Strategic
Financial Business
Management Consultancy
STARR
Strategically Targeted Analytical Rapid Review
Overview
Listed below are a few examples for illustration purposes of the STARR questions. These are grouped into Key Performance Areas (KPAs) aligned to a business structure / department. The "prompt answers" shown below for each question are there to assist the process and not to lead or suggest preferred responses. Responses are entered in the blank white spaces provided on the right hand side, and these turn into a light yellow background after responding. (See example below.)
It is very important to state that there are no 'right or wrong' answers.
STARR inputs will remain confidential and form part of the collective team inputs as all responses are aggregated. The overriding objective is to assess the current perceived state of the organisation from within. Participants will typically be selected from management (2 or 3), supervisory (4 or 5) and general staff (dependent on total number of staff.) and this will enable a view to be shown from within these sub-groups.
Process
Each participant should consider each question and decide on one of the options. There may be a few areas or questions that are inappropriate or "not applicable" to the organisation in which case Zero is selected (i.e. the number "0"). This is acceptable and having a few 'blanks' does not detract from the overall value of the responses generated from all the other questions.
Most STARR questions are multiple choice and one option from the possible answers provided is selected. It is better not to ponder each question for too long - rather go with an initial thought. A rating from "0 to 8" must be inserted alongside the chosen option - this is how the option is in fact activated and recorded. If more than one option is deemed to be more appropriate for any particular question, then the total weighting for that question should not exceed 8. A possible response could be to place a "2" next to all four options, which in itself would seem pointless, and probably signifies not understanding the question or not agreeing to any of the choices. It would be tantamount to merely placing a "0" in any of the options - which is also acceptable.
Other questions ask for word responses, some suggestions are given. These are "free-hand", so if preferred any words may be insert, though should be brief and consist of just a few key words. The participant may decide what words to use to respond to these "open" questions.
There are 9 Sections in the STARR questionnaire - with some being split into sub-groups, so that questions may be more relevant and targeted. There are just over 130 questions soliciting responses. A summary of the Sections and number of related questions, is shown below, to illustrate the range of areas under review across a typical business. Knowing which KPAs are positive and strong versus negative and weak should be immensely valuable knowledge in addition to the "free hand" comments and inputs solicited.
The most common business departments are covered in this questionnaire as shown below :
No of Q's
S1 Organisation - 8
S2 Strategy - 13
S3 Management - 9
S4 Human Resources - 25
S5 Marketing - 24
S6 Finance - 19
S7 Information Technology - 13
S8 Services - 13
S9 Operations - 10
Conclusion
All responses will be aggregated into groups and aggregated accordingly, for example by their work / job title such as directors / top management, senior managers / supervisors and employees / staff. No one single response or person will be separately identifiable or revealed in order to maintain confidentiality and anonymity. This should enhance the overall outcome as participants are more likelihood to enter honest responses. As a result the outcome should be a more reliable fair, reasonable, realistic overview across the business. The primary aim of STARR is for feedback, whether positive or negative, from different layers within the organization. These may be explored further and worked on, remedied or improved.
