Fundamentals of Management

Improving American Eagle

Justin Mersinger Megan Fenimore

Shamyra LeakJaime Szyarto

JDI Areas We Targeted:

Work on the JobPay Supervision on the JobOpportunities for Promotion

JDS Areas We Targeted:

Task autonomyTask feedbackTask variety

An Example of Work on the Job

Problems with Work on the Job:

No skill variety/ BoringNo task autonomy/ Not challengingNo feedback

Our Specific Actions to Enhance Work on the Job:

1. Job rotation2. Job enlargement3. Job enrichment

Questions & Answers

Q: How costly would these actions be for the organization?A: The only action that should be costly is job rotation because people will have to be trained in more areas.

Q: Would there be any potential problems that may arise from these actions?A: Some employees may be less productive. More supervision may be needed. It also may disrupt work flow.

Questions & Answers Cont’d:

Q: Will all employees like these changes?A: Some employees may not feel as if their inputs match their outputs. Also, employees who need to be told exactly what to may not like these changes.

Q: How would the changes we make impact other people in the organization? A: It would force the managers to be more organized.

Pros/Benefits

Job rotation: Reduces boredom, increases motivation, more knowledge of how the job works, more flexibilityJob enlargement: Reduces boredom, given additional responsibilitiesJob enrichment: Reduces absenteeism and turnover, increases satisfaction

An Example of Promotion Opportunities

Problems with Promotion Opportunities:

There are none!There are only 2 positions: employee and managerThe chances of advancing to manager is slim to none.

Our Specific Actions to Enhance Promotion Opportunities:

Create a level between employee and manager that employees can advance to such as Lead cashier or Lead sales representative.

Questions & Answers:

Q: How costly would these actions be for the organization?A: It would obviously be more costly because the “lead employees” would need to be paid a little more than the regular employees.

Q: Would there be any potential problems that may arise from these actions?A: It could cause competition and/or resentment between employees.

Questions & Answers Cont’d:

Q: Will all employees like these changes?A: All employees probably wouldn’t like the changes. However, most should like knowing that if they work hard, they have a good chance of being promoted.

How would the changes we make impact other people in the organization?A: It will reduce overload for the managers because a chain network would be established.

An Example of Pay

Problems with Pay

No raiseMinimum wageNo holiday bonusesNo commissionNo overtime pay for overnight shifts

Our Specific Actions to Enhance Pay:

Some kind of raise, maybe $.50, every six months.Give holiday bonuses to year-around employees.Give commissions based on employee sales.Give time and a half for the overnight shift.

Questions & Answers:

Q: How costly would these actions be for the organization?A: It would be obviously in the short run, but not in the long run.

Q: Would there be any potential problems that may arise from these actions?A: There shouldn’t be any.

Questions & Answers Cont’d:

Q: Will all employees like these changes?A: Yes

Q: How would the changes we make impact other people in the organization?A: It would have a good impact on the managers because they will be able to keep workers.

An Example of the Supervisors

Problems with Supervisors

Product orientated vs. marketing orientated/ Too pushyDon’t have adequate knowledge of jobRole conflictAren’t reasonable when employees need to take offGive employees several tasks to do at the last minute (Role overload)Don’t have basic managerial skillsUnprofessionalViolate employee’s personal spaceCut employees’ shifts without proper notification

Our Specific Actions to Enhance Supervision on the Job

Supervisors needs to receive training or pass some kind of testSupervisors should be promoted employees or at least have manager experience in retailSupervisors should attend workshops every so often.Supervisors should be more professional.Supervisors should be respectful of employees.

Questions and Answers:

Q: How costly would these actions be for the organization? A: Training would obviously be costly; however it is necessary.

Q: Would there be any potential problems that may arise from these actions?A: No problems should arise from our suggestions.

Questions and Answers Cont’d:

Q: Will all employees like these changes?A: Yes, because their supervisors would be better.

Q: How would the changes we make impact other people in the organization?A: This would make everyone, supervisors and employees, better off.

Conclusion