By: Eric Siegel, Founder, Predictive Analytics World

In anticipation of their upcoming conference co-presentation, Improving Employee Engagement on a Shoestring Budget at Predictive Analytics World for Business Las Vegas, June 3-7, 2018, we asked Matt Hayes, Director, Practice Optimization and Rebecca Guess, Quality Analyst, Team Lead, both at Baptist Health Medical Group, a few questions about their work in predictive analytics.

Q: In your work with predictive analytics, what behavior or outcome do your models predict?

A: Every month, we administer a survey that helps us understand and predict employee satisfaction. In 2017, our survey model had an R-squared value of .69.  This tells us that 69% of the variation in employee satisfaction could be explained by the variation in the factors in our model.

Q: How does predictive analytics deliver value at your organization – what is one specific way in which it actively drives decisions or operations?

A:  After calculating question-level averages, we perform question-level correlation analysis to determine which factors are most statistically relevant to overall employee satisfaction.  By plotting scores against their corresponding correlations, we can visually depict low-scoring, high-correlated items.  With this approach, we monitor “low-hanging-fruit” and put action plans in place to improve satisfaction levels on a continual basis.

Q: Can you describe a quantitative result, such as the predictive lift of your model or the ROI of an analytics initiative?

A:  In March of 2017, our team was impacted by company-wide layoffs.  In one day, our team went from 20 employees down to 12.  Although it was difficult for everyone involved, we were able to use our survey data to generate the right dialogue and manage through the disruption.  Not only did we survive, we have been able to thrive.  Believe it or not, we were able to improve employee satisfaction by 12% on a pre/post basis through this adversity.

Q: What surprising discovery or insight have you unearthed in your data?

A:  It has been surprising to see how much variation we see in the factors most correlated with employee satisfaction from month-to-month.  With that said, we have been able to pin-point these “swings” directly back to specific events (i.e., organizational announcements, leadership messages).  This has allowed us to see just how powerful communication is when it comes to employee satisfaction, and it has forced us to re-think how we communicate with one another.

Q: Sneak preview: Please tell us a take-away that you will provide during your talk at Predictive Analytics World.

A: The key to any employee engagement effort is simply to get started.  All of the tools we use to measure and drive satisfaction are readily available to everyone.  You don’t need a lot of money to do what we did.  You only need the courage to know the truth, and a commitment to make things better.

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Don’t miss Matt and Rebecca’s conference co-presentation, Improving Employee Engagement on a Shoestring Budget on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 from 4:20 to 4:40 pm at Predictive Analytics World Las Vegas, 2018. Click here to register to attend.

By: Eric Siegel, Founder, Predictive Analytics World