Are We There Yet...? Using New Portal Tools to Revitalize Existing Employee Incentive Programs

1. Are We There Yet...? Using New Portal Tools to Revitalize Existing Employee Incentive Programs Christina Landon, PEFCU

2. Introduction • Increasing employee participation in corporate initiatives is a familiar challenge to most managers • Data is made available, but employees are often reluctant to study it • As the amount of content on a portal increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to ensure that visitors are seeing all that they should be seeing

3. QSS Metrics – What and Why • In 2005 Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union measured performance by using a group of statistics known collectively as the QSS Metrics. • These numbers described the success the credit union was having in the marketplace, and had a direct effect on employee bonuses at the end of the year.

4. Cause for Change • The data used for the QSS Metric program was available to employees, but it was not always accessible. • Located on a public page, below several different islands, this data was “several clicks away” for most Portal visitors • In December 2005 a suggestion was made to improve the way these numbers were communicated to employees.

5. Project Plans • Three weeks of development time were set aside for the design, approval and implementation of a self-contained method of presenting this information to employees via the banner space at the top of the Portal. • Members of the QSS Team were asked to contribute ideas for the design and concept. • The primary goal was to create an interface for Portal visitors that was rich with information.

6. Major Components • The design of the QSS Metrics presentation system produced three major components: • An island that gives QSS Administrators the ability to add, edit, and delete Metrics • An island that allows employees to select what Metrics they wish to view in the top of their Portal • The presentation system that places Metrics in the top banner space of the Portal

7. Creating Metrics • An application that uses large amounts of data must collect that data at some point in time Metrics are added and defined via a link on the Metrics Admin island. Drop-down fields and option buttons limit the user’s entry to pre-approved selections

8. Reviewing the Collection • The Manage QSS Metric Items screen offers the ability to add, delete and edit Metric Items. Basic information about the item is displayed.

9. Managing Subscriptions • Once Metrics have been published in the QSS system, employees can subscribe to Optional and Personal items such as departmental ratings and personal goals • Mandatory metrics cannot be removed from an employee’s list

10. Managing Subscriptions • The Metrics Selector was designed to be small enough to fit on any existing HR or personal page

11. Presentation of Metric Icons • The top section of the Portal offers very little space for communicating info A decision was made to allow users to scroll through their list of metrics, rather than show all items at once This allows the user to interact with the system – avoiding the pitfalls of a passive presentation

12. Additional Information • Employees are presented with even more information once they click on a Metric Item – a popup window describes the goals and status of the initiative behind each Metric. Employees are better informed about the circumstances affecting the company and affecting their bonuses.

13. Value • The increased employee awareness created by this system is expected to lead to better performance by PEFCU in the areas subject to these Metrics. Additionally, employee morale should be improved by the increased communication and collaboration towards improving these scores.