Answer to Question #175289 in Management for david

Question

Question 2 a. Workers of Frimps Oil are disgruntled over their working conditions and this has led to low productivity, in your view how Abraham Maslow’s theory of can needs be used to enhance productivity at Frimps oil? And what challenges are likely to be faced by management in the application of the theory. EV [10 marks] b. Apart from Abraham Maslow’s theory, compare and contrast how the use of Gannt Chart and time and motion studies can be used as a tool for improving productivity in Frimps oil? CR [10 marks]c. In the process of managing employees of Frimps Oil, considering the nature of the problem, what skills and knowledge should be possessed by a manager in such a situation and what would be the benefit of those skills and knowledge in enhancing productivity.

Answer 1

a. The most basic needs of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy are Physiological, with food, shelter, and water forming the basic level. Next, are safety needs that include employment, shelter, resources, property, etc. While the workers at John Oil may be getting their basic safety needs covered with employment and access to shelter, the needs above this, which include Esteem Needs are probably unfulfilled.  These needs include respect, self-worth, and feelings of accomplishment. To enhance productivity, there needs to be an acknowledgment of their effort and contributions. An event can be organized to thank them, maybe some new incentives can be introduced that reward them for extra input or time put into the day. Creating a standardized rate of incentive increase for every year can also be motivational.

For the management, it will be additional work to make sure the workers are feeling appreciated and being taken for granted. They will need to speak better with the workers, motivate them, and actually be involved in making them feel better about their work. Including them in events can also help increase productivity by making them feel wanted and secure.

b. As per the Gantt Chart, the managers could organize a flow chart that would outline the end task (summary element) of the work required, and all the multiple steps that lead to finally finishing the task. Then the work can thus be distributed amongst the workers at John Oils to make sure everyone gets a task that they can perform well and also ensure that the work will be completed in minimal time with the correct processes in place. If the managers are to also follow his bonus system, then they would offer an incentive to complete tasks at a faster pace than they usually do.

While the Gantt Chart focuses on the tasks themselves, time and motion studies conducted by Lilian and Frank Gilbreth focus on the efficiency and wellbeing of the workers. In this situation, a study would need to be carried out by the managers to understand how much time was being wasted in redundant steps, how the tools and resources or processes could be improved upon to ensure the efficiency of the work while also keeping the workers' comfort in mind. Maybe some new equipment that would make their work easier and quicker would help in this case. This method is more focusses on the workers themselves. That is the main difference between Time and Motion studies and The Gantt Chart.

c. The Manager needs to have a basic understanding of ergonomics, which is what the Gantt Chart, Time and Motion studies, and Fredrick Taylor mainly studies and theorizes. It would be important for him to have a good understanding of scientific management to ensure productivity flows while maintaining efficiency a the workplace.

Apart from this, it is also essential for the manager to have empathy, problem-solving, and conflict management skills. With just knowledge of scientific management, he will not be able to solve human problems like the lack of motivation, self-worth, etc that the workers are feeling. They should be someone who can encourage the workers, develop a good relationship with them where they can trust him and he can, in turn, motivate them to perform better.