Short Case Scenario 8-1

question 167

Essay

Short Case Scenario 8-1
Bridget Jones has been the manager of the research office at her company for over a year. She is beginning to wonder if she will ever be comfortable in this role. Her employees seem dissatisfied and are not working their hardest. Bridget leaves work most days feeling that there must be a better way to manage.
Remembering the lessons of the Hawthorne studies, Bridget works hard to praise her employees regularly. The work that her employees do is relatively interesting and there are considerable opportunities for advancement and growth. Bridget holds regular staff meetings to get input from her employees before making decisions. In spite of these efforts, Bridget's employees seem to be dissatisfied.
At the company's annual meeting, she runs into Cliff Richards, her predecessor in the job. She shares her frustrations and asks him for advice. Cliff says, "Management is simple-people are naturally lazy and uncooperative. To make them productive, they must be punished for negative behavior and rewarded when they work hard." Bridget finds this hard to accept, but replies with "Thanks for the advice, Cliff. I'll think about what you've said."
-How might the use of participative management and empowerment change the situation?

Recognize the importance of specific versus general attitudes and behaviors in predicting workplace outcomes.

Understand the methods and implications of job-seeking behaviors across different age groups.

Understand the concept of globalization and its importance in modern organizations.

Identify internal and external forces for change in organizations.

---

Definitions:

Homeostasis

The tendency of a biological system to maintain stability or equilibrium within its internal environment when dealing with external changes.

Internal Environment

The conditions and processes within an organism or an organization that contribute to its functioning and maintenance.

Motivational Theorist

An expert or scholar who studies and develops theories about what motivates individuals to act in certain ways.

Maslow

Refers to Abraham Maslow, a psychologist best known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory in psychology regarding human motivation.