Workplace Observation Paper

A successful attempt at job redesign that I have experienced or observed.

Between the period of 2004 and 2010, I served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). During this time my secondary job function was in the foodservice industry. As with anything else in life, I had to learn the policies and procedures of the military and the way that business was conducted. I worked my way up the ranks rather quickly and eventually became part of the leadership staff. In 2007, my department had received an influx of new Marines that resulted in the department being overstaffed.

According to Ivanovic and Collin (2006), overstaffed is defined as a company with more than the required number of employees to achieve company goals (p. 190). Although

168). Between 2011 and 2014, I was contracted to work at a hospital as a first-line food service manager. I worked at the facility for approximately three years, during which time the hospital experienced many changes. Some of the changes were successful, and some were not.

There was one particularly unsuccessful job redesign that occurred in the department in for which I was a manager. One of the employees that held a position as a Dietary Clerk, and worked a 10:30 am – 6:30 pm shift, resigned from their position. The GM decided not to hire anyone to replace the employee in an attempt to save money for the hospital. This decision created a situation of the department being understaffed. According to Ivanovic and Collin (2006), understaffed is defined as a company without the required number of employees to achieve company goals (p.

There are many forms of withdrawal, ranging from showing up late, failing to attend meetings, absenteeism, and turnover (p. 28). As a result, the GM was forced to hire someone to fill the position.

What factors contributed to the failure of the change initiative?

In this particular situation, the most important factor that contributed to the failure of this change initiative was communication. The fact that the GM never discussed the decision to not fill the position with anyone in the department, including the management staff was unsatisfactory. There was a lack of communication among members of management and therefore, the employees were unaware of the change until the very last minute. Hence the reason that the employees reacted the way that they did.

How could the unsuccessful attempt have been managed