FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT $1[100$ MARKS$]$

Read the case study below and then answer ALL four questions.

HOVERTEC

Hovertec is a large company which has been manufacturing civilian and military helicopters for nearly $50$ years. The

company is very successful in its field and during $2023/2024$ achieved total sales over R$280$ million. Profits before taxation

exceeded R$16$ million. Hovertec employs over $6000$ people, most of whom work in three manufacturing plants which are

situated in Gauteng, North$-$West Province and the Western Cape.

The company has developed two main types of helicopters. These are the $$Falcon$$ range of small helicopters, which are

sold to civilian operators and the $$SX$/$Hawk$$ range of small and large military helicopters which are produced for government

defence projects. Some export orders of $$XS$/$Hawk helicopters are manufactured for NATO countries.

The Manufacture of a Helicopter

Without going into technical details, the manufacture of a helicopter can be divided into five interconnected processes:

$1.$ The power unit, which $$drives$$ the helicopter like an engine drives a motor car.

$2.$ The helicopter loom, which is an inter$-$woven collection of between $1200$ and $2000$ insulated copper wires and

electrical cables, connecting the power unit with the various $$control$$ switches, dials, buttons and levers in the cockpit

and passenger$/$crew compartment, and can be compared, in human terms, with the function of the spinal cord in

linking the brain with the arms and legs, etc.

$3.$ The external rotor blades, which are mounted over the cockpit and passenger $/$ crew compartment, and also above

the tail of the helicopter.

$4.$ The cockpit and passenger $/$ crew compartment, which has a different layout, services and accessories depending

on whether the helicopter is intended for civilian or military purposes.

$5.$ The superstructure or shell, which encases the helicopter in a similar manner to the bodywork on a motorcar.

Although the latest technology is used in these production and assembly processes, the manufacture of a complete

helicopter is a relatively slow process, taking three weeks for a civilian unit and four weeks for the larger, more sophisticated

military helicopter. The main $$bottleneck$$ in the process is the long time taken to assemble the helicopter loom and complete

the $12002000$ connections between the power unit and the numerous helicopter systems and services.

Assembling a Helicopter Loom

Because of the complexity of the task and the high risk of error, the assembly of each helicopter loom is normally carried

out by one loom technician who takes up to two weeks $($ten working days$)$ to assemble a complete loom unit. Production

output is maintained by a team of $24$ loom technicians who work in two shifts of $12$ technicians per shift. The loom

technicians are all qualified maintenance fitters who have received extensive training from the company in loom$-$assembly

procedures. They are the highest paid section of the workforce after the supervisors and management, and they receive

other benefits, such as membership of the company pension scheme, medial aid, and additional holiday entitlement which

is related to length of service with the company.

All of these technicians are men, aged between $36$ and $50$ years with between $8$ and $15$ years service with the company.

Many were recruited from the country$$s defence force where they received basic training as maintenance fitters. This form

of recruitment is adopted, first, because the loom technicians help to assemble both civilian and military helicopters and

possible security risks have to be minimised on government contracts. Second, the majority of Hovertec mangers possess

army or naval backgrounds and strong links are maintained with the defence force.

Perhaps one striking difference between the working conditions at the Hovertec factory in Gauteng and those at their

previous employment in the defence force is that all the loom technicians belong to a trade union which is recognised by

the company, although in practice the Hovertec management frequently circumvent the union representatives by informing

the workforce directly of changes in procedures, policy etc., using $$briefing$$ procedures.

An Improved Helicopter Loom$-$Assembly Method

Hovertec$$s $2022$ company Corporate Plan concluded that: $$Because of the constricting squeeze on defence projects and on

the finances of civilian helicopter operators, which appears likely t continue until the world recession ends and general

demand picks up$,$

QUESTION $4(25$ Marks$)$

$$Out of the many management theories that have developed over time, some parts of each theory have survived and have

been incorporated into contemporary theories of management. Managers should know the different management theories

so that they are able to select the best approaches when needed$($Botha$,2020).$

Critically discuss the extent to which various managment theories are evident in the case study.