How to Grow Towards a Higher Organizational Purpose

How to Grow Towards a Higher Organizational Purpose

In the past, quite a lot of senior executives, especially those with an Anglo-American business education background, had an economic view of the purpose of any firm. They believed that creating long-term value for the shareholders is the (only) thing that matters. They typically viewed employees as self-interested agents who needed to be controlled by strict, hierarchical processes and procedures.
Other people thought that perhaps a stakeholder value orientation was better. In such perspective, companies are seen as networks of parties and people working together towards a shared goal and not merely as 'economic machines'. In any stakeholder value approach, employees are a dominant or even strategic stakeholder, along with the shareholders.

Following the arrival of the internet and fast-changing network economy, hierarchical organizations are less and less 'en vogue', and organizational commitment (also called employee engagement) is more important than ever. Quinn and Thakor (2018) make a case that only highly motivated and engaged knowledge workers can bring the high levels of innovativeness that are required in today's ultra-competitive world. They recommend companies (with a high number of professionals) to adopt an authentic “higher purpose” to get their employees to bring their smarts and energy to work and suggest the following practical 8 Steps to Create a Purpose-Driven Organization:

1. Envision an inspired workforce.
2. Discover the purpose.
3. Recognize the need for authenticity.
4. Turn the authentic message into a constant message.
5. Stimulate individual learning.
6. Turn midlevel managers into purpose-driven leaders.
7. Connect the people to the purpose.
8. Unleash the positive energizers.

⇒Do you agree with these steps to create a purpose-driven organization?

Source: Robert E. Quinn and Anjan V. Thakor, "Creating a Purpose-Driven Organization: How to Get Employees to Bring their Smarts and Energy to Work", HBR Jul-Aug 2018, pp.78-85.

		Comments Sort by date Sort by rating Rating
		2 Jorge Sanint Consultant, Congo
	Envision a Social Purpose All organizations need to be driven by a social purpose. Economic benefits will come as a consequenc... Sign up

		1 john mortimer Business Consultant, United Kingdom
	Purpose Must be Defined Outside-In I use the purpose as the most powerful focus for everyone in the organisation, but there is one thin... Sign up

		3 Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
	Definition of a Higher Purpose Great topic Jaap. There is no doubt that an organization of members true to a properly stated purpos... Sign up

		3 Soraya Arteaga Canada
	Definition of Purpose by the Customers @john mortimer: Having the purpose defined by the customers is, as you suggest, ‘of utmost importanc... Sign up

		0 C.L. Kappagomtula Professor, Malaysia
	Enhancement of Stakeholders Economic Benefit is Always an Implied Agenda in Organizations Yes, the onset of Internet and its off-shoots; IIOT, Cloud, Block-chain and Bitcoin, do all call for... Sign up

		0 Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
	How to Grow Towards a Higher Organizational Purpose @C.L. Kappagomtula: Profit is vitally important of course. Long term, sustainable profit within the... Sign up

		3 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Discussion Focus: HOW to Move to a Higher Organizational Purpose The aim of this posting is not to discuss IF or WHAT value orientation (economic / stakeholder / com... Sign up

		1 S. Lago Business Consultant, Canada
	The 'Buy In' for Change Great topic! Changing to a purpose driven organization requires a commitment to following this proce... Sign up

		2 Sridhar Gopal Management Consultant, India
	Keys to Achieving a New Organizational Purpose Am currently working on a similar assignment and that makes it all the more interesting to contribut... Sign up

		1 Prof. Arup Barman Professor, India
	How to Grow Towards a Higher Organizational Purpose Seen from Quantum Theory of Physics? This discussion on how an organization can grow towards a higher organizational purpose has attracte... Sign up

		1 Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
	How to Grow Towards a Higher Organizational Purpose Put simply, a higher purpose is what the organization aspires to BE, why it exists. Such a purpose w... Sign up

		3 Maurice Hogarth Consultant, United Kingdom
	Identifying your Organisation's Higher Purpose By defining the business you are in (at third level thinking) you are defining the higher organisati... Sign up

		1 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	How to Pursue a Dual Financial + Social Purpose Also take a look at the recent article of Professor Julie Battilana et al. who mention 4 management ... Sign up

		1 Gregory Johnson Coach, United States
	Purpose Driven Organizations - WIN + WIN What a FANTASTIC discussion. Thank you Our BIG Brother Jaap de Jonge. As I engaged or am engaged by... Sign up

		1 Graham Williams Management Consultant, South Africa
	Developing a Purpose Driven Firm Essentially purpose derives from being part of something really worthwhile, something bigger than ou... Sign up

		1 John O. Dozier, Jr. Coach, United States
	Purpose = Inspiring Vision, Mission The top 12 employee satisfaction motivators are intrinsic values connected to the ways each employee... Sign up