Ch. 6: Employment Testing

Concept and brief description:

Employment testing consists of different tests a company can perform in order to find a suitable person for a position. Tests can be a great way to find out a potential employees abilities. They provide a lot of information that is crucial in deciding what will be best for a company. Tests are needed in order to find the best person for a job.

Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

You are interviewing for a new position. The interview process has been quite grueling. You are tired and so are the other applicants. A lot of people are applying for one position and you are really wondering if you stand a chance. However, later in the week you get a phone can informing you that you have been selected for the position. All of the tests you underwent were tiring but make you feel very good considering you beat out at least ten other applicants.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

Employment testing is really interesting. First, it is interesting how many tests companies can and do use in the hiring process. I realize that companies want to find the very best person for a job, but sometimes it feels like you are being interrogated. Second, it is sad to me how many tests are needed just to find out if a person would be considered safe. You have to test for drugs, illegal activities, citizenship, and so forth. Lastly, it is really annoying that there are so many ways a company can discriminate while trying to hire new employees. It seems the company has to spend more time focusing on making sure they don't discriminate than on the actual potential employee.

Facilitative questions:

What was the most intense interview you have ever had? What tests did you have to take? What did the interview consist of?

Class Today

We talked about autonomy for a few minutes in class today and it is a point I feel strongly about. An organization or company needs to make sure that they are giving their employees a sense of freedom. Employees are people, mature adults, who can really add to and improve a company. A company that constrains or restrict it's employees is really only hurting themselves. Step back, give your employees a degree of decision making ability and you will be surprised what will happen.

Class Today

In my group today we discussed job enrichment and the importance of a company giving its employees some level of work freedom. Employees feel more loyalty to the company and work harder when they feel they are an important member of the company. A member of our group explained that he didn't feel much loyalty to his company. He didn't feel much loyalty because he came up with a great idea that saved the company a lot of money and when his boss presented the idea the boss took all the credit. This class member was not given any credit or recognition. Why would you want to work everyday to help a company succeed that doesn't even really care about the work you do?

Ch. 5: Downsizing

Concept and brief description:

Downsizing is the planned elimination of large numbers of personnel with the goal of enhancing the organization's competitiveness. Companies resort to downsizing mainly to compete with other businesses and cut costs. However, downsizing, if not done correctly, can do more damage than good to a company. The H.R. department needs to analyze and contemplate the decisions that need to be made, that will in turn help and enhance the company.

Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

Suppose your boss comes up to you one day and asks if you would be willing to work overtime. He explains that overtime will be double the pay and sometimes paid dinner. You need some extra money so you eagerly agree. However, after a few weeks you are very tired and find yourself working A LOT of extra hours. You no longer enjoy coming to work and your morale goes down.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

I think that downsizing is needed in several situations and can be very beneficial if facilitated in the right way. A company needs to make sure that they have thoroughly thought through their decisions before they take action. Offering early retirement plans can be a great way to downsize but you need to make sure that you won't be in short supply of employees later on. Also, replacing labor with technology can be very affective and cut costs, but you still need to maintain enough employees to run the equipment. In addition, if a company makes a rash decision to lay a bunch of employees off of work, you are going to create bad morale and decrease motivation for existing employees.

Facilitative questions:

How do you downsize to help the company without hurting your company in the long run?

Ch. 4: Employee Flexibility and Freedom

Concept and brief description:

This concept has to do with employers creating and allowing flexibility and freedom to their employees. From work schedules to work location, employees are more motivated and productive when they feel they have more freedom and flexibility. Employees are human and want to feel they are important and trusted. Employers want to cut costs and increase productivity. By giving more freedom to employees, both parties benefit and therefore, strengthen themselves and the company.

Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

Think about teenagers. They are working everyday at trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be. A teenager needs structure but also room to breathe and spread his or her wings. If a teenager is going through a rough, rebellious time, the worst thing a parent can do is create more rooms and make the teenager feel confined or restricted. The more your push the teenager the more the feel a need to push back. Give guidelines, not restrictions and give them some space. I think you will be surprised at how much time and energy you will save.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

Chapter four talked about creating ways to motivate workers and increase productivity. It talked about telecommuting, people working away from the office, working from home. Employers can allow flexible work schedules, allowing employees the opportunity to choose their work schedule, with some guidelines from the company. A company definitely needs guidelines and structure, but as a company gives more freedom to it's workers, the workers feel empowered and self-motivated. I think implementing more programs to increase employee freedom is a great idea!

Facilitative questions:

How would creating your own work schedule motivate you?
How would employee freedom and flexibility impact/affect productivity?

Class Today

Class was really interesting today. I enjoyed talking about how the workforce is changing. An aging workforce and a diverse workforce are definitely the main concerns today. However, I don't think they have to be concerns if we look at them in the right way. Diversity brings a lot of different life experiences and enhanced knowledge for a company. Different cultures bring different strengths. Let's embrace diversity and use it to our advantage. Besides, we will need outside workers as soon as all of the older population can retire. The aging workforce can be a problem in the sense that we are going to be hit one day where they all retire and we are left with young workers who don't know the company very well.

Ch. 3: Diversity Efforts and Equal Opportunity

Concept and brief description:

I read an article having to do with diversity issues in workforces in San Antonio, Texas. The article explained how San Antonio is a very large city with a very diverse workforce. It is a multicultural state which brings benefits and challenges. This article explains what a company needs, or can, do to embrace diversity and elicit any foreseen problems pertaining to equal opportunity.


Emotional hook (provocative question/ claim/real-life problem):

I spent 18 months in Texas and loved the diversity. I lived in the Houston area and was for the most part the minority. Having grown up in Utah and lived in Utah most of my life I had never experienced being the minority. It really helped me to see the strengths and excitement of diversity. Different races and ethnicity bring new insights and life experiences. We should embrace diversity and welcome change that can further strengthen our country and lives.

Key points to elicit in discussion:

This article gave an example of a company that was embracing diversity to the fullest extent. CPS Energy formed a committee that was specifically designed to implement diversity programs. These programs would teach employees about diversity and how it can better the company. In addition, they had a calendar that recognized cultural events. CPS Energy took the approach of celebrating differences as well as the skills and functions of various areas of organizations. This article demonstrates how a company can embrace diversity and abide by equal opportunity laws in the workplace. It just takes a little bit of effort and the right attitude.

Facilitative questions:

How can diversity strengthen a company?
What can a company do to embrace diversity and help their employees do the same?