“As You Teach, You Learn.” – Jewish Proverb Steven Baker May 25, 2011 Washington, DC

Maximizing Employee Satisfaction and Organizational Effectiveness at BBYO’s Annual Professional Staff Conference

Agenda Shalom! Background Project Outline –Questions Asked –Thesis Findings Recommendations Evaluation L’hitraot!

Project Outline Refinement Narrowed in to Staff Conference as one strategy of PD Research Surveys, Evaluations, Focus Group, Personal Connections Concept Broad PD look at BBYO Jewish connection? Questions asked Analysis and Recommendations Thesis Three-Point Plan

Background What was in this for me? –Past four years with BBYO has been a growing experience for me professionally and personally –Active participant in the planning and implementation of Staff Conference and other PD –Tangible Experience Business and Judaic-related

Questions Asked Can the pluralistic Jewish approach of BBYO be applied to SC in a manner that is meaningful to all BBYO employees, including those that are non-Jewish? If so, how? If not, why? What styles and types of PD are wanted, needed and able to be focused on at SC? Is there any established link between Jewish values, content, history or practice that other Jewish organizations utilize in their PD strategies? What PD resources, practices and strategies exist in the Jewish communal world that can be applied to BBYO? How can the unique culture and complex organizational structure of BBYO be used to strengthen SC?

Thesis This project provides BBYO with quantitative and qualitative research on how its strategies and outlook for its Annual Professional Staff Conference can be leveraged to maximize employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness.

Findings Strengths Internal & Current to BBYO Networking Skills Training Sessions Communicating Initiatives Dynamic Stability Weaknesses Internal & Current to BBYO Mismatched goals between management, field and Int’l office staff Schedule Use of educational opportunity – Judaic and career-oriented skills Opportunities External & Potential to BBYO Partnerships – Jewish and secular Track System Dynamic Stability Pre/Post PD opportunities Threats External & Potential to BBYO Economy Weather Size of work-force

Findings Focus Group –Conducted at Staff Conference 2011 –16 participants made up of every constituent –Desire better logistical structure, skills for their career and life, and different approach to Judaic education

Findings Staff Conference Evaluations –76% felt SC was “good” or “Very good” –Networking most valuable aspect –Participants felt prepared –Success depended on constituency –Participants want less –Program Round Robin = A+ –Logistical issues

Findings

FY 2011 Employee Satisfaction Survey –Since 2008, overall satisfaction fell eight percentage points from 76% to 68% –More positive responses than negative ones, but nine out of 12 fell from their rating in the 2008 survey

Findings FY 2011 Employee Satisfaction Survey continued… –There were four statements that showed an increase in satisfaction in the 2011 survey: BBYO’s senior management listens to employees (61% to 64%) I understand the BBYO vision and annual objectives (89% to 95%) I feel that my personal/regional goals and objectives relate to BBYO’s annual organizational objectives (82% to 92%). BBYO promotes a healthy work-life integration (39% to 43% so overall, still negative)

Recommendations Three-Point Plan 1.Purpose and Goal Communication 2.Track System 3.Length of Staff Conference

Recommendations Purpose and Goal Communication –Management meeting in fall –Thoroughly go through evaluations all things PD –Set goals and objectives for Staff Conference Communicate these goals clearly…

Recommendations Communication continued… –Examples Hillel Jewish Community Center Association –Videos Began this past year Continue in future with more and from management

Recommendations Track System –First-Year Employees –International Office –Veteran Field Staff –Management

Recommendations Length of Staff Conference –Shorten by one day and begin on Monday rather than Sunday Portrays better work/life balance Doesn’t leave staff (as) exhausted –Add optional Professional Development opportunities before/after Provides “choice” that is desired

Evaluation Question: Can the pluralistic Jewish approach of BBYO be applied to SC in a manner that is meaningful to all BBYO employees, including those that are non- Jewish? If so, how? If not, why? Answer: Other Jewish nonprofits staff conferences. BBYO can apply its pluralistic Jewish approach that is meaningful to all employees by allowing the Jewish education to be a choice rather than a mandatory aspect.

Evaluation Question: Is there any established link between Jewish values, content, history or practice that other Jewish organizations utilize in their PD strategies? Answer: Overall tone through word choice and areas highlighted Cultural Link Kivun, CLI, the Jewish Federations of North America’s Mandel Center for Leadership Excellence However, there are not any real credible links between Judaism and PD strategies currently, besides those I stated in the background.

Evaluation Question: What sort of PD is wanted, needed and able to be focused on at SC? Answer: BBYO Professionals want career-oriented training rather to enhance their professional skills, not their BBYO-specific ones. Question: What sort of PD resources, practices and strategies exist that can be applied to BBYO? Answer: Opportunities of SWOT Recommendations Hillel & JCCA models

Evaluation Question: How can the unique culture and complex organizational structure of BBYO be used to strengthen SC? Answer: Dynamic Stability… Staff prepped for changes Opportunities & Recommendations BBYO Management to use videos

Thesis This project provides BBYO with quantitative and qualitative research on how its strategies and outlook for its Annual Professional Staff Conference can be leveraged to maximize employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness.

Homework 1.Management to discuss recommendations of this project 2.Implement wanted changes for FY Hire Steven Baker as a consultant.

L’hitraot “So long and thanks for all the [non-shell] fish.” Special thanks to Rachel Hochheiser-Schwartz for being such an integral sounding board and participant in this entire project… and for all that you have done for me and PDI over the last four years. Also, Marlene Shultz for being my Capstone advisor and giving me very tangible and worthwhile comments and feedback along the way. Finally, my heartfelt devotion extends to Matt Grossman and the Jim Joseph Foundation for this incredible gift. A+