It is important to develop jobs that motivate because if you don’t your turnover rate is going to be really high. People won’t enjoy their job, so therefore they are going to go to a different company to work where they might have a more motivating job. A monotonous job is the worst thing in the world to have because there is no feeling of accomplishment. Yeah, you might have been able to produce this one thing many times but what is that thing worth to you after doing it so many times. It becomes of little worth. I am grateful that I have had jobs that were interesting and fun, even if it was working. This summer I worked on a construction crew, but we had fun because there was something different every day.
I enjoyed learning about the guy who is the CEO of General Electric and how he cuts the lowest 20% of the company. Everyone in the company knows that if you fall below that 20% mark that you are out. That is a motivating factor for everyone in the company. They know that they have to work hard to make the cut, and if they don’t they know that they are gone. It won’t be a surprise to them. When you hold people to high expectations, they should rise to those expectations. If they don’t, get rid of them. If they think they can get by on the bare minimum, then you need to show them that that is not how the company is run.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Discussion Topic #5
Concept and Brief Description:
Outsourcing and Temporary Workers
It is important to a company to hire temporary workers when there is a jump in demand and they know that it won’t last. They hire the temporary worker knowing that they will not keep them for long. If they are a good worker that will benefit the company in the long run, they will put him on their permanent workers list and pay him the normal wage. Outsourcing is a great way to cut costs and improve the overall quality of a company. Outsourcing lets a company concentrate on what they need to get done and hire out the other things that they don’t have the resources for. Most often it is cheaper than what the original company can do it for.
Emotional Hook:
What if your company was in a crunch and they were unable to hire full-time employees because of costs or time restraints, what would be the best option for the benefit of the company? Outsourcing is a way to get things done fast and at a cheaper cost to the company. Temporary workers let you have more human labor at a cheaper cost.
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
Outsourcing overseas cuts cost dramatically because the cost of human labor is much less. This problem takes away US jobs and puts those jobs in foreign hands. Especially in the manufacturing companies that develop physical products.
Temporary workers are not paid the full-time employee wages or benefits because they are not going to be there for long. Temporary workers can bring in new knowledge that they have been trained in with other companies, therefore you bet the benefits of their past knowledge. They also have different outlooks ore experiences that maybe full-time employees don’t have.
Facilitative Questions:
What if your job got outsourced and you were fired from your job? If your company hired a group of temporary workers looking to fill your position in the near future, how would you treat them?
Outsourcing and Temporary Workers
It is important to a company to hire temporary workers when there is a jump in demand and they know that it won’t last. They hire the temporary worker knowing that they will not keep them for long. If they are a good worker that will benefit the company in the long run, they will put him on their permanent workers list and pay him the normal wage. Outsourcing is a great way to cut costs and improve the overall quality of a company. Outsourcing lets a company concentrate on what they need to get done and hire out the other things that they don’t have the resources for. Most often it is cheaper than what the original company can do it for.
Emotional Hook:
What if your company was in a crunch and they were unable to hire full-time employees because of costs or time restraints, what would be the best option for the benefit of the company? Outsourcing is a way to get things done fast and at a cheaper cost to the company. Temporary workers let you have more human labor at a cheaper cost.
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
Outsourcing overseas cuts cost dramatically because the cost of human labor is much less. This problem takes away US jobs and puts those jobs in foreign hands. Especially in the manufacturing companies that develop physical products.
Temporary workers are not paid the full-time employee wages or benefits because they are not going to be there for long. Temporary workers can bring in new knowledge that they have been trained in with other companies, therefore you bet the benefits of their past knowledge. They also have different outlooks ore experiences that maybe full-time employees don’t have.
Facilitative Questions:
What if your job got outsourced and you were fired from your job? If your company hired a group of temporary workers looking to fill your position in the near future, how would you treat them?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Learning Reflection
In class we learned that rather than taking a case all the way through court, companies are just settling with people who are suing them. They are doing this because court costs are so high that settling is more cost effective. It is crazy to think this because I feel that this will lead to more people suing other companies because if they know that they won’t be questioned and they feel that their reason is legitimate, then they will sue every time. This will create a bad habit among our society if this keeps happening because we are rewarding those people who sue. The people who sue are just out for money and when they get it they will just keep on trying to sue other companies for stupid reasons.
I feel that it is funny when people think they should have privacy when they are on the job. They don’t understand that everything they use is provided by the company. The computer, the internet, the programs that they use on a daily basis is all provided by the company that they work for. When a person abuses those privileges and misuses the internet for their personal use and is also wasting company time, they should be punished for it. If they are not punished then they will just keep using the bad habit of abusing their work time and the things available to them in the workplace.
I feel that it is funny when people think they should have privacy when they are on the job. They don’t understand that everything they use is provided by the company. The computer, the internet, the programs that they use on a daily basis is all provided by the company that they work for. When a person abuses those privileges and misuses the internet for their personal use and is also wasting company time, they should be punished for it. If they are not punished then they will just keep using the bad habit of abusing their work time and the things available to them in the workplace.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Discussion Topic #4
Concept and Brief Description:
Designing Jobs that Motivate
It is important to have a job that is both motivating and enjoyable. That is why some companies design jobs that motivate their employees. If a job is motivating, the employee will be more likely to enjoy working, therefore they will stay at the company for a longer period of time. This not only cuts costs for the company but they also have more effective employees that are loyal to the company.
There are many ways to design a job that is motivating. If companies would just use more of these motivational options, employee retainment would be higher.
Emotional Hook:
How would you enjoy a job that you hated going to because it was repetitious, doing the same thing day in and day out, without seeing anything through the whole process, and having somebody telling you what to do constantly? Would you stay at that job for long?
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
There are certain things a company can do to make the job motivating for the employee. Some of these things are skill variety, task significance, autonomy, flexible schedules, telework, and job enrichment, just to name a few.
Facilitative Questions:
Wouldn't a job be more exciting and motivating if you were able to work with others on a project that is important and has a purpose in the company? Wouldn't you be more motivated to do a good job if others were counting on you to complete your part of the project?
Designing Jobs that Motivate
It is important to have a job that is both motivating and enjoyable. That is why some companies design jobs that motivate their employees. If a job is motivating, the employee will be more likely to enjoy working, therefore they will stay at the company for a longer period of time. This not only cuts costs for the company but they also have more effective employees that are loyal to the company.
There are many ways to design a job that is motivating. If companies would just use more of these motivational options, employee retainment would be higher.
Emotional Hook:
How would you enjoy a job that you hated going to because it was repetitious, doing the same thing day in and day out, without seeing anything through the whole process, and having somebody telling you what to do constantly? Would you stay at that job for long?
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
There are certain things a company can do to make the job motivating for the employee. Some of these things are skill variety, task significance, autonomy, flexible schedules, telework, and job enrichment, just to name a few.
Facilitative Questions:
Wouldn't a job be more exciting and motivating if you were able to work with others on a project that is important and has a purpose in the company? Wouldn't you be more motivated to do a good job if others were counting on you to complete your part of the project?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Learning Reflections #3
For our last class I learned more in depth about the different amendments, laws, and acts that were created most recently that had a major impact on Equal Employment Opportunities. It really is important to have equal opportunities for everyone to be able to work and sustain their families, providing them with the necessities of life. As a country we are not perfect, but with these laws and regulations in place we can create a society that is just and fair to all.
I feel that it is important to have jobs for people who are disabled because they need to feel like they are part of the community and are able to have a job also. A lot of the time it isn’t their fault that they are disabled. We need to focus on the things and the abilities that they do have and create a position for them that they can handle and progress in.
I think that it is good of employers to give veterans and people who have served in the military their jobs back when they return and with the same pay. That is pretty honorable of them to do that. It lets the soldier know that when they return home they won’t have to look for another job, but that they will have one waiting for them.
I feel that it is important to have jobs for people who are disabled because they need to feel like they are part of the community and are able to have a job also. A lot of the time it isn’t their fault that they are disabled. We need to focus on the things and the abilities that they do have and create a position for them that they can handle and progress in.
I think that it is good of employers to give veterans and people who have served in the military their jobs back when they return and with the same pay. That is pretty honorable of them to do that. It lets the soldier know that when they return home they won’t have to look for another job, but that they will have one waiting for them.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Discussion Topic #3
Concept and Brief Description:
The business world is ever changing so a person needs to continually upgrade and update their knowledge in the field. That is why University programs are now offering specialization in the field of Human Resource management in post-graduate studies. In the past, human resources were part of the hiring and played a passive role. Today, human resources are an active group in consulting and participating in the process that helps the company grow to its highest potential. They communicate closely with business managers to provide the right solutions for progressive development.
Emotional Hook (provocative question/claim/real-life problem):
If you are in a changing world that has something new developed everyday, wouldn't you want to be taught and learn about the new developments that could improve your company and create a better work area?
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
Sometimes people get stuck in the company culture and they need outside sources that will help them break the ice and create useful ideas for their company. Continuing education in a university or other institute will bring you up to date on modern technology and ideas for you to implement in the company. A person should be constantly learning new ideas so they increase their knowledge and also for the benefit of the company and themselves.
Facilitative Questions:
Wouldn't it be wise in continue your education so you are more valuable to the company, rather than being the one that never has any new ideas and is next on the transfer or firing list?
The business world is ever changing so a person needs to continually upgrade and update their knowledge in the field. That is why University programs are now offering specialization in the field of Human Resource management in post-graduate studies. In the past, human resources were part of the hiring and played a passive role. Today, human resources are an active group in consulting and participating in the process that helps the company grow to its highest potential. They communicate closely with business managers to provide the right solutions for progressive development.
Emotional Hook (provocative question/claim/real-life problem):
If you are in a changing world that has something new developed everyday, wouldn't you want to be taught and learn about the new developments that could improve your company and create a better work area?
Key Points to Elicit in Discussion:
Sometimes people get stuck in the company culture and they need outside sources that will help them break the ice and create useful ideas for their company. Continuing education in a university or other institute will bring you up to date on modern technology and ideas for you to implement in the company. A person should be constantly learning new ideas so they increase their knowledge and also for the benefit of the company and themselves.
Facilitative Questions:
Wouldn't it be wise in continue your education so you are more valuable to the company, rather than being the one that never has any new ideas and is next on the transfer or firing list?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Learning Reflection #2
Class was very interesting today going over the rest of chapter 2. I really didn’t realize that there was going to be such a deficiency of people to fill the positions that will be open when the baby boomers retire. There is an aging workforce that we are dealing with right now. We will not be able to fill the void of jobs. We don’t have the labor supply to fill these jobs. The jobs are high level positions and there won’t be enough people who are in the position to fill those jobs. It is hard to fathom this concept because there are so many people in the US, but supposedly it is going to happen in the next 10-20 years and we need to prepare ourselves for it. If this does happen, then there should be minimal unemployment in our country, which is a drastic change than what it is now.
Employee empowerment is huge to the success of a business. Employees need to feel that they are a part of something larger than themselves and that they have a say in what goes on. They need to feel that they are cared for and they are important. I feel that this is not happening in many companies and that that is why there is no loyalty to companies anymore. Many companies have a high turnover rate because everyone is selfishly looking for something better, watching out for only themselves, and not caring about the needs of others.
Employee empowerment is huge to the success of a business. Employees need to feel that they are a part of something larger than themselves and that they have a say in what goes on. They need to feel that they are cared for and they are important. I feel that this is not happening in many companies and that that is why there is no loyalty to companies anymore. Many companies have a high turnover rate because everyone is selfishly looking for something better, watching out for only themselves, and not caring about the needs of others.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Discussion Topic #2
Concept and brief description:
The OSH Act has been a very important and monumental act that has created a safer atmosphere in the work area. When it comes to construction sites and building sites where there is lots of manual labor going on, then this act has changed the way they do business. Before the act the workers were in harm’s way and they had many accidents where their life was threatened and some even died. Now the employers are responsible for what happens to their employees. If they don’t take into consideration the many safety practices that are now required by OSHA they will be penalized very heavily for the violations they make in their safety on the job site.
Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):
I have personally worked on a construction crew many times where I felt my life was in my hands and if I made one mistake that I could have fallen off a building and hurt myself very badly. For those reasons, they make a safety harness for people who are high up on buildings. They are anchored down to a sturdy area of the building and they are able to move around in places they usually couldn’t without the harness and anchors. I was a roofer working on really tall buildings and homes with really steep roofs. That is why I needed the harness.
Key points to elicit in discussion :
Before OSHA, employers demanded a lot of risk taking by their employees because they were dispensable. Now if their employees get hurt then they are responsible for them and have to take care of them and pay for their injuries. That has a bad reputation on the builder, so he wants to be safe and not get any violations from OSHA because they are very expensive and they also slow down production.
Facilitative questions:
What if you were working somewhere and you felt that your safety was at risk? Wouldn’t you want to be safe and take certain precautions so you don’t get in an accident?
The OSH Act has been a very important and monumental act that has created a safer atmosphere in the work area. When it comes to construction sites and building sites where there is lots of manual labor going on, then this act has changed the way they do business. Before the act the workers were in harm’s way and they had many accidents where their life was threatened and some even died. Now the employers are responsible for what happens to their employees. If they don’t take into consideration the many safety practices that are now required by OSHA they will be penalized very heavily for the violations they make in their safety on the job site.
Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):
I have personally worked on a construction crew many times where I felt my life was in my hands and if I made one mistake that I could have fallen off a building and hurt myself very badly. For those reasons, they make a safety harness for people who are high up on buildings. They are anchored down to a sturdy area of the building and they are able to move around in places they usually couldn’t without the harness and anchors. I was a roofer working on really tall buildings and homes with really steep roofs. That is why I needed the harness.
Key points to elicit in discussion :
Before OSHA, employers demanded a lot of risk taking by their employees because they were dispensable. Now if their employees get hurt then they are responsible for them and have to take care of them and pay for their injuries. That has a bad reputation on the builder, so he wants to be safe and not get any violations from OSHA because they are very expensive and they also slow down production.
Facilitative questions:
What if you were working somewhere and you felt that your safety was at risk? Wouldn’t you want to be safe and take certain precautions so you don’t get in an accident?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Learning Reflections
The movie “Management by Inspiration” really helped me see that there is a possibility for a company in any aspect of business to be world famous. It is about a fish market that was about to go out of business. They partnered up with a consulting firm that helped them go from a suffering fish market to a world renowned fish market that is known for its customer service and its high energy atmosphere. The owner of the company had to learn a new way of trusting people and give away the power that he had. He gave that power to the employees so they can feel that power of personal responsibility. They future was bleak when they were close to going out of business but the future was unknown. This company was able to create their future because anything was possible. They were also able to change their way of how they treated the customer. Before, it was the mentality that people were just a number and now they relate to the customer and interact with them which in turn makes fish buying a fun process.
Leveraging human capital is a very important aspect of a company and they want the most out of it. Empowering the employee is one way to get the most out of them. They feel a responsibility and that they are in control over it.
Leveraging human capital is a very important aspect of a company and they want the most out of it. Empowering the employee is one way to get the most out of them. They feel a responsibility and that they are in control over it.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Discussion topic #1
Concept and brief description:
Higher Age in the Workforce:
There has been an increase in the age of workers. Our elderly are spending more of their retirement years working to make enough to be able to retire sometime soon in the future. The retirement age has also increased due to the economy and due to people’s inability to save money. We are a nation of credit and we are beginning to see the results that come from that. The fastest growing group in the workforce are people who are 55 years and older. This affects all of the job force because the younger generations are unable to fill those spots if people are not retiring from them.
Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):
What if you are unable to get a job in the field that you want due to the older generation working longer into their retirement years or even until they die? Would this affect your ability to secure a stable job in your career? If you can’t get a job in the area that you desire, you will have to look at some other area that may not be so pleasant or interesting.
Key points to elicit in discussion
The older generation will need new training so they are able to have the skills needed to do a better job. Health insurance for the company will be more expensive to cover the costs of the older workers so therefore the younger generation will be forced to pay more for their own coverage.
Facilitative questions
How can we adapt to the growing age of the workers? Will this facilitate in growth or will it be an expense?
Higher Age in the Workforce:
There has been an increase in the age of workers. Our elderly are spending more of their retirement years working to make enough to be able to retire sometime soon in the future. The retirement age has also increased due to the economy and due to people’s inability to save money. We are a nation of credit and we are beginning to see the results that come from that. The fastest growing group in the workforce are people who are 55 years and older. This affects all of the job force because the younger generations are unable to fill those spots if people are not retiring from them.
Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):
What if you are unable to get a job in the field that you want due to the older generation working longer into their retirement years or even until they die? Would this affect your ability to secure a stable job in your career? If you can’t get a job in the area that you desire, you will have to look at some other area that may not be so pleasant or interesting.
Key points to elicit in discussion
The older generation will need new training so they are able to have the skills needed to do a better job. Health insurance for the company will be more expensive to cover the costs of the older workers so therefore the younger generation will be forced to pay more for their own coverage.
Facilitative questions
How can we adapt to the growing age of the workers? Will this facilitate in growth or will it be an expense?
Introduction
Hi Everyone!
My name is Skyler MacDonald. I am from the great state of Oregon. I was born there and I grew up there. My family currently resides in Oceanside, Oregon which is right next to the beach so I always love going back home. It is a beautiful area! I am the only child in my family. I have been happily married for one year so I now have many brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and I get along just great with them.
I have attended BYU and I was a javelin thrower for the Track and Field team for a couple of years. I tore my UCL in my elbow almost three years ago so I got the Tommy John’s surgery done and now I am training to compete in the javelin this spring. I really enjoy throwing so that is why I am continuing to throw. Don’t worry. I plan on not tearing my UCL this time!
This is my second year at UVU and I am majoring in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in Business Management and Outdoor Leadership. I have a year left for my bachelors and I am planning on getting my MBA, so I still have plenty of school left to do.
I enjoy the outdoors so I love to camp, hike, fish, and hunt. I really enjoy playing sports but mostly I enjoy basketball, track and field, soccer, football, and volleyball. I grew up in a town in Eastern Oregon named La Grande and it is in the middle of prime mountain area, so that is where I roamed as a young kid. I would always go hiking in the Eagle Cap Mountains or the Elkhorn Mountains. It is a sweet area if you like to be outside.
Some of my previous jobs have been fun and interesting. This past summer my wife and I went to Montana and I roofed for the whole summer. It was a good job because I learned a very important skill that I will always be able to use in the future. I also got really efficient at ripping roofs off and then replacing them with good roofing. I have been a real estate consultant and I just recently came off of that to concentrate on my schooling and javelin throwing. I have been in construction since I was 14 years old, so I enjoy doing all of that.
I hope you have enjoyed reading a little bit about me.
My name is Skyler MacDonald. I am from the great state of Oregon. I was born there and I grew up there. My family currently resides in Oceanside, Oregon which is right next to the beach so I always love going back home. It is a beautiful area! I am the only child in my family. I have been happily married for one year so I now have many brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and I get along just great with them.
I have attended BYU and I was a javelin thrower for the Track and Field team for a couple of years. I tore my UCL in my elbow almost three years ago so I got the Tommy John’s surgery done and now I am training to compete in the javelin this spring. I really enjoy throwing so that is why I am continuing to throw. Don’t worry. I plan on not tearing my UCL this time!
This is my second year at UVU and I am majoring in Integrated Studies with an emphasis in Business Management and Outdoor Leadership. I have a year left for my bachelors and I am planning on getting my MBA, so I still have plenty of school left to do.
I enjoy the outdoors so I love to camp, hike, fish, and hunt. I really enjoy playing sports but mostly I enjoy basketball, track and field, soccer, football, and volleyball. I grew up in a town in Eastern Oregon named La Grande and it is in the middle of prime mountain area, so that is where I roamed as a young kid. I would always go hiking in the Eagle Cap Mountains or the Elkhorn Mountains. It is a sweet area if you like to be outside.
Some of my previous jobs have been fun and interesting. This past summer my wife and I went to Montana and I roofed for the whole summer. It was a good job because I learned a very important skill that I will always be able to use in the future. I also got really efficient at ripping roofs off and then replacing them with good roofing. I have been a real estate consultant and I just recently came off of that to concentrate on my schooling and javelin throwing. I have been in construction since I was 14 years old, so I enjoy doing all of that.
I hope you have enjoyed reading a little bit about me.
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