Sensemaking from Actions

This study presents a method to establish empirically what drives organization members in their day-to-day behavior. The method starts from the sense employees make of their own actions. The approach consists of two steps: qualitative laddering interviews to determine the most central means and ends that play a role in the sensemaking of organization members, and a follow-up survey to examine in depth the organizational means-end structure. The method was validated by relating the results to independently observed indicators of what guides organization members in their behavior. Apart from the deeper insight it provides in the forces that drive day-to-day behavior in an organization, the method also provides management with a practical tool for addressing employee motivation and for developing credible communication toward stakeholders.employee motivation;laddering;means-end analysis;organizational action;sensemaking

Tracking strategic alignment with EcQ - The Strategic Alignment Monitor

This article discusses and analyzes a new measure designed specifically to track employee alignment and its drivers, named “EcQ® - The Strategic Alignment Monitor”. How can managers identify whether employees support the company’s strategic issues? The EcQ provides companies with a tool capable of measuring this alignment and reveals weaknesses and strengths in its drivers.Este artigo discute e analisa uma nova medida desenvolvida especificamente para mensurar o alinhamento interno das empresas e seus determinantes. Essa medida é denominada “EcQ® - Monitor de Alinhamento Estratégico”. Como identificar se os empregados estão alinhados às questões estratégicas da empresa? O EcQ permite mensurar esse alinhamento e revela os pontos fracos e fortes de seus determinantes.Tiene por objetivo discutir y analizar una nueva medida desarrollada específicamente para mensurar el nivel de alineación interna de las organizaciones y sus determinantes. Dicha medida se denomina “EcQ® - Monitor de Alineación Estratégica”. ¿Cómo se puede identificar si el comportamiento de los empleados está alineado con los objetivos estratégicos de la empresa? El EcQ permite mensurar esa alineación y revela los puntos fuertes y débiles de sus determinantes

Sharing risk:The Netherlands' new approach to pensions

The solvency crisis in 2001–2004 urged Dutch pension funds to reconsider their final-pay plans with de facto unconditional indexation. Most pension funds switched to an average-wage plan with solvency-contingent indexation. This pension plan redesign was the outcome of a new compromise between the major stakeholders of Dutch pension funds. The redesign is of interest as it results in a hybrid combination of DB and DC. This new setting indeed greatly improves solvency risk management. Moreover, the new plan structure appears to be welfare-dominant compared to other collective plan settings and individual alternatives, as it improves the conditions for intergenerational risk sharing. However, drawbacks of the new plans are the lack of transparency and potential welfare loss for individuals because of the inherent contingent claim structure of the new plan. Moreover, the plan redesign has led to value redistribution from older to younger plan participants