What makes an organization happy???

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

hi friends
I just would like to initiate a discussion on the constituents of making an organisation a happy org. In my view EE is one such effort which could enhance employee satisfaction, so Employee Satisfaction should be considered first constituent. Then comes the satisfaction of the customers/clients which could be achieved by providing better value for money and excellent service quality. Then comes the management which of course would be interested in better profitability as well as better impression about the organization.
Another constituent could be responsibility towards society or as it is termed in management literature CSR. Socially responsible organizations and their effort to sustain such sense of social responsiveness can go a long way in making an organization happy.....
There could be many more such dimensions which we could talk about and explore...

[Robert Morris]

I have been thinking about this question since you first raised it and appreciate various responses, many of them clarifications that go beyond semantics. I'll add these brief comments:

1. Employees can be fully, positively, and productively engaged without being "happy."
2. Other employees can be disengaged, self-preoccupied, behaving and doing only enough to keep their jobs, etc.
3. Still other employees can be fully, negatively, and destrucively engaged and "happy" to wreak havoc, undermine an employer's objectves, intatives, policies, procedures, etc.

I think the challenge is to get as many as possible in the second group into the first group. Some will be "happy"; all will be "fully, positively, and productively engaged." With all due respect to a PMA, enthusiasm, charm, etc., in this economy especially the focus should be on performance that strengthens and improves the organization.

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

Dear Robert
I like your summarization and as I mentioned in my reply to Bob we need to study the kind of relationship between EE and Happiness.
Further I feel when we talk of improvement in performance somewhere, attitude, personality, and perception play very important role and accordingly motivate/demotivate the employee to perform or otherwise. So I would give priority to these things than to performance, because if the employees have positive attitude, it should take care of better performance.
vijay

[Nick McCormick]

Just read, Jason Jennings' book, Hit the Ground Running. In it he passes along the advice that Tim and Richard Smucker, co-chairs and co-CEOs of the J.M. Smucker company received from their father on how managers can make sure employees stay motivated and proud to work for the company...

Say thank you for a job well done
Listen with your full attention
Look for the good in others
Have a good sense of humor

It would go a long way toward making employees happy if their managers observed the above.

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

Dear nick
Thanx for the submission.... I subscribe to what you mention fully...... I wud try to get hold of Hit The Ground Running....

vijay

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

I read this post on HBR blog which is about the relationship betwen employee layoffs and customer satisfaction. A worth reading piece and it does help us to understand, how can we make an organisation a happy organization:

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/hmu/2009/03/dont-let-layoffs-ruin-...

looking forward
vijay

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

I have put Organizational targets and pillars as identified through the literature review here. Please go through and give your comments on this.

vijay

You could reply at: http://organizationalhappiness.ning.com/forum/topics/oh-pillars-and... as well.

vijay

[Virgil Bawits]

I agree with David. An organisation should promote and facilitate happiness but people have to realize it themselves...

1. Learn people how to stay emotionally in balance

2. Learn people to maintain a right work/life balance

3. Learn people to focus their attention on the now

4. Learn people how to unlock their hidden talents

5. Learn people how to work efficient

6. Learn people to be true to their values

7. Learn people to be thankful for the opportunities given

8. Learn people to share knowledge and joy

[Vijay Kumar Shrotryia]

I agree with your views. As Happiness surrounds individuals, their role in the organizations become more important to make an organization Happy.