Analysis Paper with Company-Facing Proposal for Low Productivity Issues

Outcomes

The final project for this course is the creation of an analysis paper with a company-facing proposal section. It will be an in-depth case study analysis with a research component. It will focus on a company experiencing issues with productivity. The student will function in the role of a consultant by analyzing and making recommendations based on psychological theories. Students will answer the question “What recommendations should be made to remedy the issues surrounding low productivity?” The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Seven, and Eight. The final project will be submitted in Module Ten.

1.Recommend solutions to complex, contemporary workplace issues that effectively integrate motivational, leadership, and consulting theories and practices.

2.Assess best practices for motivating, leading, and consulting within the realm of industrial and organizational psychology that synthesize contemporary research, theory, and methods.

3.Evaluate ethical implications in industrial-organizational psychology based on accepted ethical standards in the field.

4.Apply effective collaboration and leadership skills through participation in working teams.

5.Illustrate how diversity within an organization can help create a balanced and positive environment that fosters psychological well-being.

The critical elements listed below must be addressed.

Provide a summary and description of the case study company, including the following:

a. An overview of the company

b. The products, goods, or services provided by the company

c. A description of the customer base of the company

d. An overview of the markets served by the company

e. Identification of the company’s major competitors

f. A description of the organizational structure, including current leadership style

g. A breakdown of the diversity of the company’s employees

h. A description of the main issues affecting productivity

Best Practices

Contemporary research, theory, and consulting are used to guide companies to utilize practices that promote the best possible outcomes. Within the realm of industrial and organizational psychology, address the following questions:

a. Which motivational theories can be used to help explain the issues surrounding low productivity within this company? Why are these theories relevant? Are there other psychological theories that could be used when analyzing low productivity (e.g., change theories)? Why are these theories relevant?

b. What type of leadership style is prominent at the company? How does this management style affect employee morale? Would changes to this style affect productivity?

c. Is there a need for collaboration between the company’s leadership and the consultant? What is the role of the consultant when proposing changes? Give an example where collaboration is mandatory between leadership and the consultant.

a. Is productivity affected by industry-specific ethical standards? If so, explain the considerations of the ethical dilemma.

b. What ethical responsibility does the consultant have in the relationship with the client company? 

Recommendations

a. What recommendations would you suggest to this company to improve productivity through motivation? What motivational theories can be related to these recommendations? Explain their significance.

b. Are there leadership changes needed? How would the company’s leadership need to be involved in the change process? Could leadership styles affect the proposed changes?

c. In which type of role would the consultant work, in relation to the various departments and work teams in the company, to facilitate change? In order to achieve the desired changes being recommended, should the consultant take an active leadership role in the change process?

Ethical Considerations

How will your proposed changes have a personal impact on the employees within the company? Could there be unforeseen ethical implications?

How do the proposed changes align with your personal values of how employees should be treated?

Diversity

Are there changes you would propose to the current diversity of the company to foster productivity and the well-being of employees? How will those changes affect both management and employees? Collaboration and Leadership Skills  are there any recommendations for the addition of or reduction to the number of working teams? Why are these changes needed