S&W Engineering is a medium-sized engineering firm that employs some 500 people making electronic components for the audio industry. Nine months ago, Gary was appointed to the position of manager in S&W Engineering’s busy purchasing department. Gary had already worked for the company for five years and he was delighted to be appointed to the position of manager, He has nine staff working for him directly: two administrators, three senior buyers, and seven buyers.
Following his Christmas vacation, Gary returned to work on 2 January. He remembers that, just before Christmas, Jan, one of his senior buyers, had some to see him to complain that Larry, one of the buyers, had not been pulling his weight and had made a number of errors that needed to be rectified. Gary already knew that Larry’s performance was not as strong as that of the rest of the team. What made things worse was that another buyer, Pete, was off work sick following major surgery. He had been due to come back to work in early December, but had still not returned. Pete’s absence had put added pressure on whole buying team. Gary had tried to have a word with Larry about his performance before Christmas, Larry responded in quite an aggressive manner, complaining that, in Pete’s absence, his workload was unmanageable, that he had never been given any proper training on the new computer system for handling purchasing, and that no one had mentioned that he was under performing before. With Pete off sick and with no date set for his return, Gary realizes that he needs to address the matter of Larry’s poor performance. The difficulty is that Larry is a long-serving and well-liked member of staff.
While Gary is pondering on how to deal with Larry, and also manage the department’s workload in the continuing absence of Pete, Kim, one of his buyers, comes into his office. She wants to talk to him about the behaviour of one of the firm’s sales managers, John, at the Company’s Christmas party, held just ten days previously. Kim alleges that John had made some rather lewd and sexually explicit comments on her, which in retrospect she finds quite insulting. While she is willing to forget about the matter, given that John had clearly consumed far too much alcohol, Kim has been told informally that John has made inappropriate advances to one of the junior administrators who is too scared to take the matter further herself.
Gary agrees to look into the matter. Just after Kim leaves, though, Gill, one of his other buyers, telephones to report that she is unwell and will not be able to come to work that day. Gary remembers that, just before Christmas, the firm’s human resource manager had sent him a note about Gill’s attendance and punctuality record. In the last two months, she has been late for work on seven occasions; and in the last year, she has been absent for twelve days because of sickness. Gill’s persistent tardiness and absence are putting additional pressure on the rest of the buying team. Yet she often stays quite late in the evening to catch up with any outstanding work. Gary knows Gill quite well, and is aware that she has three school-age children to look after. For these reasons, he has not yet spoken to gill about her attendance and punctuality record. Along with Larry’s underperformance, Pete’s absence from work, and Kim’s allegations concerning sales manager’s behaviour, it is something that will have to dealt with if the purchasing department is to function effectively.
Question & Answers:
1. If you were Gary, how would you approach these issues in a way that gave you sufficient flexibility while also ensuring that the commitment of the staff to the organization was not compromised?
Ans. While considering the complaint given by Jan against his buyer Larry, I must do settlement with Jan with some of the reasons. That, due to the long time absence of Pete, and newly given computer system makes Larry to be somewhat error in his work. Even I assure Jan about the warning letter given to Larry to prove him as a perfect buyer within a certain time and take attentiveness and make error-free workouts until Pete returns.
As per Kim’s grievance against John, I assure Kim to take action against John as per the company code of conduct. Moreover, I thanks to Kim for such an allegation gave in time.
Ans. While considering the complaint given by Jan against his buyer Larry, I must do settlement with Jan with some of the reasons. That, due to the long time absence of Pete, and newly given computer system makes Larry to be somewhat error in his work. Even I assure Jan about the warning letter given to Larry to prove him as a perfect buyer within a certain time and take attentiveness and make error-free workouts until Pete returns.
As per Kim’s grievance against John, I assure Kim to take action against John as per the company code of conduct. Moreover, I thanks to Kim for such an allegation gave in time.
2. What actions would you take?
Ans. First of all, I must send a warning letter to Larry regarding his weak performances, and enlighten him to show more consistency and attentiveness on his work, do not bother about anybodies absence. Quality seems-not the quantity. Whatever the output may be should be error-free. Being senior and admired personnel in this company, we respect you and accept your unmanageable situation, which you must control and solve yourself.
Secondly, as per the company’s code of conduct, I must discuss with the senior personnel regarding the discrimination of John. Whatever mentioned and suggested by the company rule John should be warned or punished accordingly.
Thirdly, Gill was being noticed by HR department for continuous leave and maximum absence as per the last year’s record. Which I must discuss with Gill, and keeping in mind about her family and future aspects, advice to keep continuity in her job to manage the burden of work on others and making a successful employee of the company.
Ans. First of all, I must send a warning letter to Larry regarding his weak performances, and enlighten him to show more consistency and attentiveness on his work, do not bother about anybodies absence. Quality seems-not the quantity. Whatever the output may be should be error-free. Being senior and admired personnel in this company, we respect you and accept your unmanageable situation, which you must control and solve yourself.
Secondly, as per the company’s code of conduct, I must discuss with the senior personnel regarding the discrimination of John. Whatever mentioned and suggested by the company rule John should be warned or punished accordingly.
Thirdly, Gill was being noticed by HR department for continuous leave and maximum absence as per the last year’s record. Which I must discuss with Gill, and keeping in mind about her family and future aspects, advice to keep continuity in her job to manage the burden of work on others and making a successful employee of the company.
3. What further information would you require?
Ans. Whatever happens good or bad by the employees directly affects the outcome of the company. As a manager of purchasing department, I must conscious of the issues eventually and with an appropriate manner need to handle the issues very soon. Presenting myself in the position of Gary, I must find out the outcome results, whatever taken action and performed against these three issues. Whether Larry performing well or improved; what about the Pete’s recovery and joining with his work; is John’s behaviour transformed and controlled; and how’s Gill’s regular attendance and performance going on? Overall, everything must be settle down and department should function effectively.
Ans. Whatever happens good or bad by the employees directly affects the outcome of the company. As a manager of purchasing department, I must conscious of the issues eventually and with an appropriate manner need to handle the issues very soon. Presenting myself in the position of Gary, I must find out the outcome results, whatever taken action and performed against these three issues. Whether Larry performing well or improved; what about the Pete’s recovery and joining with his work; is John’s behaviour transformed and controlled; and how’s Gill’s regular attendance and performance going on? Overall, everything must be settle down and department should function effectively.
No comments