Employee Engagement : How does the organization increase engagement? – From the viewpoint of HR representatives in Finland

Abstract

Employee engagement is becoming valuable as the success comes from within the organization when transforming into the digital age and the modern world. It is crucial to take into consideration the level of engagement as competitive advantage and value proposition when talking about a successful and efficient organization. The concept of employee engagement is becoming popular around the world nowadays, and Finland is no exception. The thesis concentrates on investigating the current situation of employee engagement in two Finnish medium and large corporations. The thesis aims to explore the factors that are driving or hindering the development of engagement based on the case organizations. By analyzing what is working and the existing difficulties, this thesis attempts to assist the case companies for better understanding and research in the near future. The author decided to employ a qualitative research method with a deductive reasoning approach in the thesis. The data are obtained from a variety of sources, including interviews and reliable academic literature sources. The research is divided into two main parts: the theoretical framework and empirical findings. The theoretical framework includes information about employee engagement, motivation and influence on the organization. The empirical part comprises an analysis of two case companies and a comparison of them as a summary. The outcome of this thesis is meant to help the case companies better understand the situation, the possible driving and hindering factors at the level of engagement. The driving factors of engagement are classified into achievement, recognition for achievement, work itself, responsibilities and growth or advancement. The hindering factors include supervision, interpersonal relationships, working conditions, salary, status, security and personal life. Engagement influences on each part of the organization and an efficient organization can bring out the best for the engagement level. Engagement is beneficial for the organization concerning productivity, employee retention, and increasing customer loyalty