Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow.
As a consultant in organisational development, Batho Pele Dot Com has tasked you to provide advice
for changes and intervention. Batho Pele Dot Com is currently characterized by a bureaucratic
management style and rigid structures, and its managers are mostly male. Following the new labour
legislation, quite a number of employees were suddenly retrenched, the reason for the retrenchment is said to be finances. Following retrenchments, a number of employees from previously disadvantaged
groups have been selected and placed in the production-line vacancies. However, there are still a number
of positions vacant. Older employees have complained about discrimination and selection strategies.
According to supervisors, production deadlines and targets are not achieved, and new employees are
expected to work without having the minimum qualifications and required training. The Human Resource
manager indicates that the mood amongst employees is negative, and lateness, illness, complaints, and
personnel turnover are increasing. Some employees have already had meetings and threatened to take
further action if management does not resign or listen. According to the case study and these IO psychology specialists- career psychology, employment relations, consumer psychology, ergonomics, research methodology, occupational psychology, human resource management, employee and organizational wellbeing, personnel psychology. Answer the questions below
Questions:
.1. Identify five problems experienced by Batho Pele Dot Com. (5)
2.2 Describe five I-O Psychology specialist that will be applicable for any five problems as identified
in 2.1. Indicate which specialist will be responsible for specific problem. (20)
1. Five problems experienced by Batho Pele Dot Com are:
1) Bureaucratic management style and rigid structures
2) Retrenchment of employees due to financial reasons
3) Complaints of discrimination and selection strategies from older employees
4) Production deadlines and targets not being achieved
5) Negative mood among employees, increasing lateness, illness, complaints, and personnel turnover.
2. Five I-O Psychology specialists that can be applicable for the identified problems are:
1) Career psychology specialist: This specialist can help address the issues of discrimination and selection strategies by providing guidance on fair and unbiased hiring practices and promoting equal opportunities for all employees.
2) Employment relations specialist: This specialist can assist in improving the relationship between management and employees, addressing the negative mood and increasing personnel turnover. They can help establish effective communication channels, resolve conflicts, and create a positive work environment.
3) Occupational psychology specialist: This specialist can help address the issue of production deadlines and targets not being achieved. They can analyze the work processes, assess task efficiency, and identify areas for improvement to optimize productivity and performance.
4) Human resource management specialist: This specialist can provide guidance on proper training and development programs for new employees without minimum qualifications or required training. They can also help address the issue of retrenchment by implementing fair and transparent processes and providing support for affected employees.
5) Employee and organizational wellbeing specialist: This specialist can help address the negative mood among employees, increasing lateness, illness, and complaints. They can assess the factors contributing to these issues, such as high stress levels or lack of work-life balance, and suggest strategies to improve employee wellbeing and overall organizational culture.
1. Five problems experienced by Batho Pele Dot Com include:
a) Bureaucratic management style and rigid structures.
b) Retrenchment of employees due to financial reasons.
c) Discrimination and selection issues with regards to hiring.
d) Insufficient qualifications and training among new employees.
e) Negative employee morale, increased lateness, illness, complaints, and turnover.
2. Five I-O Psychology specialists applicable to these problems and their responsibilities:
a) Career Psychology: This specialist can help address the issue of insufficient qualifications and training among new employees. They can provide guidance and support in developing career progression plans, identifying training needs, and designing a learning and development framework for employees.
b) Employment Relations: This specialist can assist in resolving the discrimination and selection issues. They can ensure fair employment practices, develop diversity and inclusion policies, and implement procedures to prevent discrimination in the recruitment and selection process.
c) Occupational Psychology: This specialist can contribute to improving employee morale and reducing negative organizational outcomes. They can conduct assessments to identify factors affecting employee well-being, provide recommendations for improving job satisfaction and work-life balance, and introduce interventions to enhance overall organizational well-being.
d) Human Resource Management: With expertise in HR practices, this specialist can address the bureaucratic management style and rigid structure. They can review and revamp HR policies and processes to foster a more flexible and inclusive organizational culture, ensure fair performance evaluations, and promote effective communication and employee engagement.
e) Personnel Psychology: This specialist can help in addressing the productivity issues related to production deadlines and targets not being achieved. They can conduct job analysis, design performance management systems, and provide training on goal setting and performance feedback to enhance productivity and job performance.
Note: While all the specialists can contribute to overall organizational well-being, the allocation of specific responsibilities may vary depending on the context and specific needs of Batho Pele Dot Com.