Part A

1. Select two real life organizations. Check on their corporate website, compare and contrast their mission and vision statements.

2. You are a team leader in a process manufacturing company. You have discovered that the company's current supplier of hinges (used in the products you manufacture) has been overcharging your company in comparison to what other similar manufacturers are being charged. In addition, the quality of the hinges seems to have been declining, and faulty product returns are marginally increasing.

You believe changing suppliers would be beneficial to the company. How do you go about convincing your supervisor and the operations manager that this would be a good idea?

3. Suppose you have been recently promoted as a manager in a company where you will be working with a team of 20 people from diverse background. What would be your role and responsibility towards them in relation to,

I. Work health and safety legislation

II. Privacy and Anti-discrimination laws

4. In general sense what are the three broad categories of leadership styles? Outline the features of each style.

5. Building trust among the employees in an organization is a vital requirement to become a good leader. How could you build trust among your employees?

6. Do you think, as a manager is it a good idea to maintain personal relationship with your employees? Explain.

7. Imagine you are a member of management team in an organization where a risk or safety management plan is under way. Determine the type of decision making and consultation which would be appropriate in this case.

8. Imagine you are chief operations manager in a manufacturing organization in regional NSW. A large fire has just erupted in your company's manufacturing plant; one employee died, three others were severely injured with serious burns.

After the emergency services have been called, what actions should you take,

a) In order to conduct an investigation and

b) With regard to crisis communications?

c) Also, how would you make sure that you maintain a good image in media and towards community?

Part B : Case Scenarios

Case Scenario 1

Marion Stevens is the Administrative Assistant for the Executive Team in the Head Office of Bounce Fitness. Marion is an efficient ‘superstar'. She has the practical skills to juggle and successfully complete several tasks in less than expected time and to a very high caliber. She was so good, in fact, that she was promoted to department manager in her previous company after only two years on the job.

She has been at Bounce Fitness for ten months. She has implemented two procedural changes that have streamlined the work and resulted in cost savings for the company.

She reports jointly to the three (3) General Mangers but her main interests are in the systems. The Executive General Managers are concerned about Marion, despite her obvious talents. There is no denying that she has had a positive impact in Head Office, but Marion is not fitting in so well. Marion is a poor communicator and seems to have alienated quite a few of her peers and Centre Managers as well as their teams.

She is often aloof and distant, and her usual way of motivating performance is to simply dictate what will be done and expect compliance with her orders. She has good ideas but has little ability to present them well or to work as part of a team.

You are the General Manager Human Resources and have agreed with the other General Managers that you should coach Marion.

Read the above scenario and answer the questions below:

i. How would you approach her and what would you say?

ii. What issues would you work with her on?

iii. How can General Manager ensure a positive work environment in the above situation.

Case Scenario 2:

Gina has been late frequently and absent from office over last couple of months. In lunchroom conversations with her peers, she talks openly about looking for other jobs. Her manager Matt has tried to address this issue and general lack of performance with Gina a number of times. They had few formal and informal conversations previously. Gina denies that there is a problem. But it is clear that she is not happy with her job.

Today she arrived two hours late at job, Matt drafted a letter of dismissal and sacked Gina.

Read the above scenario and answer the questions below:

i. Do you think it is appropriate? Give reasons.

ii. Imagine yourself in Matt's position; write what you should have done in that case?

iii. Identify the ethical aspects in this scenario.

iv. On what possible reason/s an employee can be lawfully terminated?

1200 words

7 references