As Director of New Projects, You Have Just Learned That

question 156

Essay

As director of new projects, you have just learned that cash flow problems have forced your organization to cut back product-development activities. This means that two of the eight projects currently being developed must be terminated, along with the employees working on those projects (about 25 per cent of employees in your unit). You have a good knowledge of these projects as well as the performance and seniority of employees who work in your unit. While some projects clearly have a high chance of success, the long-term potential of a couple of them is unknown. Identify the best level of employee involvement in this situation and describe three factors (contingencies) that support this level of involvement.

---

Definitions:

Rank-Order

The arrangement or hierarchy of individuals based on a specific attribute or achievement.

Mean-Level

A statistical term referring to the average value of a set of data, indicating the central tendency.

Life Course

An approach in sociology and psychology that studies individuals and their trajectories through life, taking into account the social, psychological, and historical contexts that influence them.

External Factors

Elements outside an individual that can affect their behavior, decisions, and well-being, such as social, economic, and environmental influences.