Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MANAGEMENT
MBA 409
A STUDY GUIDE
M. Girard, Ph.D.
2000
About the Author
The Author of this Study guide, Maureen Girard, lives in Clearwater, Florida and is a
professor of Business Psychology at Schiller International University in Dunedin,
Florida.
Dr. Girard earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, USA. In addition, she holds a Master of Science degree in Managerial
Technology from Johnson and Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, and
a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Science from St. Joseph’s College in
Windham, Maine, USA.
Dr. Girard had many years of professional experience counseling groups and families
as well as giving workshops in forensic counseling.
Among her notable publications is “Tuition Reimbursement: An Unused Benefit”, The Florida
Nurse, April 1992.
Dr. Girard has been included in the 20th Edition (1997) of Who’s Who of American
Women.
COURSE NUMBER: MBA 409
CREDITS: 3
COURSE OUTLINE
This self-directed learning modality is a challenge and it will give you the opportunity to
continue with your other activities. It also requires self-discipline and motivation. Other students
who have successfully completed distance learning programs have found the following advice
helpful.
1. Think about your daily routine and identify time that is available for study.
2. Develop a realistic study schedule.
3. Refer to this schedule and advise the people you live with of this quiet time.
4. Follow the schedule.
5. Set aside a suitable place for study. It should be quiet, adequately lighted, and properly
ventilated.
6. Work each day until you have completed one practical task during each study period.
7. Read the entire study guide for each lesson before beginning the textbook reading
assignment.
8. Concentrate on understanding the material as a unified whole rather than viewing it one
concept at a time.
9. Take notes as you would in a classroom. This will help you focus on the subject matter.
10. When possible, try to relate what you are reading to actual situations in your own profession
or personal experiences.
PROCEDURE
The main reading in this course will be the textbook. You are also expected to read
the study guide and key points associated with each lesson. It is advisable to read the key
points before reading the chapter in the text. Included at the beginning of each lesson in the
study guide you will see questions that will help you focus on the presented material. It is
advisable to write down the answers because this will be an additional learning aid. As you
know, there will be no formal lectures in this course. The study guide will guide you through the
course, acting, in part, as your tutor. You will need to take responsibility for your own learning.
American City University Course Overview 1
Text
Introduction
The study of human resource management is vital to any
organization because human resources deals with the most important
component of any organization---people. It is people who will make or
break an organization. It is the human resource function that enforces an
organization's values and beliefs. It is also the human resource manager
and/or the human resource department that is uniquely positioned to
ensure ethical behavior throughout the organization.
Grading
LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
It is easy to see how the interests of these groups may come into
conflict. For example, stockholders may advocate reduction in labor
costs through reduction in the total workforce and/or wages and benefits.
This will conflict with the interests of the workers. The managers' desire
to meet organizational objects may conflict with the workers' desire for
higher wages and better benefits. It is the HRM function to balance these
needs in the rapidly changing world of organizations.
The world has changed. The new "deal" asks the employee to
develop needed competencies; apply them effectively; and, remain
flexible in work assignments. In exchange, the organization will support
skill development; recognize contributions and pay fairly.
7merican City University Lesson Two
LESSON 2
EXTERNAL CONDITIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
3. What are the main characteristics that HRM should seek for workers
in an international business environment?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does permit certain exceptions:
Work-related requirements are allowed if those requirements are
necessary and a normal part of the job.
Bona fide occupational qualifications such as mandatory licenses for
certain professions--law, medicine, engineering, nursing, clinical social
work etc.
Seniority systems are accepted if they were not created to
discriminate,
Preferential-treatment for those groups who have been victims of
discrimination.
as, the mother. Without the presence of a culturally aware staff person,
this practice may not even be suspected by people who are not familiar
with local culture.
2. The leadership must recognize both the learning opportunities and the
challenges that the expression of different perspectives presents for an
organization.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONDITIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
3. What is meant by job design and job enrichment and what are some
of the possible problems associated with these terms?
Organizational Structure
Organizational structure concerns how the positions in an
organization are arranged and how job tasks are grouped, divided and
coordinated. It is the organizations structure that determines how this
interaction takes place. Within this framework, there are six major
elements to consider:
1. Work specialization,
2. Chain of command,
3. Span of control,
4. Centralization/decentralization,
5. Departmentalization,
6. Normalization.
3. "Biases toward individualism exist but need not get in the way of
performance." 1 4 In other words, teams are not social groups or
committees.
job half-asleep." Her co-worker, Bill, is new at this job. He loves it. In
this example we have two people who are performing basically the same
job; but, one hates and the other loves it. The difference between these
two workers has nothing to do with the actual job, itself. The difference
exists in how each perceives it. This perceptive view of job design is
called the social processing information (SIP) model. 2 3 This model looks
to social cues provided by co-workers, supervisors, friends, family, or
clients. The important role of personal perception and social clues in job
satisfaction has been confirmed by research. 2 4
*Your ability to communicate. Can you be clear about what you want
and need? Can you be persuasive, or even eloquent--in selling
situations, in teamwork, in service situations? Can you teach or mentor
others?
*Leadership qualities. Can you listen? Can you speak so that others
listen? Can you win authority from others? Can you judge and reward the
people you work with on the basis of their performance...? 2 5
American City University Lesson Four 23
LESSON 4
EMPLOYEE CHARACTERISTICS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
1. What are the ways that workers, management, and the organization
utilize performance assessments?
LESSON COMMENTARY
4. Motivate workers;
Criterion Relevance
Assessment of performance should be relevant and based on job
analysis. That is, the criteria used to assess worker performance should
be based on what the actual job requires. For example, a bookkeeper
American City University Lesson Four 25
Contamination of Criteria
26
There are three common types of criterion contamination.
1. Halo effect --this occurs when one positive trait influences the
entire rating process. For example, a good-looking employee is
judged on appearances rather than performance;
LESSON 5
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
1. What is meant by job analysis? Using a job that you are familiar with,
provide an example of a job description with job specifications.
This involves:
Determining how many of the current employees will be available;
Where they will probably be; and,
What characteristic they will have.
Skill inventories that show current skill development and possibly
project future skill levels;
Replacement charts that list individuals ready to move into particular
jobs; and,
Transitional matrices that use past probabilities of movement to
forecast where current employees will be in the future.
Current Assessment
Human resource planning involves assessing the current human
resources needs. This usually involves job analysis. Jobs within the
organization should be analyzed to determine what behaviors are
necessary to perform each job--what are the minimal skills essential to
properly execute the necessary behavior for a job? For example, in the
Research and Design Department(R&D), what are the necessary
American City University Lesson Five 29
The job specifications within that unit would differentiate the various
levels of nursing practice. For example, an entry-level nursing job in a
hospital critical care unit might consist of the following items.
Future Assessment
Future assessment of HR needs is determined by the objectives of
the organization and the anticipation of other forces that may impact the
organization.
Certain principles should guide both the organization and those who
specifically deal with human resource management.
Within the planning process, the cost must be estimated and figured
into the total plan. Human resources cost money; but effective human
resource planning adds value. Therefore, in addition to figuring the cost,
the value added should be calculated.
This involves:
Determining how many of the current employees will be available;
Where they will probably be; and,
What characteristics they will have.
Skill inventories that show current skill development and possibly
project future skill levels;
Replacement charts that list individuals ready to move into
particular jobs; and,
Transitional matrices that use past probabilities of movement to
forecast where current employees will be in the future.
Accreditation
Other forces may also drive an organization to change direction.
One of the most common forces is the pressure for accreditation.
Therefore, HRM planning and tactics may be in support of ISO 9000 or
other accreditation. The organization may forego short-term profits and
even seek further capital funds to secure this accreditation.
American City University Lesson Five 33
Matters relating to the labor force may be lower down on the agenda
rather than being front running items - unless they are cost cutting items.
Yet managers may endeavor to define HRM strategies particularly where
there is a belief that investment in the quality and enthusiasm of the work
force will add to competitiveness, quality, and overall business
performance.
LESSON 6
EXTERNAL RECRUITING
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
The other low cost, in fact free, method of locating new employees
is walk-ins; but few organizations can rely on a supply of qualified walk-in
applicants. The most common method of external recruitment remains
advertising. Among the more common places utilized to advertise an open
position are:
1. Newspapers,
2. Trade journals,
3. Colleges,
4. Job fairs,
5. Cyberspace,
6. Employment agencies, and head-hunters.
American City University Lesson Six 37
LESSON 7
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
Employee Selection
Employee selection is the process of gathering the information from
the recruited applicants and choosing the candidates that are best suited
to the organizational needs.
Personnel Testing
The first consideration when considering test results must be--are
the results of this test going to predict job performance?
One of the most popular methods of testing involves the use of what
is called a paper-and-pencil format. These tests require some type of
written reply. Many of these tests can now be administered with the use
of a computer.
42 American City University Human Resource Management
Although this test is used for screening applicants for high-risk jobs
such as police officers and people working in nuclear facilities, it's true
validity for predicting job performance is very questionable. 4 2
Interviews
Interviews are the most widely used method for selecting
employees. Interview may be structured or non-structured. Structured
44 American City University Human Resource Management
LESSON 8
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this lesson, the student should be able to:
Focus Questions
The Problem
In a perfect world, an organization would have the perfect number of
perfect employees doing the perfect job at the perfect time. This ideal
situation doesn't exist. Consequently, reality dictates that organizations
will reduce or change their workforce. This change or reduction results
from the decision and actions of either the employer or the employee.
This sounds rather simple; but, in practice, it may be more complicated
than it appears.
"A requirement that the worker must follow instruction on when, where
and how to perform his or her work, is evidence of control, which is
indicative of employee status." 4 6
"Integration focuses on the extent to which the services provided by
the worker are necessary to, and meld into, the overall business
operations of the employer. The fact that a worker's services are
highly integrated into the employer's business is indicative of the
employee status." 4 7
"The more training a worker receives, the more likely that the worker is
an employee." 4 8
"A continuing relationship between the worker and the employer is
evidence of an employer-employee relationship. Both the regularity
and duration of the relationship are taken into consideration." 4 9
"The fact that a worker is required to perform service during a set
hours is evidence of employee status." 5 0
"A worker who can be discharged at any time is usually perceived to be
an employee. An independent contractor can be discharged only for
failure to comply with the terms of his contract." 5 1
"A worker who may terminate his relationship with the employer at any
time evidences employee status. An independent contractor may
terminate his relationship upon the completion of the contract or upon
breach of the contract by the other party." 5 2
Retirement
In the past, retirement was a planned end to the worker's career.
This is no longer true. The organization may decide to reshape the
workforce as part of a reengineering program. In order to accomplish
this, the organization may offer some attractive early retirement
incentives or they may make working so difficult that early retirement
becomes very attractive to the targeted workers.
Employee Quits
Resignation is considered a voluntary act; but resignation may not
be a true reality. How can an employer be sure that the employee
actually intends to quit? The answer is simple--have an exit interview and
get it in writing.
The most obvious ill effect is, of course, the lowered morale among
the surviving workers. Lowered morale leads to poorer commitment and
decreased productivity. In short, the organization eventually loses.
Rather than glut the workforce, the Japanese have developed another
system. "The first thing they do when they need to cut costs is to cut the
salaries of the top managers. Then, if that doesn't fill the gap, they move
down to cut middle management salaries. If that still doesn't do it they cut
supervisory salaries.
Only after management has taken pay cuts do they begin to look at
eliminating front line hourly employees. If there is a way for everybody to
take a pay cut without loosing people they will try to do that. Only as a
last resort will they begin to drop people. 57
Termination
Obviously, some employees will need to be terminated. It makes no
sense to retain an employee who doesn't do the job; but terminating an
employee may eventually have a very negative impact on the
50 American City University Human Resource Management
2. The employee must be told in advance what the complaint is, and
be given sufficient time to prepare a response.
Termination
When actually considering termination, the employer should
consider:
Final Consideration
Failure to follow proper procedure may result in considerable
financial loss to the organization. The failure to have written company
policy stating that insubordination is a just cause for termination, cost
Lincoln Tile Company 10K in legal fees and failure to document harsh,
rude behavior cost an electronics manufacturer 100K in legal fees. 6 0
LESSON 9
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
Due to the fact that many middle management positions have been
eliminated and the team concept is now a reality, internal staffing may
mean assignment to a cross-functional team. For example, a person from
marketing may be reassigned to a cross-functional team that is involved
with developing and marketing a new or improved product. This contrasts
with the older method of simply promoting people within each department.
In the imperfect world we live in, there are other factors that must
be considered. Some people don't care. No matter how an organization
attempts to motivate workers, there will always be those people who will
not respond. In such cases, an organization should reconsider their
hiring methods and polices so they can minimize this problem.
Career Paths
The old assumption was that a person would join an organization
and eventually climb the career ladder in his or her chosen occupation.
This is history. Today, people may change companies a number of times.
Not only do they change companies, they may change occupations.
Some people wait for early retirement and then return to school;
but, others opt for change much earlier. The new field may be a
reflection of their "older" occupation. For example, a chemist may leave
an organization and teach chemistry. Some people follow their dreams
and finally do what they always wanted to do. So, today, we find lawyers
becoming farmers; teachers joining marketing organizations; nurses
teaching college; or executives becoming clergy. Obviously, provisions
must be made for financial needs and sometimes further education is
necessary.
LESSON 10
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
Orientation
Training and development begins as soon as the hiring process is
complete. Orientation is often neglected but is vital to both the
organization and the individual. It is common for organizations to have a
"sink or swim" attitude toward new employees. Somehow, the idea that
58 American City University Human Resource Management
the best way for new employees to learn the job is for them to "get right in
there and do it." This is unfortunate because it is the orientation process
that introduces the new worker to both the organization and possibly the
job, itself.
At best, new employees may sense that they aren't valuable enough
for the organization to take the time to do more than show them where the
lunchroom and the bathroom are. Poorly planned or nonexistent
orientation can place the organization in a very bad position.
Organizations that must comply with exacting legal requirements may find
themselves closed due to the actions of employees. For example,
workers in health care organizations must work within very structured
legal limits set by law. Failure to comply may mean a fine or even
closure. Such things as "abuse" are defined by law and may mean
something quite different to those not familiar with the legal requirements.
What might seem perfectly OK may, in fact, be seen as abuse. Such
things as the use of restraints for the disorientated client and even the
use of side-rails on hospital beds could fit the legal definition of abuse.
Training Programs
Training and development programs should not be limited to
orientation; but should be a part of the organizational strategy. Training
programs can take a variety of forms and can include a multitude of
subjects. Training programs can also be offered to various groups within
the organization or be individualized.
American City University Lesson Ten 59
Organizational Analysis
This process involves a broad overview of training needs that will be
reflected in both the short-term goals and long-term goals of the
organization. This includes a determination of what units in the
organization will require training. For example, if the organization is
planning to upgrade their accounting procedures, then the accounting
department would obviously require training.
Task Analysis
This process starts with information obtained from a detailed job
analysis and it involves identifying what knowledge, skills, and abilities
(KSAs) are needed to perform a specific job in an effective manner. This
knowledge then must be translated into how the knowledge and skill
requirements can be incorporated into training programs.
Person Analysis
This part of the analysis involves looking at the qualities of the
individuals who will do or who are doing the work described in the job
analysis. For existing workers, the use of interviews, observations, and
review of performance appraisals will provide guidance. For new workers,
a review of existing skills, as well as information obtained from the
employee selection process, will also be helpful in determining the
training needs. Another avenue of information that is often overlooked is
the workers themselves. Ask them what they need. Also, ask the
supervisors what they feel are the training needs.
Delivery of Training
The actual training can be delivered in a number of places using
varied methods. The place and method of training depends on both the
needs of the learners and the capabilities of the organization. In
addition, the training can be provided by the organization, or the training
can be provided by outside sources.
LESSON 11
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
What is Compensation
It sounds simple--for performing a stated job, a person is
compensated. In practice, compensation comes in a number of forms--
money, benefits, and other forms of compensation that are not based on
financial rewards. Such things as executive parking places, access to
64 American City University Human Resource Management
cultural and sporting events, a window in the office, and office with a
view, membership in a prestigious country club, educational opportunities,
or even that over-used word--empowerment constitute forms of
compensation.
External Competitiveness
External competitiveness simply means that the organization
considers what other organizations doing the same business pay their
workers. The objectives of this consideration are quite simple and involve
the following assumptions.
Assumption #1
American City University Lesson Eleven 65
Assumptions 2 and 3
This assumption means, "the higher the pay level, the higher the
labor costs." 7 1 In other words, the more money spent on paying
employees the higher the labor costs become. This is wrong because it
combines two concepts, labor rates and labor costs, into one idea. Let's
split these concepts and look at each one.
Internal Alignment
This simply means that pay is based on what the job is worth to the
organization. There are a number of factors to consider when making this
determination. These factors differ from industry to industry. In some
industries, worth may be mandated by law. For example, in the nursing
home industry, the number and qualifications of the workers are
mandated by state law, so worth is calculated by the usual local rate of
pay for the occupation and the credentials of the worker. In this industry,
the pay rate of certified nursing assistants is customarily about half of the
pay of a registered professional nurse, and the pay rate of a practical
nurse is about a third less than that of a professional nurse. Of course,
supply and demand in the local area also must be considered.
So, this means, if we use our example of the nursing home, that the
higher pay awarded to the registered professional nursing positions meets
two of the above criteria---greater level of skills/higher knowledge and the
worth to the organization.
Parting Thoughts
Setting pay rates can be complicated and cumbersome. The
essential thing that must be remembered is---nothing happens in a
vacuum. Pay rates are influenced by numerous factors including the
market. The more a skill is valued, the higher the rate of pay. Combine
this with availability and another factor emerges--if the skill is highly
valued and there is a short supply of people possessing this skill, the rate
of pay is even higher.
68 American City University Human Resource Management
LESSON 12
INDIVIDUAL PAY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
What is Needed
In order to realistically set wages, the employer needs to have a
clear understanding of the real worth of various jobs within the
organization. In addition, the employer must understand the labor
market. Combining the real worth of a job with the strategic plan of the
organization and considering the effect of the competition, the employer
is armed with a realistic method to set wages and wage-earning policy. 7 4
70 American City University Human Resource Management
Merit Pay
Merit pay means that pay increases are based on the individual's
productivity. This system requires a method to determine what behaviors
translate into money. In other words, what activities or behaviors should
be financially rewarded and how much should that award be. Obviously,
American City University Lesson Twelve 71
Does It Work?
The best answer is -- maybe. One of the problems with this system
is timing. Often, performance appraisals do not correspond with the
accounting systems. This means that the workers don't see the effect of
the appraisal for some time and the hoped for motivational effect may be
lost. The way to "fix" this is obviously to adjust the timing of raises so
that workers can clearly see that behavioral change is linked to financial
reward.
short, many people don't understand the relationship between what they
do and how they are paid for doing it. In is important for organizations
employing this method of incentive compensation to clearly communicate
both the method of payment and the exact criteria used to judge the
behavior that merits the increase.
Skill-Based Pay
The basic concept of this method of payment is quite simple--
worker's pay increases with the addition of skills. "The emphasis is on
skill mastery rather than on job performance, which is the focus of more
traditional pay plans, such as merit pay." 7 8 This type of incentive pay
increase plan may be easier to administrate because the criteria is easier
to measure. This type of pay also increases the flexibility of the workers
and makes them more valuable to the organization. The downside of this
arrangement to the employee is that once he or she has all the skills that
the organization needs or offers, there are few if any opportunities to
progress. The downside to the organization is twofold--"Skill-based pay
organizations thus tend to have higher pay rates than organizations with
other compensation methods...and employees are not producing while
they are in training to acquire new skills." 7 9
Broadbanding
In the older forms of established salary ranges, there may be many
pay grades within a specific category. The use of broadbanding limits the
number of possible pay grades with one minimum and one maximum.
This provides more flexibility to both the workers and management.
"Broadbands help eliminate the obsession with grades and, instead,
encourage employees to move to jobs where they can develop in their
careers and add value to the organization....Broadbands allow
organizations greater flexibility in recognizing the
individual....Broadbands actually increase employees' opportunities to
advance by opening new career paths." 8 0
providing the ability of lateral mobility. In addition, many workers are not
interested in assuming a managerial role; but, of course, would like to be
compensated for their skills and knowledge. For example, the way a
hospital formerly increased the pay for its workers was through
promotions to a managerial position within their specialty. This meant
that nurses would be removed from patient care in order to manage a
unit. Under a broadbanding arrangement, the nurses now can be
compensated for their skill and knowledge without being relegated to an
office.
Final Thoughts
Compensation for high-placed executives is often criticized because
of the extreme differences between executive pay and the pay received
by the employees. Although CEOs are considered smarter and worthy of
high pay due to their value to the organization, the question remains.
BENEFITS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. List and give a brief explanation of benefits that are mandated in the
United States.
Focus Questions
1. List and give a brief explanation of benefits that are mandated in the
United States.
Benefit Plans
Another method organizations use to deal with people is to provide
a benefit plan. Most benefit programs are designed to increase employee
satisfaction and organizational commitment.
The most commonly offered benefits fall into the following categories:
78 American City University Human Resource Management
2. Insurance,
Vacations, sick time, and personal days off are commonly referred
to as paid leave. Other categories of paid leave may include time off for
professional meetings or training, and bereavement time off. Some
organizations require a set time of employment before a worker can use
this time and be paid.
Some time off periods are mandated by law. Time off for jury duty,
military leave, and family leave fall into this category and failure to
comply with the law may result in serious penalties. 8 2 8 3
American City University Lesson Thirteen 79
Insurance
There are many types of insurance and some types are legally
mandated. In the United States, Social Security, unemployment
compensation, and workers' compensation insurance are regulated by
law.
Workers’ Compensation
Workers' compensation is another mandated employer-funded
insurance program. It is designed to cover work-related injuries and
conditions. It can also be a major expense to an organization. In order
to control costs in this area, an organization can take positive steps both
in preventing work-place injuries and illness and in controlling costs
associated with workman's' compensation claims.
11. The injured employee's salary is secondary income for the family.
Family-Friendly Benefits
Factors in people's life may conflict with working schedules. Such
factors may include: the presence of children and/or aging parents,
sickness in the home, outside activities, community responsibilities,
educational commitments, and even a second job.
LESSON 14
UNIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
a) Sweetheart contract,
b) Exclusive representation,
e) Union shop.
Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process that requires employers to
bargain with a union over such things as wages, job security, and working
conditions. The assumption being that the employees want union
representation.
After the appropriate bargain unit has been determined, the next
step is an election. In order to win an election, a union must have 50% +
one vote.
ranks of union members and thereby rebuild the political clout of the
national parent." 9 7
Nurses aren't the only health care providers who are involved with
collective bargaining--the physicians have joined them. The House of
Delegates of the American Medical Association (AMA) has voted in favor
of physician's right to bargain collectively when negotiating contracts for
managed care. This action was done despite the legal restraints that
have declared such an action by doctors to be a violation of the current
anti-trust laws. 9 8 Many orthopedists (bone surgeons) have taken this a
step farther and joined the AFL-CIO in protest over the negative effects of
current health care changes that they feel has made the quality of health
care deteriorate. 9 9
The 320 lawyers who work for the city of San Francisco are
considering joining the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in an
attempt to get a raise. 1 0 0
"Chain Saw Al" after the company stock sank and sales went down
following a total drop in confidence.
LESSON 15
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
Employee Involvement
Obviously, employees are involved in every aspect of the
organization; but, questions remain--how much involvement is necessary;
what kind of involvement works; and, how much involvement can there be
before this involvement could be considered a risk?
Employee-Management Cooperation
The word "committee" wasn't used for this section header because
the term "committee" often invokes an image of people sitting around a
table discussing issues because they feel that this is the proper thing to
do. Such type of activity often fails to accomplish anything and, in fact, is
often the subject of jokes. "What is a camel? A horse put together by a
committee."
The text states that, "Many companies have backed away from
supporting such initiatives because they feel that this might "risk
challenges by the NLRB." 1 0 3 This attitude may be totally without factual
reality because "case law provides no support for the exaggerated claims
that decisions of the National Labor Relations board are stifling the
development of participative management." 1 0 4 The literature is replete
with studies of ventures that have taken unions and employers beyond
collective bargaining and worker participation programs into co-
management, such as Saturn, NUMMI, Xerox, Levi Strauss, etc.
Strong local unions actively involved with plant-level management
Decentralized innovation and problem solving
Comprehensive information sharing
American City University Lesson Fifteen 93
Union participation in decisions concerning new technology, facilities
design, job content
Active employee involvement in decision-making rather than a reliance
upon union officials and managers
Extensive use of work teams with supervisors serving as facilitators
Expanded job content with substantial cross-training
Considerable investment in new technology
Compensation linked to training and skill attainment
Creation of a core work force with enhanced employment security and
full benefits. 1 0 5
In some cases, they are mandated. The Drug Free Workplace Act of
1988 states that all federal US employees, as well as all employees
working for companies that have a government contract, must have
access to EAP services. Obviously, this act covers many organizations;
but, many companies have found that EAP services do much more than
fulfill a governmental mandate.
The primary reason that EAPs were initially established was to deal
with employees who have substance abuse problems. Substance abuse,
even away from the workplace, is a serious problem considering that the
usual figure given is 15%. This means that 15% of the workforce is under
the influence of either alcohol or another drug on any given day. 1 0 6
94 American City University Human Resource Management
LESSON 16
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Focus Questions
Values : A constant focus on adding value rather than just doing and
administrative series of tasks. There is also an ongoing attempt to
balance the human with the financial values.
technology that allows orientees to virtually tour the entire plant without
risk of nuclear exposure.
When hurricane Andrew hit the Miami area with devastating winds,
Burger King was able to provide services to its workers. Dennis Liberson,
former vice president of human resources for Burger King Corp. provides
a good example of what can be done to help.
Help with finding schools for the children, obtaining work visas for
spouses or older children, and providing English lessons for the entire
family are examples of services that may be required.
Structure assignments clearly; develop clear reporting relationships
and job responsibilities.
Create clear job objectives.
Develop performance measurements based on objectives.
Prepare expatriates and families for assignment, including full
briefings, and cultural and language training.
Develop continuing support for all involved.
Create a vehicle for ongoing communication with the expatriate.
Anticipate repatriation.
Consider developing a mentor program that will help monitor the
assignment and provide resources to intervene if there's trouble. 1 1 5
102 American City University Human Resource Management
GLOSSARY
Behavior modeling training-a training technique that exposes trainees to role models
of exceptional ability and then allows the trainees to practice these behaviors.
Evaluation is the process used to measure the outcomes that reflect the original
objectives
A flat structure has a short chain of command and a wide span of control.
Flextime-a working schedule that allows an employee a certain number of work hours
that can be arranged to suit the need of the employee.
American City University Glossary 103
Halo effect-is a social perception that creates an overall positive evaluation of a person
based on one known characteristic or trait
Human resources planning is the managerial process that attempts to ensure that the
right numbers and types of workers are in the right place at the right time doing the right
job at the right price in order to add value to the organization.
Job analysis-the systematic study of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a specific
job.
Job enlargement-the expansion of a job to include additional and more varied work
Job evaluation-the assessment of the relative value of a job in order to determine the
appropriate compensation
Planning is the process which involves assessing the gap between where we are and
we plan to be.
Span of control refers to the number of workers who are responsible to one
supervisor.
A tall structure has many layers of authority and a long chain of command).
Work specialization refers to how tasks are divided into individual jobs.
FINAL PROJECT
Your online facilitator will assign a final project during the course of the
semester. Therefore it is of great importance to ‘attend’ every session and pay
close attention.
108 American City University Human Resource Management
American City University Practice Tests 109
PRACTICE TESTS
Your online facilitator will discuss assignments and practice quizzes during the
course of the semester. Therefore it is of great importance to ‘attend’ every
session and pay close attention.
110 American City University Human Resource Management
American City University References 111
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