Question

Based on this case study, you are now required to identify, discuss and evaluate a range of selected management theories and concepts from management that managers and organisations can use to operates efficiently and effectively. Although this is a report based on the real world (case study), you are still required to use academic sources including the textbook and journal articles as well as use academic citation and referencing conventions. A good analysis (in the discussion section) will include consideration of the factors that support and constrain the management and/or organisation’s response to the ensuring efficient and effective operations.

Please Answer

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction (indicated purpose of report and identifies the plan of the report)

3. Conclusion

4. Recommendations (Make some recommendations that you suggest the organization/manager should do achieve their purpose)

Sunset Prayers Frank Piechowski, plant manager for a refrigerator production plant, has just received his instructions from the vice-president for manufacturing. He is to hire 40 more temporary workers through Cities Staffing, the local labour agency. Frank already knows from past experience that most, if not all, of the new hires available to work the assembly line will be Muslim Somali refugees people who have emigrated from their war-torn native country en masse over the past 15 years The company, like all appliance manufacturers, is trying to survive in a highly competitive, mature industry. Appliance companies are competing mainly on price. The entrance of large chains has only intensified the price wars, not to mention that consumers can easily do comparison shopping before leaving home simply by logging onto the Internet. The pressure to keep production costs low is considerable That's where the Somali workers come in. In an effort to keep labour costs low, Frank is relying more and more on temporary workers rather than increasing the ranks of permanent employees Frank has been quite pleased with the Somali people already at work on the assembly line Although few in number, they are responsible, hard- working and willing to work for the wages he can afford to pay It was the first time this son of Polish immigrants has ever come into contact with Muslims, but so far, it has gone well. Frank has established a good working relationship with the Somalis spokesperson, Halima Adan, who explained that, unlike in most Western faiths, Islamic religious practices are inextricably woven into everyday life. So together, they worked out ways to accommodate Muslim customs. Frank authorised changes in the plant's cafeteria menu so the Somali workers had more options that conformed to their dietary restrictions, and he allowed women to wear traditional clothing as long as they weren't violating safety standards. Afterlearning that the Somalis would need to perform at least some of the ceremonial washing and prayers they are required to do five times a day during work hours, the plant manager set aside a quiet, clean room where they could observe their 15-minute rituals during their breaks and at sunset. The Maghrib sunset prayers that second shift workers had to perform were disruptive to a smooth workflow. Compared to their midday and afternoon rituals, the Muslim faithful had considerably less leeway as to when they said the sunset prayers, and of course, the sun set at a slightly different time each day. But so far, all of them, including Frank, had coped. But what was Frank going to do about the sunset prayers with an influx of 40 Somali workers that would dramatically increase the number of people who would need to leave the line to pray? Is it time to modify his policy? Has he reached the point where the accommodations Halima Adan would probably request crossed the line from reasonable to unreasonable? But if he changes his policy, wil he risk alienating his workforce? Samson, D., Donnet, T. & Daft, R. L. (2018). Management (6th Asia Pacific Ed.). South Melbourne, Vic: Cengage Learning Australia. Pages 558-559.

Answer 1

Summary:

Frank Is a polish immigrant and a plant manager for a refrigerator production plant. He has instructions from Vice President Production to hire 40 more workers from a local staffing agency. He has to hire temporary labor to keep cost in control and competitive. They can compete only on price as the consumer checks the prices online and make a decision primarily on the pricing. He has to keep the production costs in control.

Frank knows he will get Somali Muslim immigrants who have migrated 15 years back. He has understood that Muslim labor needs to follow their prayer regime as a part of their daily ritual. He has been considerate and has arranged a clean room for existing employees to pray. Currently, the evening workflow is disturbed when the workers of the second shift break for the sunset prayer. The influx of new workers will further disrupt the evening shift and he is challenged to find a way to handle this situation.

Introduction:

Frank the plant manager has to take the decision to allow the evening sunset prayer which might disrupt his evening workflow. This will result in upsetting the workforce both existing who are used to the break for prayer and the new worker who would like to pray and follow his religion systems. Frank has to come up with a solution to ensure the work continues and the workers are also comfortable with their prayer regime.

Alternatives:

Option 1: He can stop the prayer altogether and tell the team to pray at home and come to work.

This would result in the entire workforce getting upset with Frank and unable to give their best to the plant production. It will also reduce the availability of Muslim labor who might join other places where the work norms are more conducive to their prayer regime. He might lose the Muslim workforce as they are very particular about their faith and prayer schedule.

Option 2: He can make groups and allow the workforce to take breaks and pray in two groups.

This can result in disrupting the workflow and the sunset time is not predictable.

Option 3: He can adjust the evening break to match the approximate time of the sunset and extend it to 30 minutes.

This will satisfy most of the workers as they could fit in their prayer with the evening break, The only negative is that sunset is unpredictable. This could be taken into consideration by making the evening break longer and cutting short the other breaks later in the evening. The workers could reduce the later evening short breaks and take along evening break sorting out the entire problem and making Muslim workers feel at home.

Conclusion:

To conclude option 3 is the best where the break is extended to thirty minutes. The other two breaks will be reduced and the workers can easily pray during sunset time. The low-cost workers will like to work for the organization which takes into consideration their religious practices. Further, the company will benefit from the low-cost workers and the overall production cost will be lowered. This will result in lower selling prices and more sales. The company would see an overall price benefit and the business would grow.