Rodent Regatta

A new survey ”uncovers” this:

Managers at tech companies are increasingly out of step with a work force that seems to grow angrier by the day, according to a new report.

Here’s another indicator:

The study, released last week, found that people relate to their work on a personal level, basing much of their satisfaction on whether their job provides them a sense of confidence or control over their destinies. ”Employees are not apathetic or indifferent, as many suppose. In fact, people have very strong emotions about their work,” researchers wrote.

There is an enormous opportunity awaiting the firm or individual that can properly identify, develop and teach a method (a consulting ”hook”) that any business can use to solve the problems cited in this survey. Deming called it ”joy in work.” Labor strife, labor unions and job hopping all stem from the same roots as the unrest that Towers Perrin along with Gang & Gang talk about.

Six Sigma hasn’t done it. ISO 900X programs haven’t done it. Team-based management hasn’t done it. The need is vast in today’s world. People want significance, and they rightly believe that the place where they spend from 8 to 12 hours of every day should be a place where they can find significance.

The need appears to be one where the alignment of management and workers is addressed as well as the alignment of job assignments and personal objectives. This is worth a great deal more discussion with the right people.