New study shows the way to sustainable success
The individual’s motivation to work – and to do a good job – is crucial for companies’ success in the long-term. That’s the view of Anna Jonsson, Associate Professor at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, who has identified a number of conditions explaining why and how some companies succeed better than others.
Organizations which understand that their development and success are dependent on the development of their personnel are the ones best equipped to meet both change and rising and falling demand. For these organizations, there is a constant search for efficiency and improvement, taking the approach of developing employee competence rather than trying to find the right level of competence.
“The focus should be on how we are better able to use the resources we have in order to create sustainable success. The master-apprentice model is one example of how this can take place in practice,” says Anna Jonsson.
Jonsson is of the opinion that more organizations need to understand that investing in their employees through training and learning in practice means investing in their business operations. However, in order for that to be fruitful for both the organization and the employee, following up this learning is important, as it also creates a feeling of involvement through being seen and heard.
“Many people are motivated by developing and learning and not just by receiving a salary at the end of the month. We often hear about how employees have to negotiate their way onto a course, or how happy one is to finally be sent to that ‘leadership course’. But not as frequently about how the lessons learned are subsequently utilized and followed up by the employer. If the lessons learned are not sought-after or valued, then the will to use them or to share this knowledge and know-how will also decrease.”
In a close study of the Swedish business law firm Mannheimer Swartling, Jonsson has analysed in-depth what can be described as the firm’s DNA – a strong learning culture as well as what contributes to but also develops this culture. The legal profession builds on a long tradition of professional development and learning, which is also the foundation of Mannheimer Swartling’s learning culture. In enabling time for learning and reflection, the organizational structure plays an important part in which a clear structure creates order, but also a sense of security among employees.
At Mannheimer Swartling, training and learning are a part of the day-to-day duties, for partners as well as for associates and support personnel, and are not regarded as an activity on the side-lines. The incentive to work and share know-how is explained by the will to be a part of a recipe for success and to get to know the profession and to practice that profession.
Being given the opportunity to contribute towards the organization’s work of improvement and organizational learning process is, in itself, an important motivational factor. The best law students are attracted to work with the best partners as they see the opportunity for personal development and for being involved in and contributing towards the company’s development and success.
“I believe we can learn a lot from how we are able, with a clearer structure and a strong learning culture, to unleash time for development and learning for professional development and thus sustainable success for the organization,” says Jonsson.
Jonsson’s new book, True partnership as true learning – knowledge sharing within Mannheimer Swartling (Iustus Förlag), which focuses on what creates sustainable success, was financed by the Tom Hedelius and Jan Wallander Foundation. The book identifies preconditions that are important to understand when demands for efficiency and innovative ability are on the increase.
Contact: Anna Jonsson is Associate Professor with a special interest in organization studies at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She can be contacted on +46 70 869 8999 or via email: anna.jonsson@handels.gu.se
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