Employee Engagement: Importance, Components, and Strategies for Implementation - A Business Case

Background to Unit – Employee Engagement 

This unit is intended to provide learners with a broad understanding of what is meant by employee engagement, including how it can be linked to and yet be distinguished from other related concepts. It covers the components of employee engagement and the processes through which high levels of engagement can be secured and sustained within an organisation, with special reference to the comprehensive application of human resources (HR) policies, strategies and practices. The unit also introduces the learner to the principles of and applications for high-performance working (HPW).

Learning outcomes
1.Understand the concept and components of employee engagement and evidence showing its contribution to achieving business outcomes.

2.Understand the importance of employee engagement as a contributor to positive corporate outcomes.

3.Know how to implement HR strategies and practices to raise levels of employee engagement in a specific organisational context.

Assessment criteria

Your task (3,900 words)

"CIPD state that, employee engagement as a concept has become increasingly mainstream in management thinking over the last decade. It proposes a ‘mutual gains’ employment relationship, creating a win-win for employees and their employers. It’s usually seen as an internal state of being, both physical, mental and emotional, but many also view it as encompassing behaviour and in particular work effort. Typical phrases used in employee engagement writing include discretionary effort, going the extra mile, feeling valued and passion for work."

Task
Your CEO has been reading a variety of articles on employee engagement and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the subject area. She has asked you to carry out research and present a business case so the executive team can gain a better understanding of the principles, benefits and costs. 

Question 1 (AC 1.1, 1.2)
It is important for the team to understand the concepts and key elements of employee engagement and its link with business outcomes. 

Define what employee engagement is and analyse the principle dimensions and components of it.
Explain how it differs, if at all, from other related concepts like organisational commitment, employer involvement and job satisfaction, so it gives clarity.
Justify the need for alignment between engagement practices and other corporate components if the full benefits of high engagement are to be realised.

Question 2 (AC 2.1, 2,2)
In order for the business case to sustain at the meeting, it is going to be important that the executive team fully understand how employee engagement is linked to successful business outcomes.

Identify the principle drivers of employee engagement and evaluate the benefits of having an engaged workforce for managers, employees, customer and organisations. 
Outline what steps an organisation can take to create a culture of employee engagement through measures such as job design, discretionary behaviour, role autonomy, etc.?

Question 3 (AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
HR strategies and practices are going to be very important in raising the levels of employee engagement in the organisation. Identify and evaluate the types of diagnostic tools you could use to measure employee attitudes and the level of employee engagement you have in the organisation. Propose relevant strategies to raise the levels of engagement by considering your “employee value proposition” and construct a plan. This would include relevant people resourcing, development, performance and communication strategies. Evidence to be produced/required A written response to each question in the form of an encyclopaedia entry equating to approximately 3,900 words in length.  You should relate academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and by using organisational examples for illustration. 

All reference sources should be acknowledged correctly and a bibliography provided where appropriate (these should be excluded from the word count). Demonstrating evidence of wider reading through appropriate referencing will improve your answer and increase the likelihood of your work achieving a ‘Pass’.