Case Study I: More quality from work? Management was concerned about work perfor
ID: 468506 • Letter: C
Question
Case Study I: More quality from work? Management was concerned about work performance on the shop-floor. Output was down on previous years, and there were more rejects than ever on the production line. The operations manager decided to hold a brainstorming session with the foremen. The following summarizes what took place. PROBLEM AS GIVEN: Employee output down and more rejects on production line. PROBLEM RESTATEMENTS: How to . . . 1. increase performance levels 2. get a better trained workforce 3. improve work quality 4. make employees work harder 5. motivate workers to higher performance 6. reward good performance 7. improve working environment 8. achieve job enrichment 9. get hold of improved machinery 10. encourage workers to work longer hours Restatement 5 was take as the basis for idea generation, and the following ideas were illustrative of those produced: 1. increase wages 2. vary job routines 3. provide on-the-job training 4. improve housekeeping 5. give workers more responsibility 6. better incentives 7. performance-related pay 8. give feedback on individual or group performance 9. competitions A couple of wild ideas were thrown into the session as well: 1. eliminate the need for work 2. offer employees millions of pounds as an incentive
Questions
1. What use, if any, could the above ideas be in helping to solve the problem?
2. Can you build on the ideas produced in any way so as to improve them?
3. Try using some of the other problem restatements to produce insights into the problem.
with reference plz
Explanation / Answer
1. From the above ideas below restatements would help to solve the problem
a. Motivate workers to higher performance by having performance related pay
b. Reward good performance with better incentives
c. Improve work quality by providing on job training
d. Improve working environment by improving housekeeping
2. Below are few ideas which would help in solving the problem
a. Involve the workers in meetings and problem solving sessions to make them feel as part of the team
b. Organize team management activities to improve the team work and hence the productivity
c. Provide the training to the people to keep them upgraded to latest technologies to improve the quality
d. Conduct a brainstroming session with the foreman to eliminate the non value adding activities thus increasing the throughtput time and reducing waste. Reward the employees who come up with ideas for savings
e. Provide good working environment for the people by providing all the facilities like cafeteria, restrooms, medical facilities etc
3. Some other problem restatements are as under
a. Reduce non value adding activities
b. Organize team sessions or management games for team bonding
c. Set goals and objectives for everyone and track it on regular basis
d. Make the current workforce a better one by providing the required trainings
e. Try and make people move up the ladder within the organization rather having a person from outside which will serve as a motivation for current employees