Stakeholders tell USTRANSCOM what they appreciate, what needs work

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Results of U.S. Transportation Command’s annual stakeholder questionnaire are in, and quantitative findings indicate 88 percent of internal respondents and 84 percent of external respondents agree TRANSCOM is performing well against its command priorities. Written feedback supports these numbers, revealing both what stakeholders value about the command and where it faces challenges.

More than 900 internal staff and 800 external partners and customers completed the online questionnaire in March, a record number of responses. Questions were aimed at assessing stakeholders’ perception of how TRANSCOM is performing against its existing command priorities — warfighter support, process improvement, and enterprise synchronization — as well as culture and communication.

High-level findings indicate stakeholders value TRANSCOM’s commitment to the warfighter and its mission, the staff’s quality work, and those opportunities when the command teams and collaborates.

Results also inform TRANSCOM that component and subordinate commands would like to see more innovation, information sharing, and transparency. Additionally, combatant commands prefer to see more flexible solutions. Internally, there is a perceived need for fewer internal silos and more empowerment.

In addition to briefing results to leadership, targeted feedback is being shared with various teams throughout the command. Tailored results also have been shared with leadership from stakeholder organizations including component and combatant commands and partner organizations. These in-person meetings are opportunities for TRANSCOM to hear additional thoughts and further validate questionnaire results.

The command is already using feedback to help shape culture and process improvements for the coming year. For example, action items may include leveraging existing knowledge management capabilities at partner organizations and finding more opportunities to use audio/video conferencing capabilities to get at improved information-sharing.

In addition, questionnaire feedback runs in parallel with and is influencing TRANSCOM’s new strategic plan and priorities, scheduled to be released this fall.

“I’m encouraged with our questionnaire results, along with what we found in our climate survey and what we hear through various forums like our blogs and personal conversations.  There is consistency in this feedback, which we’re carefully incorporating into our new strategic plan,” says Air Force General William M. Fraser, III, commander, USTRANSCOM. “We’re listening to what our teammates have to say so we can take action in a targeted, informed way.”

Work is underway to organize additional results briefings feedback in a collaborative manner for future use. For those with SharePoint access, visit the stakeholder questionnaire site for more information.

-USTRANSCOM-