Answer only Question 2.

alization? 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of job enrichment? When might it be useful? 5. Do you agree or disagree that individual differences affect how people respond to their jobs? Explain. organization's attempt to set up work teams! 9. Which form of flexible work schedule might you prefer? 10. How do you think you would like telecommuting? Organizational Behavior Case for Discussion FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENTS AT HEWLETT-PACKARD Imagine an organization that must attract and retain a skilled workforce to stay at the forefront of techno logical innovation. Imagine further that highly quali- fied workers are scarce, expensive, and switch employers readily. What can this organization do to motivate its employees? wote engineer with a physical handicap to work at home. The company helped this valuable of finding a replacement shorter or nonexistent commute times, the 134 PART TWO - faded on Oct Hewlett-Packard HPLa provider of computer products and services, knows. "Being known as keep his job and at the same time, saved the great place to work makes it easier to attract top talent" roads website. "For us, being a great Among the significant benefits to employees place to work is good business. The challenge great HP employs more than 172.000 workers world control the level of interaction with others, wide in every function. Flexible work arrangements port for family or personal needs. Yet the bene are one effective way to motivate such a diverse the organization are just as great or greater group of employees. tion to support for recruiting and retention, HP provides a flexible, supportive environment tive work arrangements can help to increase to manage work and personal life demands, includ diversity by encouraging employees with vario ing foble time, telecommuting, and job-sharing." needs. Reed says, it's a part of the overall "Employees real ampowered when they are able 10 and diversity strategy. We support employee work in a schedule and location that suits their that they can contribute to their full potential." ceed's Other advantages are the lowered costs for os -Sided into diversity and work and parking space, the ability to hire the best tale How Packard regardless of location, the ease in forming via Bocording to its website. Vice president of diversity Teams, and the capacity to better manager and workie Sid Reed acknowledges that motivation cies such as storms or power failures. can result from alternative work arrangements. We Yel surely the greatest benefit to the organi very definitely see that employees feel empowered tion is the increased motivation experienced by when they are able to work in a schedule and a loca workers when they feel supported by their tion that suits their needs. They have some flexibility employer. Computer World magazine surveyed to really integrate in a positive way their personal 17,000 high-tech professionals and found the file and their work life, Reed asserts. access to leading technology, training, and flexible One motivated employee is Kristy Ward, a mar workeplaces were the top three issues of concern keting manager. With more than two decades at HP. HP employees show that flexibility is becoming she has experienced several types of alternative more popular at the firm-Selecommuting has work arrangements and is currently job sharing. *Much of what I've been able to do seems uncom- grown from 10 percent in 1999 to virtually 100 per mon in the rest of the industry. Ward relatos. "I talk cent today. Many are also trying other alternative to my friends that work at other companies. They such as job sharing and part-time work. don't have the same alternatives... That has really says. "We have enough hard data and anecdotale Ward explains that HP determines each individ. [but most important is fit." Another human resource dance to suggest telework can increase productivity, employee's and the company's needs: "Some have manager, Darryl Roberts, characterizes telework Tom Johnson, an HP human resources manage added to my loyalty to the company." wal's optimal work environment based on the an employee-driven business decision," a win wn the two-minute commute, downstairs in the house. agreement between HP and employees. Ward would Others still drive to be able to be in a work environ certainly agree, as she states with evident satisfac ment with other employees. There's a lot of per- tion, "The nice thing about HP is you can do what sonal preference." HP engineer Cheryl Marks says. suits your work style." "One of the reasons I stay with HP is because they allow me to telework. I get burned out if I can't be as productive as I want to be." Nikki Cheatham CASE QUESTIONS telecommutes and estimates it takes her roughly 1. What types of employees are likely to be modi half as much time to absorb complex information vated by alternative work arrangements Tell wit at home than in her office cubicle. For just $3,500, 2. Consider HP's use of flextime, job sharing and HP set up a telework arrangement for a systems telecommuting. What are some of the potential CHAPTE drawbacks or limitations of these approaches? What can HP do to prepare for, reduce, or elimi- nate these negative outcomes