Re: Staff Attitude

[Roger Key <phaedo@ntlworld.com>]

Hi There

>I would say that efforts toward defining and measuring "staff attitude" are
>a waste of time and should be avoided.  Staff attitude is a by-product of
>the system in which the staff is operating.  If you want an improvement in
>"staff attitude" (whatever that would be) then I suggest that you study the
>system in which the staff is operating and how this system is affecting the
>staff and their ability to do their jobs effectively.


Staff attitude is an outcome for the system in place.

The outcome is perfect.

If we do not like the outcome we need to change the system.

How do we know the magnitude and nature of the outcome unless we measure it?

Unless we measure it regularly and control chart it how do we know 
that the changes we see are real or variation. (I wonder what the 
staff attitude surveys carried out in the aftermath of the England 5 
Germany 1 football result were like, or those after 9/11?)

So staff attitude is an outcome that can only be changed by 
addressing the system, yet unless you measure staff attitude how do 
you know if it is 'good' or what ever?  If we just walk around and 
ask we will hear the vocal Xority whether that be a majority or a 
minority.

However as has been suggested there are aspects of activity that may 
indicate staff attitude - use of email, use of social facilities, 
sickness, turnover etc.  Also C I Lewis in Mind and the World Order 
(amongst very many others) identifies that language in use can 
indicate the reality that exist for the individual or group.  This 
would also be a possible indicator of 'staff attitude'.  However we 
are all aware that as soon as a company starts to look at the use of 
the email to identify some of the underlying feelings of the staff, 
"Big Brother" kicks in and the usage changes, people are disciplined 
for perfect outcomes etc etc.

Yup measuring staff attitude is a dumbarse approach (absence of 
theory) but we need some chartable data that is not affected by the 
act of measuring that opens up the nature of the outcome so we can 
meaningfully change the system.

R


-- 

	Roger.

---------------------------------oooOOOooo--------------------------------------Roger 
C. Key				 mailto:roger.key@onet.co.uk
Prescient - The Whole as One
(44) 01639 871062                
Web based training for Organisations,	 http://virtual-deming.com
Leadership and Life!