|
Abstract:
|
Workplace Climate represents the current state of the organization"s culture. Climate changes that are sustained become culture changes. Therefore, when leaders develop and sustain practices that enhance the Organizational Climate, the organizational culture changes. One of the most important management challenges facing organizations today is the search for creative, flexible work environments that promote job satisfaction and innovation. In an era of fiscal restraint, downsizing, outsourcing and demands for increased productivity, along with the changing dynamics in the world it is imperative to have a diverse workforce that is more flexible, creative and adept at handling changes. This challenge also creates an even greater need to develop an organizational climate that provides employees, especially women and minorities with opportunities at work that is personally meaningful and produces results that are valued and respected. Research at IBM has shown the increasing importance of workplace climate on employee job satisfaction, creativity, motivation and retention. Specifically, research suggests that over 25% of the variance in business results may be directly attributable to variances in climate. Various surveys within the company have concluded that workforce climate attracts and retains talent, improves the employee perception, productivity and effectiveness and encourages creativity. This productivity then translates into results, i.e. growth in sales and earnings, return on sales, and lower employee turnover. This conclusion has led IBM to initiate various tools and best practices. For instance, Flexibility for workforce is considered a key competitive business asset at IBM. It helps IBM attract and retain critical and diverse talent and increase the effectiveness, focus and productivity. The increasing need for improving the flexibility at work led IBM to establish a Global Flexibility and Mobility Standard that help both employees and managers to establish a standard and hence make informed decisions about their employees and provide them with tools and opportunities to better perform their jobs. Recognizing the importance of workplace climate, which eventually decides the success and failure of the organization has prompted IBM to make adjustments and set best practices which in turn has helped the organization to stay on top and become one of the major corporate in the world..
|
