© ISIS. 2005

How do we talk to How do we talk to zoo keepers?zoo keepers?

Michele PetersUniversity of St. Thomas

© ISIS. 2005

What is ISIS?What is ISIS?

The International Species

Information System (ISIS) works

with the zoological community

to support animal care and

conservation worldwide

© ISIS. 2005

ISIS impactISIS impactCalifornia condor -- critically endangered

© ISIS. 2005

Zoological Information Zoological Information Management System Management System

(ZIMS)(ZIMS) Largest Web-based project in world

Will contain information on more than 2 million animals

Will connect more than 20,000 zoological professionals in more than 70 countries

© ISIS. 2005

Question:Question: Do

communications from ISIS

meet the needs of the

organization’s membership?

© ISIS. 2005

Why a survey?Why a survey?

To determine if ISIS members: Receive communications from

ISIS Understand the information

received Are aware of the ZIMS Project Desire more information about

ISIS

© ISIS. 2005

MethodologyMethodology 24-question survey (English only) Placed on organization’s Web site

(www.isis.org) Link e-mailed to 2,500 contacts Link in monthly newsletter

© ISIS. 2005

Response rateResponse rate

383 responses out of 2,500

More than 15%

© ISIS. 2005

The surveyThe survey

Overall, I feel the communication I currently receive from ISIS is: Good (86%)

Variable (12%)

© ISIS. 2005

Do you receive communication from ISIS at the appropriate intervals? When it is appropriate (86%)

Too seldom (almost 10%)

© ISIS. 2005

Subjects of concernSubjects of concern

ZIMS Project

Web site

Newsletter

Language

© ISIS. 2005

Are you aware of the ZIMS ProjectZIMS Project?

17% -- involved & know a lot21% -- involved, not knowledgeable

30% -- know a lot, but not involved+30% -- don’t know much

© ISIS. 2005

Is the information on the ISIS Web siteWeb site relevant to your work?

86% useful13% somewhat useful

© ISIS. 2005

ISIS NewsISIS News covers topics of interest

10% always37% most of the time51% sometimes

© ISIS. 2005

The information in ISIS ISIS NewsNews is useful to my work

10% very useful34% useful50% somewhat useful6% not useful

© ISIS. 2005

In what languagelanguage do you prefer to communicate?

English (86% - 342 responses) French, German, Spanish (3%

each)Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Italian,

Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Scandinavian

© ISIS. 2005

How would you rate your understanding of written English?

89% excellent3% good8% fair

© ISIS. 2005

ConclusionConclusion

ISIS members are satisfied with communications from ISIS and understand the information

However, communications surrounding the ZIMS Project must be enhanced

© ISIS. 2005

RecommendationsRecommendations (cont.) ZIMS Project

Increase profile of the projectSurvey members

Which areas are they not informed about?

Why are members choosing not to become involved in the project?

Target communications to those who are involved in the project

© ISIS. 2005

RecommendationsRecommendations ISIS Web site

Evaluate contentKeep content current

ISIS News (newsletter) Include more topics of interest Add short surveys to Web pageExplore translations

© ISIS. 2005

Questions?Questions?