Abstract
Employee engagement has become a strategic initiative within a healthcare system in a rural area along the East Coast. This scholarly dissertation studied the education and training of managers with a specific focus on employee engagement. This dissertation utilized traditional project management strategies, which included the analysis of the corporate culture, identification of supporters and detractors, and perceived limitations. The development of the curriculum required multiple phases to provide for a holistic view of the needs of the organization, managers, and employees. The initial phase centered on the identification of the performance gap in the current versus desired level of employee engagement within the organization. The performance gap was identified through analysis of the previous four employee opinion surveys. A scholarly literature review identified the key elements leading to an engaged workforce. The needs assessment included the utilization of focus groups, an interview, and a survey. Upon completion of the needs assessment and substantial literature review, the curriculum was developed. The curriculum included six core elements for training. The background and benefits of employee engagement, theories derived from the literature, communication strategies for engagement, effective recognition strategies, influence of employee health and wellness, and teamwork were identified as the initial components of the core curriculum. The survey and focus groups identified a desire for a blended learning approach; therefore, the curriculum was developed to incorporate both computer based learning activities as well as face-to-face activities. |Keywords: employee engagement, curriculum development, needs assessment