You are a manufacturing manager in a large electronics plant. The company's management has been searching for ways of increasing elliciency. They have recently installed new machines and put in a new simplilied work system, but to the surprise of everyone, Including yourselt, the expected Increase In productivity was not realized. In fact production has begun to drop, quality has fallen off, and the number of employee separations has risen.

You do not believe there is anything wrong with the machines. You have had reports from other companies who are using them and they confirm this opinion. You also had representatives from the firm that built the machines go over them and they report they are operating at peak efficiency. You suspect that some parts of the new work system may be responsible. but this view is not widely shared by your subordinates who are four first$-$line supervisors, each in charge of a section. They have attributed the decline to poor training of operators, lack of adequate financial incentives, and poor morale.

This morning, you received a call from your division manager expressing concern and instructing you to solve the problem as you see fit.