Policy Pulse Survey

Proposed 2023 Pulse Survey Questions

[Note: Text in black is identical to the last Pulse Survey instrument; text in purple are proposed new questions.]

Page 1: Instructions and Demographics

Instructions: Thank you for taking the Pulse Survey!  This confidential tool is vital to helping Policy leadership identify specific areas for improvement.  It consists of 35 questions and should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

• All members of the Policy team may participate: DoD civilian employees (career and political); military members; personnel serving under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) arrangement; detailees from other departments and agencies; Boren Fellows/McCains/Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs)/interns; and contractor personnel.

• Demographic data will not be shared in the reports issued to individual offices; it will be aggregated and reviewed on a Policy-wide level.

• Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

• Defense Agencies and Field Activities (DAFAs) conduct their own workforce surveys, thus DAFA Members may not participate in this survey.

Q - My office is: (Select from dropdown menu)

Q - I am a: (DoD Civilian, Military Member, IPA/Detail; Boren/McCain/PMF/Intern, Contractor –

Q - I have worked in Policy for: (<1 year, 1-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-10 years, 11-20 years, >20 years)

Q. I am: Female, Male.

Q. I am: Hispanic or Latino; Not Hispanic or Latino.

Q. I am (you may pick more than one): White; Black or African American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

These questions are rated on the following scale: Strongly Disagree; Disagree; Agree; Strongly Agree; and Not Enough Information.

Page 2: Personal Experience

Instructions: Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Q1 – My work gives me a feeling of personal accomplishment.

Q2 – I am able to take advantage of opportunities to grow professionally.

Q3 – I am able to have a healthy work-life balance.

Q4 – My supervisor provides regular feedback on my performance.

Q5 – (OPEN ENDED) In the past year, have you considered switching offices in Policy? If so, why?

Q6 – (OPEN ENDED) In the past year, have you considered leaving Policy? If so, why?

Page 3: My Office

Instructions: Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Q7 – The people in my office cooperate effectively to get the job done.

Q8 – Other Policy offices cooperate effectively with my office to get the job done.

Q9 – Creativity and innovation are rewarded.

Q10 – My office is able to recruit people with the right skills.

Q11 – In our office, steps are taken to deal with poor performance.

Q12 – My office has an important voice in Departmental and interagency policymaking.

Q13 – (OPEN ENDED) What are two things your office could do to improve?

Page 4: Policy

Instructions: Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Q14 – I know how my work relates to Policy’s goals and priorities.

Q15 – I know how my work relates to the Department’s lines of effort. (restore military readiness as we build a more lethal force; strengthen alliances and attract new partners; and bring business reforms to the Department of Defense).

Q16 – Policy senior leadership provides regular feedback on the quality of our products.

Q17 – Policy provides the training necessary for effective and efficient work.

Q18 – Policy provides the technology necessary for effective and efficient work.

Q19 – Policy provides the processes necessary for effective and efficient work.

Q20 – Policy senior leadership prioritizes our work and de-emphasizes less important tasks.

Q21 – (OPEN ENDED) What are two things Policy should stop doing and two things Policy should start doing?

Page 5: Leadership (Strongly Disagree; Disagree; Agree; Strongly Agree; Not Enough Information; and Not Applicable (N/A))

Instructions: Select N/A if you are in the role referenced. Answer the question based on the individual who is performing the duties of the role referenced; select N/A if that role is vacant. If you have any questions, please reference the Pulse Survey Leadership Guide or contact [email protected] for additional guidance. Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Q22 – My Director provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q23 – My PD provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q24 – My DASD provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q25 – My PDASD provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q26 – My ASD provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q27 – DUSDP provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Q28 – USDP provides effective leadership, management, and communication.

Page 6: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Instructions: Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Using the following Definitions, please answer the following questions:

• Diversity: the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities.

• Equity: the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.

• Inclusion: means the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of employees of all backgrounds.

• Q29 –Assessing Policy’s diversity, I see people like myself in leadership positions. (1. Strongly disagree, 2. Disagree, 3. Neither agree nor disagree; 4. Agree, or 5. Strongly agree.)

• Q30 – I personally assess that personnel decisions, to include hiring, performance appraisals, awards and recognition, promotion, and discipline, are fair and impartial. (1. Strongly disagree, 2. Disagree, 3. Neither agree nor disagree; 4. Agree, or 5. Strongly agree.)

• Q31 – I personally feel included in Policy, that is I have realistic opportunities to participate in Policy’s training, governance structures, decision-making, and other processes. (1. Strongly disagree, 2. Disagree, 3. Neither agree nor disagree; 4. Agree, or 5. Strongly agree.)

• Q32 – (OPEN ENDED) Name one thing you would recommend Policy do to make Policy a more diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work.

Page 7: Any Other Feedback? Thank you for participating!

Instructions: Do not provide any directly identifying information, including sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in Open Ended responses.

Q33 – (OPEN ENDED) Do you have any additional feedback to share?

Deliberative Document: For discussion purposes only. Draft working papers. Not subject to FOIA release.