The "Do I need it?" Quiz

Below is a self-evaluation quiz. It is a very concise exercise to help you determine, or better understand, the value of our work.

Note that this is not a test of your organization, your leadership or your knowledge. It is a means for you to reflect on fields of reflection that would favor your organization's chances of improving its external and internal perception.

The higher you score, the more you need Excess Noise. A lower score indicates that you're on the right track already.

Please note that at the bottom of the page you have the option of entering your email and other information. These are optional. You will get a result without filling them in. If you do fill in your email, we may respond to any comments you write in the comments field.

IMPORTANT: The questions and the answers to each question are in random order. They are purposely not placed in an order of best to worst or worst to best. Therefore, take the time to read each question and answer carefully.

1. Do you believe that external perception impacts staff performance and/or morale?

Great impact

Slight impact

No impact

Hint

2. Which organization likely has a better Communications Supply Chain (the means and methods to produce communications output and eventually generate perception)?

We tend to analyze messages, we should also analyze the supply chain

New blood makes for better processes

One that changes communications and strategy and leadership as needed

One that changes communications strategy and leadership regularly

One that regardless of its change policy, revisits and normalizes processes regularly

Hint

3. Does people's culture, or imprinting, affect their perception of an organization or is perception based exclusively on present parameters?

Culture has minimal bearing on perception

Culture has no bearing on perception

Culture greatly impacts perception

Perception is culturally based

Hint

4. Is it important to establish goals just for the organization or for each individual message as well?

Goals are useless

Just for the organization

For the organization and a few messages

For the organization and every message

Hint

5. Regarding your general offer/service/product, is your organization's perception or image...

Much worse than your competition

About the same

Much better than your competition

Hint

6. Is a service or product offering affected by its environment or does it succeed on its merit alone?

It is highly influenced

It is somewhat influenced

A service or product with good image is not influenced by the environment in which it is sold or solicited

Hint

7. Is the decision maker of an organization best placed to evaluate the organization's perception or image?

Absolutely

Definitely not

Somewhat

Hint

8. In your opinion, generally speaking, how much do leaders' image impact the success of the offer/service/product?

High impact

Slight impact

No impact

9. Is it best to fix perception problems...

Before they occur

On an ongoing basis

After they occur

Hint

10. Media coverage of your organization is generally...

Negative in tone

Somewhat neutral in tone

We have no media coverage

Very positive

Hint

11. In your opinion, is your organization's perception or image...

About the same as the competition's

Much better than the competition's

Much worse than the competition's

Hint

12. Broadly speaking, over the past five years (or since your inception, if your organization is less than five years old) has your image...

Stayed the same

Worsened

Been battered

Improved

Vastly improved

Hint

13. Does an organization need someone that is singularly charged with image and perception control?

We have a junior communications person monitoring our image

Our decision maker can do it, no need for anyone else

We have someone on the outside keeping an eye on us

We do, it's our head of communications

Hint

14. According to you, is your staff's perception or image of your organization...

About the same

Much worse than leadership's perception

Much better than leadership's perception

15. Have you recently conducted either a customer or stakeholder survey?

We did, over five years ago

We never will

We never have

We solicit ongoing feedback

We did, over one year ago

Hint

16. Media coverage of your leaders is generally...

Coverage is neutral

Excellent, media cover our leaders with praise

Our leaders receive no media coverage

Our leaders are subject to regular negative coverage

Hint

17. Is the head of communications of an organization well placed to evaluate the organization's perception or image?

Absolutely

Somewhat

Not ideally

Enter any additional comments here. An analyst reads these comments and may reply if you enter your email address at the end of the quiz (optional).

This is the end of The "Do I need it?" Quiz. If you have entered your email address, we will possibly respond to some of your comments.

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