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Please Read: An Important RoadTest Program Change

rscasny

This is the third virtual "fireside chat" that I'm writing regarding the RoadTest Program. For this one, I'd like to roll out a RoadTest Program change and explain why the change is occurring.

 

To start, I'd like to share a snippet of an email I received yesterday from a vendor who participates in the RoadTest Program:

 

"We received only 13% reviews back from the RoadTests we sponsored in 2016. I would like to know the status of each of these roadtests. Are the missing reviews still being pursued? I would also like to know if the members that failed to post a review are now being flagged so we do not chose them again."

 

It was not pleasant to respond to. I had to eat "humble pie," as we say in the US, when I responded to this vendor.

 

To solve the problem, I decided I don't want to go down the road of suspending members from the RoadTest program. Suspensions sound too much like the hard rules of the military. I was in the Navy for 10 years and I didn't like tough rules back then, but I knew they were necessary given the reality of uncomfortable shipboard conditions and potentially dangerous operations we were participating in.

 

But this is a community. It should be a place to have some fun, meet new people, network professionally, be a mentor, or get mentored. Suspending people just is the wrong road to follow.

 

The way I've chosen to resolve the problem is the program change.

 

RoadTest application reports will soon include whether a specific applicant has completed all of his/her previous RoadTest reviews. I'm told by our developers this is very easy to do. We will provide this information to the vendor with a RoadTester's application. The supplier will make the decision where to select the RoadTester or not. Given the above comment by the supplier, I think the answer is self-evident.

 

Now, this change will probably cause me more work. If someone were flagged, I will have to check to see if that person is on a current RoadTest and it's before the due date of the official review. I surely don't want to penalize a conscientious RoadTester. I will also have to ensure there are not any extenuating circumstances that have caused the person not to write the review, i.e., sickness, family issues.

 

I am ambivalent about this whole thing. There are many RoadTesters who are doing a fantastic job. But a 13% success rate is not successful. I really have no choice but to implement this change.

 

Sincerely,

 

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

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  • Randall Scasny wrote:

     

    To solve the problem, I decided I don't want to go down the road of suspending members from the RoadTest program. Suspensions sound too much like the hard rules of the military. I was in the Navy for 10 years and I didn't like tough rules back then, but I knew they were necessary given the reality of uncomfortable shipboard conditions and potentially dangerous operations we were participating in.

     

    But this is a community. It should be a place to have some fun, meet new people, network professionally, be a mentor, or get mentored. Suspending people just is the wrong road to follow.

    Hi Randall,

     

    I see where you are coming from but to my mind If a member who hasn't completed a particular RoadTest, hasn't contacted you to tell you in advance of their extenuating circumstances, isn't responsive when you contact them, etc, then I don't personally see the downside in suspending them from the program. There has to be some way to dissuade people from signing up just to get free stuff and if its the price we have to pay to ensure suppliers continue to offer their products for free in exchange for a review then so be it.

     

    I was going to say we don't want a few selfish people spoiling it for everybody else, but sadly it seems it's not a few, for this particular supplier it's 87% which quite frankly is shameful, and those people (unless they have a very good reason why they haven't completed their reviews) should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Rachael

  • in reply to rachaelp

    Rachael,

     

    You have a sound argument. Clearly, it appears some folks consider RoadTests a giveaway program, which it is not. We really need your professional opinions. My concern is perhaps if the delinquent roadtest reviews see they can make up their reviews, they can change their ways. We'll see how things play out. I need to improve the review percentage.

     

    Thanks for your participation in the community.

     

    Randall

Reply
  • in reply to rachaelp

    Rachael,

     

    You have a sound argument. Clearly, it appears some folks consider RoadTests a giveaway program, which it is not. We really need your professional opinions. My concern is perhaps if the delinquent roadtest reviews see they can make up their reviews, they can change their ways. We'll see how things play out. I need to improve the review percentage.

     

    Thanks for your participation in the community.

     

    Randall

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  • in reply to rscasny

    Hi Randall,

     

    Randall Scasny wrote:

     

    Rachael,

     

    You have a sound argument. Clearly, it appears some folks consider RoadTests a giveaway program, which it is not. We really need your professional opinions. My concern is perhaps if the delinquent roadtest reviews see they can make up their reviews, they can change their ways. We'll see how things play out. I need to improve the review percentage.

     

    Thanks for your participation in the community.

     

    Randall

     

    If this is the case they they will contact you or be responsive when you try to contact them. Any who are completely uncontactable shouldn't be cut any slack. You need to give them firm deadlines to get back to you when you contact them and let them know the consequences if you don't hear from them. For example:

     

    Dear XYZ, Your road test review of ABC is well overdue and I have not had any communication from you despite numerous attempts to contact you. I expect to receive either your submitted road test no later than DD-MM-YYYY, or an email detailing your extenuating circumstances no later than DD-MM-YYYY. Failure to do so will result in your suspension from all current and future road test programs and require the immediate return of any equipment you received. We will arrange a courier for the return of the equipment at our expense.

     

    If you don't do something like this I can't see how the situation can significantly improve and eventually suppliers will stop being willing to partake in programs like this.

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Rachael