Oct 2023 Communications Survey Results

Email sent 10/30 [for record]

OVERVIEW OF RESULTS:

  1. 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.

  2. The general temperature around communication:

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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.

  1. The main responses to ‘what is working well’ with the current situation is the accessibility & transparency of email.

  2. What is not working well breaks down into three main categories:

  1. Functional issues: e.g. email (google groups) is hard to join/configure/manage; too much email; email is difficult to

follow; gets ignored

  1. Procedural issues: emails go unanswered and there is lack of follow up or support

  2. 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.

  1. Top features members would like in a communication platform:
  • Live Chat

  • Email Integration

  • Forum

  • ability to identify & find leadership

  • ability to identify & find members

  • ability to identify & find members by interest/skills

  1. Top Communication Requests:
  • Staff and Shop Updates

  • Social Events

  • Volunteer Opportunities

  • Committee Updates

HIGH LEVEL SOLUTIONS:

  1. 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)

  2. On procedural issues: rethink staff org & responsibilities, and make it easier to delegate responsibilities and find support

  3. 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:

  • For functional issues, comms committee to evaluate email use & other comms platforms; create & establish communication norms (etiquette, use, updates) for members & staff.

  • For procedural issues, delegate to Volunteerism committee (i.e. Ethan) (Ethan’s reorg structure in the works)

  • 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.