Sikachelela Ltd is into the business of manufacturing bicycle spare parts/components and of lately, Sikachelela Ltd has been expanding due to increased bicycle spare parts. At the same time, the competition has been increasing. To keep the market share, Sikachelela Ltddirected its employees to do overtime and that led the company into many problems. Due to increased stress from work caused the efficiency of employees to decline. Occasionally, the junior employees had to work under more than one superior/s as a result, the employees were becoming indisciplined. Additionally, teamwork which the company enjoyed previously had begun to diminish.
Furthermore, the production manager for the company asked the foreman to achieve a target production of 100bicycles a day, but she didn’t give the foreman authority of requisition tools and materials from the stores department.
Question
b) How can the management address the issue of employee stress and declining efficiency?
c) What steps can the management take to improve discipline and teamwork within the company?
d) How can the production manager and foreman work together effectively to achieve the production target?
b) The management can address the issue of employee stress and declining efficiency by implementing proper work-life balance practices, such as providing flexible working hours, offering stress management programs, and encouraging breaks throughout the workday. They can also consider hiring additional employees to reduce the workload on the existing staff. Regular communication with employees to listen to their concerns and address any issues they may be facing is key in improving overall morale and efficiency.
c) To improve discipline and teamwork within the company, the management can organize team-building activities, training programs, and workshops to enhance communication and collaboration among employees. Setting clear expectations and guidelines for behavior and performance can also help in maintaining discipline. Implementing a reward and recognition system for employees who demonstrate good discipline and teamwork can further motivate individuals to work together towards a common goal.
d) The production manager and foreman can work together effectively to achieve the production target by establishing open and clear communication channels. The production manager should provide the foreman with the necessary authority to requisition tools and materials from the stores department in order to meet the production target efficiently. Regular meetings between the production manager and foreman to discuss progress, challenges, and solutions can help in maintaining alignment and ensuring that production goals are met. Additionally, providing the necessary training and support to the foreman to effectively manage the production process can contribute to achieving the target production of 100 bicycles a day.