Case Stuor

Woek $2$: Motivating People at Work

Case $2$ The Conflicting Cofleo Breaks

Two employees, Janet and Martha, work side by side as bank tellers. For several months, they relleved one another for their coffee breaks. Janet took the first break from $9$:$45$ to $10$ A$.$M$.$ and Martha took the second one, from $10$ to $10$:$15$ A$.$M$.$ However, a new supermarket opened in the shopping center, and there was suddenly a large influx of shoppers coming in to cash checks right after $10$ A$.$M$.$ Acoordingly, Jack Smith, their boss, asked Martha to postpone her coffee break until after $10$:$30$ A$.$M$.$ but told Janet she could continue taking the same break. Martha thought this request over, and when she came in the next day. She told Mr$.$ Smith that the new arrangement was unfair. If anyone should postpone her break, it should be Janet, because she had had the early one for a long time. When Mr$.$ Smith asked Janet her opinion, Janet said that she had been handling the peak load alone from $10$ to $10$:$15$ A$.$M$.$ for a long while. Now she ought to get the choice because she is still going to be on duty during the extended peak period.

Analysis

If you were Mr$.$ Smith, what would you do$?$

Rank the following five alternatives on a scale from $1$ to $5$ in the order in which they appeal to you $(1.$ most preferable; $5,$ least preferable$).$ You may add another alternative if you wish. Be prepared to justify your ranking.

a$.$ Tell Martha that she is selfish for not going along with a simpie adjustment, and insist that she comply with your request.

b$.$ Agree to Martha's suggestion, and tell Janet you expect her to cooperate.

c$.$ Point out that the morning hours are busy for only a very short time, and so this shouldn't be a factor.

d$.$ Ask Martha and Janet to resolve this problem between themseives, as long as there is double coverage from $10$ to $10$:$30$ A$.$M$.$

e$.$ Set up a rotating schedule.

Please explain your rankings:

What other alternatives might be possible?