76th MXW moves to CheckMATE

Published June 18, 2009
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Seven months ago, 76th Maintenance Wing officials introduced an initiative to study the link between morale and productivity within the workplace. With the initial survey completed, unit supervisors and their employees are working on the next phase, impact plans. Following the impact-planning phase, officials will distribute follow-up surveys.

Dubbed "CheckMATE" by Air Force Materiel Command, the initiative provides supervisors with an outline to study and create an engaged and efficient workplace.

"CheckMATE is about listening to our workforce and responding with action plans that are developed in the work center," said Brig. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, 76th Maintenance Wing commander. "This program is about making our wing the best place to work. To me, this is why CheckMATE is the right tool for our wing."

The initiative was first introduced to the maintenance wing in November 2008 as a 12-question survey known as "CheckMATE Q12." Modeled after a familiar questionnaire used by a globally-known research company, the survey proposed questions in four categories -- "What do I get?" "What do I give?" "Do I belong?" and "How do we grow?" -- to determine an employee's feeling of self-worth in the workplace. Participants answered questions using a five-point scale with choices ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree."

Troy Hanneman, 76th MXW chief of Workforce Development and Training Element, said approximately 60 percent of the wing participated in the November survey.

After answers were tallied, unit supervisors sat down with their employees to discuss findings and began the impact-plan phase. The groups will identify one weak spot and one strength based on their individual unit findings. After the strengths and weaknesses have been identified, they will pinpoint ways to improve the two areas. The impact phase began roughly three months ago and is scheduled to conclude June 30.

Laura Hazen, acting flight chief of the 555th Software Maintenance Squadron, hosted an ice cream party as a way to bring her unit together.

"All members participated by brining an ice-cream topping or accessory item," she said. "The flight enjoyed the ice-cream and fellowship with one another."

Davon Hill, a first-line supervisor for the 544th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron's F119 Heavy Maintenance Center, said his unit worked on improving the concept of "having a best friend at work."

To accomplish the task, he said his unit opted for monthly luncheons.

"Since we have started taking the above steps, we have noticed an improvement in the attitudes and morale of the employees," Mr. Hill said.

The follow-up survey will debut in late September. Similar to the CheckMATE Q12 questionnaire, wing personnel will answer questions about their roles in the workplace, but the survey will also seek opinions on the impact-plan improvement methods, Mr. Hanneman said.

"The CheckMATE [initiative] is a tool that supervisors can use to make their individual workplaces better," Mr. Hanneman said. "It's an opportunity to improve."