Email sent 10/30 [for record]
OVERVIEW OF RESULTS:
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We had 69 responses—roughly 15%-17% of membership. Not ideal, but we will have to assume those who cared enough about communications at A2 will have filled it out, and we will extrapolate to the rest of membership.
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The general temperature around communication:
Arguably, a majority of members are unsatisfied with how we communicate at Artisans, but a fair portion of members are also rather comfortable with the status quo.
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The main responses to ‘what is working well’ with the current situation is the accessibility & transparency of email.
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What is not working well breaks down into three main categories:
- Functional issues: e.g. email (google groups) is hard to join/configure/manage; too much email; email is difficult to
follow; gets ignored
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Procedural issues: emails go unanswered and there is lack of follow up or support
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Information issues: no communications from leadership; no clear location for information or general resources—thus,
membership is unclear on norms, policies, responsibilities, contact info etc.; no means of self help which creates a
feedback loop on email overload to staff, and lack of understanding of A2 procedures/policies etc.
- Top features members would like in a communication platform:
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Live Chat
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Email Integration
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Forum
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ability to identify & find leadership
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ability to identify & find members
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ability to identify & find members by interest/skills
- Top Communication Requests:
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Staff and Shop Updates
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Social Events
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Volunteer Opportunities
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Committee Updates
HIGH LEVEL SOLUTIONS:
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On functional issues: divert streams of information. We need to rethink how we are using email and what other tools/platforms would be good to introduce (and include features that were requested while considering everyone’s preferences)
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On procedural issues: rethink staff org & responsibilities, and make it easier to delegate responsibilities and find support
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On information issues: need to create means of self help—establish a more robust digital infrastructure / information architecture. Provide regular updates to membership & staff & volunteers
NEXT STEPS:
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For functional issues, comms committee to evaluate email use & other comms platforms; create & establish communication norms (etiquette, use, updates) for members & staff.
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For procedural issues, delegate to Volunteerism committee (i.e. Ethan) (Ethan’s reorg structure in the works)
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For information issues, delegate to Information Architecture Committee (in the works) & Wiki committee (already in the works).
ACTION ITEMS FOR MEMBERS:
If anyone wants to ACTIVELY contribute (not just share opinions and not take any action towards solutions), please reach out to me and I will do my best to delegate or direct you to the right folks.