The Team Leader Assembly Department

This evaluation will focus on the job of team leader assembler for the can manufacturing firm. The major components, tasks and responsibilities required for this position include: good manual dexterity, the ability to assemble components, the ability to stand for extended periods of time, ability to operate various plant equipment including conveyers and counting machines, good manual dexterity, attention to detail, ability to engage in repetitive motions. Independent judgment is required to inspect components and visual acuity is necessary to ensure that only the best quality products are passed through the assembly line. The team leader of the assembly unit is also responsible for coordinating communication and working relations with all team members. The team leader is also responsible for ensuring the safety of all members of the team, for tracking time cards, for ensuring that all team members are cross-trained in job functions and to ensure that productivity goals are met in a timely fashion. Basic job description includes assembling and performing all steps vital to product production in accordance with specifications for product design. This position can cultivate a sense of intrinsic motivation by allowing the team leader a certain level of autonomy while supervising the work functions of other responsibilities. Team leaders are also responsible for scheduling employees, addressing minor disputes among employees and for the quality of work produced by their team. For many the ability to lead and represent a unit of employees is in an of itself enough to encourage intrinsic motivation, depending on what factors motivate the individual team leader. The team leader position also offers more financial incentives than other positions, which contributes to motivating the employee in this role. Company wide rewards offered all employees include a comprehensive profit sharing plan that allows all employees to enjoy the rewards the company reaps when the company is doing well. This type of award however, many not prove as motivating for a team leader, as profit sharing awards generally appeal to higher ups in the company who have more capital to invest and are often afforded more profit sharing opportunities within the company (Greider, Logue & Yates, 2001). Management for example, often enjoys many of the benefits associated with profit sharing in the company. Real employee ownership may come in other forms including allowing employees to participate in important decision-making processes within the organization (Greider, Logue & Yates, 2001; Schneier & Shaw, 1995). Praise recognition does exist within the company, and is currently part of the performance review system. The current performance review system is provided employees once per annum to provide employees a critique of their performance during the year. The team leader clearly would receive much praise and encouragement for meeting the goals and expectations outlined by his or her supervisor and for ensuring that his or her team succeeds during the year. The performance appraisal system currently reflects the accomplishments and achievements of the individual team leader, rather than reflect on the accomplishments of the team unit however. This may provide some level of motivation for the team leader, but ultimately does not provide as comprehensive a review as might a group performance review that reflects on the achievements of the team. Such a review might provide the team leader with more insight into how their actions affect the success and ability of the team, and the team's contributions to the company as a whole. It might also serve to improve communication more among team members. Goals are used in the company for this position in many ways. The team leader meets with his or her supervisor during the annual performance review, at which time goals are set for the year. These may include for example, ensuring that all parts and products are assembled in a timely fashion, ensuring that all team members come to work on time and that absenteeism is limited, and ensuring that group communication is amply facilitated within the organization. The team leader also meets with team members once per month to discuss their team goals. This may include ensuring that all products assembled meet stringent quality guidelines or ensuring that zero defects are realized within the scope of products assembled by the team. Generally goals are used in the company as a motivator and as an educational tool, allowing each member of the organization to realize what the company's aims and objectives are for the year, and helping individual employees realize what their place is in relation to the company's goals and objectives. The goal system is relatively effective for this position, though it may benefit with some targeted changes. The job redesign for the position of team leader will entail a strategic job redesign and assessment that includes contributions from employees. Job redesign can serve as a useful tool for increasing a job's motivating potential â€Å"depending on the job categorizations† that result from job redesign (Kulik, 1989). For these job categorizations to be truly motivating and encourage greater intrinsic employee motivation they must encourage participation and feedback from the employee whose job is being redesigned. Much research including that presented by social information processing theorists suggests that employees' evaluation of their jobs motivating potential is influenced by multiple factors including clues provided by their social environment (Kulik, 1989). This suggests that an environment that supports a job as worthwhile and beneficial is more likely to encourage employees to remain motivated an interested. Thus a job redesign should consider factors that lead to social evaluation of the job, such as job title. In this case the designation â€Å"team leader† suggests that the job incumbent has some level of authority, lending itself to a certain amount of respect and authority, and likely serving to increase employees intrinsic motivation. Other motivating factors are based solely on job content. Hence it may be important to evaluate the job's content and determine whether additional responsibilities would add to motivation or decrease employee motivation. Thus the content and responsibilities of the team leader must also be assessed as part of this redesign. Schippmann (1999) suggests redesign that focuses on the concept of â€Å"strategic job modeling† a job redesign process that focuses more on people working in jobs and encourages employers to collect information about the people working in their jobs to help guide efforts â€Å"to select, build or modify the components of a human resources system to achieve an organizationally relevant outcome† (3). This theory suggests that more accurate information to help guide decisions regarding job redesign may be gathered when individuals working within a position are consulted about the job redesign process. Cronshaw (1999) along similar lings suggests that it is important to consult with employees as much as it is management to ensure that job redesign occurs in a functional manner and works to enhance employee motivation. One important component of job redesign in the manufacturing environment includes providing a performance measurement and rewards system that supports the use of teams (Schneier & Shaw, 1995). The current performance review system adopted by the company still works too diligently to review the individual performance of the team leader rather than address the collaborative efforts of the team. There is much to be said however of measuring the performance of teams (Frohman, 1995). For the position of team leader, the following recommendations are necessary to help promote intrinsic motivation and boost the productivity of the team leader and his or her underlings: (1) the performance review process for team leader must be modified to reflect the contributions not only of the team leader but also of the team (2) the job should include cross training for the team leader with assemblers but also supervisors and managers within the assembly department to promote greater knowledge sharing and understanding of how other job roles influence the assembly line (3) the team leader should be provided an opportunity to participate in a rewards based program that promotes bonuses for achieving goals established at the annual performance review (4) the team leader should be provided the opportunity to engage team members more fully and participate more in their performance review processes and (5) the team leaders job should be benchmarked with other team leader or supervisory positions within other companies to ensure that the job content matches similar job descriptions, titles and pay within other industries. Let's examine each of these components more thoroughly. First, it is vital in a team-oriented situation that the performance review process reflects not only the achievements and accomplishments of the person assessed, but also the rest of the team. This will encourage the team leader to actively engage team members and participate more fully in communication efforts, knowledge sharing and strategic planning at the team level. It also encourages the team leader to be more accountable for the actions of the team as a whole. If the team for example, performs poorly during the year despite good attendance and performance on the team leaders part, it is still important that the team's performance is reflected in the performance appraisal process so recommendations for improvement may be made. Second, team leaders should be provided the opportunity to learn more about the inner operations and workings of the company as a whole. The best way to facilitate this process is through cross training, allowing the team leader a birds eye view of what other supervisors and front line employees do in the organization, how their work affects the assembly line, and remind the team leader of the importance of interpersonal communication and knowledge sharing among all levels of the organization. The team leader should also be provided more rewards incentives for work well done. While a profit sharing program is beneficial to higher ups as discussed earlier, it provides little intrinsic motivation many times for front line employees (Frohman, 1995; Greider, Logue & Yates, 2001). A more appropriate rewards or incentives program may focus on providing the team leader with annual performance based bonuses. This can be achieved by establishing a set of goals or expectations that provide opportunities for bonuses when the team leader meets or exceeds expectations. Bonuses do not have to come in the way of financial compensation to be effective either (Cronshaw & Fine, 1999). The company may opt for example, to provide bonuses that include extra vacation days or paid time off to team leaders for meeting or exceeding their goal expectations. Presently the team leader provides a brief summary or dialogue as part of the review process for team members. The team leader may realize more motivation and have more desire to participate in performance reviews if afforded the opportunity to actually sit in on performance appraisals or reviews with team members. This will allow team members more feedback from their lead and help them realize the authority and status as well as the common interests the team leader has with them. Lastly, it is vital the job content of team leader matches that of other jobs in similar industries. At minimum annually the company should reevaluate the job content so that it accurately reflects similar jobs in the industry. On the same token it is important that the company elicit feedback from the incumbent so they can provide more detail regarding the job's functions and responsibilities, and so that the job can be modified to reflect actual responsibilities more fully (Cronshaw & Fine, 1999). This type of analysis will allow greater participation from the team leader in the redesign process and will therefore serve to increase motivation and enthusiasm for the job (Kulic, 1989; Frohman, 1995; Schippmann, 1999). This helps promote employee ownership in job functions and encourages more intrinsic motivation because the employee recognizes that they are an active participant in the job redesign process. It also helps stimulate interest in the job redesign process and ensures that the company is redesigning the job in a way that meets the employees as well as the company's needs, wants, goals and expectations.

Pros of technology in society Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Pros of technology in society - Term Paper Example However, human have normal tendencies of failures and shortcomings due to imperfection and limitations. Legal and ethical aspects of computer technology were not able to keep up with the rapid race of technology, that tend to create social, legal and ethical concerns that considered important aspects of our lives. Even then, this paper will discuss that technology being weighed against its cons, is still considerably a blessing to human society. Technology: A Blessing Introduction The world’s lifestyles have always undergone change. Largely because technology has sparked a continuous revolution that had a profound effect on human society. What was innovative in yesterday is redundant today, and what is trendy today will be obsolete tomorrow. However, rapid changes on technology have a marked impact in the business world, medical advances, education field, and social life, as well. Imagine having at your fingertips a collection of literature that would rival some of the worldâ €™s greatest libraries. Imagine millions of articles and similar items from thousands of books, magazines, newspapers, and other works that would fit on your desk. Students and educators benefited a lot. Even medical researchers can assimilate updated information at a glance. Imagine the comfort and convenience of electronic emails to business entities. Aside from the convenience and comfort, this advancement on technology creates a productive human society. But despite of these benefits on advancing technology, legal and ethical aspects of the internet are not able to keep pace with rapid revolution of technology that tend to create social, legal and ethical concerns that deals with â€Å"protection of intellectual property, prevention of fraud, protection of freedom of expression versus problems of defamation, protection of privacy, control of internet indecency versus free speech, and control of spamming† (â€Å"Study Guide: Legal and Ethical Aspects†, n.d, intr oduction section, para.1). Likewise, an article entitled â€Å"Social and ethical issues in computer science†(n.d), described computer technology as a double-edged sword because of the technological issues on potential dilemma of loss of privacy and theft besides its significant industrial revolution (p.2). Absolutely, there is no perfect technology. Since, the rapid computer revolution has overtaken the development of legal and ethical aspects that supposed to guide the application of computer innovations, there are only few clear rules that govern ethical computer behavior. Therefore, Computer and Information Ethics, or computer ethics, in a more specific term, is being designated as the branch of applied ethics that studies and analyzes social and ethical impacts of information and communication technology, and may also refer to kind of professional ethics wherein computer professionals apply standards of good practice within their profession (Computer and Information ethi cs, 2008). However, despite the risk that technology offers, at present, the main thrust of research` seems to focus on continuous improvement of technology that is already available. Most often, successive steps in technology are revolutionary and bring improvements that are hundreds of times better. Technical Issues According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2008), American scholar Norbert Wiener was the founder of the new branch of applied science of â€Å"cybernetics† in the mid 1940s, which is now known to us as â€Å"

The Gilded Bronzes of Cartoceto di Pergola Essay

The Gilded Bronzes of Cartoceto di Pergola - Essay Example The late Republican period was known to use monumental images to underline Roman power (The Famous Gilded Bronzes). The fact that these spectacular sculptures were discovered in 1946 as mostly fragments in a shallow pit by two farmers working in their field near the City of Pergola makes their reproduction in such detail quite amazing. However, because they were in fragments, the sculptures were saved from being melted down for re-use of the metals, a common practice in ancient times. Gian Mario Spacca, president of the region of the Marches, is quoted as saying, "This group of gilded bronzes conveys all the beauty and mystery of Ancient Rome . . . Their unknown story and accidental discovery are a remarkable demonstration of the miracle of these lands, the Marches, which can reveal superb works of art, testimony to the talent and importance of a culture recognized all over the world" (The Famous Gilded Bronzes). It took from 1948 to 1986 to restore and reconstruct these statues. The very fact that these statues were destroyed triggers the imagination. The figures are obviously based on actual mo dels. Could it be that the group fell out of favor at some time, and that is why the statues were crumbled and buried Could the figures be related in some way to Augustus It has been determined that they were created in the 1st century B.C., but when were they buried and why were they destroyed Historical Background The Roman Republic was established in 509 B.C., but political rivalries in the first century B.C. led to civil wars and the eventual collapse of the Republic. The Roman imperial period began in 30-27 B.C. with the principate of Augustus. Between 27 B.C. and A.D. 14, Rome was transformed into a city of marble. Julius Caesar had been assassinated in 44 B.C. and his nephew Octavius ruled as Emperor Augustus. The Hellenistic or Augustan period introduced the accurate depiction of age from children to adult to old age. Use of bronze made possible immediacy and naturalistic detail (Hemingway 3). Comparison of the gilded bronze family group of Pergola with the Greek sculptures of 50 B.C. to 1 B.C. indicate many similarities in style. Because it is not known or even conjectured that any specific sculptor created the family group, it is quite possible that a Greek sculptor was responsible or that the style was copied. The Romans first came into contact with the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C. in Southern Italy and in Sicily where Greek colonies had been established five hundred years earlier (Roman Sculpture). The illustrations on page 7 offer comparisons with each other. The knight (A) in the family group (late 1st century B.C.) is bald with one lock of hair towards the forehead, closely set eyes and bitterly straight mouth (The Gilded Bronzes: Knight). He is thought to be mature, between 40 and 50 years old. The tunic worn by the knight is one worn by a Roman officer of high rank. The statue of the young boy (B), thought to be Gaius, adopted grandson of Emperor Augustus, also resembles the knight, but with a softer expression (Portrait Statue of Young Boy). Another statue (C), dated 1st century B.C./A.D., shows a man carrying two ancestral busts. The one on the right could be the knight in the family gro

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 178

Assignment Example 2. Monopolistic competition is a term used to refer to that state of a market in which there are several buyers of a product or services, but the number of sellers of that product or service is low and these suppliers differentiate their goods and services on the basis of differentiation technique (Hall 321). In a monopoly there is only one supplier, while in monopolistic competition there is more than one seller. In monopoly there is no competition taking place, but in monopolistic competition firms compete against each other. The barriers to entry in monopolistic competition are lower than that of a monopoly. 3. Firms that operate in under the state of monopolistic competition experience both productive as well as allocative inefficiency. They experience productive inefficiency because they produce at a level that is lower than the level of MR (Marginal Revenue) is equal to MC (Marginal Cost) (Hall 324). This means that they experience productive inefficiency because they produce less than the amount of goods and services demanded in order to increase their profitability. They experience allocative inefficiency because they have more capacity to produce goods and services and they are involved in the process of producing lesser goods and services as compared to their capacity. 4. Firms that fall in the category of either monopolistic competition or firms that are even recognized to be operating in a state of imperfect competition are involved in producing lesser goods and services than the amount of goods and services they can actually produce and this situation has been regarded by economists as excess capacity (Hall 325). In monopolistic competition, organizations compete on the basis of differentiation and target specific consumers while firms in this form of competition produce similar kinds of goods and services. In order to target a few and charge premium prices they produce less than what the overall

Development of Project Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Development of Project Proposal - Assignment Example (2011) explains that change control procedures include the steps for what and how modification of official company standards, policies, plans, and procedures, project documents would be approved and validated and made part of final project management plan. Project manager and project team is mainly responsible to identify the change control procedures at all level and their inclusion in the plan. PMBOK (2008) suggests that Integrated Change Control procedure includes the following activities based upon the current status of the project. Changes to project scope always impact the components of the triple constraint i.e., cost, schedule and scope. A scope creep is likely to be associated with increase in cost and time required but may or may not impact the motivation of the project team (PMBOK 2008). In our project, it is essential to have a formal change control procedure in accordance with the steps described below. Initial project duration was calculated to be 61 days with an estimated cost of 5630 â‚ ¬. Please see appendix ‘A’ and ‘B’ for reference. After the approval of change request, change to the project schedule and cost were recalculated as a result of project scope creep. The analysis revealed that now the project duration would be 71 days with an estimated cost of 8235 â‚ ¬. Please see Appendix ‘C’ and ‘D’ for reference. This indicated that project duration increased from 61 days to 71 days but was well within the promised duration of 14 weeks (14X7=98 days). However, as a result of adding a new wing to the building the cost increased from 5630 â‚ ¬ to 8235 â‚ ¬, an increase of 46% in project cost. Contractor, with expertise in construction, will work in conjunction with the client (Smith) to manage the construction of a house building with an additional wing. The contractor would assist the client in developing detailed construction project plan, schedule, resource plan and execution of the project. The contractor would identify and track

Greenwich Park Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Greenwich Park - Article Example This has naturally raised a controversy and objections against the events being held in the park are increasing day by day. The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and the public and other groups have conflicting opinions regarding this. The LOCOG maintains that the park will be left relatively undamaged and will be restored to its original condition as much as possible, while the public, environmental groups, residents of the village, visitors to the park and even certain sports bodies, raise the objection that irrevocable damage will be done to the part if those events are held there. This paper is a review of the park in its existing glory and the impact that the Olympic events will have on the park. In the process, published literature on the issue will be reviewed and a survey conducted among the students who enjoy facilities of the park. The views of the LOCOG will also be taken into consideration for understanding their standpoint. The final section will b e an opinion regarding the costs, impacts and benefits, if any, that will accrue if the events are held in Greenwich Park. The history of the park, the facilities available, and other relevant information regarding the park will also be reviewed here. History of Greenwich Park: The site on which the park is located has been inhabited right from the Roman periods and some remnants bearing testimony to this have been excavated from this site by archaeologists over a period of time. The land on which the park is situated was inherited by the then Duke of Gloucester, Humphrey in 1427. He enclosed the area with a fence and also built an observatory tower. After his death, his sister-in-law (wife of Henry VI) seized the land for herself. "Greenwich Park was popular with the Tudors. King Henry VII rebuilt the manor house to make the Palace of Placentia - or Greenwich Palace." (Greenwich Park - The Royal Gateway. 2009). Henry the VIII of England introduced deer on to this beautiful hillock overlooking the Thames River in 1515. Henry and also his two daughters were born in Greenwich Village which bore the name of Placentia at that time. Trees and flowering plants were planted in French Landscape Design during the 1600s and some of those trees still stand today. Quee n Anne had a house built in the park which is now called Queen's House. The iconic landmark of the park, namely the Royal Observatory was built under the orders of Charles II who was an avid lover of astronomy and science. It was built under the aegis of the Royal Society and was named Flamsteed House to honour England's first Royal astronomer. The building stands on the Greenwich or Prime Meridian which technically divides the earth into east and west. The park suffered some damage during the World War II, but was subsequently restored to its original glory. The whole of Greenwich along with Greenwich Park is now a World Heritage Site as designated by the United Nations. The size of this Royal Park is a little more than 180 acres. The place is an extremely popular spot with the locals, tourists, and students as it offers many facilities for sport, enjoyment, and leisure. Facilities at the park at present: The word present is used here since it is not very clear as to

Earth Day Essay Example for Free

Earth Day Essay The subject of Earth Day has been covered intensively by the world press over the past decade. Many an afternoon has been enjoyed by a family, bonding over the discussion of Earth Day. Until recently considered taboo amongst polite society, it is yet to receive proper recognition for laying the foundations of democracy. Often it is seen as both a help and a hinderence to global commercial enterprises, who are yet to grow accustomed to its disombobulating nature. Complex though it is I shall now attempt to provide an exaustive report on Earth Day and its numerous industries. Social Factors There is cultural and institutional interdependence between members of any community. When Thucictholous said people only know one thing [1] he saw clearly into the human heart. Difference among people, race, culture and society is essential on the survival of our world, however Earth Day raises the question why? Recent thought on Earth Day has been a real eye-opener for society from young to old. It grows stonger every day. Economic Factors There has been a great deal of discussion in the world of economics, centred on the value of Earth Day. We shall examine the Fish-Out-Of-Water model. Taking special care to highlight the role of Earth Day within the vast framework which this provides. Oil Prices Earth Day What a splendid graph. Obviously oil prices sings a very different tune. Perhaps to coin a phrase Earth Dayeconomics will be the buzz word of the  century Political Factors No man is an island, but what of politics? Comparing the general view of politics held by the poor of the west with those of the east can be like comparing. Consider this, spoken at the tender age of 14 by jazz singer Bonaventure H. Amster Taking a walk across hot coals will inevitably hurt your feet. [2] This quotation leads me to suspect that he was not unaccustomed to Earth Day. It speaks volumes. History tells us that Earth Day will always be a vote winner, whether we like it, or not. Why did Earth Day cross the road? To get to the other side! Just my little joke, but lets hope that Earth Day doesnt inspire similar hilarity in the next elections. Conclusion To conclude, Earth Day parades along mans streets and man waves back. It fills a hole, invades where necessary and always chips in.