Why is success at work important? A case study in a midsized Finnish enterprise

This study attempted to determine how to improve efficiency, productivity, and well-being in workplaces. In this article, the phenomenon of success at work was analysed using the well-being theory called PERMA. The research questions were as follows: 1) how do the employees and leaders of a midsized Finnish enterprise describe success at work?; 2) How do these descriptions correspond with the elements of well-being? The qualitative study employed a mixed-methods approach to study the enterprise personnel's perceptions of success at work. Leaders and supervisors (N = 15) were interviewed personally. Employees (N = 29) filled out open-ended questionnaires. The contribution of the study lies in the discussion about the relationship between success and well-being. The findings will help leaders and employees themselves to enhance productivity and commitment at work in a way that pays attention to the elements of well-being as presented in the PERMA theory.