Broström AB; the organisation ~from the perspective of a vessel~

Abstract

Background and problem analysis: There is often a strong sense of ‘us and them’ that is created between the vessel and the office, so the purpose of this report is to create an analysis/guide for the ship to understand the overall picture of the organization it is part of, both internal and external. How do the employees at the vessel perceive the Broström organization? How is this perception interrelated with the communication with the different departments? Furthermore, how are the employees motivated to facilitate the communication and strive for excellence together with the other parts of the organization? Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study how the company communicates with and motivate their seafarers. The report will suggest improvements, if possible. Method: Literature studies have been made on published literature in the theoretical area. The results have been received from questionnaires and interviews carried out on one of Broström’s vessels. To create a comparative dimension, questionnaires have also been answered by a proportion of the shore-based personnel. Analysis and conclusions: The crewmembers perceive the organization of Broström differently from the shore-based personnel. They have a good perception of all departments ashore, therewith an understanding for the communicational networks. However, they are to an extent dissatisfied with how communication and information is exchanged, thus interfering with their motivation to strive for excellence. The comparative study between the crewmembers and the shore-based personnel showed that the perception of the organization differs; the shore-based personnel omitted the vessels from their charts. Furthermore, the motivational factors differs widely, something which the management must pay attention to; that the crewmembers are focusing on other motivational factors in order to feel satisfied and strive for common excellence. Proposal