Employee engagement (week 6)

Question 1

What are the 4 definitions of employee engagement? (by Armstrong, Kahn, Vodafone and BT)

Answer 1

Armstrong: High levels of performance achieved due to enthusiasm and motivation
Kahn: Utilisation of employees to fulfil their job roles efficiently
Vodafone: Results achieved due to commitment and self-motivation
BT: Attitudes and actions which lead to commitment and responsibility, where employees feel pride and desire for advocacy

Question 2

Why is employee engagement beneficial? (7 reasons)

Answer 2

• Increase in productivity and efficiency (circa 20%)
• Decrease in employee turnover (circa 87%)
• Improved attendance (from 6.2 to 2.7 sick days)
• Improved operating and gross profit (by 19.2% and 13.7% respectively)
• Increase in sales and profit which drive EPS and dividends
• Company growth
• Customer satisfaction and loyalty

Question 3

3 elements of the IES model of employee engagement

Answer 3

1. Commitment (connection and involvement)
2. Organisational citizenship (exceeding the expectation)
3. Motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic forces initiating performance)

Question 4

What is the term used for exceeding expectations?

Answer 4

Discretionary effort

Question 5

What are the 3 areas through which employee engagement is achieved? (employee perspective)

Answer 5

1. Individual value = interest in work and opportunities
2. Focused work = clarity on aims and expectations and efficient processes
3. Interpersonal support = giving responsibility, cooperation and support

Question 6

What are the 3 areas through which employee engagement is achieved? (managers perspective)

Answer 6

1. Individual value = interest in work and opportunities
2. Focused work = clarity on aims and expectations and efficient processes
3. Interpersonal support = giving responsibility, cooperation and support

Question 7

Two main drivers of employee engagement?

Answer 7

Job challenge (fit for the job, autonomy over the task and variety of tasks) and feedback (opportunities for growth, rewards and recognition)

Question 8

2 strategies that managers should undertake to engage employees (think 3 steps development and two-way street deal)

Answer 8

• Develop talent through assessing it, assigning a job and giving feedback
• Communicate, ensure balance between expectations and meeting employee requests

Question 9

5 steps for closing engagement gap?

Answer 9

1. Know them
2. Grow them
3. Inspire them
4. Involve them
5. Award them

Question 10

3 key strategies for leaders to achieve employee engagement

Answer 10

1. Create strategy which incorporates engagement
2. Provide resources and support
3. Visibly rewards effort and performance

Question 10

3 key strategies for leaders to achieve employee engagement (SRR)

Answer 10

1. Create strategy which incorporates engagement
2. Provide resources and support
3. Visibly rewards effort and performance

Question 11

What is a universal way of measuring employee engagement?

Answer 11

No consensus on the answer, particularly between academics and practitioners

Question 12

3 characteristics of engaged employees?

Answer 12

• Desire to perform and achieve
• Highly skilled and motivated
• Committed to the team (advocates of their work)

Question 13

7 recommendations for employee engagement

Answer 13

1. Efficient recruitment process
2. Development and performance management
3. Consistent and fair reward system
4. Clarity on business and development related goals
5. Implementation of flexibility
6. Changes to management attitudes
   7 Succession planning