Affecting change in Staff Attitude

[Steven_S_Prevette@rl.gov]

"he said they did not consider a reduction in sick days as necessarily
good..."

There is a difference between the supposition that low "staff attitude" is
correlated to high sick days, and the supposition that if I reduce the
number of sick days taken, staff attitude will improve. 

This is a problem with almost any measure of "staff attitude", be it surveys
or other parameters.  If I manipulate (play games with) the parameter, I can
delude myself into thinking I have improved "staff attitude".  I need a good
theory on how "staff attitude" works, and I have to believe that it is worth
something to "improve" it.  I once attended a training course where the
instructor stated he expected us to all fill out the student surveys marking
him at the upper end of the range.  Talk about gaming the measurement
system!

I am not saying that "staff attitude" is good or bad in and of itself - but
one must have some valid theories and have established reasons that it is
necessary to deal with it.


Steve Prevette
Site Technical Authority for Statistical Trending
Environment, Safety and Health
Fluor Hanford, A Fluor Global Services Company
ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
steven_s_prevette@rl.gov
509-373-9371