Materials

NINE QUESTIONS ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS

Procedures that develop personnel are not all effective. With the help of nine questions, it is possible to increase the productivity of various projects already at the planning stage. According to our vision, a company should avoid investments which have a weak business connection, have only short-term impacts, or which cannot be evaluated concerning their cost-effectiveness. The questions are based on research and our practical experience on the planning, implementation and evaluation stages of personnel development projects.

This unique longitudinal study examines the return on investment (ROI) and changes in sickness absence rates resulting from a comprehensive workplace health promotion program implemented in Finland over a nine-year period. The research provides rare evidence on the long-term effectiveness and financial outcomes of sustained workplace health initiatives, offering valuable insights for organizational leaders, HR professionals, and decision-makers.

The scientific article, “Sickness Absence Trend Analysis and Financial Outcomes of a Nine-Year Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Program”, was published in 2026 in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Workplace Health Management. The full article is available as a free downloadable PDF in English.

Keywords: leadership, strategy, workforce, work ability, ROI, sickness absence, intervention, effectiveness, workplace health promotion, organizational performance.

The 2026 DREAMS Study focused on the key drivers of future success and the conditions for growth – from both the individual and organizational perspective. More than 200 executives voluntarily participated in the study. There were participants mostly from Finland, other European countries, as well as from the United States. Overall, the results inspire confidence in organizations’ and leaders’ ability to succeed despite the challenging economic conditions and global geopolitical instability.

Keywords: Dreams, growth, goal and future orientation, effectiveness, competitive advantage, vitality

The 2024 DREAMS study mapped the future’s success factors as well as the goals that were meaningful to the executives at an individual, organizational, and societal level. More than 230 executives voluntarily participated in the study. There were participants mostly from Finland, other European countries, as well as from the United States. When the world around us is brittle and unstable, we need hope and trendsetters. Overall, the results give faith in the possibility of success for all organizations and leaders, even in the midst of instability.

Keywords: Dreams, relevance, goal and future orientation, effectiveness, competitive advantage, vitality

Corporate leaders have goals, but what do they dream about?

The unique Dreams survey was carried out first time at the turn of the year 2020 and the second time at 2022. At a time when society, organizations, and workers are in need for optimism and a sort of a compass to guide their way, we decided to brighten the corporate management’s dreams for better working life. Over 200 corporate managers took part in the survey. In brief, the answers gotten showed strong belief in success also when times are hard. Download the summary report 2022 from below and get inspired to take steps towards the dreams of your organization, and your own.

Keywords: dreams, purposefulness, business, competitive edge, the new normal

This article extensively analyzes the effectiveness of changes in health risks in a Finnish workplace health promotion program called Eight-Year Health Risks Trend Analysis of a Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Program. The research article was published in 2020 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The article is free for download as an English PDF version.

Keywords: personnel, work ability, health risks, intervention, effectiveness, aging, risk management

What Can You Achieve in Eight Years? is an effectiveness analysis of an eight-year health intervention carried out in Finland. The research article was published in 2019 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The article is free for download as an English PDF version.

Keywords: personnel, well-being at work, process management, effectiveness, implementation

This article titled Does Implementation Follow Design is a precise description of the planning stage of a multiyear workplace health promotion program. The article was published in 2017 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The article is free for download as an English PDF version.

Keywords: planning, personnel, well-being at work, effectiveness, process management

This critical research report is about a working life development project carried out in five Finnish social and health care units in 2018–2019. Over 2,200 employees took part in the intervention. The research report is in Finnish, but the summary is also in English.

Keywords: sickness absences, controlling work ability risks, effectiveness, employer image

The New Normal or The New Now? From Strategy to Shared Success

“What kind of leadership mindset is needed to go through economic shocks and uncertain times? Does the New Normal even exist or should we consider the future more like a series of New Nows? In this video the keynote speaker Nora M. Denzel reveals unique insights about the topic.”