6.1. Media richness
The first central question concentrates on finding the answers to assess whether the communication means of the Onboarding process is effective in helping the new employees engage with FrieslandCampina’s workflow. To support the research, the Media Richness Theory was chosen and broken down into different aspects to examine the effectiveness of the media. The central question of this key area is thus made as follows:
Central question: What are the aspects of a communication tool that can determine its richness and thus play key roles in helping the HR of FrieslandCampina’s ICT in engaging new employees with the workflow?
Sub-questions:
Sub-question 1: What are the perceptions of the new ICT employees about the availability of instant feedback of the communication tools used to assist them with the Onboarding?
This question concentrates on one of the key components of the Media Richness Theory: the availability of instant feedback. The answers to this sub question will contribute to shaping up a general opinion about the immediacy of the Onboarding communication channels in giving the new employees the information that they request. The data will be collected via the execution of both the survey and the interview method.
Sub-question 2: What are the perceptions of the new ICT employees about the ability of the communication channels of Onboarding in using both verbal and non-verbal information?
The sub-question 2 is aimed at collecting opinions of the new ICT employees in relation to the second criterion of the Media Richness Theory: the use of both verbal and non-verbal information. The answer to this sub question will give an assessment of the ability of the channels in providing both verbal and non-verbal information to
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the new employees. This research question is solved via the use of survey questions and in-depth interviews.Sub-question 3: What are the perceptions of the new ICT employees about the ability of the communication tools of Onboarding in using natural language in distributing information?
The sub-question 3 is formulated with the focus on the third aspect of the Media Richness Theory: the use of natural language. The answers to this question determine whether the channels are able to deliver messages and information in the form of natural language to the new employees. This research question is also solved via the data gathered from survey and in-depth interviews.
Sub-quesiton 4: What are the perceptions of the new ICT employees about the personal focus of the communication tools of the Onboarding?
The sub-question 4 is focused on the last aspect of the Media Richness Theory: the personal focus of the medium. The answers entail a conclusion on whether the Onboarding communication tools enable the participants to adjust the content of his message flexibly to match the needs and desires of other participants. The results of the survey and in-depth interviews will show the patterns that can lead to this general conclusion.
6.2. Work motivation
The second central question is aimed at collecting data about the new employees’
motivation and how these data can point out to effective recommendations on improving the Onboarding communication channels. In a way, the answers to this central question will add up to the recommendations on how to modify the communication channels so the Onboarding process can become motivating and engaging to the new employees. The theoretical base of this research area is theory about Work motivation and the question is formulated as follows:
Central question: How can intrinsic and extrinsic motivation integrate with the Onboarding to help the new employees of the ICT Department become more engaged in the workflow of FrieslandCampina?
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Sub-questions:Sub-question 1: What are the possible ways to trigger intrinsic motivation among the new ICT employees via the use of the current communication channels?
The sub-question 1 looks for solutions that can generate intrinsic motivation, the internal, voluntary type of work motivation (Porter & Lawler, 1968). By collecting answers to the survey and interview questions, the researcher can gain insights of what motivates the employees intrinsically to participate in the Onboarding thus contribute to making fitting recommendations that suit the employee’s motivation. Alongside knowing the underlying reasons for the new employees’ motivation, the researcher also needs take into account the capability of the communication channels. The answer to this sub-question thus serves as complementary to those of the research questions about media richness in the quest for a compatible recommendation for FrieslandCampina.
Sub-question 2: What are the possible ways to trigger extrinsic motivation among the new ICT employees via the use of the current communication channels?
The sub-question 2 is aimed at finding the solutions that can trigger extrinsic motivation, the type of motivation that is externally regulated. With this type, the employees have to fulfill a desirable goal or avoid an action in the sense that the action is only instrumental to the ends (Gagne & Deci, 2005). By collecting the opinions of employees via the use of surveys and interviews, the researcher can come up with recommendations that can help produce extrinsic motivation among them which ultimately will lead to a higher work engagement with FrieslandCampina.