Discovering the meaning of work in an organization may sound like a simplistic or psychological process, but it can greatly affect how individuals accomplish goals and tasks in the business. The purpose of describing or defining an organization's work is to give individuals a sense of what the company is about.
Background
Organizations may describe the meaning of work in their mission statement. For example, 3M's mission statement is "To solve unsolved problems innovatively." Walt Disney's is "To make people happy." These help employees find the meaning for what they do in their jobs.
Features
While making a profit is the goal of many private-sector businesses, other organizations, such as nonprofits, may have a more social agenda. The meaning of work will differ for these organizations. The first group will train employees to think with profit as the end goal while the second will promote values to benefit society.
Considerations
Business owners, directors, or executive managers may need to find ways to motivate employees. Motivation can be either internal or external. For example, internal motivation entails acceptance or approval for a completed job, while external motivation can be compensation bonuses or additional days off from work.
