Executive Summary: Plato’s speculations and assertions on the nature of human psyche have withstood the test of time and are a useful aid to modern managers. Plato defined the abstract and the rational as equivalent to the moral good. He equated self-knowledge with self-restraint, and proclaimed that knowledge is virtue. According to Plato, the psyche…
Category: Management
How are customers’ needs different for timeshare units than for hotel rooms?
There are various differences in customers’ needs for timeshare units compared to hotel rooms. Timeshare houses are sought for their exotic locales, ideally suited to tourists and vacationers wanting to enjoy nature in its pristine form. Hotel rooms, on the other hand, are used for far broader range of purposes. These purposes could either be…
Do you agree that managers should find ways to have fun in the work environment after a layoff? Why or why not?
While a vibrant workplace will be one that encourages humor and fun, reaching business goals is ultimately serious business. Moreover, the mood is not conducive to the idea of ‘fun’ immediately after a layoff. Here, again, there are no rules of thumb for managers to follow. Motivation theories can offer a guideline to tackle these…
Will performance recognition motivate layoff survivors?
It is a fact that surviving members owe it to the managers for retaining their presence in the employee rolls. The task of management is to make employees feel gratuitous for this recognition. This, in turn, could aid in their renewed commitment to their own careers as well as appreciation for the managers who have…
To what extent is Bill Conaty’s advice consistent with equity and expectancy theory?
Coming to the case study in question, the observations made by Bill Conaty, former HR Manager at General Electric, are very pragmatic. Conaty is someone who believes in an equitable and compassionate mode of management. In this spirit, the difficult process of layoffs can be handled by upholding basic principles of fairness. These three steps…
Why is it important to focus on motivating employees who survive a layoff?
Motivating employees is a key leadership function in a business organization. Without a motivated workforce, productivity, efficiency and overall morale of the organization will fall. The challenge for managers lays in identifying motivation strategies that suit a particular group of workers as there are no hard-cast and universal rules governing motivation strategies. In other words,…
Successes of the United States Marine Corps Combined Action Program in South Vietnam
Explain the role of US Marines in the CAP. What was their unit organization and daily life like? Cite a specific patrol as an example of how CAP worked with indigenous force personnel. Identify three key strengths of the CAP and demonstrate three examples and their overall effectiveness in the war in South Vietnam. Give…
Book review: The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams by Ken Blanchard
The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams is co-authored by Ken Blanchard, Donald Carew and Eunice Parisi-Carew. It is a valuable addition to the genre of self-help management books. The One Minute series of books by Ken Blanchard and his team of management gurus have become indispensible sources of scholarship. These books explain in…
Management Research: Merger & Expansion
The fictitious company chosen for this exercise is a medium-sized investment bank called Armor Bank, which has a footprint in states in Southern United States. The bank has plans for penetrating markets in the rest of the country and is mulling options for a merger. Explain why government regulation is needed, citing the major reasons…
The roles and responsibilities of an Occupational Health and Safety Manager
Introduction: The roles and responsibilities of an Occupational Health and Safety Manager are very challenging. The wellbeing of workers is so important that negligence in this area could lead to poor productivity, negative publicity and higher risk of fatalities. This is especially true in the transport industry, where accidents are almost inevitable. Hence, as the…