1. The AIR National Survey of Institutional Research Offices
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
The AIR National Survey of Institutional Research Offices
Leah Ewing Ross
Senior Director for Research and Initiatives, AIR

2. Evolution of the National Survey
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Evolution of the National Survey

3. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Why Benchmark?

4. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
How much work is your office producing in comparison?
How does your staff size compare?
Is something wrong?
Are you serving the same stakeholders?
How can we improve?
Is there sufficient data capacity and literacy at your institution?
Are staff adequately trained to produce quality work?

5. Leveraging Benchmarking Data
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Leveraging Benchmarking Data
Put the right information into the hands of the right people at the right time for the right reason.
Leverage that information to initiate and sustain improvement.

6. Data Collection and Reporting
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Data Collection and Reporting

7. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Contracted with Dynamic Benchmarking
One response per office
Once 300 responses completed, we will activate reporting
To protect confidentiality, reports won’t generate if fewer than 5 responses
Launched October 23; project will occur every two years

8. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Filters

9. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Reports

10. Longitudinal Benchmarking
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Longitudinal Benchmarking
My Office had 1.50 Staff FTE in 2015 which increased to 2.33 in 2018

11. Using Benchmarking Data to Inform Your Office’s Work
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Using Benchmarking Data to Inform Your Office’s Work

12. What staff roles should we have?
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
What staff roles should we have?
Compare Offices >> Staff Details >> Staff Positions

13. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
What does my Office do?
My Office
45% reporting
10% decision support
Peer Offices
23% reporting
24% decision support
Office Structure and Work

14. Where do staff spend their time?
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Where do staff spend their time?
10 hours conducting basic analytics
11 hours collecting and managing data
21 hours collecting and managing data
7 hours conducting basic analytics
Office Structure and Work

15. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Participation to Date
All Participants & California Participants

16. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Data Collection
Data Collection
Launched October 23, 2018
All Respondents
800 have started
Of those, 292 are complete As of Thursday, November 15
CA Respondents
67 have started
Of those, 17 are complete As of Thursday, November 15

17. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Summary

18. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Power of Benchmarking
Evidence that higher levels of performance is possible
“Is something wrong?” to “How can we improve?”
Challenges long-held beliefs
Informs decision making
Motivates staff
In summary, there is power in benchmarking your office against your peers. Benchmarking provides evidence that higher levels of performance is possible. It changes the never-ending debate of “Is something wrong?” to an action-driven conversation of “How can we improve?” It challenges long-held beliefs about how an Office should operate and it informs your decision making. Ultimately, it motivates staff since they will see the positive change in their work environment.

19. AIR National Survey of IR Offices
The Nuts and Bolts
Learn how to participate
Ensure we have the correct contact info for your institution
Benchmarking options (special pricing for CAIR members)

20. Questions and Discussion
AIR National Survey of IR Offices
Questions and Discussion
Thank You!

21. AIR National Survey of IR Offices