GideonSoft 17.2
[Final Production version 3.172.1.6]
Introducing Goal Setting
We have long observed that the most successful athletes and operators set goals so they can stay organized and manage their time towards achieving the extraordinary. And now we are excited to introduce our take on Goal Setting which introduces some powerful features that will increase your chances of successfully achieving your goals.
Naturally, we have included all the standard features you would expect from a GideonSoft product including an intuitive and easy-to-use: specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goal designer and tracker. But based on feedback and observations in the field, we realized that simply setting and tracking goals may not be enough to maintain the momentum required to successfully complete goals in the fast-paced environments in which high performers typically live.
One of the most important findings we discovered was that a level of social accountability can increase motivation and sustain momentum through the natural highs and lows of working towards a meaningful goal. In fact, this level of accountability has been found to increase motivation among athletes and increase the likelihood of successfully reaching difficult goals.
When a goal is created in GideonSoft, it is further defined by specific action plans. Each of these action plans is individually tracked to provide a more quantitative and detailed view of performance at any given time. These goals and action plans can be publicly shared among peers which can increase and foster positive organizational norms.
From the supervisor perspective, coaches and instructors can work with their people to develop and monitor agreed-upon goals. Additionally, students or cadets can alert their supervisors when a goal has been achieved. This two-way communication can facilitate trust and increase motivation leading to a greater chance of achieving the extraordinary.
But wait, there’s one more thing. There are times when a supervisor may need to set specific goals for an individual or a group of people. We call these top-down goals: Objectives. These objectives are common in athletics and special operations where everyone must meet certain minimum requirements. In the past, it could be difficult to track performance for each of these objectives. But now supervisors can leverage the data they are already tracking within GideonSoft to assign objectives based on specific measurements. Everyone who is assigned an objective is automatically notified and they can track their performance directly on their profile page. Supervisors can quickly view all their people’s progress using one simple report so nobody is left in the dark.
No Question Left Behind
Creating surveys has never been easier! We have streamlined the survey design process so virtually anyone can hit the ground running and ask the right questions as easily and quickly as possible.
New Variable Designer
Data is the lifeblood of all things GideonSoft, and as you begin to collect data and ask increasingly sophisticated questions, the way your data were designed becomes incredibly important.
Over time, most of our users generate thousands of variables and millions of data points. To make sure this never becomes overwhelming, we have completely redesigned and streamlined the process for creating variables, calculating scores and running statistics. This new design walks you through the process with explanations and visual guides.
We have also released a bulk data generator that lets you create hundreds of variables, calculations, and scores in virtually no time at all. Based on our benchmarking, what once took 10 hours now takes less than one hour to complete.
Variable Naming Conventions
The Whole Person concept behind GideonSoft is based on the idea of categorizing data into Dimensions, Factors, Sub-factors, and Items. This concept has always been a part of GideonSoft as a best-practice, but now it is fully embedded in the way data are described and named.
We’re excited to introduce the new Variable Name Generator which ensures that your variables are named in the best way possible for you to easily find them, and efficiently access them for analysis, visualizations, and reports.
Dimensions typically describe the overall concept that a variable represents. For example, a common GideonSoft dimension is Behavior. This dimension generally reflects a summary of multiple factors, such as Dependability, Motivation, and Adaptability. Each Factor may further be divided into Sub-factors. For example, the Factor, Adaptability may represent a summary of the Sub-factors: Flexibility, Creativity, and Resourcefulness. And finally, Items represent the underlying variables that store the data.
Two-factor Authentication
Just about every release includes a new feature to enhance your security when using GideonSoft. For 17.2 we are happy to introduce Two-factor Authentication using Google’s Two-step Verification. This opt-in feature lets you use both a password and a code sent to your phone in order to gain access to your data.
Upwards and Onwards!
As always, we have applied various bug fixes and performance enhancements in order to help you get your job completed faster!