Dealing With Unsatisfactory Job Performance
When an employee's job performance is sub-par, it is the manager's responsibility to inform the employee. Ideally, once the problem has been pointed out, the manager and the employee establish objectives for improvement, along with strategies that w...
Social Responsibility and Profitability
One reason some organizations are hesitant to adopt social responsibility programs is cost. The argument here is that profit is the cornerstone on which a business is built, and that additional responsibilities only jeopardize the efficiency of prof...
Sources of Conflict
Some view conflict as an inevitable outgrowth of the combative side of human nature. In the business world, a basic source of conflict is competition for resources or recognition within an organization. But conflicts can also be driven by outside so...
Japanese and American Production Models
As long as other countries lacked industrial capacity, especially following World War II, U.S. companies could absorb tremendous inefficiency and still compete. All that changed when the Japanese developed new methods of integrating various aspects ...
Informal Communications Network, The
The informal communications network plays a powerful role in any organization. Communication of this nature frequently takes place prior to the formal communication process and is often driven by personal relationships.
Building Morale Case Study: Patagonia
Patagonia is a manufacturer of outdoor clothing. While the climate at some firms evolves without much thought or conscious planning, Patagonia's climate has been carefully molded to help employees realize their potential. Typical of the value Patago...
Break-Even Analysis and Audits
A break-even analysis allows managers to calculate at what point revenues will cover expenses, and to determine whether a specific project will generate enough income to cover both its fixed and variable costs. Most organizations are also subject to...
Budgets and Employee Morale
Financial controls affect every aspect of a company, including the behavior, attitudes and morale of employees. Often, most employees in an organization see the budget in very negative terms.
Conflict and Change Case Study: Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
Employees at most hospitals deal with conflict either by suffering in silence and allowing the conflict to fester, or complaining to superiors and expecting them to solve the problem. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center has instituted a system called ...
Controlling Case Study: Santa Anita Racetrack
The enormous amount of money that passes through the Santa Anita racetrack each day makes an effective controlling system extremely important. The flow of money is in large part tied to wagering, but there are other aspects of the racetrack operatio...