Eighty-seven per cent of the staff of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) consider that the Institute has improved over the last five years, and 89% hold that they are committed to improving the operating efficiency of the Institute. These are two of the findings of the xQTM survey conducted recently by the Franklin Covey Co.
The xQTM survey was developed by the Franklin Convey Co. in cooperation with the University of North Carolina and the Harris Polling Organization. The score obtained on the survey is a predictive indicator of an organization’s ability to carry out actions on its top priorities.
The survey is used to measure six key aspects of institutional performance: the Clarity of organizational direction and goals, Commitment to that direction, Translation of goals into actions, Enabling/Empowerment of employees, Synergy within and across teams and units and Accountability for results.
IICA Director General Chelston Brathwaite stated, in a memorandum in which he shared the executive summary of the survey with all IICA staff, that 97% of the staff had filled out the survey, which was a clear sign of their commitment. According to Covey, this was an extremely positive response rate for an organization of the size and dispersion of IICA, and constituted a positive indicator of commitment to change.
In his monthly meeting with the staff, Brathwaite said “The results of this survey will serve as the basis for furthering the reform process we undertook in 2002.” He stated that the results of the survey were encouraging and pledged “to use them to build an IICA for the 21st Century, a modern institution for our times.”
An area of particular focus has been improving financial accountability. The results in this area were quite positive in that 74% of respondents perceive that IICA adheres completely to the principles of financial prudence, transparency and accountability, and 95% are committed completely or somewhat to those principles.
In his memorandum to all IICA personnel, Brathwaite added that the results of the survey were an excellent source of information that “will enable us to focus our efforts in order to ensure the consolidation of the changes we are implementing.”
The research showed that among the personnel there exists a clear understanding of the organizational purpose, and a strong commitment to fulfilling that purpose. This is exemplified by the large number of respondents who were able to identify the general mission of the organization as promoting food security and prosperity in rural communities through sustainable agricultural development. In their efforts to fulfill this purpose, 89% of respondents feel the management is accessible and somewhat or very committed to supporting their efforts.
Also, respondents perceive that they use their time wisely, investing in individual activities, and investing 65% of their time in activities connected with the highest organizational priorities, above the Latin American average. As well, they report being committed to achieving quality results.
Future challenges.
The survey revealed significant knowledge of and commitment to the purpose and direction of IICA. However, there is a lack of understanding of why the organization has chosen that strategic direction.
Central to success, according to Covey, will be the clarification and communication of the key goals to fulfill the Mission.
A frequent request on the part of respondents was the reduction of barriers or obstacles that hinder the full use the talent and energy that exist in the organization. The survey also revealed that, in the challenging context in which IICA operates, increased trust and candid communication among team members will be required.
According to Covey, the context in which the IICA operates is very challenging due to factors such as the interaction of the public and private sector, the diverse interests of key stakeholders and the dynamic nature of politics itself in each of its Member States. Many of these contextual challenges are beyond the control of the leadership and personnel of IICA.
Lastly, the survey offers 12 recommendations on organizational alignment and improvement of execution, competencies of leadership and competencies for improving individual efficiency and effectiveness. To this end, it is recommended that progress be gauged within 12 to 18 months.
The co-founder of the firm that conducted the survey, Stephen Covey, is recognized as one of the 25 most influential Americans and authored the book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
The firm’s clients include Daimler Chrysler, Procter & Gamble, BASF, Bacardi, Baxter, Quaker, General Electric, the Coca-Cola Company, Pemex and Telmex.