What on Earth Are We Aiming for? : A Qualitative Study of Goal Setting in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Friman, Ralf-Eerik (2024)
2024
Master's Programme in Leadership for Change
Johtamisen ja talouden tiedekunta - Faculty of Management and Business
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-11-26
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2024110810061
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2024110810061
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines goal-setting in Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF), a significant national institution facing heavy change pressure. The aim of the thesis is to shed light on goal-setting patterns, the nature of staff’s personal goals, and staff’s relationship with their goals.
To attain the aim, an instrumental case study is conducted in Harju ELCF parish in Tampere. The primary data, consisting of questionnaires, correspondence and an interview is analysed with thematic analysis methodology. The main theoretical framing used is goal-setting theory by Latham and Locke.
The findings demonstrate that there are different goal-setting processes on different levels. While many goal-setting processes are present, a notable gap in strategic medium- to long-term operational goal-setting is detected. The executive staff’s role in parish’s high-level goal-setting appears primary and the board’s secondary.
Staff’s personal work goals focus on basic job description and occupational well-being, with some emphasis on spiritual calling and personal growth. The staff are very committed to their goals, though goals are varyingly used as tools to guide operations. Teamwork is seen primarily as a strength in goal attainment. While the staff view the parishioners as central in goal-setting, the agency attributed to parishioners differs notably.
This study contributes to existing goal-setting research and adds a new context in which the premises of goal-setting theory are considered. For practitioners, the results provide insights for turning strategy into strategic goals and for clarifying the roles of decision-makers in goal-setting.
To attain the aim, an instrumental case study is conducted in Harju ELCF parish in Tampere. The primary data, consisting of questionnaires, correspondence and an interview is analysed with thematic analysis methodology. The main theoretical framing used is goal-setting theory by Latham and Locke.
The findings demonstrate that there are different goal-setting processes on different levels. While many goal-setting processes are present, a notable gap in strategic medium- to long-term operational goal-setting is detected. The executive staff’s role in parish’s high-level goal-setting appears primary and the board’s secondary.
Staff’s personal work goals focus on basic job description and occupational well-being, with some emphasis on spiritual calling and personal growth. The staff are very committed to their goals, though goals are varyingly used as tools to guide operations. Teamwork is seen primarily as a strength in goal attainment. While the staff view the parishioners as central in goal-setting, the agency attributed to parishioners differs notably.
This study contributes to existing goal-setting research and adds a new context in which the premises of goal-setting theory are considered. For practitioners, the results provide insights for turning strategy into strategic goals and for clarifying the roles of decision-makers in goal-setting.