Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
Employee management plays an important role in the productivity of any organisation.
The topic studies the aspects that create an environment conducive to good performance. The findings can assist organisational leaders in creating successful turnaround strategies and streamline their business processes. Although people management has been around for some time, many companies still experience personnel problems that affect productivity. The common problem for South Africa is a plague of strikes that hit us year after year. A question might be asked, why affected organisations have not come up with pre-emptive strategies.
This research uses a case study in an engineering packaging company, SPZ, to Determine the reasons behind people’s behaviour at work, why they react in a certain way, and how they can be managed effectively. The case study also shows results of the interviews conducted on a group of 15 random sampled employees. This will uncover the human side that could cause a plant with good equipment to be unproductive. The case present information on the company and the problems it is facing.
The case study method was better suited because it digs deeper into the problems and provides a
snapshot on the relationship between workers and managers. This dissertation includes literature
studies on the topics dealing with teamwork, leadership, communication, negotiation, and
motivation. In addition, how they relate or affect productivity.
The biggest challenge at SPZ is lack of effective formal communication in the
organisation starting a chain reaction, fuelled by continental cultural differences, manifesting
itself in the form of low productivity. There is management productivity
problem; some foreign managers were not prepared enough to manage a South African workforce.