According to Gartner Inc. research, many organisations are not prepared for upcoming changes, despite the new strategic goals being announced by CEOs.
Jessie Knight explains that three areas, collaboration, skills and technology, require urgent attention.
Knight said that although most organisations feel unable to implement their new strategies, they are still trying to reset them to reflect the changing conditions.
Gartner’s research suggests that gaps in these areas impact employee satisfaction, skills development, and productivity potential. All of these are crucial to the future success of organisations.
The Impact of Declining Satisfaction on Performance
A Gartner survey of nearly 18,000 employees conducted in the second quarter 2024 found that satisfaction with collaboration in the workplace has dropped to 29 percent, down from 36 percent in 2020. The employees who are satisfied with the collaboration show to be better performers in general.
Russ McCall of Gartner’s HR practice pointed out that factors like shifting work norms post-pandemic, increased social tensions and the isolating effect of certain technologies are contributing to this decline.
McCall stated that employees today have a greater number of connections, but a lesser value in collaboration.
Gartner’s research has also revealed a growing skills gap that is outpacing the levels seen during pandemic. In a survey conducted in May 2024, only half of the 3,375 respondents felt prepared to deal with unexpected changes at work. In the same survey, it was revealed that 60 percent of employees do not receive on-the job coaching related to their core duties.
We also see that on-the-job training is not meeting expectations. Knight said that a Gartner study conducted in May 2024 revealed that 60% of employees do not receive on-the job coaching to support their core skills. Knight said that due to factors such as new work models and turnover, pressure to get more done with less, and emerging technologies, there’s a growing gap between employees who already have the skills they need and those who don’t.
Human-First AI and Technology
Gartner’s survey of 450 AI-users in August 2024 revealed that 41% of the time saved by AI is not being fully utilised. McCall attributes this to a disconnect in the relationship between employers and their employees.
McCall said that there is a lack in communication between employers, employees and the technology at work. In fact, employers don’t often involve employees in discussions about technology – in July, only 14% out of 180 HR leaders surveyed said that employees had a say in technology decisions in their organization.
Gartner recommends a “Human-First AI” approach to increase technology adoption and productivity. This model prioritizes the needs and preferences for employees when implementing new technology, ensuring that they are involved in the adoption process. A human-first AI approach increases employee engagement and performance by 2.3x.
