Reference no: EM131242095
1. Read the 1998 Wall Street Journal article about Levi Strauss & Co. (attached)
Address the following items.
A. Identify and explain what you think Levi Strauss & Co. did well and did poorly in implementing its team reorganization. Be sure to relate your observations to Hackman's research and the concepts we covered in this course.
B. Assume that you are a consultant to the company in May 1998 (at the time of the writing of this article.) Write a formal consulting letter to the company CEO recommending what the company should do "now" (in May 1998.) Be sure to use proper and formal letter format and professional language. Please remember that I am looking for evidence that you learned and can apply concepts from Hackman's research and this course.
C. Do you think that some projects or operations are simply not appropriate for a team organization? Do you think that Richard Hackman would agree or disagree with you? Explain your answers fully.
2. Read all of the posts from our Week 7 discussion board assignment. Choose the project of one other student and explain how you would enhance the idea by adding a team organization and/or team concepts to the idea of the other student. Be sure to relate your observations/suggestions to Hackman's research and concepts we covered in this course. Please copy and paste the other student's post to your paper or provide the name of the student whose post you are enhancing. Below is the Other Student Post!
Vaun Stivers - Week 7 Movement Post
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If I had no responsibilities for school or work for a year, no bills, and I had $100,000 I would use it to help our homeless veterans. Veteran homelessness is a huge problem in the United States the "Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 39,471 veterans are homeless on any given night." That is a staggering statistic. Our brave soldiers fight for our country, they fight to keep us safe and secure, and they fight for our freedom. The government often times uses a soldier and when they become a burden release them from service. Many veterans come back with PTSD and other disabilities that make it hard for them to lead normal lives. They served their country valiantly and to thank them our government tosses them aside and give them the bare minimal amounts of aid. The government sweeps them under the rug and pretends that it isn't a big issue. I love our country and the men and women who serve it; however, I don't like that the government takes advantage of these brave men and women. This issue hits close to home because I come from a family with a long history of military service. Currently my older brother is living homeless in the streets of Tacoma, Washington. He enlisted into the U.S. Army at the age of 17 back in 2007. He went and served a year and a half over in Baghdad, Iraq where he saw many terrible things. He now suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When he got back stateside and finished up his 4 year contract he got out of the Army. He has had a hard time ever since. He has sought help from the VA and tried to get aid but has yet to receive any substantial help. When he got back he went and got certified to be a medical assistant. He has since had trouble finding employment. He has held several jobs over the years but all of them seasonal, he can't find someone who will hire him on full time. He hasn't been homeless the whole time he has been back but he has been homeless at different time intervals. He was homeless for about a year when he got out of the military, he got a job at a gas station and made enough to rent an apartment at the same time he was going to school to get his medical assistant certification. After receiving his certification he moved in with his girlfriend in California where he continued to seek help. He lived there for a few years where he held several seasonal jobs. Due to his PTSD and the problems associated with it he and his girlfriend broke up. He has been homeless again for the past seven months. Many people are reluctant to hire someone who suffers from PTSD and that is why he can't find a permanent position. The VA is trying to deny him financial aid saying his PTSD was not service related. This is a problem that many veterans encounter. So with that $100,000 and all of the free time I would work with wounded warrior homes. I would first make sure my brother is taken care of and donate the money to wounded warrior homes. I would then volunteer to help them in anyway I could. Due to the large numbers of homeless veterans wounded warrior homes can't keep up with demand. Fifty-five percent of the homeless population are veterans. One thing I learned from the course that could be directly applied to this would be serving the client. In this case it would be the homeless vets. However, quality, quantity, and timeliness would be impossible to meet due to lack of funds. Another thing I took away from the book would be being a productive member of a team. I would pitch any ideas I had and head others advice.
3.Please suggest an enhancement that you would recommend for this course. It may apply to any assignment, this exam, or any other aspect of the way the course is designed, organized or presented. It may include a resource (article, video, website, etc.) you would recommend adding to the course or something you would suggest covering in a different way.
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2016, from https://nchv.org/index.php/news/media/background_and_statistics/
Article: Jeans Therapy: Levi's Factory Workers Are Assigned to Teams, And Morale Takes a Hit --- Infighting Rises, Productivity Falls as Employees Miss The Piecework System --- `It's Not the Same Company' By Ralph T. King Jr.