Part A

Respond to the following:

1. Briefly describe each of the main elements of a position or job description.

2. Describe several uses for a position description.

3. Some management commentators have argued that job (or position) descriptions are not necessary, that they are simply unneeded paperwork that occupy file space and that they are not particularly useful. In essay form, develop two arguments, one supporting job descriptions and one opposing job descriptions. Finally, provide your opinion in support of one argument or the other.

Part B

You are a department manager in a large hospital. For the most part your department gets its work done and the majority of your employees are good producers who work well with each other. However, there are two exceptions. Two employees are so antagonistic toward each other that their behavior frequently becomes disruptive to all members of the department. They have become sufficiently troublesome that you have thought about firing or transferring them. You would prefer to get rid of both, even though when they are not at each other's throats, they are acceptable producers. You know from experience that capable employees with their skills are difficult to locate in the immediate area.

The disruptive employees work in the same general area as the other dozen in the department. You have considered separating them but the department's tight layout leaves little room for change. Their job duties require them to interact with each other as well as with most of the other employees, so it is practically impossible for them to avoid each other. Their seemingly childish behavior features so prominently at times that the tension affects others in the group. There are some days when they will speak to each other only through a third party. You have no idea what is behind their antagonistic behavior. You know only that you must take some action for the sake of department stability and individual sanity. In essay format, discuss what actions you would take and why.