Bob,

That's a great question and, like so many things, the I answer I would give you is "it depends".

There are different types of scenarios in which surveys can be used.

If the scenario is a very caustic, unsafe culture where employee feedback is vital to righting the ship, then anonymity is essential.

In a healthy, transparent organizational culture, however, it's usually unnecessary and can interfere with taking healthy, positive, and direct action.

I would disagree with your experts in so far as saying the "only" way to get honest feedback is with anonymity. Another alternative, and much more productive, in my opinion, is to build an organizational culture that values transparency, full input, and productive disagreement.

Good luck!

David