Learning Goals
Companies often divide up work as a way to improve efficiency, but specialization can lead to negative consequences. DrainFlow is a company that has effectively used specialization to reduce costs relative to its competitors’ costs for years, but rising customer complaints suggest the firm’s strong position may be slipping. After reading the case, you will suggest some ways it can create more interesting work for employees. You’ll also tackle the problem of finding people qualified and ready to perform the multiple responsibilities required in these jobs.
The Scenario
DrainFlow is a large residential and commercial plumbing maintenance firm that operates around the…show more content… A couple of years ago a management consulting company was hired to survey DrainFlow worker attitudes. The results showed they were less satisfied than workers in other comparable jobs. The following table provides a breakdown of respondent satisfaction levels across a number of categories:
| DrainFlow Plumbers | DrainFlow Plumber Assistants | DrainFlow Office Workers | Average Plumber | Average Office Worker | I am satisfied with the work I am asked to do. | 3.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 3.5 | I am satisfied with my working conditions. | 3.8 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | I am satisfied with my interactions with coworkers. | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | I am satisfied with my interactions with my supervisor | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
The information about average plumbers and average office workers is taken from the management consulting company’s records of other companies. They aren’t exactly surprising, given some of the complaints DrainFlow employees have made. Top management is worried about these results, but they haven’t been able to formulate a solution. The traditional DrainFlow culture has been focused on cost containment, and the “soft stuff” like employee satisfaction hasn’t been a major issue.
The Proposed Solution
The company is in trouble, and as revenues shrink and the
BSG 302 – Organizational Behavior
Repairing Jobs That Fail to Satisfy
(Case Study)
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To help students become aware of the complexity of human behavior in organizations. To help students deepen their understanding of group dynamics and organizational culture. To help students understand the importance of job satisfaction and incentive systems. To improve the students’ group and teamwork skills. To improve the students’ written and oral presentation skills.
PROCESS:
Case 2
Repairing Jobs That Fail to Satisfy
Learning Goals
Companies often divide up work as a way to improve efficiency, but specialization can lead to negative consequences. DrainFlow is a company that has effectively used specialization to reduce costs relative to its competitors’ costs for years, but rising customer complaints suggest the firm’s strong position may be slipping. After reading the case, you will suggest some ways it can create more interesting work for employees.
to poor services. Job motivation and satisfaction among employees is declining across various job categories within the firm. This dissatisfaction has been attributed to the overspecialization of some job functions in the company. The report attempts to assist
customers to competitors due to poor services. Job motivation and satisfaction among employees is declining across various job categories within the firm. This dissatisfaction has been attributed to the overspecialization of some job functions in the company. The report attempts to assist
so hard to correct, is frankly failing. To date, it has seemingly not done its best to correct the issue though. America must fix the major problem of illegal immigration before it becomes too out of hand. The existing American immigration policies fail at regulating immigration from the Mexican border due to the large amount of immigrants in America, that Mexicans think they can and still come over the border illegally, and that policy measures are not being enacted to fix the immigration problems
been deeply affected. Furthermore, water supplies and local uses are considered to be in crisis due to crashing number of fish species and old weak levees (Lund, et al.) It is feared that during a strong regional earthquake, many of the levees would fail. Due to the increasing demand on water supplies, conservation efforts, and hundreds of interests, the Delta is also the jugular of California’s water
TAKE HOME EXAM
Computron Pharmaceuticals
Question 1
In this negotiation, my walk away point is a contract package worth less than $118 000 to myself. To determine this, I consulted my BATNA – looking for other job openings – which the average contract package ranges between $100 000 to $140 000. Taking the mean of this range gives $120 000: the minimum total two-year salary of a MEDWARE program manager. I am willing to accept this minimum as my starting wage due to my inexperience as a fresh
lately everyone (i.e.: news media,) has been referring to our country as just plain ol’ America. Could it be because they know information about the United States that most of its own citizens are unaware of? The answer is yes because most Americans fail to realize that for years the United States of America has turn out to be everything but united, and this has been a result due to its ever growing wealth gap. However, in this current period of time, minorities have been the ones to predominantly
Introduction
Joseph Dunn is the owner and general manager of Dunn’s Ski Emporium in Vail, Colorado. Business has been above their competitors for years, but Joseph believes he is able to bring in more business if he merges with the Deli next-door. The business from the ski emporium has attracted customers to the deli and vice versa. George is thinking of retiring in the next few years, and Joseph wants to ensure that George’s success continues after he retires. Joseph is a social architect by trade
Violation Removal and Engineering not forgetting Systems Repair and Maintenance. With readily available equipment and qualified personnel, (CO. NAME) does not compromise on quality. As specialists, our services;
• Incorporate customised designs to satisfy individual-commercial needs
• Are cheap and cost effective
• embrace the use of latest innovation and technology
• Are provided by experienced and trained personnel for maximum cover against flames
• ensure shortest service delivery and service time