Companies spend a great deal of time and money on market research to gain “consumer insight” on their products and services. But they don’t always put the same emphasis on understanding the views, issues and concerns of their employees – the very people they depend on to deliver those products and services.

Gathering and using this knowledge sometimes slips down the list of priorities when resources and budgets are tight. But these are the times you most need to inspire extra effort from employees. So what quick and practical steps can employers take to redress the balance and start harnessing “employee insight”?