SII External Specialists Survey 2008: Results

Introduction

In November 2008, the SII issued a survey to the 300

practitioners who volunteer to give up their time to help

shape the development of the Institute’s exams and

learning materials.

Roughly a third of those surveyed responded and a

summary of the results follows.

1. About the Respondents

Type of Specialist?

43

19

14

20

4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

%

Exam PanelMember

Item Writer WorkbookReviewer

Item Editor WorkbookAuthor

Type of External Specialist

The majority (43%) of the respondents are Exam Panel Members

What Grade of SII Member?The majority (42%) of the respondents are MSI members

14

1 1

15

42

27

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

%

Non-member Student Affiliate ASI MSI FSI

Grade of SII Membership

How long have you been an External Specialist?73% of the respondents have worked with SII at least 3 years. 34% have worked with SII for longer.

6

21

39

34

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Less than 1 year 1-2 years 3-5 years More than 5 years

Length of time as a Specialist

2. Rating of Existing Benefits

Those surveyed were asked to rate their existing benefits on a scale of 1 - 4, with 1 being most important and 4 being least.

Attendance at Annual EventThe most popular response was 2, at 37%, makingthis the single-most popular tangible benefit offered.

11

3736

16

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2 3 4

Attendance at Annual Event

20

35 35

10

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2 3 4

Networking Opportunities

Networking Opportunities

The most popular response was a tie between 2 and 3 (35% each).

Obtaining CPD Hours under SII SchemeThis was not seen as a key benefit of being a Specialist

15

28

25

32

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4

SII CPD Hours

Payment of HonorariumModest payments are made to item writers and editors. These are not seen as an important reason for assisting.

14

29

34

23

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4

Honorarium

Keeping Up to date with IndustryThe majority of our External Specialists saw this as akey reason for becoming involved.

55

27

10 8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 2 3 4

Keep Up to Date with Industry

Contributing to the IndustryThis is clearly the primary reason that practitioners become External Specialists. 78% of respondents voted it 1.

78

11

47

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1 2 3 4

Contribute to Industry

3. Suggested New Benefits

Next, those surveyed were asked to rate several proposed new benefits on a scale of 1 - 4, with 1 being most important and 4 being least.

Item Writer Training CoursesThe majority of the respondents feel these would be a valuable additional benefit.

30

37

25

8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2 3 4

Item Writer Training

Increased Honorarium Payments31% of the respondents feel these would be a good additional benefit, but the spread was fairly even.

31

24

28

17

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4

Increased Honorarium

50% off SII ConferencesThere was a fairly even spread of results for thissuggestion too, but the majority rated this a 3.

23

19

33

25

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1 2 3 4

50% off SII Conferences

Thank-you letter to Line ManagerSII suggested sending an official letter to employers, outliningthe full extent of the work Specialists undertake voluntarily for the Institute. Responses were polarised around 1 and 4.

37

1716

30

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 2 3 4

Thank-you Letter to Manager

Conclusion

Those that volunteer to become External Specialists for the SII do so out of altruism: they wish to give something back to their industry.

The benefits offered are appreciated, but as most ExternalSpecialists are SII members, they are already enjoying a comprehensive benefits package. However, attendance at the Annual Specialists’ Event is seen as a welcome benefit.

Actions Arising: Website ResourceThe survey discussed the establishment of a dedicated website resource for External Specialists and asked forsuggestions about what information this should contain.

This website resource is now live and many suggestionswere taken on board. Visit it now:

www.sii.org.uk/specialists

Actions Arising: Website ResourceThe website resource contains:

Information on the different types of Specialists Information on the benefits Links to all SII exam subjects, including the syllabuses Useful documents page, featuring Terms of Reference, workbook samples, the application form, sample questions and more Panel meetings calendar Information on the Annual Event

www.sii.org.uk/specialists

Actions Arising: New BenefitsFollowing on from this survey, the SII has now introduced:

Item-writing training sessions (starting Spring 2009) 50% discount off all SII conferences Increased honorariums (from April 2009) Official Thank-you letter for Line Managers

The SII acknowledges that the thank-you letter was voted 1 by 37% of respondents, but 4 by 30%, so it is clearly not wanted by all.

The letters will be written and addressed to the employer, but sent to the Specialist directly (with their invite to the Annual Event) so that they can choose whether or not to forward them on. All Specialists will be provided with additional invitations so they can choose to invite their Line manager to the 2009 Annual Specialists’ Event.

Finally…On behalf of the SII, a very big thank-you to those that took the time to participate in this survey, and a huge

For volunteering to work with us!