Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources

1. Jaspreet Kaur’s company has a structured beginning and ending workday time of 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day Monday to Friday with a half hour for lunch. Each employee therefore works 40 hours a week. She has been noticing that some of her employees come in the morning already stressed from pre-work home duties or come in looking as if they are still asleep. In both of these situations she believes that these employees are less productive than those who come in bright and cheery.
She has spoken with you, her Human Resources (HR) manager, about how they might improve the situation…. Like strong coffee for the sleepy ones and meditation for the stressed-out ones. You have just finished studying an OB course that discussed alternate flexible work time arrangements.
Explain two of these alternative work hour arrangements that she might be able to use. (4 marks)
She is a bit skeptical about these ideas. You will need to be persuasive. Explain to her several different reasons (at least 2 each) why each of these would possibly help her resolve employee productivity issues. (8 marks)
2. Jamal is looking to hire a new Sales Manager for his expanding technology company. He is hoping to find someone who is dependable and organized, is positive and optimistic, curious and creative and is good a building relationships.
What are the 4 personality traits that Jamal is looking for in a new Sales Manager? (4 marks)
Explain why you think Jamal wants each of these 4 personality types in a Sales Manager? (8 marks)
3. Juanita has been working as a research assistant at a national newspaper chain for the last 5 years. She has a Diploma in Journalism from Langara College and had expected to be a reporter by now. However the newspaper business has not been expanding lately, in fact it has been shrinking – employment, profits, benefits and customers.
She has been finding her motivation at work declining and her job satisfaction with it.
a) Describe 2 job characteristics that are likely influencing Juanita’s job satisfaction. (4 marks)
b) Describe 2 reasons why the newspaper would benefit from improving Juanita’s job satisfaction. (4 marks)
c) Explain 2 ways that the newspaper could improve Juanita’s job satisfaction through intrinsic rewards. Try to be as specific as possible. (4 marks)