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Struggling with this one a bit. "The outcome of Gallup’s study clearly shows the strong correlation between employee engagement and business performance. " Go

Struggling with this one a bit. "The outcome of Gallup’s study clearly shows the strong correlation between employee engagement and business performance. " Good, the author says it's a correlation. But the supporting graphic is titled: "Employee engagement affects key business outcomes" Which implies causality. I can easily image a company that runs through early success, growth and profitability and the sense of prestige that would bring to the employees. Absenteeism, accidents, defects could be low because employees are engaged: They are winning in the market, everyone's getting bonuses, their acquaintances say, 'oh, wow!' when they mention where they are working. Then, turn that company down, with the same employees, and you'd have the opposite effect. A scandal such as a LendingClub, Uber, Theranos, that changes the fortune suddenly, over night, with the same employee base, and I'd not be surprised if absenteeism, accidents and defects surged. In that scenario, it's business performance affecting employee engagement.

mattzito 10y ago
I share some of your concerns about the article, though the one quibble I'd have: > In that scenario, it's business performance affecting employee engagement. All of the examples that you gave aren't really business performance, they all represent some combination of fraud or terrible behavior. Sure, it could be fraud hiding negative business results, but the fundamental issues in all of those are managerial misbehavior.
- 11thEarlOfMar 10y ago
  You are correct. I was looking for a stark contrast in business performance that would be assured of having the same employee base. I think it is still true in companies where the business has run its course and sales are declining over time that the business performance can reduce engagement. The more time that passes, the more employee turnover and it's therefore less direct in causation.
candiodari 10y ago
The bottom of the article, and About - Team tells you all you need to know. "If you’re interested to learn more about how to reach The Promised Land, don’t hesitate to contact us for an inspiring talk, rebellious workshop, or practical support during your organization’s transformation." These are management consultants. Their statistics are about as good as those from psychologists, except they are usually directly paid for getting particular outcomes with their statistics. In this case, their case is that there is a major problem in every organisation ! And they can help ! For $xxxxx they'll "solve this problem" (with a one-time talk about it, in case you were wondering), and for $xxxxxx they'll give a workshop, which will surely allow any manager to prove to his director how engaged he is, while (hardly worth mentioning, really) also allowing him to go home earlier for a whole week and probably get a free, really fancy, dinner or two. Keep this in mind when judging the value of what they're saying. Of course, I do think they have a point, but they're part of the problem, not the solution. There was a survey I read which asked the question "would you prevent your employer from gaining a million dollar in profit if you personally got $500 out of it ?". Apparently 86% would, and a further 10% was undecided.
- brianwawok 10y ago
  > There was a survey I read which asked the question "would you prevent your employer from gaining a million dollar in profit if you personally got $500 out of it ?". Apparently 86% would, and a further 10% was undecided. Hah citation? I wonder what that survey would look like with a strong profit sharing setup?
- TuringNYC 10y ago
  I good example of Management Consulting efficacy is the observation on how some well-respected consultancies have been failing businesses. DiamondCluster and A.T. Kearney would be at the top of the list, though dated examples from my consulting days. If they offer such good strategy, why is their company doing so poorly? I once asked some outright, they explained that they are so busy helping clients they don't have any time to help themselves.
  - douche 10y ago
    Perhaps, to paraphrase the old chestnut, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, consult."
  - sgt101 10y ago
    Being a good consultant (helpful to clients) != being a successful consultant (getting more contracts) Successful consultants are parasites, they are like that fungus that takes over ants, forcing them to climb into the sun, before exploding them all over the field.

mattzito 10y ago

I share some of your concerns about the article, though the one quibble I'd have: > In that scenario, it's business performance affecting employee engagement. All of the examples that you gave aren't really business performance, they all represent some combination of fraud or terrible behavior. Sure, it could be fraud hiding negative business results, but the fundamental issues in all of those are managerial misbehavior.

11thEarlOfMar 10y ago
You are correct. I was looking for a stark contrast in business performance that would be assured of having the same employee base. I think it is still true in companies where the business has run its course and sales are declining over time that the business performance can reduce engagement. The more time that passes, the more employee turnover and it's therefore less direct in causation.

candiodari 10y ago

The bottom of the article, and About - Team tells you all you need to know. "If you’re interested to learn more about how to reach The Promised Land, don’t hesitate to contact us for an inspiring talk, rebellious workshop, or practical support during your organization’s transformation." These are management consultants. Their statistics are about as good as those from psychologists, except they are usually directly paid for getting particular outcomes with their statistics. In this case, their case is that there is a major problem in every organisation ! And they can help ! For $xxxxx they'll "solve this problem" (with a one-time talk about it, in case you were wondering), and for $xxxxxx they'll give a workshop, which will surely allow any manager to prove to his director how engaged he is, while (hardly worth mentioning, really) also allowing him to go home earlier for a whole week and probably get a free, really fancy, dinner or two. Keep this in mind when judging the value of what they're saying. Of course, I do think they have a point, but they're part of the problem, not the solution. There was a survey I read which asked the question "would you prevent your employer from gaining a million dollar in profit if you personally got $500 out of it ?". Apparently 86% would, and a further 10% was undecided.

brianwawok 10y ago
> There was a survey I read which asked the question "would you prevent your employer from gaining a million dollar in profit if you personally got $500 out of it ?". Apparently 86% would, and a further 10% was undecided. Hah citation? I wonder what that survey would look like with a strong profit sharing setup?
TuringNYC 10y ago
I good example of Management Consulting efficacy is the observation on how some well-respected consultancies have been failing businesses. DiamondCluster and A.T. Kearney would be at the top of the list, though dated examples from my consulting days. If they offer such good strategy, why is their company doing so poorly? I once asked some outright, they explained that they are so busy helping clients they don't have any time to help themselves.
- douche 10y ago
  Perhaps, to paraphrase the old chestnut, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, consult."
- sgt101 10y ago
  Being a good consultant (helpful to clients) != being a successful consultant (getting more contracts) Successful consultants are parasites, they are like that fungus that takes over ants, forcing them to climb into the sun, before exploding them all over the field.