Management was concerned about work performance on the shop-floor. Output was down on previous years, and there were more rejects than ever on the production line. The operations manager decided to hold a brainstorming session with the foremen. The following summarizes what took place.
PROBLEM AS GIVEN: Employee output down and more rejects on production line.
PROBLEM RESTATEMENTS: How to …
1: increase performance levels
2: get a better trained workforce
3: improve work quality
4: make employees work harder
5: motivate workers to higher performance
6: reward good performance
7: improve working environment
8: achieve job enrichment
9: get hold of improved machinery
10: encourage workers to work longer hours
Restatement 5 was take as the basis for idea generation, and the following ideas were illustrative of those produced:
1: increase wages
2: vary job routines
3: provide on-the-job training
4: improve housekeeping
5: give workers more responsibility
6: better incentives
7: performance-related pay
8: give feedback on individual or group performance
9: competitions
A couple of wild ideas were thrown into the session as well:
1: eliminate the need for work
2: offer employees millions of pounds as an incentive
Questions
1 What use, if any, could the above ideas be in helping to solve the problem?
2 Can you build on the ideas produced in any way so as to improve them?
3 Try using some of the other problem restatements to produce insights into the problem.
2-3 pages
