Free Powerpoint TemplatesPage 1 K6211 Case Study Presentation The Meaning and the Satisfactions of Work S. Terkel Angeline leow Don Chai Erika Foo Elvin

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K6211Case Study Presentation

The Meaning and the Satisfactions of WorkS. Terkel

Angeline leow Don ChaiErika Foo

Elvin Yeo Wee KiatKai Wen Lim Theint Theint


IntroductionAbout S. Terkel, the Author• Louis "Studs" Terkel (May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008) was an

American author, historian, actor and broadcaster

• Received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1985 for his book The Good War

• Most recognised for his oral histories of man-in-the-streets Americans - Quote: “We recognize the police and the firefighters because of the World Trade Center. But they’ve always been there. Who built the Pyramids? Ayn Rand would say the Pharaohs. But the Pharaohs didn’t lift a finger.”

• Self-described "guerilla journalist"


About the article

• Extracted from Terkel's book "Working", published in 1974

• Verbatim oral recounts of their experiences at work

• Running theme:"Very few people find satisfaction in their work. Even fewer regard their working relationships as source of satisfaction."


Featured Workers1. Babe Secoli, checker at supermarket

6. Diane Wilson, processing clerk at a grant agency

5. Larry Ross, corporate veteran

2. Phil Stallings, spot-welder at Ford assembly plant

4. Tom Brand, manager at Ford assembly division, Chicago

3. Gary Bryner, president of Local 1112, UAW (United Auto Workers)


The thrust of our presentation...

Objectives

With reference to the 6 featured oral records, we shall infer and make sense of:

1. How intrinsic (for e.g. commitment, life's philosophy and attitude) and extrinsic (for e.g. culture, climate, esprit de corp) factors encourage or impede one's inclination to function as knowledge sources and assets at the workplace

2. The larger meaning of life and work


Observation Factors

Intrinsic Factors

• Commitment

• Sociability

• Life philosophy

• Passion

• Stress Level

• Attitude

• Care & Compassion

Extrinsic Factors

•Culture,

•Climate,

•Esprit de corps,

• rules, regulations, policies,

•availability of time (for reflection)


Commitment• Working over 30 years

• Always try to catch

shoplifters • “I’m here forty-five

minutes early every morning. I’ve never been late except for

that big snowstorm.”

1.Babe Secoli, checker at supermarket

There’s a lot of shoplifters in here. When I see one, I’m ready torun for them.

Life philosophy

It’s hard work, but I like it. This is my life.


Babe Secoli – Cont.

Passion When I’m on a vacation, I can’t wait to go, but two or three days

away, I start to get fidgety. I can’t stand around and do nothin’. I have to be busy at all times. I look forward to comin’ to work. It’s a great feeling.

Attitude There is no need to memorize the prices but she does.“I know the price of every one. Sometimes the boss asks me and I get a kick out of it.”

Environment Nice working environment. She is allowed to take a stroll outside. “I walk out the front door, take a few sniffs of air and come back in.”

What makes work satisfying for this knowledge asset!She makes things interesting for herself, challenges herself tomemorise prices, catch shoplifters.


2. Phil Stallings Spot - welder at Ford assembly plant

Commitment• Not committed, but stays for the money.

Sociability • Keeps to himself, as not a sociable

environment.

PassionVery low. Dreams of things he like when working to escape from his job reality

Stress LevelFeels stressed by being watched over a repetitive job.“I don't like the pressure, the intimidation... Should I leave this job to go to the bathroom I risk being fired.”

"I know I could find better places to work, But where could I get the money I'm making?"


Phil Stallings – Cont.• Attitude

He's actually hoping to do more, but more empowered, because he felt being held back. "But I'm against this thing where I'm being held back... As it is now, out of say, sixty jobs, I can do almost half of 'em. I want to get away from standing in one spot."

Care & CompassionActually cares about colleagues, but in self-denial. Yearns for more caring, brotherly environment.

Work environmentVery stressful environment where the workers are treated like robots, doing repetitive tasks, with very strict rules and regulations. Political environment because if the foreman doesn't like you, he can make life very difficult.

What makes work satisfying for this knowledge assetHe is a potential knowledge asset, as seen by him picking up various skills along the production line. But the company chose to not treat its line workers as knowledge assets.


3. Gary Bryner President of Local 1112, UAW (Auto worker's

union) CommitmentCommitted to what he believes is right.Fighting everyday of my life. And I enjoy it.

Sociability Immensely sociable and candid to be able to do his task, gather and exchange information. I weave in on both sides of the assembly line. From the right side, the passenger's side, to the driver's side. Talking to guys. You get into a little conversation.“

Life philosophy Think life's more than just money, dignity is most important.

PassionBelieves in the good of what he do."And I feel good all around when I'm able to stand up and speak foranother guy's rights.“

Stress Level Not stressed at all, because he simply enjoys what he is doing. Never spoke about stress, only enjoyment. With us, it becomes a human thing. It's the most enjoyable part of myjob, that moment. I love it!"

The almighty dollar is not the only thing in my estimation. There's more to it - how I'm treated.


Gary Bryner – Cont.

Attitude Does not blindly fight for welfare, but actually tries to be fight for the right reasons. He

laments "The guys are no happy here. They don't come home thinking, boy, I did a great job today...“

Care & Compassion Cares intensely for the members of the union. In fact, his job is to care for their welfare.

CultureWorkers are treated like robots, with a corporate guy saying "A monkey could do the job." Many rules and regulations, but the workers are fighting for time for reflection (e.g. to have time to read a newspaper). Rather than live with the environment, Bryner believes he can change it.

What makes work satisfying for this knowledge asset!Being able to positively impact the workers lives, and working on what he believes in.


4. Tom Brand

Manager at Ford Assembly Division, Chicago Commitment

“You’re responsible to make sure the car is built and built correctly.” – his role as plant manager

Sociability “I like people.”He walks down the production line and waves to the staff, and they will wave back“Many of them I know by name”“I’ll kid with one of them”

Life philosophy He believes he cannot do his job by just sitting in the office, or he will get divorced too much from the people. “The people are the key to the whole thing.”

Passion“I enjoy this work very much.”“You’re with people. I like people.”

I don’t think I’ll retire at 50. I’m not the type to sit around….


Tom Brand – Cont.

Stress Level 3 years ago, he had a lot of grievances because there was high

turnover

Attitude “You’re responsible to make sure the car is built and built

correctly.” – his role as plant manager

Care & CompassionHis staff will talk to him if they have grievances or feel unhappy.Does not believe in tough leadership“Human engineering”


5. Larry Ross, corporate veteranSociability

While he may not be sincere in doing it, socializing is part of his game.

PassionHe has already lost passion in the corporatejungle after all these years.

Stress Level His last job, he was president/CEO and always subject to the board of directors, who were pressured by stockholders.

Care & CompassionAs a consultant to top management, he is doing what he is doing because he used to be very good at survival in the corporate jungle. It is unlikely he has care & compassion. He relates that a climber of the corporate ladder is “terribly lonely” as he cannot confide with anyone, feels insecure

Here you socialize, you know each other. Everybody plays the game….


6. Diane Wilson PM & S section. Processing clerk

Commitment “We just leave in a group and go for a show. We don’t care. When we get back, they roll their eyes. They know they better not say anything, ‘cause they’ve done nothing when we’ver been gone anyhow. We do the work that we have to do.”

Sociability Sociable and interacts with colleagues. But in a negative manner – go for shows during office hours, “cooperates” to not tell on colleague who is late or disappears during office hours.

Life philosophy “You get used to it. It’s a job. I get my pay check. That’s it.”

Stress Level “You wish there was a better system. …. No, I’m not disturbed any more. If I was just starting on this job, I probably would. But the older I get, I realize it’s a farce.”

You get used to it. It’s a job. I get my pay check. That’s it…!


Diane Wilson – Cont.

Care & Compassion Cares enough not to give the grantees false hope?

Work environment Very lax attitude where no one really cares about the work and is late, or leaves early or takes long lunches. The boss that got “converted” tried to change the environment but the behaviors are so deeply rooted that he is not able to.

She doesn’t feel that processes that are in place are good enough. “You wish there was a better system”, but doesn’t feel empowered (or bothered enough) to improve it. Just goes along and does what she has to do.

What makes work satisfying for this knowledge asset !Can she be considered a knowledge asset? Seems just a intermediary robotically carrying out her work processes. Just interested in getting her job done, nothing more, nothing less, and getting her wages.


Conclusion

• What does work mean to you?

• How do we appreciate their experiences, and how do we find the truthfulness and its value of human life at work?


Thank You &

Happy

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Free Powerpoint TemplatesPage 1 K6211 Case Study Presentation The Meaning and the Satisfactions of Work S. Terkel Angeline leow Don Chai Erika Foo Elvin