SCENARIO 1-2 Sheena Black, Manager of Operations at New Age

question 85

Multiple Choice

SCENARIO 1-2 Sheena Black, manager of operations at New Age Manufacturing and Services Inc., is facing the challenge of keeping the company's manufacturing operations profitable while keeping costs down and employees satisfied with their jobs.Over the years, Sheena has developed a leadership style that she calls a "walk-about" manager-she spends time on the plant floor observing and assisting employees and other managers as necessary.She has also adopted a series of contingency plans to guide problem solving in unusual situations.
Sheena Black knows that her organization's success is dependent upon understanding the various disciplines which have contributed to the field of organizational behaviour.She knows that the next several years will require some major changes not only in the technology used by the company, but in the establishment of programs and initiatives to assist other managers and employees in overcoming workplace challenges.Sheena has identified the following priorities she will need to address:
-Empowering employees to enable them to assume greater responsibility and share decision making;
-Facilitating a2n improved climate of quality and excellence to challenge competitors in the marketplace;
-Developing a new style of leadership and management which will value diversity and respect individuals in a supportive type of environment; and
-Carefully examining the whole realm of working conditions and devising strategies to create better job satisfaction and keep employee loyalty.
Sheena is also aware that training must become a major focus so that employees can develop new skills and managers can learn new ways of dealing with the problems of combining technology and human effort.
Sheena decided to improve company effectiveness by increasing employee job satisfaction.Sheena can accomplish this by encouraging her managers to

• A)downsize and layoff staff.
• B)add new rules and regulations to govern employee behaviour.
• C)emphasize to employees that efficiency and profitability are the only goals.
• D)increase the use of technology.
• E)empower employees, and behave ethically in all situations.

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Definitions:

Marginal Revenue

The additional income gained from selling one more unit of a product or service, crucial in determining the optimal level of output for a company.

Marginal Cost

The extra expense associated with manufacturing an additional unit of a product or service.

Oligopolistic Firm

A company operating in an oligopoly market structure, characterized by a few firms dominating the market, leading to specific behaviors like pricing collusion or competition.

Price Charge

The amount of money demanded by a seller for a product or service, essentially the cost to the buyer.