Employee survey with bottleneck analysis
Find the bottleneck that’s holding your company back.
With an anonymous employee survey, OQM shows which single factor in your organization is slowing everything else down – and what you can build on.
Organizations and business owners working with OQM
Dirk Kreuter entrepreneurs
Sound familiar?
You invest. And the same problems keep coming back.
It is rarely a lack of effort. Usually the energy goes into the wrong place.
Good people leave
The real reasons never come up in the exit interview.
See the causes
Strategy doesn’t land
It was agreed long ago. Day to day, the old ways continue.
See the causes
Surveyed, but nothing happened
The last survey produced a report – and frustration.
See the causes
For example: 80% of U.S. employees don’t fully trust the leadership of their organization. Gallup, May 2026
How it works
Three steps to your priority.
Intro call
We clarify what should be measured and which teams take part.
Anonymous survey
Each team gets a QR code. The 80 questions are answered on a phone or computer.
Results and action
Your profile is ready as soon as the survey closes. In a workshop you derive measures, and after 10 to 12 months you measure again.
Why OQM is different
Your weakest factor sets the limit.
A barrel can only hold as much water as its shortest stave allows. Excellent processes help little if trust is missing in the team. OQM finds that shortest stave – your bottleneck.
Instead of a long list of action areas, you get one priority.
What OQM measures
Eight factors make an organization healthy.
Ten questions per factor. The adjective is the key: OQM doesn’t ask whether there is leadership, but whether it empowers.
Factor 1 of 8
01 / 08
Empowering leadership
Do your leaders enable people – or control them?
In the tree: the trunk. It carries and nourishes, but doesn’t dictate where each branch grows.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“My manager involves me in important decisions.”
02 / 08
Strengths-based contribution
Do people work where they are strongest?
In the tree: the leaves. Each one sits where it catches the most light.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“The tasks assigned to me match my abilities.”
03 / 08
Inspiring vision
Does everyone know where you are heading – and why?
In the tree: the light. Everything grows towards it.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“Our company’s vision provides clear direction.”
04 / 08
Effective structures
Do your processes make work easier – or slow it down?
In the tree: the sap. Water and nutrients reach the places that need them.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“Tasks and responsibilities are well coordinated in my team.”
05 / 08
Shared values
Are your values lived – or just on the wall?
In the tree: the roots. Unseen, yet everything stands on them.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“My company’s values match my personal values.”
06 / 08
Integrated teams
Do your teams hold together when things get hard?
In the tree: the branches. Each carries its share; the crown only forms together.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“In my team we actively support each other when needed.”
07 / 08
Customer-focused service
Is work shaped by what customers actually need?
In the tree: the fruit. What the tree produces for others.
Sample question · one of ten for this factor
“We keep the promises we make to our customers.”
08 / 08
Trusting relationships
Are conflicts resolved – or sat out?
In the tree: the fungal network between the roots. Through it, trees supply one another.
Which factor is the bottleneck in your organization?
Book an intro callSample question · one of ten for this factor
“In this company, conflicts are resolved constructively.”
With each factor, another part of the tree comes to life.
An organization is healthy when all eight work together. OQM shows which part needs the most attention right now.
What you get
As soon as the survey closes, you know where your bottleneck is.
Four reports, four questions. Pick yours – and see in the sample report what the answer looks like.
OQM 80 profile
Where does our organization stand – and what is holding it back?
All eight factors at a glance – and the one holding you back the most.
- Your bottleneck and your strength, clearly marked
- The ten lowest-rated questions – where you start
- All 80 questions evaluated one by one
Comparison profile
Which team needs support first?
Teams, departments or two points in time side by side – often the most important view for leadership.
- Every factor and every question compared directly
- Minimum, average and maximum for each question as a line
- Bottleneck and strength of every department in one overview
Action Guide
What exactly do we do now?
Prioritized measures for your lowest values instead of generic advice.
- The ten questions most in need of action
- For each question: why it matters and where to start
- Practical steps, for example for team meetings and managers
OQM Health
Where does psychological strain arise – and how strong is it?
An assessment of psychological strain as an add-on profile, measured with an anonymous survey.
- Five strain factors, from social relationships to the work environment
- Also as an overall profile and compared across departments
- A basis for deriving and documenting measures
Which report fits your question? We clarify that in a free intro call.
Book an intro callTestimonials
Voices from practice
“The OQM system convinces with practical, data-based organizational development. It creates an overall view, identifies potential and derives targeted measures.”
“For the first time, I worked with a partner and consultant who understood that it is not only about economic success, but about sustainable, values-based growth.”
Johannes Freiherr von HeeremanFormer managing director of Deutsche Malteser gGmbH“We are very satisfied with OQM’s support, which gave valuable insight into our surveys and supported our annual goals.”
Reiner RentschlerRentschler Lebensmittelmärkte“We have worked with OQM twice. The surveys showed the challenges in our departments and helped us put lasting measures in place.”
Sandra Thielecke-SiegmannBOHAI TRIMETOQM Health
Assess psychological strain before it turns into sick days.
The add-on profile to the OQM survey measures psychological strain and shows where it comes from and what you can do about it.
Why OQM
“The potential for growth is present everywhere.”Dr. Stephan Wesely (1967–2026)Co-founder of OQM International
In his doctoral thesis he showed how OQM unlocks that potential: the survey reveals the minimum factor – the one factor where all measures should start. If it can be developed, the strongest growth can be expected. Each country has its own norm, updated regularly – which is why your scores are comparable.
Stephan Wesely: Dialogisch orientiertes Organisches Qualitätsmanagement (OQM). Doctoral thesis (in German), University of Koblenz-Landau, 2011, p. 252.
FAQ
What organizations want to know before the first call.
What is OQM – and is it related to ISO quality management?
OQM stands for Organic Quality Management. It is an anonymous employee survey with 80 questions on eight factors. It shows which factor is holding your organization back – from an inside view or against your national norm. It has nothing to do with ISO 9001.
How do I know whether OQM fits our problem?
Staff turnover, conflict, high absenteeism or declining revenue usually have causes below the surface: in leadership, vision, trust or processes. OQM measures all eight factors and shows which one is at work in your organization. See symptoms and causes
Do I need the national benchmark?
Not necessarily. The standardized profile with national benchmark is the default, because a score of 60 says little on its own – only the comparison shows whether it is really low. More and more organizations choose the inside view with average scores, though. You still see bottleneck, strength and the national average, but your organization is at the center. Decide at the start: the perspective stays the same for follow-up surveys so results remain comparable.
How anonymous is the survey?
We don’t ask for names, age, gender or family status. Each team takes part via its own QR code. All data is stored on servers in Germany.
How long does it take?
8 to 20 seconds per question, so about 10 to 25 minutes for all 80. The profile is ready as soon as the survey closes, and the workshop can follow soon after.
What does OQM cost?
The annual package starts at $1,490 and includes one OQM 80 profile, 12 months of platform access, any number of surveys, data storage and support. Every further profile costs $490. One team with Action Guide comes to $1,640 plus applicable taxes. Renew within the term and save 15% on the next annual package. Use the price calculator to work out your own price. Consultants bill their work separately.
How is OQM different from Great Place to Work?
Great Place to Work measures satisfaction and awards an employer certification. OQM looks for the bottleneck limiting your performance and gives you a priority and measures.
Do I need a consultant?
We recommend one, because the workshop is where the results pay off most. You can also buy profiles directly from us.
Which languages are available?
The survey and profiles are available in German, English and Spanish. OQM Health and the Action Guide are available in German and English; Spanish is coming.
Is OQM also available for churches and nonprofits?
Yes. There are dedicated versions of the eight factors for churches, congregations and nonprofits. Get in touch.
Where does the principle behind OQM come from?
The bottleneck principle OQM builds on has been in use since 1989: by 2011 it had produced more than 71,000 profiles in over 70 countries. OQM applies it to companies and organizations. Dr. Stephan Wesely described the foundations in his doctoral thesis in 2011. Origins and research
Intro call
Find out where your organization is losing impact.
Every quarter without clarity, money flows into measures that miss the bottleneck. Tell us what’s going on. We’ll get back to you personally and use the intro call to see whether OQM is the right fit.
Your contacts
Send an inquiry
Or write to us: office@oqm-international.comNot ready to talk yet?
OQM Pulse
8 of the 80 questions for your team, with a short summary. Free, as an inside view.
Try OQM Pulse