Group Division for Service marketing

source: www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Project Proposal should be submitted by jan 17 (about Service audit of any organization)

Group
A      Ashma, Biraja, Kritika, Pravesh, Smrity
B      Amish, Bishu, Mrinal, Priya, Soniya
C      Arunima, Kalden, Mukesh, Ravi, Sudeshna
D      Asmit, Kaushal, Nikita, Sanjiv, Sunil
E      Barun, Kiran, Niraj, Shashi, Sushant
F      Bibush, Kishwor, Nisha, Shrija, Makendra

OM assigment

waiting line management
numerical for assignment
decision tree
TQM

OM : assignments

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com 

Chapter: 3 and 7

1.      How do you define services? Write down its characteristics.
2.      Explain how service system design matrix helps in configuring service encounters.
3.      What is customer centered view? Discuss the scope of automation in service organization.
4.      What is the nature of service? Discuss the complexities of designing service products.
5.      Write short notes on: i) CAD               ii) CAM
6.      Write short notes on: (i) Service system design matrix (ii) Service blueprinting          
7.      Write short notes on:    (i) QFD                        (ii) House of Quality                (iii) Value Analysis
8.      What are the factors affecting location decision?
9.      How do facility location decisions for service facilities differ from the manufacturing plants? Explain.
10.  Define layout. Describe the types of layout with examples.
11.  Differentiate between product layout and process layout.
12.  Explain how behavioral aspects affect location decisions.
13.  What do you mean by service guarantee? What are the elements of good service guarantee?
14.  Justify the statement “Customer centric view is the key to success for service companies.”              

 Chapter: Supply Chain Management

1.      Define supply chain management. Discuss the strategic, tactical and operational issues in supply chain management. 
2.      What are the major types of supply chain strategies? Explain how Hau Lee’s uncertainty framework help in deciding supply chain strategy.
Discuss the concept of Bull-whip effect?
4.      What is supply chain dynamics? Discuss the various causes of Bullwhip effect and the remedial strategies used.
5.      What is outsourcing? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing.
6.      What are the risks associated with outsourcing? Discuss the ethical issues that must be considered while outsourcing.
7.      What is mass customization?

 

Chapter: Capacity Planning

1.      Define capacity and capacity planning. Highlight the need of capacity planning.
 
2.      Briefly describe different types of capacity. What are the issues to be considered when adding capacity?
 
3.      What do you mean by system efficiency and system utilization?
 
4.      Describe the process of capacity planning.
 
5.      Discuss the fundamental differences in short term and long term capacity planning decisions.
 
6.      What is strategic capacity planning? Why is capacity planning strategically important?
 
7.      The design capacity for engine repair in one company is 80 engines per day. The effective capacity is 40 engines per day and the actual output is 36 engines per day. Calculate the system utilization and system efficiency of the company.
 
8.      A glass factory specializing in crystal is developing a substantial backlog and the firm’s management is considering free courses of actions: Arrange for subcontracting (S1), Begin overtime productions (S2), and construct new facilities (S3). The correct choice depends largely upon future demand which may be low, medium, or high. Management ranks the respective probabilities as 0.1, 0.5, and 0.4. A cost analysis reveals the effect upon the profits:

Demand	Probability	Courses of Action
		S1	S2	S3
Low	0.10	100,000	-20,000	-1,50,000
Medium	0.50	50,000	60,000	20,000
High	0.40	50,000	100,000	200,000

Show this decision situation in the form of a decision tree and indicate the most preferred decision    and corresponding expected value.
 
9.      A firm must decide to build a large or a small plant to produce a new audio system which is expected have a market life of 10 years. A large plant will cost $28, 00,000 to build and put into operation, while a small plant will cost only $14, 00,000 to build and put into operations. The company’s best estimate of discrete distribution of sales over the 10 year period is as follows:

Demand	High	Moderate	Low
Probability	0.5	0.3	0.2

The annual profits of high and moderate demands associated with large are $1000000 and $600,000 respectively. However, a large plant with low demand would lose $200,000 annually of production efficiencies. The corresponding annual profits associated with small plant are $250,000, $450,000 and $550,000 respectively.
                                                        i.            Construct decision tree indicating all events
                                                      ii.            Find EMV of each decision
                                                    iii.            What should be the better alternative?

 Chapter: Aggregate Planning

1.       What is aggregate planning process? Explain how a Master Production Schedule is developed in an organization.
 2.       What is Master Production Schedule? How do you prepare mater production schedule?
 3.       What are the goals of aggregate planning?
 4.       Discuss the methods of aggregate planning.
 5.       Discuss the planning strategies
 6.       Write short notes on :

(i)                  Backordering cost

(ii)                 Rough-cut-capacity planning

(iii)               Yield management

Entrepreneurship Asignment

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Explain following components of Business Plan

• Title Page
• Table of Content
• Executive Summary

            1. Description of business

            2. Description of Industry

            3. Marketing Plan

            4. Financial plan

            5. Production Plan

            6. Organizational plan

            7. Operational Plan

            8. Summary

• Appendices

Mis asgmnt 3 'N' 4

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 3. Explain

a. Word Processing (MS word etc)

b. Desktop Publishing (Pagemaker etc)

c. Electronic spreadsheet (MS excell etc)

d. Graphics Presentation (MS Powerpoint etc)

e. Web browsers

f. Email and Straight messaging

4. Explain

a. Wireless LANs

• Spread spectrum
• wi-fi (wireless fidelity), infrared, bluetooth etc.

b. Wireless Web

• uses web-enabled information appliances
• very thin clients

Group / Presentation Date division for Marketing Case studies !

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click here for ur topics/case studies

Presentation Date
 

A : March 30
1. Bishu Lama
2. Priya Rauniyar
3. Smrity Bista
4. Nikita Tekriwal
5. Anup Shakya


B : April 1
1. Arunima Shrestha
2. Biraja Gautam
3. Soniya Agrawal
4. Sudeshna Timsina


C : April 4
1. Ashma Khanal
2. Kritika Acharya
3. Shrija Tripathi
4. Nisha Dahal


D : April 6
1. Amish Sharma
2. Sanjiv Paudyal
3. Makendra B. Shahi
4. Ravi Shakya


E : April 8
1. Kiran Shrestha
2. Barun Singh Basnet
3. Kalden P. Lama
4. Dilip Thapa


F : April 11
1. Mrinal Neogy
2. Mukesh Baitha
3. bibush Shakya
4. Kaushal SARIA


G : April 13
1. Kishwor Bartaula
2. Asmit Bikram Pant
3. Saugat Guragain
4. Sushant Bhandari


H : April 15
1. Niraj Bhatta
2. Pravesh Dhungana
3. Shashikant Mandal
4. Sunil K. Giri

Marketing Case Studies

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Click here for Group Division List

Group A :

Montgomery Ward: The Rise and fall of an American Retailing Icon

On December 28, 2000, some 3,700 people learned they no longer had jobs when their employer, Montgomery Ward, announced it was filing for bankruptcy. This news came as a complete shock because the 128-year-old company had recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and as implementing new strategies to restore its reputation. Indeed the venerable company had essentially originated the concept of mail order shopping in the United States (Montgomery Ward had been publishing a general merchandise catalog for 14 years when its rival, Sears, Roebuck, was founded in 1886). The oldest privately held department store chain in the United States, Montgomery Ward had already updated one fifth of its stores and rung up sales of $ 3.2 billion in 1999. However, according to CEO and chairman Roger Goddu, “Overall the weak holiday sales and a very difficult retail environment simply did not permit us to complete the turnaround that might have been possible in an otherwise thriving economy. Sadly, today’s action is unavoidable.” After announcement, the company began the difficult process of shutting 250 stores and 10 distribution centers. To understand how such a respected company failed requires examining more than a century of retailing history. 

In 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward was a 28- year- old traveling salesman for a St. Louis dry goods company. Ward had a dream: a business in which customers from across the country sent their hard earned money to him in exchange for goods he advertised in a catalog. Although many people thought Ward’s idea was foolish, Ward was confident he could prosper by simply keeping his promises to customers. He also knew the rapid growth of railroad lines across the country would help him market goods at affordable prices deliver them promptly. This confidence sustained him through the loss of his first batch of goods n the Great Chicago Fire, his two partners quitting, and skepticism from the press.

Working in a room above a stable, Ward sent out his first one page catalog and hired a youngster to help him fill the orders that he knew would come flowing in. Ward promptly answered all customer questions, and by 1875 he began to promote his company with the motto “Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back,” a truly novel concept in the burgeoning nineteenth- century American retail industry, By 1878, the company achieved $300,000 in sales; by 1887, it realized $ 1 million.

The catalog grew to 500 pages by the turn of the nineteenth century, and more than 1 million customer pores over its pages. Knowing they could count on the company’s money back guarantee. The catalog served as a store without walls or boundaries, stocking just about everything imaginable (except for wives, despite repeated customer requests). Ward’s catalog allowed rural Americans, barred by segregation policies from trying on clothes in stores, quickly became loyal customers. To handle all the orders, Ward built the biggest skyscraper west of New York City on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue in 1899. Aaron Ward retired in 1901 and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropic and environmental endeavors.

Of course, other businesses quickly caught on to Montgomery Ward’s success and opened their own mail order business and, eventually, stores where people could see and try out the goods advertised in catalogs. In the face of this growing competition, Montgomery Ward opened its first stores in the 1920’s. To further distinguish Ward’s from Sears and other general merchandise rivals, executives decided in 1939 to give a coloring book as a Christmas sales promotion. They asked a company copywriter, R. L. May, to create a story to accompany the coloring book. After visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo and consulting his 4-year-old daughter, May wrote a tale about a reindeer with an unusual deformity. Montgomery Ward gave away 2.4 million copies of the coloring book that year, and Rudolph the Red- Nosed- Reindeer became a perennial Christmas favorite of children everywhere.

Based on the precedent established by its founder, the company also gave some of the profits from its success back to the community. When Aaron Ward ran the company in the late nineteenth century, the sight of sprawling shanties and factories outside his window appalled him. Ward began a life- long crusade t keep Chicago’s lakefront open to the public, using his money and power to fight would- be developers of the land. He even sent out company employees to pick up trash along the shore of what eventually became Grant Park. When Ward died in 1913, he left millions of dollars to build what is now the Field Museum of Natural History. Ward money also helped to endow the medical and dental schools at Northwestern University.

For the first half of the twentieth century, Montgomery Ward prospered, ultimately building nine mail- order warehouses to service customer orders. After the Second World War, however, the company seemed to loose its edge. Savvy competitors were quick to open large stores along the nation’s new interstate highway system, but Montgomery Ward failed to follow suit. After several years of floundering, Mobile Corporation acquired the company in 1976, but

MIS Asgmnt 2

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Q: Explain different Operating Systems (OS).

1. Windows (95,98,ME,NT,2000,XP,VISTA,7)
2. UNIX
3. LINUX
4. Mac OSX

submission date: 25 Feb, Friday

OR- Personality test (asgmnt 2)

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Visit: www.prenhall.com/sal

• Fill questionare and find your personality type by following these steps

Assessment >> What about my personality ? >> Personality insights >> What is my jungian 16 type personality ? >> fill questionare
 eg: ur personality 'INFP'

• Then identify suitable job type on http://www.personalitypage.com/ by giving your personality type eg: 'INFP'.
• Then submitt printed result.

hints:

• create your own account OR use 'Dipesh sir's' acount

UN: mysticnoj
PW: kathmandu1975

OR asgmnt 1

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Q: Write at least 10 examples of how OB can be useful in managing employee behavior.
submission date: 11-feb-2011 (friday)

MIS asgmnt 1

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com
Q: Explain modern business and IT trends and drives.
submission date: 11-feb-2011(friday)

Hints:

• Total quality mgmnt.
• compatibility maturity model (CMM)
• Business process re-engineering or Redesign.
• Continuous process improvement or business process improvement
• Globalisation of economy
• Year 2000 and Euro Conversion (Y2K)
• Enterprise resource planning
• e-business and e-commerce

Finance asgmnt 1

Q: Individuals and businesses gain from trading with one another, but there are obstacles that stand in the way of trade. The financial system helps to overcome those obstacles. Specifically, it facilitates lending, payments and trade in risk. Explain the statement. Identify the problems and challenges in payment system in Nepalese perspective.

Deadline: 2011-01-25

VISION/MISSION: Dashain/Tihar Assignments

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1. DAAM

List of students who have to solve Latest 3 Years Questions of DAAM:

Anil Kumar Yadubansi
Anjila Sharma
Anshu Adhikari
Anup Man Shrestha
Anup Shakya
Arjun Shrestha
Ashma Khanal
Asmit Bikram Pant
Bibush Shakya
Biraja Gautam
Bishu Lama
Chandra P. Poudel
Dilip Thapa
Gaurav Jung Shah
Jagriti Bohara
Kalden Phuntsok Lama
Kaushal Saria
Kritika Acharya
Kshitiz Ghimire
Kshitiz Pudasaini
Manish Raj Shakya
Manish Sijapati
Mrinal Kumar Neogy
Mukesh Kumar Baitha
Murari Kumar Rauniyar
Neelmony Lama
Nikita Tekriwal
Niraj Bhatta
Nisha Dahal
Nitesh Parwat
Pawan Gurung
Prabesh Karki
Pravek Joshi
Pravesh Dhungana
Rakhi Hangma Limbu
Rojeena Bariya
Rosy Manandhar
Sandipa katuwal
Sanjiv Poudyal
Sanju Dhakal
Satish Koirala
Saugat Guragain
Saurav Singh K.C
Shikha Adhikari
Shrija Tripathi
Shrijan Tuladhar
Shrity Shrestha
Subash Khanal
Sunil Kumar Giri
Surendra Raj Shahi
Sushant Bhandari

2. FUNDAMENTALS OF LOGIC

List of students who have to solve PU Question of 2oo6(spring), 2007 of LOGIC:

Anil Kumar Yadubansi
Anshu Adhikari
Anup Shakya
Ashma Khanal
Asmit Bikram Pant
Bibush Shakya
Chandra P. Poudel
Deepace Shakya
Dilip Thapa
Jagriti Bohara
Kalden Phuntsok Lama
Kaushal Saria
Kiran Shrestha
Kritika Acharya
Kshitiz Ghimire
Kshitiz Pudasaini
Manish Raj Shakya
Manish Sijapati
Mukesh Kumar Baitha
Murari Kumar Rauniyar
Niraj Bhatta
Nisha Dahal
Nitesh Parwat
Pawan Gurung
Prabesh Karki
Rakhi Hangma Limbu
Sanjiv Poudyal
Satish Koirala
Saugat Guragain
Saurav Singh K.C
Shashi Kant Mandal
Shrijan Tuladhar
Subash Khanal
Sunil Kumar Giri
Surendra Raj Shahi
Sushant Bhandari

3. RESEARCH

List of students who have to solve Latest 3 Years Questions of Research:

Anil Kumar Yadubansi
Anshu Adhikari
Anup Shakya
Bibush Shakya
Dilip Thapa
Jagriti Bohara
Kalden Phuntsok Lama
Kaushal Saria
Kiran Shrestha
Kshitiz Ghimire
Manish Raj Shakya
Manish Sijapati
Mrinal Kumar Neogy
Murari Kumar Rauniyar
Neelmony Lama
Nikita Tekriwal
Nisha Dahal
Pawan Gurung
Prabesh Karki
Rakhi Hangma Limbu
Sandipa katuwal
Sanjiv Poudyal
Satish Koirala
Saugat Guragain
Saurav Singh K.C
Shrijan Tuladhar
Subash Khanal
Sunil Kumar Giri
Surendra Raj Shahi
Sushant Bhandari

4. FINANCE

All students have to solve the latest five Question sets of PU

Remarks:
- Those Students who are absent in both exams no need to solve the questions.
- NQ is not declared yet.

Research asgmt-28 aug

Q: Write a proposal on any topic you like.
Deadline: 7th sep, 2010

SAMPLE: 
Effect of School on a Student's Academic Performance Research Proposal Paper

Effect of School on a Student's Academic Performance

Introduction
Schools are the second home of the students. Within the four corners of the classroom, students are expecting to learn through the series of subjects, from basic counting to the literature writing and so on. In addition, the teachers are always present together with their module to build the knowledge for their future. School is the most desirable institution that should be always present in every country and therefore, it can definitely change the lives of the young people.

Background and Problem Statement
Aside from the traditional pedagogical teaching techniques, schools are also opening the new educational intervention to provide the student’s learning needs. The most popular teaching techniques that are available are the use of the technology such as the computer to increase the educational level and academic performance. The use of computers and Internet can deliberately provide learning outcomes to their students (O’Dwyer, et al., 2005). However, the most common problem that may arise is the protection and security of the users (both students and teachers) in viewing the networking sites. Still, many educators believe that academic performance of the students should not only rely on the technological innovation but under the care of the educational institution or schools.

Research Aim and Objectives
The main aim of the study is to investigate the essential effect of schools towards the students’ academic performance. In order to align all the ideas and information in delivering the said goal, there are three supporting objectives. First is to give details on the common problems of the students in achieving the academic performance. Second is to describe the various actions of the schools in providing the appropriate education with regards to the challenges being faced by the students. And last is to recognize the effects of the schools in the level of education in their respective countries.

Literature Review
There are many split opinions and suggestions on how to improve their students’ academic performance. Students are plagued with different issues and challenges in achieving the success in academic; however educators and school administrators said that the problem is not about the performance standards of the schools (Edyburn, 2006). The problems identified include the inadequate background on the lecture of the teachers and their long working hours inside the classroom. As for the students, they have lack of time to study and seeking advice, lack of management skills, bad study habits and skills, and lack of self-confidence. At some point, students are vulnerable in the personal problems like in their family, responsibilities in both social and extracurricular activities, and financial problems (Addus, Chen, & Khan, 2007). The academic performance can still be achieved through the students’ initiatives and commitment to attain a good education should reflect on their study habits and cooperation, and motivation and efforts to seek assistance might result to the academic performance. The use of the technology and continuous promotion of the schools on the educational interventions are viewed as an effective step to fill the learning gaps of the students. The collaboration of technology and teaching among the schools can be a good start in academic performance (Edyburn, 2006). Within the school, there is a continuous research and development process to improve the curriculum and increase the social communication. The increase participation of the students inside the classroom is a recognizable performance towards their openness and learning that can result in their overall development (Adeyemo and Kuye, 2006; O’Dwyer, et al., 2005). In addition, the educational investments such as providing other facilities can strongly contribute to increase the academic performance of the students. With the help of the investments and support of the government, there is a strong indication of effectiveness of the schools in delivering the academic performances (Kang, 2007).

Methodology
The most desirable method is the use of the secondary information coming from the report of the schools (whether in primary, secondary, or tertiary/college). The secondary data can be also acquired from the national achievement test that was implemented in the country. It can be also obtained from the survey that was conducted in the participation of the educators in different levels and from the education department’s assessment on the changes on educational level from the past year up to the recent.

Conclusion
Schools are the institutions that should be supported by the government and they should receive the adequate attention to adequately provide the desirable academic performance of the students as perceived by the parents.

References:
Addus, A., Chen, D., & Khan, A., 2007. Academic Performance and Advisement of University Students: A Case Study, College Student Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2.

Adeyemo, A., & Kuye, G., 2006. Mining Students’ Academic Performance Using Decision Tree Algorithms, Journal of Information Technology Impact, Vol. 6, No. 3 [Online] Available at: http://www.jiti.com/v06/jiti.v6n3.161-170.pdf [Accessed 09 June 2010]

Edyburn, D., 2006. Evaluate Academic Performance With and Without Technology, MACUL Journal [Online] Available at: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/edyburn/www/js06evaluatea.pdf [Accessed 09 June 2010].

Kang, C., 2007. Does Money Matter? The Effect of Private Educational Expenditures on Academic Performance [Online] Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1121703274255/1439264-1178054414297/PrivateTutoring_C_Kang.pdf [Accessed 09 June 2010].

O’Dwyer, L., Russell, M., Bebell, D., & Seeley, K., 2005. Examining the Relationship between Home and School Computer Use and Students’ English/Language Arts Test Scores, The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment, Vol. 3, No. 3 [Online] Available at: http://escholarship.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=jtla [Accessed 09 June 2010]

FOR MORE SAMPLES-click here ! (Don't copy the proposal named 'Role of Parents in Developing the Reading Skills of their Children')

Research Asgnmts. (23 july)

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com

(Sumission date: wednesday, july 28)

Asgmt. 2 (Review of Literature)
1. What do you mean by review of literature ?

     Why do you think it is important for the researcher ?

2. Explain the process of review of literature.
3. Describe the functions of review of literature.
4. Discuss the purposes of review of literatuire.
5. Write short notes on:
     a) Recording the references
     b) Organizing library findings
6. How do you evaluate the content of review of
    literature ?

Asgmt. 3 (Sampling)
1. Define Sampling. Explain the importance of sampling in research.
2. Describe the sampling process in detail.
3. Explain the different types of sampling. Describe each of them in detail.
4. What do you mean by sampling error and non-sampling error ?
5. Explain the process of determining sample size under the study.

Research Asgnmt. 2 (18 july)

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First Chapter: Answer all the Board exam Questions
Second Chapter: Review of any 10 articles
(Submission date: 23 july, friday)

Help/hints:
for articles-
-go to google.com and type 'journal of management' .
-If you have 'ADOBE READER' (if not, download adobe reader ) , then click here and search.

DAM asgmt. 2 (July)

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Book: STAT FOR MANAGEMENT

Page no. 928

EX: from 16.7 to 16.13

 Page no. 937

EX: 16.18, 16.19

DAM -asgmt. 1 (june 24)

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com/

Book: Stat for mgmt.

pg. no. 652 Ex (12.1)

12.10 to 12.12

pg. no. 671 Ex (12.2)

12.2, 12.3, 12.13 to 12.20, 12.22, 12.23, 12. 29

pg. no. 685 Ex (12.3)

12.4, 12.31, 12.32

pg. no. 691 Ex (12.4)
12.6, 12.7, 12.33 to 12.40

Book: Business Statistics

pg. no. 423 Ex (12.1)
12.1 to 12.7

pg. no. 434 Ex (12.3)
12.11, 12.12, 12.14, 12.16

pg. no. 458 Ex (12.8)
12.47 to 12.52, 12.54, 12.55

pg. no. 464 Ex (12.9)
12.62 to 12.70

Logic asmt (june 23)

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pg. no. 38
EX: from 2 to 10.
(Previous asmt.: pg. no. 9, EX: 1-20)    

Research asgmt. 1 (20 june, 2010)

source: http://www.visionapexcollege.blogspot.com

Q: Search/Collect 12-15 articles regarding the topic 'EMPLOYEES COMMITMENT' and submit 1 printed article among them by wednesday (23 june).

Help/hints:
-go to google.com and type 'journal of management' .
-If you have 'ADOBE READER' (if not, download adobe reader ) , then click here and search.

SAMPLE:

Employee Commitment

In his book Authentic Leadership, former Medtronic CEO Bill George makes an obvious point that business leaders rarely say out loud: “Missions motivate, dollars don’t.”

What he means is that purpose is what drives employee commitment, not the financial rewards that come to others. Workers don’t get up in the morning and say, “Gee, I can hardly wait to get to work today to maximize shareholder profits.” Even when employees are shareholders who can benefit from improved financials, what draws people to their chosen careers is the work itself and its purpose in the world, more than the profit possibilities.

Mr. George goes on to say, “I find there is universal agreement (among middle managers) that you cannot inspire employees by urging them to help management get the company’s stock price up.”

There is, in fact, quite a bit of literature on this subject. In Awakening Corporate Soul, authors Eric Klein and John Izzo say that employee commitment requires knowing “the purpose of our work; it means recognizing the purpose our organization fulfills that goes beyond the bottom line; and it means articulating to others how their (workers’) efforts contribute to a larger purpose.”

In Built to Last, Jim Collins and James Porras spend an entire book explaining their five year research study of major companies that led to this conclusion about employee commitment: Purpose within a company is what sustains it; profit is important, but when it’s the prime directive, companies falter.

Despite the evidence, and how well this idea resonates with just plain common sense, the idea that employees want meaning in the work they do isn’t a topic that businesses seem to be keying on. Employee satisfaction is generally viewed as the employee’s feelings about their salary, working climate, and the training opportunities offered to employees for their own professional growth. But fulfillment? That’s not up for discussion.

Why We Don’t

There’s a reason for that: Corporate management likes measurable objectives. “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it!” We’ve all heard that.

So far, we don’t have the math to calculate “fulfillment” or “sense of purpose.” Unlike the many ways the General Accounting Office has given us to calculate financial success, there is no Federal Accounting Job Satisfaction Board to define how we would even approach the problem.
Since there are no generally accepted metrics for “employee commitment,” it’s unlikely employee commitment objectives will end up as goals on the company’s operating plan.

The “Soft” Side

This is one of many aspects of management now called “soft” because they’re not quantifiable in hard dollars in any traditional way, nor are they supportable by hard facts. Employee commitment to a job’s purpose is certainly one of those “soft” management characteristics. You can’t take “sense of purpose” to the bank and deposit it like you can revenue.

Whether one’s commitment level to the job translates in some way into a hard dollar return is something that hasn’t been explicitly addressed yet. But it’s hard to imagine that it wouldn’t. Disenfranchised, suspicious, discontented employees who resent the time they spend at the “salt mines” can’t be as productive and conscientious as those who love what they do and respect why they do it.

Employees Align with Purpose
Studs Terkel’s 1972 masterpiece, Working, a collection of narratives as told to Terkel from workers all across America, recounts this same timeless point over and over: That work, when it’s satisfying, is about purpose, that success is based in what we do, not how much money comes from it.

In one section, Terkel quotes a young editor who says, “You throw yourself into things because you feel that the important questions – self-discipline, goals, a meaning of your life – are carried out in your work.”

Others he talked to echo the same sentiment. The pharmacist says, “I never cared about being rich … I like to feel needed.” The piano tuner says “Why are we tuners? Because we like to hear good sounds.” The factory owner says, “I like making things. I love my work. It isn’t the money.”

Work, then, is about work. Employees want to engage in the meaning and the contribution of the products and services that are the fruits of their company’s labor. If we make it mostly about the money, we’re missing the point.