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Managing the Workforce
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When it comes to getting things done by a group of people even seemingly simple things can go wrong. This exercise highlights the common problems in workforce management and allows participants to find effective solutions to ensure success.
Participants form three teams representing Managers, Supervisors and Production Staff at Universal Toys & Games. Presented with an urgent enquiry from a valuable customer regarding a new product, Pentominoes, the ‘workforce’ responds by producing quotations and mock-ups for two possible formats for the customer to consider.
Will the workforce operate smoothly, harmoniously, efficiently? Will the information required for the customer be complete and accurate? Will the quality of the mock-ups persuade the customer to confirm the order? Will they meet the deadline? A courier will arrive in one hour to collect.
In addition to the immediate task there are additional issues to distract the whole workforce. Is the staff balance right between the three groups? Appraisals are coming up - there is talk of redundancies. People’s performance is being closely observed.
Lots of issues are guaranteed to arise: lack of overall control, lack of effective feedback mechanisms, mis-communication, poor delegation, misinterpretation of roles, poor practical skills and non-cooperation are just a few!
A great way to illustrate the issues that lead to under-performance and the key skills required to ensure good workforce management.
- performance management
- planning work schedules
- communicating instructions effectively
- delegating
- the role of the manager/supervisor
- giving feedback & motivating others
- fostering a spirit of cooperation
- Divide the participants into three teams, Managers, Supervisors and Production Staff, as per instructions in the Trainer’s Notes.
- Briefly explain that teams represent departments of an organisation and will shortly be given details of a task.
- Issue Team Briefs. Explain the activity lasts just one hour and draw the group’s attention to the means of communication available between the three teams.
- Also issue Production Resources as per instructions in the Trainer’s Notes.
- Observe what happens (but don’t get involved). Use the Trainer’s Assessment Checklist to help gauge workforce performance. There are a lot of areas to consider!
- At the end lead a debrief: did the workforce achieve their objective (most do not)? What did they do well? What let them down? How could they have done better? What useful lessons can they take back to the workplace? Lots of useful issues to discuss.
John Watson, participant at trialsWhat was great about this activity was that it mirrored reality so well. It led to major performance improvement back at work. Really worthwhile and good fun.
Mike Lynch, Northgate Training LtdHammers home the need for tight control, effective delegation and good communication between different levels within the organisation.
- McCain Foods
- Cross Country Trains
- Fife Council
- QC Training International
- Centre Parcs
- Elite Training European
- NLIAH Wales
- Iris Software Group
- Trainer’s Notes
- Manager’s Briefs
- Supervisor’s Briefs
- Production Team’s Briefs
- Memo Pad
- Resources: scissors, A4 card, colour pens, pencils, rulers, sticky tape
- Trainer’s Assessment Checklist
