Key learning from the Boat building exercise

 Creating teams - The first and the most important thing for any organisation is to
form teams. The leader i.e. the CEO and Union leader are selected before any
planning is made regarding working of the organization. Discussions regarding the
appointment of CEO and Union leader are done thoroughly and accordingly the most
appropriate and competent person is selected for the posts through mutual
understanding. The remaining persons are then divided into departments/teams
according to individual preferences and abilities. I believe teams should be selected
only a by competent authority who knows the requirement of the job assign jobs as
per the competency and not individual needs.
 Building Leadership Skills - Leaders evolved within departments who took over the
responsibilities and tried to channelize the views of the department towards the goal. I
believe it is highly important that leaders emerge within department who can shoulder
the responsibilities of the group and give direction to the group. While taking the
leaders role I believe he should not be over imposing his ideas or trying to be rude
and acting as superior over his colleagues.
 Team Work + Challenge = Success – Working in teams and challenging yourself to
achieve targets can be highly rewarding. When people in a group use their strengths
to the fullest it can also compensate for the weaknesses of others. When some
members of a group were unable to perform the task assigned to them effectively,
other group members and also members of other departments helped them in
performing the tasks assigned to them. This helped in effective implementation and
faster completion of tasks.
 Planning and Budgeting – Before the start of manufacturing activity it is highly
important to budget and plan future requirements and wants of manufacturing
department. The cost analysis can provide us with 1) Measurement of inventory and
cost of goods sold 2) Cost data for outside organization like banks and registrar’s
office 3) Facts for production managers to be used for cost cutting and control. I
observed that there was no planning and budgeting done before the start of
manufacturing activity which caused many problems during the latter part.

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  Motivation – Some of the group members were not very participative in the exercise
and played little or no role in the boat building process. I believe every organisation
had such members but to get the best out of them it is highly essential for the leader
and other team members to motivate them.
 Team Structure and Roles – It is highly important that employees of the
organisation are clear about the roles to be played and departments which have been
assigned to them. Role ambiguity creates problem in the smooth functioning of the
organization. But if employees work over and above the scope of their work, it can
prove to be beneficial for the development of the organization and individuals.
 Employee Psychology – Most of the employees work for the benefit of organization
if they are made to feel a part of the organization. They want to help the organization
grow by helping them to achieve their targets and goals. Employees encouraged their
leaders to work under the table and helped higher authorities in any wrong doing
which could be beneficial for the organization.
 Formation of Cartel – Explicit agreement amongst competing groups is made when
coming together of competing firms is beneficial for both the organizations. Similar
cost structures help of firms help make it easier for them to co-ordinate and thus help
in reducing overall costs for all the firms and thus increasing profits. Inspite of cartels
being banned by Government Authorities firms tend to form cartels for their own
benefits.
 Indifferent Attitude of Government Authorities – A key learning is that in India
government authorities are highly indifferent towards their work and tend to work
only if it benefits them. As observed the registrar did not stop the hoarding in prices
being done by one group which had bought all the materials from the supplier as the
registrar could not see any personal benefits. Inspite of concentrated efforts by the
supplier the registrar did not stop the group from hoarding prices till the time he was
not given money by the supplier to take action against the group. I feel this is how
operations take place in the world where government authorities are always interested
in personal gains and not work according to the laws laid down.

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