Outcomes for the Assignment:

5. Analyze specific issues and problems in HRM in order to recommend the right solutions.

Graduate Attributes Covered: Ability to think crucially, analyse and solve problems

Assignment Task:

Read the case and answer the question

In August 2004, tropical storm Charley hit North Carolina and the Optima Air Filter Company.Many employees homes were devastated and the firm found that it had to hire almost 3completely new crews, one for each of its shifts. The problem was that the Old-timers hadknown their jobs so well that no one had ever bothered to draw up job descriptions for them. When about 30 new employees began taking their places, there was general confusion about what they should do and how they should do it.The storm quickly became old news to the firms out-of state customers- who wanted filters, notexcuses. Phil Mann, the firms President, was at his wits end. He had about 30 new employees,10 old-timers, and his original factory supervisor, Maybelline. He decided to meet with LindaLowe, a consultant from the local universities business school. She immediately had the old-timers fill out a job questionnaire that listed all their tasks, duties & responsibilities. Argumentsensued almost at once- Both Phil & Maybelline thought the old-timers were exaggerating tomake themselves look more important, and the oldtimers instead that the list faithfully reflected their duties. Meanwhile, the customers clamoured for their filters.

1. Should Phil & Linda ignore that old-timers protests and write up the job descriptions as they see fit? Why? Why not?

2. How would you have conducted the job analysis? What should Phil do now?