Involvement in Planning Adds to Job Satisfaction

Clear strategic plans and the flexibility to alter those plans as the situation changes are essential to job satisfaction, said University of Arkansas researcher Molly Rapert.

Rapert, an associate professor of marketing and transportation in the UA’s Walton College of Business, said employees are happier when they participate in strategic decisions.

“Too often, critical organizational issues are formulated by individuals in the upper echelons of the firm, then mandated to the rest of the firm without securing employee commitment or involvement,” she said. “This creates a major barrier to success because employee participation and commitment are essential to implementation of the firm’s strategies.”

Rapert’s research was conducted at the corporate headquarters and satellite offices of a national logistics company. The findings were presented at the American Marketing Association’s 2002 Educator’s Conference.