ordinary day and to avoid errors in self-reporting

self-report data

always a reflection of past events

Focus groups

an excellent method for gathering data

semistructured

an interview guide containing a general list of open-ended questions addressing the major topics of the interview

close-ended questions

answered with a word or short phrase

Surveys

are best used as exploratory mechanisms, and they are typically inappropriate for sensitive subjects

Focus groups

are groups of usually a small number of organizational members facilitated by a consultant who poses questions and then allows for group discussion

Observation

are likely to alter the circumstances and potentially change the behavior of those being observed

unobtrusive measures

can be a source of data that can give the consultant insight into the organization without making a direct inquiry or conducting observations

Interviews

can generate a tremendous amount of data, with organizational members sharing stories, examples, and personal beliefs, including issues relevant to the issue the practitioner is investigating and those tangential to it

Physical environment

can say a great deal about its culture

unobtrusive measures

can usually be gathered in an inconspicuous manner without changing the data themselves

Observation

collects data on what is happening in the present

True

conducting focus groups has a similar process in conducting an interview True or False

Official document

consist of a wide variety of documents that are often used for financial, legal, or human resources purposes, such as job descriptions, goals and objectives, personnel files, or meeting minutes

Historical data

consist of both public and nonpublic records

- Investment required - Access - Relevance to the problem - Accuracy - Flexibility

criteria when choosing a data gathering strategy:

Databases

customer, financial, and employee records

Structured interview

each interviewee asked the exact same set of questions without straying from the list of questions

Focus groups

elicit contributions from many people in a shorter time than can be done with one-on-one interviews

Observation

gain a better understanding of the actual work that people are doing

Interviews

generally one-on-one meetings during which practitioners speak directly with individual organizational members

Groupthink

group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives

Presenting problems

initial explanations of the situation that highlight symptoms of which the client is most painfully aware

Surveys/ Questionnaires

most commonly used methods of data gathering

Data gathering

most effective way that a consultant can learn about the client's problem and propose an effective intervention

Unstructured observations

moving from location to location, watching and listening to what people are doing

Confidential

no one other than the consultant will know what was said in the interview —in other words, what is said stays with the consultant

True

observation would not be a good choice in situations where the phenomenon being observed is rare or infrequent True or False

Surveys

one of the most popular ways that consultants gather data in OD engagements

Focus groups

participants can build on one another's ideas

Survey

quick and easy to administer

open-ended questions

require the participant to provide more detailed answers

Interviews

requires the greatest interpersonal skill of OD practitioners

Structured observations

sampling different times and locations to get representative observations

unobtrusive measures

the data are likely to be less influenced by the presence of the observer or practitioner; high valid source of data

Interview

the most common method of data collection in OD.

Underlying problems

the root cause or core, fundamental issues that are producing the symptoms

unobtrusive measures

these data are generally readily available because they are produced during the ordinary course of organizational activity

Observations

time-consuming, but can be a good choice when the practitioner would like to witness a situation personally

Surveys

used to assess management interaction, organizational communication, work processes, training needs, and employee engagement.