Mgmt 2008 - Eric and Kipsy Case Study

MGMT 2008

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

LECTURER: DION GREENIDGE

CASE ANALYSIS: ERIC AND KIPSY

NAME: ALICIA BOYCE

ID NUMBER: 415001483

Table of Contents

Background Information        2

Analysis        5

Alternatives        13

Recommendation        15

Implementation        15

Bibliography        16

Background Information

        The Eric and Kipsy case is one that pertains to the concept of ineffective management which had manifested into greater organizational inefficiencies at a national firm whose line of business entails the wholesaling of electrical components. It is a case that shows the correlation between job satisfaction and various work place attitudes and behaviours exist. The case demonstrates how independent variables such as, organizational structure, culture, perception, leadership, motivation, communication and power are all interlinked. On accessing the situation presented it showed how those variables had affected employee behaviours negatively. It also proved that employee behaviours namely job satisfaction, organizational citizenship behavior, turnover, absenteeism, deviant work place behavior and productivity is contingent upon those independent variables listed above. In essence the case demonstrates that the structure of an organization can affect the way in which managers carry out their functions and whether those function will have a positive or negative impact.

     Eric who had just completed management training and had no knowledge of the job was assigned the position of Production Information Manager. This post entailed managing a staff complement of thirty-five female employees. Initially, Eric was very optimistic about being a part the organization. Unfortunately this was short lived as he was faced with many unforeseen challenges.

      On evaluating the work process of the employees on his first day of work, Eric determined that the organization was operating efficiently. However, a few days later he realized there were   many existing problems within the company. Excessive errors, the unpleasant manner in which the clerks were conducting business and the difficulty the salesmen experience while trying to connect with the clerks were the first set of issues that came to light. On trying to establish the cause of the aforementioned issues even more serious problems were unearthed. Problems such as high rates of absenteeism and turnover and deviant behavior were noticed.                           The company started to experience a decline in sales; hence Eric was paid a visit by his superior. He was informed that the quality of information was partly responsible for the drop in sales and was held responsible for rectifying the situation. Eric then in turn implemented a motivational crash   programme to increase efficiency.  He had called a meeting to state the goals in which the company had hoped to achieve and the importance of everyone’s contribution in making the goals realizable. There was a slight improvement on the implementation of the programme but this did not last as there was further reaction by the staff to managements approach. It is at this time that Kipsy who was not satisfied reacted with deviant workplace behaviour. She had defaced the efficiency signs created to motivate the workers. Thereafter in an effort to find the source of the problems Eric considered a list of possibilities inclusive of Kipsy. Ultimately Eric determined that Kipsy was the source of the problems within the company.