DILEMMA ANALYSIS

DILEMMA ANALYSIS

•Identify the key issue in terms of a management concept (separate cause from symptoms)

•Develop alternative courses of action related to the concept

•What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?

•Which alternative is recommended and why?

•Introduction must include the aim, key concept, the options and recommendation.

DILEMMA ANALYSIS

A new graduate hired as an office administrator at a small import services company began posting her thoughts about her job to Facebook.   After her first day, she wrote: ‘first day at work. omg!! so dull!!’. Two days later, she complained ‘all i do is shred holepunch n scan paper!! Omg!!’. Two weeks later, she added ‘I’m so totally bored!!’. These comments were intermixed with the other usual banter about her life. She did not mention the name of the company. Three weeks after commencing the job, she was called into the owner’s office where he fired her for the comments on Facebook and had her escorted immediately from the building.   The owner argued the comments put the company in a bad light and her ‘display of disrespect and dissatisfaction undermined the employment relationship making it untenable. After the owner has cooled down, he asks your advice on what he should do (Adpated from McShane, Olekalns, Newman & Travaglione, 2016, p 62).

INTRODUCTION

•Defines the proposition eg. ‘only money motivates’ is interpreted to mean in all (some) circumstances.

•Includes aim of essay eg. the aim of the essay is to explore arguments for and against the propositions and contingencies surrounding it.

•Outlines the structure of the essay. eg. The essay proceeds with a comparison of various motivators and their affects on work motivation. This is followed by a discussion of three contingencies that affect the degree to which money motivates: industry; country; and stage of life.  

•Ends with conclusory statement eg. The essay has demonstrated that money does motivate, but it is not the most important motivator in most circumstance. Contingencies factors such as xyz determine the degree to with money might be the main motivator. Therefore, I conclude that ……   because

BODY OF ESSAY

•Contains at least two sides of an argument – arguments must be balanced ie similar space given to each eg two paragraphs each.

•Each topic sentence explains what is in the paragraph eg. There are three types of work motivators: a; b; and c…

•Arguments are organised logically - see next slide for possibilities.

•Relationships between specific points are clear – use words and phrases like ‘conversely’, ‘similarly’, ‘on one hand’.

•Paragraphs are about the same length – between 150 and 200 words each.

CONCLUSION

•Summarises the arguments eg. This essay explores the various arguments and their related contingencies around the proposition …..

•Supports a particular position, either one argument over others, or a mixture of the two or three arguments   eg. Rather that agree or disagree with the proposition, it is more logical and correct to conclude…. Given the weight of empirical evidence against the proposition,…..

•Provides a rationale for the position.

KEY TOPICS

1.Satisfied employees are more productive employees. (Week 3)

2.Motivated employees always contribute to achieving organisational goals. (Week 4)

3.Working in a team always provides positive benefits to organisations. (Week 5)

4.Managing conflict in the workplace is one of the significant challenges for today's managers. (Week 6)

5.Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in decision-making limits human decisions in organisations. (Week 7)

6.The wide use of technology in communication will inhibit human relationship building. ( Week 8)

7.Great leaders are made, not born, in organisations. ( Week 9)

8.Managers always use their power to lead employees and organisations ethically. (Week 10)

9.Flatter organisational structure is more efficient in communication than a more hierarchical structure. (Week 11)

10.Top managers are the persons who are solely responsible for changing the organisational culture. (Week 12)

11.Organisations can run their business successfully even without adopting workplace changes appropriately. (Week 13)

12.All plans of organisations are implemented in the organisations successfully. (Week 14)

13.Each organisation has a huge social responsibility towards their society (Week 15)