MGMT 3430 Chapter 4

1. Concept and brief Description


Job enrichment is empowering workers to take on a more personal role in their work by giving them more responsibility for their job. This is done by adding more decision-making authority to them.

2. Emotional Hook

Have you ever been in a job where all you did was the same thing over and over? You were unable to make changes to it that would improve it and your supervisors only thought of you as a person to get a job completed not a way of improving the effectiveness of a job?

3. Key points to Elicit in Discussion

According to Fredrick Herzberg’s two-factor theory people are motivated more by intrinsic aspects than by extrinsic ones. So in other words they find a sense of accomplishment when they are able to make a job theirs and they can make changes and improvements to it to make it better.

Herzberg also identified five factors he associated with a motivating job:

1. Achievement
2. Recognition
3. Growth
4. Responsibility
5. Performance of the entire job

4. Facilitative questions

IF you were in a situation where you were not satisfied by your job?

Would you try to make changes without the consent of your supervisor, or would you try to convince them it was a good idea?

How might an HRM affect this in the work place?

Current HR Legal Issue

http://www.newsweek.com/id/230677
The above link will take you to an article from Newsweek. The article is about sexual harasment, and discusses a couple of experiences businesses are having with the issue.

MGMT 3430 Chapter 3 Reflection

In class on Tuesday we started to discuss a couple of the different laws HR managers deal with daily. While in our groups we discussed issues like sexual harassment. This is a serious issue that can have very serious consequences if not dealt with immediately. Something else HR managers get to deal with is OSHAI know I discussed it in my previous post, but OSHA protects workers. They are the ones that produce, sell, and fix the things that keep the business going. One of the main parts of HR management is the wellbeing of the workers. HR managers sure do have their work cut out for them.

MGMT 3430 Chapter 3

1. Concept and Brief Description

In chapter three there was extensive discussion about OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act). OSHA was enacted by the federal government in 1970 in response to the 15,000 work-related fatalities that had been occurring annually. This Act was the most comprehensive act regarding worker safety. This divided the enforcement responsibilities between the department of labor, and the department of health.

2. Emotional Hook (provocative question/claim/real-life problem)

According to OSHA law who is responsible for the safety of employees?
Did you know that you could be fined up to $5,000 if an OSHA inspector sees you pass a pallet standing on end and not place it down on the ground?
The following link shows the top 10 OSHA violations for 2007. Scroll down to the article about Cintas and see the fines accrued for their violations.

http://www.cisco-eagle.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/01/the-top-10-osha-violations-for-2007/

3. Key Points to Elicit in Discussion

• OSHAs primary purpose is the safety of workers.

• Employee rights
o Request an inspection
o Have a representative present at an inspection
o Have dangerous substances identified
o Have employer violations posted at the work site

• MSDS sheets

• http://www.osha.gov/

4. Facilitative Questions

Why is OSHA so important?
What impact has OSHA had in the work place?

MGMT 3430 chapter 2 Reflection

Today in class we had the chance to view a video about Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle. This was interesting to me because I work for a retailer that has used a similar video about Pikes Place to show the impact employees can have when they demonstrate great customer service. Some of the points that were made really show that all it takes in many cases is a change on the views of management. TO get to know a little bit more about Pikes Place go to the following link: http://www.pikeplacefish.com/ . If you take some time to visit the website you can really see what this company is all about, and the effects of the different changes management made that have turned a company on the verge of closing their doors to truly a world famous company.

Other points made were:
· A desire to be world famous
· A change in the management style
· Remember employees are not just numbers

Another topic of discussion was the concept of teamwork. While in our groups we discussed this and came up with the idea that team work is not just working together on the same team, but it is multiple groups, departments and individuals working towards the meeting of a common goal by collaborating and cross training.

MGMT 3430 chapter 2

1. Concept and Brief Description
High-Performance Work Systems can be defined as an organization that has the best possible fit between their social system, or people and how they interact, and their technical system, or equipment and process.
2. Emotional Hook (provocative question/claim/real-life problem)
How can an HR Manager create a system that has this kind of balance?
3. Key Points to Elicit in Discussion
HR managers are probably the first to have an impact on this system. They are the ones doing the hiring, and finding the potential employees that have the qualities that are going to help make the system balanced and smooth. There are three ways in which they impact this system;
The first is by promoting knowledge workers. These employees are customer service people. They are service trained, and can use those skills to satisfy the needs of the customer. After all a happy customer is one that will come back.
The second is employee empowerment. These employees have been encouraged, or empowered to make decisions about the job. To make changes that would help to make things better.
The third is teamwork. This one is self explanatory. Develop a team that can collaborate and work together to meet a common goal and you have great way to get work completed.
4. Facilitative Questions
As an HR how would you use the three aspects to create a balanced high-performance work system?
How might you fix a broken system?

The Semester Begins

The Spring semester has begin and for this semester I have the chance to tell all about what is going on throughout the semester. I will have reflections from classes, as well as other postings. Hope you all enjoy.