THE MANAGER'S MEMO:

FORM: A. D. Williams, Plant Manager, Millennium Computers
TO: B. G. Simpson, Production Manager, Millennium Computers
RE: Need for strategy to increase Production

Brad, as you know, sales of our Computer Pro laptop have been extremely good. Millennium is quickly moving into the number-one position in the competitive laptop market. Unfortunately, production is not keeping pace with demand. As you know, failure to deliver product in a timely fashion to the marketplace is a sure-fire route to destroying our hard-earned reputation. As you also know, as a startup company, we are limited in the capital available for expansion. Ensuring our competitive advantage-if not Millennium's very survival-depends on our increasing production while maintaining costs.

Currently, even with three shifts per day, 6 days a week, production is 30% lower than sales forecasts. The only solution is to motivate our production associates to significantly increase their output. Your future with Millennium, as well as the future of the company itself, depends on achieving this change in work behavior.

By Friday of this week, please provide me with your department's strategy for increasing production by 20% by the end of this quarter and for continued improvement throughout subsequent quarters.

I know that one of your strengths is in motivating our employees. I'm counting on you to get swift, desirable results.

CASE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Assume that you are Brad Simpson, the production manager to whom this memo was written. Write a response to plant manager A. D. Williams in which you describe your plans for motivating Millennium's production associates to increase output of its Computer Pro laptop. Refer to the motivation theories and research described, as well as the concept of a learning organization, to support your strategy.