Library workplace conflict survey (fwd) Eleanor Cook 05 Jun 2000 13:59 UTC
Please reply to: Jack.Montgomery@wku.edu Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 09:01:38 -0500 From: Jack Montgomery <Jack.Montgomery@wku.edu> Subject: Library Workplace/Conflict Survey Library Workplace/Conflict Survey A colleague of mine and I are currently writing a book on conflict in library organizations. We would like a few minutes of your time in helping gauge the climate of the modern library workplace. This instrument is designed to survey your personal thoughts, attitudes and feelings about your position and your organization. It is a totally confidential document and your candidness will only improve the quality of the results. We also welcome your anecdotes and comments. No comments will be printed verbatim unless you specify, but will be paraphrased to protect your confidentiality. You'll notice that this survey uses informal language and asks for personal assessments. This is intentional in order to solicit as frank and candid a response as possible, not to follow the stricter guidelines and language of most traditional instruments. Demographic Information I. Gender: a. Male b. Female II. Age: a. 20-29 b. 30-39 c. 40-49 d. 50-59 e. 60+ III. Education: What is your highest level of education? IV. Years of service in libraries? a. 1-10 b. 11-20 c. 21-30 d. 30+ V. In your institution, are you officially considered: a. Faculty b. Staff c. Administrator or Director d. Other (PLEASE SPECIFY): VI. Do you, as a part of your position, have direct supervision responsibilities? a. Yes b. No c. Not officially, but I do supervise THE WORKPLACE IN GENERAL: (check all that apply) I. Why were you hired to do this job? a. Your academic credentials b. Experience in area of specialization c. Experience in supervision/management d. Other (PLEASE SPECIFY): II. Why was your supervisor/administrator hired? a. Academic credentials b. Experience in supervision/management c. I do not know d. Other (PLEASE SPECIFY): III. If you supervise, are you: (IF NOT SUPERVISING, CHECK HERE____ AND SKIP TO Questions i and j) a. Comfortable with your role? Yes_____ NO______ b. Feel you have adequate support from your superiors in matters of supervision? Yes_____ No_____ Not Applicable______ c. Feel you can adequately communicate with your superiors? Yes_____ No_____ Not Applicable_____ d. Feel your subordinates have confidence in your capabilities as a supervisor? Yes_____ No_____ e. Feel you have an opportunity to be creative or innovative in your work and supervision? Yes____ No_____ f. Feel that the work you do is appreciated by your superiors? Yes_____ No_____ Not applicable______ g. Feel that the work you do is appreciated by your fellow supervisors? Yes_____ No______ h. Feel that the work you do is appreciated by your subordinates? Yes_____ No_____ i. Feel that you are satisfied with your interactions with your colleagues(those working at your same level) Yes _____ No_____ j. Feel a genuine sense of accomplishment with your work and satisfied with your professional life? Yes____ No______ IV. With regard to your library organization: a. Is hard work and initiative valued? Yes____ No____ b. Is there a sense of comradery among the staff? Yes_____ No____ c. What role does office/institutional politics play in your work life? (Check all that apply) 1. It plays a role in my work life. 2. It plays a large role in my work life. 3. It does not play a role in my work life. 4. It has a positive impact on my work life. 5. It has a negative impact on my work life. e. Is there an overall organizational climate in your workplace? Is it ... 1. Positive 2. Negative 3. Neutral f. How would you characterize this climate? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 1. Supportive 2. Friendly 3. Ambivalent 4. Angry 5. Paranoid 6. Intimidating/inducing fear 7. Combative 8. Frustrating 9. Tell us in your words: g. How would you describe the role administration plays in creating and maintaining this climate? 1. Positive role 2. Neutral role 3. Negative role 4. Ambiguous role 5. Tell us in your words: CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE I. Is there internal organizational conflict in your workplace? Yes_____ No______ Frequently? Yes_____ No_____ II. Who is involved usually? (Rank 1 most often to 10 least often) a. staff against staff _____ b. staff against supervisor_____ c. supervisor against staff______ d. librarian against librarian_____ e. faction against faction_____ f. librarian against administrator _____ g. administrator against librarian h. administrator against staff i. staff against administrator j. Others and who? ( PLEASE SPECIFY) III. Do problems from the personal lives of those at work, including yourself, ever make an appearance in the workplace? Yes_____ No_______ If so, how often? a.Often_____ b.Sometimes_____ c.Not often_____ d.Never_____ IV. What impact do personal problems have to the workplace? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) a. Distracting_____ b. Time consuming_____ c. Causes conflict______ d. Tell us in your own words: V. What forms does conflict take? (Rank 1 most often to 5 least common) a. Verbal debate_____ b. Verbal shouting_____ c. Written communication (includes e-mail)_____ d. Silent treatment______ e. Group Argument_____ f. Other: VI. Has an act of physical violence ever taken place at work? (interpersonal, not patron behavior) Yes_____ No_____ VII.What forms has it take? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY): a. Physical assault b. Verbal threats c. Items thrown d. Other (please specify): VIII. Were police/security summoned? Yes_____ No______ IX. Were legal actions taken? Arrests____ Summons_____ Other (please specify): X. What happened as a result of all of this? (Tell us in your own words) XI. Who takes a role in helping to resolve your conflicts? (check all that apply) then rank their effectiveness in helping to resolve the conflicts.( 1 being most effective to 6 being least effective) 1. Only those directly involved______Rank_____ 2. Supervisor________Rank_____ 3. Administrator_______ Rank_____ 4. Institutional counselors/mediators_____ Rank_____ 5. A group of peers______Rank_____ 6. Other(specify)____________________Rank____ XII. What could be done to reduce conflict in your organization? XIII. Is there anything you wish to add?(a story of conflict or resolution) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. YOU CAN E-MAIL THIS TO US AT : Jack.Montgomery@wku.edu OR MAIL IT TO: Jack Montgomery, Coordinator for Collection Services 309 Cravens Library Complex Western Kentucky University One Big Red Way Bowling Green, KY 42101 (270) 745-6156 (270) 745-3958 FAX