Class Review Flashcards

• Introduction & Class Overview

  • Instructor expresses excitement about the end of the term but sadness at leaving students.
  • Acknowledges the difficult time slot of Wednesday 9 AM, appreciates student engagement.
  • Discussion is focused on an imminent group assignment due in two days and an upcoming exam in three weeks.

• Topics Covered

  • Four topics are introduced: Communication, Discipline, Dismissal, and Downsizing.
  • Instructor's personal interest in organizational change and how these topics relate, hinting at a research background in this area.

• Personal Connection to Topics

  • Shares how divorce rates can serve as a parallel to organizational change, emphasizing that both represent significant shifts in personal and professional landscapes.
  • Discusses the high divorce rate (50% for first marriages and even higher for subsequent marriages) as an illustration of increased willingness to end unfulfilling commitments.

• Communication

  • Definition: The transfer and understanding of messages between individuals/teams.
  • Formal vs. Informal Channels:
  • Formal Channels: Established by organizations (e.g., D2L for course communication).
  • Informal Channels: Created spontaneously (e.g., Instagram group for course discussions).
  • Direction of Communication:
  • Downward: From management to employees.
  • Upward: From employees to management.
  • Lateral: Peer-to-peer communication.

• Discipline in Organizations

  • Defined as management actions aimed at ensuring compliance with company standards.
  • Key issues include attendance, punctuality, behavior (e.g., arriving late).
  • Importance of context in assessing the severity of actions (e.g., a pilot arriving late vs. a fast-food worker).

• Types of Discipline

  • Preventative Discipline: Actions taken to prevent issues from happening (like performance appraisals).
  • Corrective Discipline: Actions taken following a breach of rules (verbal warnings, written warnings, etc.).
  • Progressive Discipline Concept: Escalating responses to repeated infractions (verbal warning -> written warning -> suspension -> termination).
  • Positive Discipline Concept: Collaborative approach where employees are included in solutions, leading to a more engaged workforce.

• Dismissal and Turnover

  • Types of Turnover:
  • Voluntary: Employee chooses to leave (resignation).
  • Involuntary: Organization ends employment (termination or layoffs).
  • Discussion on just cause terminations: Occurs due to employee wrongdoing, where proper procedures should be followed.
  • Constructive Dismissal: Changing working conditions to make an employee wish to resign, which is illegal.

• Downsizing

  • Permanent reduction of workforce due to various factors (financial, operational needs).
  • Impacts on remaining employees (survivors) include decreased morale, mental health issues, and productivity concerns.
  • Layoffs versus downsizing: Layoffs are temporary, while downsizing refers to permanent staff reductions.

• Impact of Downsizing

  • Survivors may experience stress and decreased commitment, leading to turnover contagion where remaining employees fear job loss.
  • Layoffs can be mitigated by offering alternative solutions (flexible work schedules, reduced hours) rather than permanent terminations.

• Cost of Turnover

  • Direct costs: Separation costs, vacancy costs (lost sales opportunities), replacement training costs.
  • Indirect costs: Drop in morale, productivity decreases, and potential retention costs to keep remaining staff.

• Preparation for Class Assignments/Exams

  • Students encouraged to use research articles and textbooks to support case analysis.
  • Clarification on report submission protocols, peer evaluations, and expected contents for case studies.

Overall, the class discusses significant organizational challenges while emphasizing the critical link between employee engagement, communication, and the human side of managing workforce changes.