Performance Appraisals
A very important, yet often neglected aspect of managerial responsibility is performance appraisal. Simply stated, appraisals measure how well an employee is accomplishing assigned tasks. They also provide a means for communication between managers ...
Origins of Total Quality Management
The origins of the Total Quality Management philosophy can be traced back more than half a century to the work of W. Edwards Deming. In working with Japanese engineers and scientists to rebuild Japan's industrial capacity following World War Two, De...
Operational Efficiency Case Study: General Dynamics
General Dynamics' Convair Division produces weapons for the military. Under pressure to increase efficiency, the company instituted "just-in-time" production in 1990. In addition, Convair installed an automated warehouse system and began training wo...
Organizational Culture and Quality
In the 1980's, the issue of quality became so critical that an entire philosophy of management--known as total quality management, or "TQM,"--evolved. It was based on the notion that, ultimately, corporate success rests on quality. The impact of thi...
Organizational Culture: Manager's Role, The
A company's culture is much like the culture of a society. It is the sum total of that organization's behaviors, beliefs, and values. One outgrowth of a firm's culture is the environment or "climate" that exists within the organization. Along with w...
Employee Morale and the Auto Industry
During the 1960's and 70's, Japanese auto companies developed a new approach to managing their workers. They placed the workers on teams and gave them significantly more autonomy than ever before. This led to higher morale, which in turn led to bett...
Employee Morale Case Study: Solectron
Companies like Solectron (which has been acquired by another company) often utilize a number of systems, including teamwork and frequent meetings between managers and employees, to encourage employees to contribute their best ideas. The goal is to f...
Employee Training
Companies that are engaged in highly competitive industries, such as automobile and technology firms, are particularly aware of the dividends that can be gained from effective employee training programs.
Employee Involvement and Empowerment
As many companies increasingly recognize the value of employee involvement, the number of programs designed to encourage this involvement has steadily grown.
Social Issues and Employee Morale: Esprit
Esprit has long been known as a company that enjoys high morale among its work force. It encourages creativity, provides ample benefits and generally demonstrates a caring attitude towards its employees. But the company has also boosted employee mo...