What's causing the spike in negative sentiment around work-life balance in Peakon's sales department?

Introduction

The spike in negative sentiment around work-life balance in Peakon's sales department is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term and long-term implications for the organization.

I'll approach this problem by first clarifying the context, then ruling out external factors before diving deep into internal causes. We'll examine the product, break down relevant metrics, gather data, form hypotheses, and conduct a thorough root cause analysis. Finally, we'll develop a comprehensive plan to validate our findings and implement solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be a recent change in sales targets or compensation structure. Has there been any significant shift in the sales strategy or quota system in the past quarter?

Why it matters: Changes in sales targets often directly impact work-life balance. Expected answer: Yes, we recently increased quarterly targets by 20%. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the relationship between new targets and work hours.

• Considering the specificity to the sales department, I'm curious about team composition. Has there been a recent restructuring or leadership change within the sales team?

Why it matters: New leadership or team structures can significantly affect work culture. Expected answer: A new VP of Sales joined three months ago. Impact on approach: We'd investigate the new VP's management style and any policy changes.

• Given that Peakon is an employee engagement platform, I'm wondering about the data granularity. Can we see a breakdown of the negative sentiment by specific work-life balance factors (e.g., working hours, flexibility, time off)?

Why it matters: Understanding specific pain points helps target solutions more effectively. Expected answer: Yes, we have detailed breakdowns available. Impact on approach: We'd focus our analysis on the most affected areas of work-life balance.

• Thinking about potential external influences, has there been any significant market pressure or competitive landscape changes that might be indirectly affecting the sales team's workload?

Why it matters: External pressures often trickle down to impact employee work-life balance. Expected answer: We've seen increased competition in our main market segment. Impact on approach: We'd consider how market pressures might be translating into internal stressors.