6. Data analysis
6.1. Qualitative results
Here are the summarized analytical research results.
- Understanding the goals of the study group: Most of the interviewees were committed to the attendance of the study group due to cognitive acceptance of the company's objective in setting them up. But when required to describe the precise purpose of the study group, members were not consistent with the description of the goal of study groups.
- Influence of study groups on individual learning and growth: Most of the members agreed that the study groups did help to enhance their learning and growth. As indicated by members, the learning sources include book content, information sharing between members, and vicarious learning from other members.
- Influence of study groups on relationships between colleagues: Most of the members agreed that the environment and activities of study groups helped members in seven ways, including: enhancement of communication; coordination; teamwork; comprehension; experiential sharing; knowledge sharing; and work relations. This was due to the study group itself providing a chance to let people from different departments get together consistently. And during the activity of "checking in" and "checking out" of study groups, members were required to share their feelings, experiences, and opinions, which greatly enhanced social relations with others. As a result, the volume of departmental conflict decreased; people became willing to help their studying partners at work. Thus, the work process between departments became smoother.
- Influence of study groups on organizational culture: Most of the members agree that their attendance at study groups helped them in six ways, including: organizational employees' socialization and establishment of cultures which encouraged positive attitudes; treasuring learning as a good value; respecting others; sharing information; and so on. People thought the process of communication had become smoother after the establishment of study groups. Members shared information and experiences in both their work and daily lives. Shared mental models were gradually established, conflict decreased, and a new type of culture was thus formed.
- Influence of study groups on organizational performance: Five dimensions of organizational performance were investigated during interviews: the enhancement of individual ability; individual work performance; individual satisfaction; individual commitment; and organizational effectiveness. Most of the members gave a positive response to questions related to these five dimensions. Members thought that through the arrangement of the study group, they were able to discuss questions, problems, and issues of their daily working lives. This helped members indirectly to improve their ability to deal with work problems, and therefore advanced the employee's satisfaction with the company's environment and work-life quality.
- Satisfaction of study groups: Four dimensions were investigated to find out members' satisfaction about the study groups: satisfaction about the host; the "check in" and "check out" activities; the lessons; and the classes' practicability. In the satisfaction about the host, members thought the quality of host would affect the quality of the study groups. Hosts who were familiar with the content of the books and who had a more positive attitude were more popular in the study groups. In the satisfaction about the activities of "check in" and "check out", most of the members loved this part. They thought it was a good chance to help members understand each other, including each other's personalities and daily life situations, and to gain feedback and opinions from other members. In the satisfaction about the lessons and classes, most members did not have negative feelings about the pre-arranged books, and thought that different classes had different functions. Therefore, no existing classes or lessons should be removed. As regards practicability, people all thought these classes brought them different types of practicability, such as learning communication skills, positive attitudes, and learning about other people's experiences. But there were also some members who complained that sometimes the chosen books were hard to understand.
- Format and planning of study groups: Three dimensions were investigated in this aspect: the satisfaction of the process of the study; satisfaction about learning effects; should the study group also include topics related to work and others. The results showed that interviewees thought the studying time seemed lengthy; and that the host's ability to control the time and process was significant - the problem was that some members talked for too long; and some members had no interest in the topics. Although members sometimes seemed less interested in study, they admitted that they learned useful knowledge and experience from the classes. On the other hand, the members' studying mood was affected by work pressures, especially in the sales seasons for department stores. Finally, most members were interested in adding topics related to work, as this could help increase their work knowledge and experience indirectly.
- The influence of the book Cultivating Your Moral Character - the Seven Principles: This was one of the most significant books that all members needed to read, as certain values inside the book were promoted by the top management level. The interview results showed that members learned better scheduling skills from the content of this book.