Briefing Report on RKD Transport Case Study Essay Example for Free

Briefing Report on RKD Transport Case Study Essay This is a short briefing report based on research and critical analysis of various management literatures to develop solutions to the case study RKD Transport. As a graduate member of Business Consulting Group (BCG), I have been asked by the CEO to identify and evaluate issues that are perceived to be affecting work performance and cooperation at RKD Transport. The Managing Director (John) has asked BCG to review the situation as described in the case study, and has requested a report assessing the situation with comment on the issues that are raised and Johns proposed plan. This report also presents a range of options and recommendations as supported by research, which resolves the perceived problem about the implementation of John’s proposal a clear indication of the skills which can be taught to staff members. As of the dependable data in relation to what is taking place in the world of study into organizational behavior (OB) and management, the present line of thought and practice in OB programs can be applied to the case study. I. Point of View- graduate member of Business Consulting Group (BCG) Given the case material, the group has decided to take the point of view of the BCG’s graduate member on analysis to facilitate ease of recommending decisions to the management. II. Problem Statement The question posed by the case is thus: â€Å"What should the Managing Director, John do to effectively and efficiently introduce and implement his plan for the company? † III. Background of the Study Organizational behavior is concerned on personal and group dynamics in an institutional background and situation, over and above the character of the association themselves. Reports pertaining to this, try to figure out and form the various factors when persons in the group interrelate with one another. Comparable to all shared sciences, managerial studies seek to organize, forecast, and elucidate all the social happenings that are occurring in the given field, which can be taken as a foremost part in institutional progress and success. According to Arnold (2005), examples of the problems that OBM directs on are security, output, quality, and aptness. SWOT Analysis is the assessment by the decision making person or group of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats regarding preferred final position or purpose of a task or business. The goal of every SWOT investigation is to recognize the chief inner aspects, the strengths and weaknesses to the institute and outer features, the opportunities and threats exhibited by the outside setting to accomplishing the intention. The case study should be defined as an investigation technique, using SWOT Analysis involved in a project or in a business venture, as stated by the MCRPC Regional Planning Commission (2005). Strengths are elements of the organization which are of use to reaching the goal of the management. The assets of the RKD Transport workplace are the following: monetary and intellectual terms, site, infrastructure, and fundamental training. However, the weaknesses which are detrimental to attaining the purpose of the management are the following: good organization, work appraisal of employees, developed methods for doling out with main fields of human resources, poor at pulling off consequences through undirected aid of individual vigor, and partial running skill and proficiency. The opportunities of the organization, on the other hand, are the following: desiring to progress on the whole managerial efficacy through directorial growth and social organization line up and more broad supervision prospects entailing improvement of new executives. And lastly, the threats are the following: human resource input are not acknowledged by the upper administration who dodge it by making use of external advisors and transference having the result of eliminating units and removing intermediate organization strata to develop flatter arrangement of institution. IV. Alternative courses of action Organization design is a conventional channeled means for assimilating the personnel, information and tools of an establishment. It is utilized to go with the structure of the corporation as thoroughly as feasible to the points the business pursues to accomplish. Through the design process, a corporation takes steps to expand the likelihood that the shared efforts of affiliates will be exultant. Additionally, the concept of job design is important here which indicates the manner that a series of everyday responsibilities and jobs, are structured. This makes easier to ascertain what, how, how many, and in what order the responsibilities are completed in connection with the organization. Its principles can also direct predicaments in the workplace such as labor under load, monotony, inadequate manipulation over occupation, deferral in filling unoccupied stations, and partial perception of the entire work course (Jones, 2004). Executives must use Organizational Behavior Management since the achievement of the business is credited with the efficiency of their courses of action and the pleasant response of the staff, incorporating the key functions of management such as â€Å"planning, organizing, leading and controlling† (Buchanan, 2004). Here is a variety of options and recommendations which may be implemented to solve the particular problem of the company. 1. Change the type of leadership from paternalistic to democratic for the voice of the employees to be heard. John, the Managing Director of RKD Transport, must change the way of administrating his subordinates. He must develop an employee-oriented method by trying to motivate his employees rather than direct or control his subordinates (Burns, 2003). Furthermore, he would have to depend not only to his own capabilities but must encourage his own subordinates to participate, thus, resulting to developing managerial abilities of the subordinates. The style of leadership of John, indeed, can have significant impact on the performance and satisfaction of his subordinates so his leadership style should have the characteristic manner in which he makes decisions affecting his subordinates and exercises influence to elicit their compliance with, commitment to, and support for his directives. He must encourage his subordinates in decisions that affect them, forming a friendly, trusting, and respectful leadership with group members, and must act promptly with this said concern. 2. Make a prior notice that the manager would downsize employees of the work force. It is indicated in the case problem that labor turnover is low. In order to achieve effective control over direct labor costs, John must apply downsizing and layoff strategies. But he must make use of consensus first in making decisions for the company for the employees to be given a chance to change their attitude towards work. These approaches for layoffs and downsizing will lessen the harm to those workers who will be laid off and to the employees who will stay behind. This also presents a practical prospect for a healthier outlook for the business and the business’ stakeholders. Downscaling in this way falls into the kind of administration means for accomplishing preferred adjustment, a good deal like downsizing examination. The following factors must be considered in considering this: Is the business being upright to its human elements? Has the necessary stipulation which may head to a number of complicated resolutions been conveyed to the business’s staff? Have the employees been able to supply input? Have the administration conscientiously supposed the outcome for those workforce? How will this influence those who may lose their work? How will this concern those who stay with their job? Does the strategy for modification present the business to attain improved outcome in the future? (Hickok, 2007). 3. The managing director would still be strict and objective, and would monitor the employees himself. John would continue to be hard-working, spending time inspecting the personnel and meticulously supervising the business process by plotting strategies, captivating counteractive deeds of this customary viewpoint. But some conflicts may arise because in implementing this kind of procedure. John’s status here as the person in charge is at risk in view of the fact that discords from his subordinates may take place against him (Haslam, 2003). 4. Assign more supervisors which will monitor the employees’ performance. By this course of action, the personnel can be monitored well if they are doing their jobs effectively and efficiently because they have to meet with the deadline. This could provide the management an objective assessment of each worker’s performance. It must be remembered that the input of workers in the business is a crucial part in the success of the company. 5. John must be further trained as managing director position in the company. To be considered an efficient and effective managing director, John must possess personality characteristics such as self confidence, aggressiveness, dominance, and adaptability. Additionally, he must also have the skills like sensitivity in dealing with others, intelligence, and job mastery which he can use in supervising his constituents. So he must be further trained to have these characteristics to become an efficient and effective leader. Successful directors essentially sets up a working atmosphere in which human resources would like to carry out their jobs properly. To realize the far more constructive work milieu, performance study edifies administrators on how to efficiently handle their positions as affirmed by Holman (2003). John may acquire the knowledge and skills though attending seminars, hands on training, and the like. 6. John must conduct research of the leadership style of former managers of the RKD Transport and examine what is the most appropriate approach in running the Management division. He must critically study the past records of the former managers of the company and their leadership styles and see what the best way of treating employees is during those times and apply it with the present situation, with the integration of interior appraisals of the business SWOT. This recommendation requires the enclosure of an evaluation of the current state of affairs, as well as the assessment of their extent. 7. RKD Transport pay rates must be adjusted to what the company can afford and are just right for the employees. Since workers perceive that the management was sympathetic to them, pay rates are considered high. Besides, there are other benefits offered to the employees by the company like sufficient compensation for shifting workers, provision for emergency loan, and many more. The conventional employee performance system relies on direct supervision, the wage and salary compensation system, and annual performance reviews, merit pay increases and promotions as rewards for exceptional performance (Staw, 2004); though an indispensable budgeting aspect must be of great consideration for the company’s success.