Obtaining information for effective management

Duration of Course - 1 Day

Unit Aims

To develop knowledge and understanding of obtaining information as required by a practising or potential manager.

Learning Outcomes

• Know how to gather information
• Know how to validate and analyse information and draw conclusions
• Know how to design an analyse questionnaires

Course Outline

• The value of valid, accurate and timely information to the organisation
• Basic means of data collection – questions, observation, surveys, source records
• Basic questioning techniques
• How to prepare and use surveys and questionnaires
• Constraints on the availability of and access to data, including legal issues
• How to validate data and information
• Means of determining the value (validity, accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness) of information sources
• Internal sources – documentation, standard reports, etc.
• External published sources (inc. Government statistics)
• Accessing the internet, use of search engines, usefulness of web-based materials
• Obtaining information from the internet employing Boolean search terms (the words - and, or, not)
• Analysing information
• Reaching conclusions
• Application of questionnaires in the workplace
• Basic representative sampling techniques
• Recognition of realistic response rates to questionnaires
• How to design effective questions and response options
• The importance of structure and appearance in questionnaire design
• Pilot surveys to test reliability and validity
• Administration of questionnaires by post, telephone or interview
• Simple techniques for analysing the results of questionnaires