W6 Assignmnet-1
******Discussion Question 1
Lean production relies heavily on the concept of employee empowerment. For example, Toyota Manufacturing is regarded as a leader in lean production.
What are some of the benefits of employee empowerment? What are some of the disadvantages of employee empowerment? In your opinion, is employee empowerment a fad or a useful tool? Why? As a manager, what steps would you take to maximize the effectiveness of teams?
****Discussion Question 2
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were pioneers in the time and motion study. The original movie Cheaper by the dozen (1950) depicts a humorous scene where the father (Frank) applies the concepts of time and motion study to a bath.
In most organizations, employees and the management do not see the benefit of work measurement. “Work measurement is old hat. We have automated our office, and now we run every bill through our computer (after our 25 clerks have typed the data into our computer database).”
(Ming Chuan University. [n.d.]. Technical note 5: Job design and work measurement. Retrieved January 13, 2009, from
http://mcu.edu.tw/~htlee/Ch005TN.doc)
Do you agree with the above statement? Why or why not? As a manager, how would you decide when to measure the work of employees and which employees to measure? In your opinion, should employees know when they are being timed? Why? Are there any potential issues that may arise when employees know they are being timed?
Answer will be sent by email as attachment.
