Best Survey Tools For Small Business

Choosing the best survey tools for small business is worth pausing on, because below a certain headcount a survey may be the wrong instrument.

Anonymity is the problem. In a team of eight, a result broken down by anything at all identifies somebody. People know that, so they answer carefully, and you get a polite result that tells you nothing.

Conversation usually works better at that size. It is faster, it allows follow-up, and nobody is pretending to be anonymous.

If you do survey, keep it whole-of-organisation with no demographic breakdowns, report only totals, and say plainly what can and cannot be kept private.

Consultation on health and safety matters is a duty and it does not require a survey to satisfy.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner publishes the Australian Privacy Principles. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s online survey software and psychological safety training course.