GeminiFocus January 2018 | Page 26

Initial results from Gemini ’ s Short Surveys are helping staff to address issues shared by our user community , especially regarding the performance of Gemini ’ s software tools ( PIT and OT ). Among other items , users provided staff with valuable insight into the quality of data received by Principal Investigators . Most respondents shared their appreciation for the support they received from Gemini staff , and their current efforts to improve actionable items .
André-Nicolas Chené

Gemini ’ s Users Provide Valuable Feedback for the Future

Initial results from Gemini ’ s Short Surveys are helping staff to address issues shared by our user community , especially regarding the performance of Gemini ’ s software tools ( PIT and OT ). Among other items , users provided staff with valuable insight into the quality of data received by Principal Investigators . Most respondents shared their appreciation for the support they received from Gemini staff , and their current efforts to improve actionable items .
The Gemini Science User Support Department 1 has begun direct dialog between the Observatory and its users by sending out routine Short Surveys ( 2 – 3 questions ) at every critical phase of Gemini ’ s user programs ( Table 1 ). The effort has several key objectives : 1 ) monitor the usefulness and usability of our software tools and documentation ; 2 ) determine how well the observations went ; and 3 ) assess how satisfied the Principal Investigator ( PI ) is with the data . Another objective is to identify actionable items that can improve the whole observing process at Gemini . In brief , the Short Surveys provide a direct way to listen to what is most important to our user community .
As the name Short Surveys indicates , the surveys are designed to be short ; they should take only a few minutes to complete . Still , for users who want to have more lengthy communications with Gemini staff about the topics covered , the surveys always include one question offering a text box that has no length limit . All of these comments are read by Gemini staff .
______________
1
The Gemini User Support Department was formed in 2015 to create a collaborative community of users and staff . In addition to the Short Surveys , the department is working on a next generation helpdesk system , Gemini website , and data reduction suite .
24 GeminiFocus January 2018