31 Power BI Survey Questions: Types, Samples & Best Practices

Feature Usage & Satisfaction Survey

What This Survey Covers

The Feature Usage & Satisfaction Survey takes aim at the newest, trendiest features in Power BI—the things you (or Microsoft’s enthusiastic update emails) just turned on. Are users experimenting with Dataflows, Goals, AI visuals, or the ever-mysterious Tabular Editor? You’ll find out.

These surveys look beyond, “Have you used it?” Instead, they dig into whether features felt intuitive or left users reading documentation for hours. It’s about measuring enthusiasm, frustration, and ideas for what should come next.

• Learn which features get real-world traction
  
• Capture feedback on new releases while the experience is fresh
  
• Track user wish-lists for roadmap planning
  
• Spot overlooked training needs before a small problem becomes a helpdesk avalanche
  

Why & When to Use It

Right after flipping the switch on a new feature, curiosity is high—and so are the first-impression nerves. That’s the best time to run this survey. You want unfiltered, real-time feedback while the details are still top-of-mind.

If you’re planning what to roll out next, a pulse check helps ensure you’re not investing in features nobody cares about. Bonus: these surveys provide helpful data for upcoming upgrade business cases.

• Distribute immediately after launching new functionality
  
• Use during annual or quarterly planning discussions
  
• Send reminders periodically to ensure features aren’t forgotten in the shuffle
  

5 Sample Questions

1. Which of the following Power BI features have you tried in the last month?

2. Rate your satisfaction with Power BI’s “Goals” functionality.

3. How intuitive did you find creating a calculation group in Tabular Editor?

4. What top feature would you like Microsoft to improve or add next?

5. Did training materials adequately cover the new feature?

A usability study of Power BI's Quick Measure Suggestions feature revealed that 5 out of 6 participants found the auto-suggestion input box confusing, indicating a need for improved user interface design. (maomao-ding.com)

Training & Support Needs Assessment

What This Survey Covers

A Training & Support Needs Assessment is your backstage pass into what users really struggle with—and how they want help. Don’t assume everyone wants a two-hour lecture on DAX because your loudest superuser is a DAX nerd. You need to find out actual skill gaps and the most effective support strategies for your whole audience.

These surveys ask about comfort levels with complex topics and the formats people actually prefer for learning. They also reveal pain points with tickets and knowledge base articles. The result? Your training budget works smarter, not harder.

• Pinpoint persistent trouble spots by skill area
  
• Identify whether people want bite-sized videos, hands-on workshops, or one-on-one help
  
• Assess the helpfulness of existing support resources
  
• Uncover delays or frustrations in helpdesk processes
  

Why & When to Use It

Before spending time and money on another mega-training session (with half the audience scrolling Instagram on their phones), stop and ask users what and how they want to learn. These surveys are especially powerful just before rolling out a new training curriculum.

If support tickets start spiking or your helpdesk grumbles about the same recurring questions, this survey is a must. The results will transform both training efficiency and user happiness.

• Launch during annual training planning cycles
  
• Deploy when new functionality is released, requiring upskilling
  
• React quickly if support requests cluster around the same issue
  

5 Sample Questions

1. Which Power BI skill area do you struggle with most (DAX, data modeling, visuals, etc.)?

2. How do you prefer to learn new Power BI skills (live workshop, video, documentation, 1-on-1 coaching)?

3. Rate the helpfulness of our internal knowledge base for Power BI.

4. How quickly do you receive answers when you log a Power BI support ticket?

5. What single resource would most improve your Power BI proficiency?

Performance & Reliability Feedback Survey

What This Survey Covers

When it comes to BI tools, nothing sends users running for the exits faster than slow report loads or failed refreshes. The Performance & Reliability Feedback Survey goes straight to the heart of these issues. Users may not always tell you outright, but this survey uncovers when performance pain is a fact of life.

You’ll learn about the timing and frequency of report timeouts, average load times, and whether technical hiccups stop business in its tracks. It’s the quickest way to separate isolated blips from widespread emergencies.

• Track delay triggers like slow dashboards or flaky refresh schedules
  
• Assess whether performance issues impact real work-deadlines
  
• Gather specific suggestions for what to fix first
  
• Pinpoint any chronic, unnoticed issues that silently erode trust
  

Why & When to Use It

There’s no point asking about performance if everything is smooth sailing (congratulations!). However, after major data-model overhauls or when your monitoring tool lights up with red flags, this survey is essential. If average load time creeps over 3 seconds—or if people complain in meetings—it’s survey time.

It’s also wise to check performance after onboarding many new users or expanding capacity, since both can cause unexpected strain on resources.

• Deploy after significant Power BI upgrades or model changes
  
• Check monthly or quarterly to spot gradual slowdowns
  
• Use proactively if data refresh schedules are missed regularly
  

5 Sample Questions

1. How often do Power BI reports time-out or fail to load for you?

2. Approximate average load time for the reports you use most.

3. Have slow refreshes ever stopped you from completing a task on time?

4. How satisfied are you with the reliability of data refresh schedules?

5. What performance improvements would most benefit your workflow?

A survey revealed that 40% of respondents identified slow query performance as the primary issue in BI projects, directly correlating with reduced business benefits. (barc.com)

Data Governance & Security Confidence Survey

What This Survey Covers

Trust is everything when it comes to data—and your Data Governance & Security Confidence Survey measures exactly that. It’s built to capture whether end-users feel safe, confident, and empowered, or if they’re nervous about mistakes, leaks, or unclear permissions.

You’ll find out if users trust the numbers they see, if they ever spot data they shouldn’t, and whether security terms are clear or Greek. The bonus? This survey also exposes documentation blind spots and wish-list items that improve your compliance posture.

• Assess confidence in report accuracy and source
  
• Discover if anyone feels permissions are too loose (or too tight)
  
• Gauge clarity and effectiveness of data-sharing policies
  
• Unearth documentation gaps in security, RLS, or sharing guidelines
  

Why & When to Use It

Anytime you introduce new governance policies, row-level security tweaks, or data-classification rules, pop this survey. It’s also essential after audits, security incidents, or when new regulations go live.

By routinely checking the pulse, you spot both gaps and opportunities to build a stronger culture of compliance—and fewer “oops, I shouldn’t have seen that” moments.

• Use during or after policy or permission changes
  
• Deploy after any audit or security red-flag
  
• Recheck periodically for ongoing trust and understanding
  

5 Sample Questions

1. Do you feel confident the data in Power BI is accurate and authoritative?

2. Have you ever seen data you believe you should not have access to?

3. How clear are our guidelines on sharing and publishing Power BI content?

4. Rate your understanding of row-level security (RLS) implications.

5. What additional governance documentation would build your confidence?

Cost & Licensing Effectiveness Survey

What This Survey Covers

No one likes waste—especially not your CFO! The Cost & Licensing Effectiveness Survey takes a hard look at whether you’re getting your money’s worth from every Power BI license and infrastructure dollar. Think of it as your annual cost/benefit checkup.

Instead of guessing if you’re over or under-license, this survey asks users about their current tier, capacity issues, and whether in their opinion, the return truly justifies the spend. Honest feedback helps you make the case for upgrades, downgrades, or renegotiations.

• Inventory current Power BI licensing across teams
  
• Surface pain points caused by capacity or refresh limitations
  
• Assess perceived value (satisfaction vs. cost)
  
• Brainstorm cost-cutting changes without lowering impact
  

Why & When to Use It

These surveys are pure gold when you’re approaching renewal negotiations—before you get a surprise bill. They’re also perfect prior to migration decisions (Pro vs. Premium) or when your C-suite demands savings.

If you’ve been paying for dormant licenses or over-provisioned capacity, these insights can put money back in your budget.

• Survey annually or ahead of license renewal periods
  
• Use as preparation before moving to Premium or adjusting capacity
  
• Share highlights with finance and IT for collaborative planning
  

5 Sample Questions

1. Which licensing tier are you currently on (Free, Pro, PPU, Premium Capacity)?

2. Do you believe your team’s Power BI license delivers good value for money?

3. How often do capacity limits (e.g., refresh concurrency) affect you?

4. Would you support moving to Premium Capacity if it cost X% more?

5. Suggest one change that could lower our Power BI total cost of ownership.

Stakeholder ROI & Business Impact Survey

What This Survey Covers

Big picture time! The Stakeholder ROI & Business Impact Survey captures the perspective of your C-suite, business leads, and strategy drivers. It focuses on meaty topics like accelerated decisions, improved KPIs, and any eye-popping wins generated by Power BI.

This isn’t about individual buttons or tabs; it’s about Power BI as a catalyst for business success. You’ll be able to connect technology investment with tangible impact, making this survey powerful, persuasive, and just a little bit impressive.

• Document time savings and efficiency gains
  
• Uncover new wins or lessons from recent projects
  
• Pinpoint which business goals were crushed, thanks to Power BI
  
• Collect ideas for leveraging Power BI in future strategic initiatives
  

Why & When to Use It

These surveys should land quarterly or annually, especially if you need to support continued funding or justify new investments. People who approve budgets love hearing positive impact—measured and memorable.

You can also use these surveys before major strategic planning sessions or as a wrap-up for big BI transformation projects.

• Deploy before year-end reviews or new round of BI investments
  
• Collect data after the launch of a major Power BI initiative
  
• Share results with the board or executive sponsors to show value
  

5 Sample Questions

1. How has Power BI improved your team’s decision-making speed?

2. Which KPIs have seen measurable improvement since adopting Power BI?

3. Estimate the time saved per week due to automated Power BI reports.

4. What is the biggest business win attributable to Power BI insights?

5. Which upcoming strategic goal could Power BI help achieve?

Best Practices & Dos and Don’ts for Crafting High-Impact Power BI Survey Questions

Best-practice survey design turns lukewarm feedback into real organizational change. To craft questions that users want to answer, and that drive action afterward, keep these dos and don’ts front and center.

Dos

• Tie each question directly to actionable goals (adoption, training, security, etc.).
  
• Use clear, business-friendly language—ditch tech speak.
  
• Mix quantitative questions (rating scales, multiple choice) with qualitative open-ended prompts.
  
• Always pilot-test with a small user group to catch confusion before the big rollout.
  
• Segment your audience by role for more targeted, relevant feedback.

Don’ts

• Don’t use jargon or overly technical phrasing (“ETL pipeline latency” will clear a room faster than a fire drill).
  
• Skip double-barreled questions—one thought at a time!
  
• Don’t require long comment boxes for every answer (let people opt in for deeper thoughts).
  
• Say no to long-winded surveys; 10-15 questions is your sweet spot.
  
• Don’t reveal individual responses, unless you absolutely must.

Tips for Boosting Response Rates

• Keep surveys shorter and snappier; maximum completion rate beats maximum length, every time.
  
• Be upfront about anonymity to earn honest, actionable feedback.
  
• Embed quick polls or Microsoft Forms directly in Power BI using the Microsoft Forms visual—response rates soar when you meet users where they work.
  
• Repeat your surveys for benchmarking and measuring improvement over time.

Careful, thoughtful survey design transforms user grumbling into clear, actionable improvements. With regular benchmarking, you’ll watch both satisfaction and adoption climb.

Conclusion

Crafting the right Power BI survey isn’t rocket science—it’s all about being specific, timely, and open to tough truths. With the example questions and best practices above, you’ll be swimming in feedback that actually helps. Whether you seek better training, more adoption, or a stellar executive buy-in, the perfect survey is your secret weapon. Ask, listen, adapt—and watch your Power BI success story unfold.