Monday 25 February 2013

Mr. Suresh Kumar is the VP- HR of a leading financial services company. He is having a meeting with Ms. Rejani Chandran leading HR consultant. Mr. Suresh is concerned about creating an environment that helps in increasing the job satisfaction amongst employees. Assume that you are Ms. Rejani, the HR consultant. What suggestions you will give to Mr. Suresh, for creating an environment that increases job satisfaction?


Below are the suggestions for creating an environment with increased job satisfaction from an HR perspective:
•Provide workers with responsibility-and then let them use it
•Show respect
•Provide a positive working environment
•Reward and recognition
•Involve and increase employee engagement
•Develop the skills and potential of your workforce
•Evaluate and measure job satisfaction

Ms. Chanchal Das Gupta is a recruitment specialist. For the post of QCManager, she interviews three candidates. Given below are the physicalcharacteristics of the candidates.

Ms. Chanchal Das Gupta is a recruitment specialist. For the post of QCManager, she interviews three candidates. Given below are the physicalcharacteristics of the candidates.

Candidate
Physical Characteristics
Mr. Ravi
Muscular, thick skin, rectangular shaped.
Mr. Gineesh
Thin, delicate build, large brain, tall.
Mr. Ramgopal
Soft, round shaped, underdeveloped muscles.


From the above descriptions, what personality traits can Ms. Chanchal derive outof the candidates as per Sheldon’s theory of personality?

Explain the different leadership styles as per Managerial – Leadership Grid Theory.

The Managerial Grid is based on two behavioral dimensions:
•Concern for People – This is the degree to which a leader considers the needs of team members, their interests, and areas of personal development when deciding how best to accomplish a task.
•Concern for Production – This is the degree to which a leader emphasizes concrete objectives, organizational efficiency and high productivity when deciding how best to accomplish a task.

i. Country Club Leadership – High People/Low Production This style of leader is most concerned about the needs and feelings of members of his/her team. These people operate under the assumption that as long as team members are happy and secure then they will work hard. What tends to result is a work environment that is very relaxed and fun but where production suffers due to lack of direction and control.
ii. Produce or Perish Leadership – High Production/Low People Also known as Authoritarian or Compliance Leaders, people in this category believe that employees are simply a means to an end. Employee needs are always secondary to the need for efficient and productive workplaces. This type of leader is very autocratic, has strict work rules, policies, and procedures, and views punishment as the most effective means to motivate employees.

Define emotional intelligence. Explain Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. Since1990, Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer have been the leading researchers on emotional intelligence. In their influential article "Emotional Intelligence," they defined emotional intelligence as, "the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking and actions" (1990).

Distinguish between internal and external forces of change.

Internal Forces: Poor financial performance Employee dissatisfaction Inefficiency of existing business processes and systems need to increase profitability Existence of cultural misfits to organization goals and objectives

External Forces: Changes in technology Political factors General macro-economic environment Changes in consumer tastes, preferences, purchasing patterns & frequencies declining market shares due to competition

What are the 14 principles of management of Henri Fayol

A principle refers to a fundamental truth. It establishes cause and effect relationship between two or more variables under given situation. They serve as a guide to thought & actions. Therefore, management principles are the statements of fundamental truth based on logic which provides guidelines for managerial decision making and actions. These principles are derived: -

a. On the basis of observation and analysis i.e. practical experience of managers.

b. By conducting experimental studies.

There are 14 Principles of Management described by Henri Fayol.


Sunday 24 February 2013

Define emotional intelligence. Explain Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. Various models and definitions have been proposed of which the ability and trait EI models are the most widely accepted in the scientific literature. Criticisms have centered on whether the construct is a real intelligence and whether it has incremental validity over IQ and the Big Five personality dimensions.