Data Incoming

Our surveys about the application process have been making their way back to us fairly regularly over the last few days.These surveys were sent out last week to the town managers, energy directors, and any other officials responsible for getting their town's grant applications completed. We have had 13 respondents out of the 43 people who received the surveys.

As students we were able to identify with one of the trends in our survey results. A majority of the respondents did not write anything in the space given for free response. We know that whenever we are asked to write a block of text, but that block of text is optional, we opt out. So did many of our respondents. This leaves us with a question whose answer could help future projects. How do you get someone to actually fill out a free response?

Today in our meeting with our sponsors and advisers we discussed the possibility of cold-calling those applicants who did reply to the survey at all and trying to get on the spot interviews with them. This could bolster the amount of anecdotal evidence we have and improve the quality of the final results.

Cruising into Results!

John, Kayla, Tom & Ronelle on the front of the boat

 

Yesterday we went on the Boston Harbor Cruise with Seth and all of the other groups. It was really windy and choppy, but we all had fun. We found out very quickly that going on the front of the boat is fun, but only if you don't mind getting a little wet!

The water was very choppy due to a strong "westerly wind", according to the tour guide. We didn't think anything of it, until we all got splashed while leaning over the front of the boat. We all were covered in salt water by the time we got back to the dock.



The Carnival Splendor in Boston Harbor

We also got to see a huge cruise ship called the "Carnival Splendor" It only comes to Boston a handful of times a year and holds upwards of 30,000 people traveling to the Carribean. The tour guide decided to take a detour off of the regular route so we could get a closer look.

We have been getting a lot of responses on our surveys, which has been leading to setting up a lot of phone interviews. We realized that making an interview guide is extremely difficult because the survey responses are all different. With all of the interviews being set up, it seems like we are in for a busy week!

- Ronelle

Getting D.E.E.P. Into The Project

Today we were greeted with 4 completed surveys in our inbox as the Qualtrics survey was sent out automatically at 9:30am. While the team was slightly disappointed that there were no free response submissions, we were excited to see actual data and happy that the individuals responded so quickly. Each respondent was emailed requesting a follow-up phone interview and within the hour we had 2 scheduled phone interviews for next Friday.

Our primary goal for the day was calling the Connecticut DEEP office to follow-up on our email we had sent regarding information on the program evaluation they had done between round one and two of their Microgrid Grant & Loan program. This was our first time in the WPI IGSD conference room with a conference call, one of many more to come!

When the first call didn't work, the team realized we had no portable number for which we could leave people in a voice message if they wanted to connect back with us. We then took the time to create a Google Voice number that would forward to all of our phones so that a respondent can quickly return a phone call without sending an email, then allowing us to connect with them on the nearest landline. Once we setup our number, we tried the DEEP office for a 2nd time and were able to get in touch and begin the interview.

The interview provided us a number of useful insights. The first was that the DEEP had not sent out an official survey instead solicited feedback from the municipality in two ways. First, an email was sent containing a general list of questions and requesting a written response back to those questions. Second, municipality contacts and one guest acting as a technical consultant, were invited to a "town hall" meeting for a general forum. When asked which method proved most effective, the staff member responded that both were equally effective. The feedback from both of those sources was then reviewed by the program's team members for possible implementation in the 2nd round.

This led our team to think of a few things. The DEEP noted several times the effectiveness of having utility representatives available at webinars and reviewing the actual applications. It led us to explore the DOER's reasoning for not having such utility involvement. The fact that Connecticut was more focused on Microgrids? Would greater utility input have eased the application process? We also noted another, potentially future method of data collection, that of a public in-person forum. While the incentives may be low to those who have been awarded to attend, perhaps those who may apply will provide their feedback to their needs in such a forum.

The staff member was also able to send us the email invitations to the forum as well as the email with general questions. This allowed us to look at our verbiage, length, style etc and compare. We've certainly gained a lot and are continuing to gain more as we process the interview. As we are going through our methods chapter tonight, it's allowing us to think outside of the DOER to other ways this can be done.

Meetings, meetings, and more meetings!

Today, the team had their weekly sponsor/advisor meeting in the morning. Many topics were discussed regarding the interview questions that are being formulated to ask the individuals who are completing the survey that the team will be sending out in the next few days. One point that the advisors brought to our attention was that conducting a phone interview has a lot more preparation than it sounds, or than one would think. Personally, I had a few "ah-ha!" moments. As the team is starting to get more in depth of evaluating the DOER's program application process, more and more questions are being raised.

The team was referred to a piece of literature that contains many interview strategies of how to handle different responses from each interviewee. The team predicts that this will be a very helpful guide to phone interview success.

The interview process is actually very complicated, and one of the things the team learned today was that there are many aspects to the interview.

• Starting the actual interview (Preamble)
• Practicing a good amount of Mock interviews
• Being able to ask the right questions in order to get the information you are looking for 
• Stopping an interviewee during a long response to move onto the next question (if time is limited)
• Dealing with responses that are very negative 

Above are just some of the necessary ideas to think of before conducting an interview that were discussed in today's meeting. 
The team found time to meet with Dwayne (The Renewables Division Director). We introduced ourselves individually and started asking questions. Dwayne was very helpful and invited the team to attend the big announcement of the round one winners, which will be held Thursday, September 25th at another site in Boston. 

Transportation/Commuting

Photo Credit: Ronelle LeBlanc

(Orange Line)

(Blue Line)

Our group has started to get the hang of commuting to Boston three days a week. We take the MBTA Commuter rail into Boston from Worcester and get off at BackBay Station. We then take two different T lines to get to the office. We take the Orange line, which we pick up at BackBay Station and then get off at State Street, then we grab the Blue line and get off at Bowdoin Station. Luckily Bowdoin Station is right across the street from the office, so it's just a short walk! We have been starting to get used to public transportation. On our first day of figuring everything out we ended up missing our train home, so knowing what time to leave the office and giving yourself enough time to take the T (or two of them!) is very important if you want to make the train home.

First Presentation Day!

Today, Monday, September 8th, we traveled to the Worcester Community Project Center and presented our workplan for our project to our Advisors and the other Boston IQP groups. 

Getting Settled: The First Two Days

After arriving at our office building on Tuesday, September 2nd, our team met with our advisors and sopnsors for a 9am meeting. We were able to clarify what we will be doing for our project! After the meeting concluded, we were invited to an all staff meeting with the commissioner. Free food! Then we found our individual cubicles where we will each be working for the next 6 weeks. When the work day was over, getting back to the train was a little bit of a struggle. We are still figuring out what T lines to take and train times. Public transportation takes more planning than you think!

* The picture above is our office building

-Ronelle