Self-Managed Work Teams

The CEO has asked you to make a recommendation concerning the use of self-managed work teams in your company. Work teams consist of 8 to 15 members who are responsible for producing a complete product (or component of a product) or for managing a project or service. As a team progresses, it is given increased authority to operate under its own direction. If the concept works, productivity gains and/or better quality of the product or service may be expected. If the concept does not work, morale can suffer due to the failed experiment.

One member of your HR staff has voiced a strong objection to the program. He claims that the HR department function would be diminished, as would the role of supervisors and managers who would give up power and control. Another member of your staff feels it is the wave of the future and that the program must be adopted throughout the company immediately.

If you want to create work teams, select the key policy(s) that you want to implement. Your recommendation to the CEO may include one or more of the following options. If you establish work teams, you will be charged $10,000 for related expenses of launching the program; this one-time cost will be automatically charged to your budget under the Employee Relations / Other category. If you do not want to create self-managed work teams at this time, do not select any options.

1. Include aptitude testing for teams.

2. Teams can hire workers.

3. Teams can schedule work.

4. Teams decide how to do the job.

5. Teams self-appraise and make compensation recommendations.

6. Teams are completely self-directing without an assigned leader.

7. Teams can fire non-productive members.