Case Analysis Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant: Motivating in Good Times and Bad
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant is facing the problem of not being able to keep their employees motivated in both good and bad times. Before the problem occurred, Ron Bent, the plant manager, had adopted the Scanlon Plan. The Scanlon Plan was an incentive plan used to motivate employees and to drive changes in their behavior and attitudes. The plan consisted of monthly bonuses for employee productivity, communication meetings, a committee to encourage and evaluate employee’s suggestions, and overall improved working conditions. Employees were satisfied with their jobs and motivated to be productive. Over time, The Scanlon Plan caused his employees to distrust the management, so the best idea would be to no longer use the plan. Having distrust in management wouldn’t help to motivate employees at all. Bent should redesign the jobs at his plant to better meet the JCM, which in theory would motivate his employees. There are five characteristics of the Job Characteristics Model that Bent would need to try to meet. First off, he would need to look into offering his employees skill variety, task identity, and/or task significance. If Bent could meet at least one of those characteristics, it would be very beneficial to his plant. Skill variety would consist of the employees’ jobs including a variety of different tasks, so that they could use different skills and talents they may have. Task identity would require the employees’ jobs to consist of completing a whole and particular piece of work. Task significance would mean the employees’ jobs would have a significant impact on the lives or even work of other people. By at least offering employees jobs that meet one of those characteristics, Bent would be also offering meaningful work. Also, Bent would need to offer his employees jobs that consisted of Autonomy. Autonomy would give the employees freedom, independence, and discretion to scheduling and carrying out their work. By giving employees this freedom, Bent would be offering his employees personal
