Technology should be used to enable productivity and performance, while the management should focus on enabling culture. This seems to be a key takeaway from the findings of the ‘People and culture first: Transformation journey in the future of work’ report by PwC.
As per the report, if productivity and performance are measured by technology, then the management will be able to primarily focus on building organisational culture.
Today, employees need not be monitored. It is high time for leaders to create an environment where productivity is sustainable and consistent.
About 32 per cent of leaders in India feel that flexible policies need to be created pertaining to working hours and working locations, factoring in team and individual performance and what works best for both. Globally, however, only 28 per cent leaders agree.
About 54 per cent of Indian leaders are desirous of providing a suitable physical environment and relevant technology to enable workers to do their best. Globally, 34 per cent leaders feel this is important. It appears that financial pressures (costs) and culture are the deterrents when it comes to organisations ensuring that their employees are provided with the equipment and tools required to perform their best.
In India, 34 per cent leaders agree that offering work-life balance and flexibility in terms of work hours and locations are key to attracting talent. Globally, 31 per cent leaders agree to this. Again, costs pressures are the hurdles in offering these.
Sustainable productivity is important to about 40 per cent Indian leaders as compared to 31 per cent global leaders. About 40 per cent Indian leaders feel it is essential to measure productivity and performance at an individual level. However, there are obstacles in the form of problems with systems and data that help measure productivity and performance at an individual and team level.
The report highlights that productivity shouldn’t be ensured at the cost of well being. In fact, productivity should emerge as a result of well-being.
The study finds that the primary hurdles in the path of optimisation of performance and productivity are data and system issues, financial challenges, culture of the organisation and too many investments and priorities demanding attention.
