Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Faculty of Technology Management

MBA in Technology Management

Written Analysis
And
Communications

CASE STUDY: THE KEYBOARD

SYNDROME
Submitted to: Mrs. Jayashree Rammohan

Prepared by : Bilva Patel (AM1110)

Semester - 1

C EPT UNIVERSITY
Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, University Road, Ahmedabad - 380009, Gujarat, India.
Ph-0091-79-26302470/ 26302740 Fax-0091-79-26302075

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The data entry operators of a Mumbai based company are suffering from diseases. These
diseases are carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) and repetitive stress injury (RSI). To find out the
solution to this Sandeep Kaul has been appointed by Mr. Ramesh Chauhan. Mr. Chauhan wants
Sandeep to recommend solutions regarding to the work environment- posture, furniture, work
habits, rest breaks. He developed a questionnaire which were fill by 50 clerical staff of the
company. After analyzing the situation and going through the questionnaire it is been strongly
recommend that for the better interest of the company in reducing its sick leaves and preparing
itself for further automation in future the options/alternative such as to conduct
workshop/seminars on stress management, workshop/seminars on body postures, to buy new
furniture, change in break pattern etc. needs to be implemented.

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Situation Analysis:
A data collection unit working for BRIJLAX SYSTEMS having three full time working data-
entry operators. They enter data related to production, personnel and inventory and that becomes
part of corporate database for financial, production and personnel management. Labors were also
having agreement with a company regarding to breaks and as per the agreement they would get
two 15mins breaks daily as per their conveniences once in morning and the other in afternoon.
And rest of the time they were working on their keyboards.

Previous year Rajiv Sen-data entry operator was not able to come for two weeks as he was
suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Basically carpal tunnel syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder of the tendons and tissues in the
wrists caused by repeated motions. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive
sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes
swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the
median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the
thumb, index, and the middle fingers -- a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome."

(REF:- http://www.medicinenet.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome/article.htm)

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

(REF:- http://www.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=carpal%20tunnel%20syndrome&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___IN386&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=588)

Now a week later second operator had experienced similar kind of symptoms. But he was
suffering from repetitive stress injury (RSI) which is also known as video display terminal
disease (VDT).

Basically repetition stress injury (RSI) of the upper extremity(s) is the result of injuries to one or
more tissues. These tissues may include muscle, tendons, nerves, the fascia, blood vessels, joints,
cartilage, ligaments, and/or bone. There appears to be an injurious cycle of events that occurs
where repetitive, excessive force, constant tension and pressure or trauma leads to the
development of clinical disease. Typical symptoms of RSI include persistent pain, swelling,
tingling, numbness, or heat around the affected area, both while working and resting.

Now Mr. Ramesh Chauhan asked his assistance Sandeep Kaul to make a survey of at least 50
clerical staff with a questionnaire and then he wanted Sandeep’s recommendation that would
alleviate problem.

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Problem Definition:
As company anticipates further automation in future with more data entry operators but these
days current operators anguish from disease and taking leaves so to find the appropriate solution
that can reduce the sick rate of the data entry operators is the essential problem.

Decision Criteria:

 The decision whatsoever should be practically and economically viable.

 Decision should be depend upon the analysis of the questionnaire.
 Decision should not be influence by any as it’s completely relying on questionnaire and
survey of 50 clerical staff.
 Decision should reduce the rate of sick leaves of operators and also upsurge their inputs
and efforts.
 Decision would be like that it can help in the further automation in the forthcoming time.

Options/Alternatives:

1.) Change the work environment: Try to create a stress free environment and also give more
freedom of speech and work to operators. Hence they can relieve the stress and work in a
peace frame of mind. Also organize workshop and seminar on stress management.
2.) Change in posture:
 Neck should not be twisted
 Back is must be supported by the back rest.
 Using mouse too far away may strain shoulder joints so should not keep it away.
 Put the feet firmly on the floor.
 Hips are fair back as possible.
 Knees level to or slightly lower the hips.
 Working surface at elbow height.
 Distance between eyes and monitor must be at least 20inches.
 Also arrange workshop or seminar or postures

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

3.) Change in furniture:

 Chairs and tables must be perfectly adjustable so operators having different
heights can adjust as per their conveniences.
 Must provide foot rest and arm rest.
 Drawer should be within the reach of the operator.
 Document holder should be place properly.

(REF:- http://www.google.co.in/images?hl=en&q=repetitive%20strain%20injury&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___IN386&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=588)

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

4.) Change in work techniques and habits:

 Develop new working techniques that can enhance the performance of operators.
 Also let them work at any place they want i.e. at home, at office.
 Giving them a task base work instead of stereo type work and also give incentives
on completing task on time with zero errors.
5.) Change in rest breaks:
 After every 2hrs it should be min. of 10mins and max. of 15mins refreshment
break.
 Lunch break should be decreased from 60mins to 45mins.
6.) Compulsory routine checkup:
 Appoint visiting Dr. to the company for operators.
 Also appoint a physiotherapist who visits the company every two days and teach
some exercises to operators.

(REF: - http://www.google.co.in/images?
um=1&hl=en&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___IN386&biw=1280&bih=588&tbs=isch
%3A1&sa=1&q=carpal+tunnel+syndrome&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=carpal+tunnel&gs_rfai=)

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Solution and Recommendation:

In the initial stage by organizing workshop or seminar on stress management the working
environment can be change and hence operators can feel stress free environment. Also by
organizing seminar or workshop on postures operators get to know about right postures. So they
can utilize old furniture. Now as a part of further automation in future, company will need to buy
furniture so company should buy furniture having maximum adjustability and flexibility.
Company can motivate operators to develop new techniques in their work and so company can
get work done faster. In current time by giving operators a pattern break after 2hrs for 10 to
15mins can also reduce the sick rate. And by routine checkup by Dr. and Physiotherapist
operators can have better health.

Implementation:

Implementation of all the options can be done step by step. In initial stage by conducting
seminars operators will get to know about postures and stress management. And in the next step
of implementation provide them breaks after every 2hrs and in this break operators must do
stress relieving exercises and physiotherapy exercises to avoid several diseases. In the last step
when the company approaches to further expansion buy new furniture which is more flexible and
adjustable. So it is possible for operators to get perfect sitting arrangement.

Hence by implementing all the alternative step by step we can solve the problem effectively.

(986 words)

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

QUIESTIONNER
Name:- Age:- Sex:-

Address:-

Mobile No.

Q: Since how long you are doing this work?

a.) Less than1 year

b.) >1 and <3 years
c.) >3 and <7 years
d.) More than 7 years

Q: How many hours a day you work on computer?

a.) Less than 3hours

b.) >3hrs and <6hrs
c.) >6hrs and <9hrs
d.) More than 9hrs

Q: Are you having spectacles?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you having spectacles before job?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you using adjustable chair?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you using wireless mouse and keyboard?

o Yes
o No

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Q: Is your sitting arrangement is comfortable according to you?

o Yes
o No

Q: Is your work environment is user friendly according to you?

o Yes
o No

Q: Is your monitor is having protection glass?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you preferring LCD monitor than a CRT monitor?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you feeling back ache, neck ache, shoulder ache while working?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you frequently feel tingling or numbness in the palm of your hand and fingers (especially
thumb, index, and middle fingers?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you frequently feel burning in the palm of your hand and fingers (especially thumb, index,
middle fingers)?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you frequently feel an itching sensation in the palm of your hand and fingers?

o Yes
o No

Q: Does wearing a splint at night ease your symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

o Yes
o No

Q: Do your fingers feel useless and swollen, even when no swelling is evident?

o Yes
o No

Q: Even if you now experience symptoms in the daytime, do you recall your initial symptoms
occurred at night?

o Yes
o No

Q: Did your initial symptoms occur:

o One hand
o Two hand

Q: Have you ever been awakened from sleep feeling you need to "shake out" your hand to ease
symptoms?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you have decreased grip strength?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you clumsy when handling objects?

o Yes
o No

Q: Are you able by touch to distinguish between hot and cold?

o Yes
o No

Q: Was your dominant hand affected first?

o Yes
o No

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Case Study: The Keyboard Syndrome AM1110

Q: Have you ever experienced trauma or injury to your wrist which caused swelling?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you have a job which involves work-related stress of the hand (such as assembly-line
workers, or working with a jackhammer)?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do you experience shooting pains which radiate from your forearm to your shoulder?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do your symptoms occur in your little finger?

o Yes
o No

Q: Do your symptoms worsen when using your affected hand?

o Yes
o No

Suggestions (if you want to give):-

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

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