The Consultant’s Report Exercise

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #1 specialises in management practices derived from Abraham Maslow. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #1 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• Abraham Maslow's theory is based on the hierarchy of needs, which suggests that individuals are motivated by fulfilling basic needs before moving on to higher-level needs such as self-actualisation.

• Consultant #1 would recommend implementing strict disciplinary measures to address lateness and low productivity.

• Consultant #1 would suggest focusing solely on increasing financial incentives to motivate the employee.

• Consultant #1 would advise Ahmed to assign more challenging tasks to the employee without considering their current needs.

Answer explanation

Consultant #1 would emphasize understanding the employee's needs based on Maslow's hierarchy, suggesting that addressing basic needs may improve motivation and productivity, rather than imposing strict measures or solely increasing incentives.

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #1 specializes in management practices derived from Abraham Maslow. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #1 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• Recommendations may include identifying which needs are not being met for the employee (such as safety, belonging, or esteem) and addressing those needs to improve motivation and productivity.

• Consultant #1 would suggest implementing a strict disciplinary policy to address lateness and low productivity.

• Consultant #1 would recommend offering a financial bonus as the sole motivator for improved performance.

• Consultant #1 would advise rotating the employee to a different department to see if performance improves.

Answer explanation

Consultant #1 would focus on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, suggesting that Ahmed identify unmet needs like belonging or esteem. Addressing these needs can enhance the employee's motivation and productivity, leading to improved performance.

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #2 specializes in Theory Y management practices. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #2 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• Theory Y assumes that employees are self-motivated, seek responsibility, and can be creative in solving organizational problems.

• Theory Y assumes that employees are inherently lazy and require constant supervision to be productive.

• Theory Y suggests that strict punishment and close monitoring are the best ways to improve employee performance.

• Theory Y recommends that managers should avoid giving employees any responsibility or autonomy.

Answer explanation

Consultant #2 would advise Ahmed to embrace Theory Y, which views employees as self-motivated and capable of seeking responsibility. By fostering a supportive environment, Ahmed can encourage his subordinate to improve productivity and punctuality.

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #2 specializes in Theory Y management practices. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #2 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• Recommendations may include empowering the employee, providing opportunities for participation in decision-making, and encouraging self-direction and responsibility.

• Recommendations may include strict monitoring, implementing punitive measures, and reducing employee autonomy.

• Recommendations may include increasing supervision, setting rigid rules, and discouraging employee input.

• Recommendations may include focusing solely on financial incentives and ignoring employee development.

Answer explanation

Consultant #2, focusing on Theory Y, would advise Ahmed to empower the employee, involve them in decision-making, and promote self-direction. This approach fosters motivation and responsibility, addressing the lateness and productivity issues.

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #3 specializes in Hawthorne’s management practices. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #3 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• The Hawthorne theory suggests that employees' productivity increases when they feel observed, valued, and involved in the workplace.

• The Hawthorne theory recommends strict disciplinary action for underperforming employees.

• The Hawthorne theory advocates for increasing monetary incentives as the primary motivator.

• The Hawthorne theory suggests that reducing supervision will lead to higher productivity.

Answer explanation

Consultant #3 would advise Ahmed to focus on creating a supportive environment where employees feel observed and valued, as the Hawthorne theory indicates that this can enhance productivity and engagement.

Consider the following situation: Ahmed Najir, manager of “MUGGS ‘R’ US,” has noticed that one of his subordinates has been frequently coming into work late. This individual’s productivity has also been slipping in the past few weeks. Ahmed has sought advice from three different management consultants. Consultant #3 specializes in Hawthorne’s management practices. Outline the advice and the actual approach that you think Consultant #3 would have given Ahmed to solve his problem.

• Recommendations may include increasing attention to the employee, improving workplace conditions, and fostering a sense of belonging and involvement.

• Recommendations may include implementing strict disciplinary measures and reducing employee autonomy.

• Recommendations may include increasing financial incentives and focusing solely on monetary rewards.

• Recommendations may include assigning additional tasks to the employee to increase workload and pressure.

Answer explanation

Consultant #3 would advise Ahmed to increase attention to the employee, improve workplace conditions, and foster a sense of belonging. This aligns with Hawthorne's principles, emphasizing the importance of social factors in productivity.

Abraham Maslow’s Theory includes the hierarchy of needs, deficit and progression principles. Which of the following best summarizes this theory?

• It proposes that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, starting from basic physiological needs to self-actualization, and that people must satisfy lower-level deficit needs before progressing to higher-level growth needs.

• It states that all human needs are equally important and can be pursued simultaneously without any order.

• It suggests that only physiological needs are important for motivation, and higher needs do not influence behavior.

• It claims that human motivation is solely determined by external rewards, not by internal needs.

Answer explanation

Maslow's Theory emphasizes a hierarchy of needs, where individuals must first meet basic physiological needs before addressing higher-level growth needs like self-actualization, making the correct choice the best summary.

A recommendation that includes the application of Abraham Maslow’s Theory should reference which of the following?

• Hierarchy of needs

• Classical conditioning

• Operant conditioning

• Cognitive dissonance

Answer explanation

Abraham Maslow’s Theory is centered around the Hierarchy of Needs, which outlines the progression of human needs from basic to advanced. The other options relate to different psychological concepts and are not relevant here.

Theory Y emphasizes which of the following aspects in employees?

• Responsibility, self-regulation, creativity and imagination, and the ability to work on your own

• Strict supervision and external control

• Lack of motivation and avoidance of responsibility

• Dependence on rewards and punishments

Answer explanation

Theory Y focuses on positive aspects of employees, highlighting their responsibility, self-regulation, creativity, and ability to work independently, contrasting with the negative views of Theory X.

A recommendation that includes the application of Theory Y is:

• Encouraging employee participation in decision-making.

• Implementing strict supervision and control.

• Assuming employees dislike work and avoid responsibility.

• Focusing solely on monetary rewards for motivation.

Answer explanation

Theory Y emphasizes a positive view of employees, believing they are self-motivated and enjoy responsibility. Encouraging employee participation in decision-making aligns with this theory, fostering engagement and collaboration.