-Read the case scenario below about a hypothetical workplace problem. Respond to the following questions:

a. As the manager, what approach might you want to take in addressing the employee's attitude?

b. Should the manager focus on the tasks to be done, or on the person who is doing the job?

c. Do you agree or disagree with the employee's attitude about his job description? Why?

d. What factors typically lead to an employee taking the attitude this employee has taken about his job?

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George Morton, manager of the maintenance department at a large hospital, was experiencing increasing frustration with mechanic Jeff Thompson. Morton considered Thompson a good mechanic, and this opinion was usually reinforced by the consistently high quality of Thompson's preventive maintenance work and by his success in accomplishing difficult repair jobs.

Morton's frustration centered about Thompson's apparent lack of motivation. Thompson always had to be told what to do next after completing each job.If he were not so instructed, he would take a prolonged break until Morton sought him out and gave him a specific assignment.

Morton's frustration peaked one day when a small plumbing problem got out of hand and suddenly became a large problem.He knew that Thompson had to have seen the leaking valve because it was right beside the pump that Thompson had been servicing.However, when Morton asked Thompson why he had done nothing about the valve, Thompson said, "Plumbing isn't part of my job."

"You could at least have reported the problem." Morton said.

Thompson shrugged and said, "There's nothing in my job description about reporting anything. I do what I'm paid to do, and I stick to my job description."

"You certainly do," said Morton. "Jeff, you're one of the better mechanics I've seen. But you never extend yourself in any way, never reach out and take care of something without being told."

"I'm not paid to reach out or extend myself. You're the boss, and I do what you tell me to do. And I do it right."

"I know you do it right," Morton agreed."But I also know that you sometimes stretch out the work. I know you're capable of giving a lot more to the job, but for some reason you seem unwilling to work up to your capabilities."

Again, Thompson shrugged. "I stick to my job description and do what I'm told."