ISM UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
UNDERGRADUATE STUDY PROGRAMME IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION
ENGSTROM AUTO MIRROR PLANT MOTIVATING IN GOOD AND BAD
ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOR COURSE
CASE STUDY PAPER
2014 02 14
Contents
Introduction 3 1. Situation analysis 3 2. Problem identification 4 3. Theoretical survey 6 3.1. Theoretical framework 6 3.2. Theoretical survey relevant to the situation 8 4. Evaluation of alternatives 9 4.1. Psychological needs 9 4.2. Physiological needs 12 4.2.1. Safety needs 13 4.2.2. Material motivation 14
5 Suggested solution 15
Conclusion 16
Introduction
Our task for the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant case analysis was to identify the main
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Engstrom plant was concentrating on “cost savings, producing more per hour of labor spent.” Scatlon plan was working very well for some period of time by increasing productivity and employees’ motivation, higher profits and employees receiving good financial rewards. However, by the year of 2007 situation at plant started getting worse which led to the conclusion that famous Scatlon plan was not effective anymore.
First of all, occurred distrust that bonuses are not calculated in truthful way. Employees started doubting company’s complex nature of the calculation itself while appointing amounts of bonuses. Secondly, there was a question of fairness when some employees thought that they should receive more bonuses as they are putting more efforts and work than other ones. As a consequence such moods at workplace led to the primary stage when Scatlon plan had not been adopted yet: employees became passive, work became inefficient and employers started layoffs.
Therefore, it leads to the conclusion that in this case the main issue is appropriate employees motivation and satisfying job conditions, which could be achieved by choosing right incentives plan. However, sticking to the same incentives plan also might not be a good idea because people usually get used to such things very easily. As it can be seen from Engstrom Auto Mirror Company’s case employee’s motivation and morale can
As a manager the three motivational methods that should be used would be to provide monetary incentives, employee recognition, and training incentives. Monetary incentives are one method that can be used by a leader or a manager in his or her workplace, these incentives is to reward an employee for his or her outrageous work-related performance. These incentives may include such as profit-sharing within the company, stock options, performance bonuses, and scheduled bonuses. These different types of monetary incentives can increase the motivation of its workers and can lead to more productive, less absenteeism, and may improve one’s quality of service. Monetary incentives when awarded to one employee may also be a morale booster can also encourage other workers to improve his or her work performance, and maintain a healthy, friendly, positive work environment. A healthy workplace is a product of a successful and productive work environment. Working in this kind of economy, monetary incentives is the excellent method to use. However, these incentives may persuade others and may not to some; the result will be the same, increased quality work
Our task for the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant case analysis was to identify the main problems of the company as well as it’s managers’ decisions and to find reasonable solutions by taking into account roots from where they have been appearing. This case is extremely relevant because it looks at organizational behavior everyday problems and analyses issues of building relationships with employees. All our assumption will be based on Organizational Behavior theoretical background in order to find solutions and alternatives for the particular company’s case. The main aim was to figure out how to increase company’s productivity, employees’ motivation and management strategy.
It is clearly that the company is experiencing some growth; however, the management needs to find a solution to solve the arising issue where their employees are lacking of motivation in their job. However, the executive team’s decision to raise pay rates for its customer service staff and the vested profit-sharing plan does not improve the employees’ work performance or customers’ satisfaction.
In May 2007, the Engstrom Auto Mirrors plant was facing the crisis. The business was doing badly and the sales had started to decline in 2005. Thus, there was a steep reduction in plant productivity and employee morale was all time low. The company used Scanlon Plan as an incentive for staff. The core element or foundation of the plan was concept of participative management, where management and staff together will decide the bonuses based on revenues for that year.
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant is experiencing productivity and quality problems arising from the organizational effects of the Scanlon Plan, an incentive plan that is tied to individual performance. As a consequence of the highly economic-centered nature of the Scanlon Plan, employees have already adapted to the custodial model of organizational behavior where the main basis is the use of economic resources, and the managerial orientation predominantly relies on money to improve performance. Consequently, employees are oriented around security and benefits which developed their dependence on the organization for their financial welfare. Though the Scanlon Plan has supportive model dimensions because as a form of upward communication, employees
The success of an organization is built on a functional relationship between managers and employees. Managers can depend on this type of relationship to set programs in place to motivate employees, thus, increase productivity and profitability.Throughout the years, a few issues have brought on the relationship amongst administration and workers at the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant to fall apart. The goal of this milestone is to identify the root causes of the organizational issues, look at the fundamental drivers from a human behavior perspective and offer
Engstrom Auto Mirror, a successful privately owned plant since 1948 in Richmond, Indiana, reached one of their biggest productivity setbacks in May 2007. In their near 60 years of business this was the company’s second cross with unprofitability since the 90’s, when technology was surfacing and causing tension between the company and their customers. The manager at the time was unable to adjust, deciding to resign in 1998. Nearing the end of the 90’s, Ron Bent was hired as plant manager. Leading into the new millennium, his plan was to implement an employee incentive plan to increase productivity with the employees using bonuses to allow their business to continue to thrive. That was the introduction of The Scanlon Plan, it reinforced
In analyzing the brief case study Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant: Motivating in the Good times and Bad”, it was brought to light that the root of the organizational issues was that of productivity, motivation and employer dissatisfaction following the decline of the Scanlon Plan. The Scanlon Plan was an incentive system that provided bonuses to employees for their increased productivity within the plant. In the early 2000’s employee satisfaction, morale and productivity rapidly declined following the layoff of nearly 50 employees and the employees who remained were then expecting the bonuses that were incorporated into the plan without doing the
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant is facing an internal crisis which primarily is a motivational problem. Ron Bent, the manager, and Joe Haley the assistant has seen workplace culture and productivity decline over the years. Ron joined the company when it was going through a similar issue in the past. He came and implemented an employee incentive program which is general across the United States. The incentive program called Scanlon Plan was originally very effective in employee motivation and increasing productivity at Engstrom, but it is now failing.
The reason why reward system did not work with Yakkatech staff is due to poor job design. Employee’s job characteristics were low and created high critical psychological states, which results low outcomes. Yakkatech executive’s provided a short fix, and did not address the root of job dissatisfaction. The employees were disconnected and dissatisfied for the repetitive job task, to change the job design and increase motivation, Yakkatech can implement Contemporary job strategy.
The following Case Analysis details the many aspects of being a manager during times of success and struggle. Ron Bent, a plant manager at Engstrom Auto Mirror plant in Indiana, implements a bonus incentive plan in order to raise morale and productivity in his company. The following analysis will demonstrate how at its inception, the plan is successful in its goals, but eventually starts to decline when a downturn hit the industry. In this paper, several recommendations will be made on whether or not the Scanlon plan should be abandoned, and strategies Ron Bent can take to increase performance at the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant.
Keeping employees motivated in addition to creating incentives and/or additional ways for employees to receive more compensation will create better performance overall within an organization. Contrary if company B gives their employees incentives to perform, without any motivational tactics they probably will not have as many top performances as company A, in addition the company may only seek short term rewards verses have long term success. Lack of motivation for employees within an organization, can cause long term damage for the company’s success. Different things motivate everyone; therefore there should be a system in place to keep employees motivated for the long term success of the company. In the MBM textbook under the concept of incentives, compensation, and motivation, there are a couple of different views of how it should be applied within an organization. We will discuss The Social Role of Profit, Personal Profit and Losses, and the way Market-Based Management view how incentives, compensation, and motivation should be applied and the things that effectively drive employees’ actions while at work.
Employees are overworked in part because of low hiring numbers. When standards are set that are too high, there comes a time when a great number will fall short. The incentives that are currently in place are not effective. We know they are not effective because they are not encouraging great employees to stay. They do not move employees to increase productivity or develop spectacular and innovative programs. Additionally, the incentives currently in place do not entice new and talented programmers to want to join Microsoft and help Microsoft grow into the next phase.
While there is heterogeneity in the payment practices between companies, executive compensation plans must include four basic components: base salary, annual bonus tied to accounting performance or another agreed indicator between the parties, stock options and incentive plans long term (including restricted stock plans and performance plans based on accounting more exercise). Under the crossfire of public opinion, the bonus word became almost word, synonymous with unbridled greed, something to be fought. But despite all the weeping and gnashing of teeth the last two years, the variable compensation was off the list of fatal victims of the crisis. Capitalism still could not invent better way than the bonuses to reward those who deliver the
An incentive pay program can reward employees who continue to produce superior work or encourage employees who already produce good work to best. Sometimes, use an incentive system when employees are lack of enthusiasm of getting down to work and improving things. If everyone in the same job classification gets the same pay, there is no real incentive to do an outstanding job (French, 1990). Various incentive plans used to motivate all employees such as production staff, sales staff, administrative staff and managerial and professional staff on an individual basis. To be improved employee work performance, the incentive pay programs need to be fairly matched with the employees’ expectation. Properly designed and maintained incentive pay program has the potential to increase employees’ productivity and work performance.