Despite the many definitions of engagement, and the frequency with which the word is used to describe an organization's culture, the direct impact of employee engagement on business performance has often remained elusive. This presentation will look at Best Buy's proven model for human capital analytics that enables the company to clearly understand the impact of their HR policies and practices on employee behaviors and engagement levels. Learn how the cycle between Leadership, Employee, Customer, and Financial Performance is creating engaged - or disengaged - employees, and what you can do to make the cycle a successful one in your organization.

Tom MacPherson

Communicators can demonstrate their direct impact on business performance when they can speak in terms that matter most to management: improved safety, increased attendance and retention, increased rate attainment and improved productivity. When the Communications team at Trane Residential Systems had the opportunity to work closely with the operations and human resources leadership at a plant that was experiencing high turnover and troubled productivity, the results were significant.

This case study will examine how Communications can partner directly with a local operations team to impact employee engagement in a measurable way. Discover how strong partnerships in the operational aspects of your business can turn disengaged and underperforming employees into a fully engaged, top-performing team.

Jeriane Thomas Vice President, Communications, Trane

Engagement efforts in some organizations are received negatively because it’s viewed by staff, or even managers, as another “program.”   What can you do to avoid this syndrome and build systems that will increase energy, engagement, and performance?  This session will provide you with a new way of looking at engagement – and how some of your current efforts could inadvertently be reducing employee performance. During this lively session, you will discover how to create conditions that optimize the performance of your employees and to energize your own team to higher levels of success in 2009.

Theresa M. Welbourne, Ph.D. President and CEO, eePulse Inc.

Melcrum conferences attract such high-caliber attendees, that our participants always want more time to discuss ideas with each other. Here's your chance! Meet with conference participants who are at the same point in their engagement journey to benchmark ideas. We will track the subjects that are creating the most interest and provide opportunities for meaningful discussions.

It can be challenging to capture the attention of employees on key messages, when they are already besieged with so many daily communications. How can you get through the clutter and capture their attention, imagination, and build discussion about the company's future?

The MS2 Communications team at Lockheed Martin has developed creative, yet practical, ways to energize and engage their workforce using traditional and non-traditional vehicles, while stepping out of the "normal" messaging routines. Discover how an edgy postcard campaign - recognized with a 2008 Business Issue Award and two Gold Quills from IABC - measurably shifted employees' understanding of a critical business imperative.

Sharon Parsley Communications Representative, Internal Communications, Lockheed Martin MS2

Kathy Baier Senior Manager, Internal Communications,Lockheed Martin MS2