Assignment 2.3: Justification Report – Part 3 (Final

REVISION 7

Justification report revision

Rebecca Harpe

Strayer University

 Professor Elvia M. Hernandez

English 315

May 8, 2017

This report discusses the evaluation of alternatives and findings and analysis of the previous justification report which addressed the problem of coordinating employees so as to meet the time line set for completing the tender.

Evaluations of alternatives

According to the problem statement, our company has to complete a tender obligation which impacts the profitability however, its fulfillment poses the risk of demotivating and stressing employees due to accessibility difficulties. It was already established that most of the employees instrumental to the project reside far from work and this is a justified concern.

The overview of alternatives as per the report considers two relevant solutions: acquiring accommodation near company premises or acquiring a company bus to transport the employees to and from the company premises. These two alternatives are the most logical because the tender timeline cannot be adjusted without it being financially and time straining. Thus the company should take both into serious consideration. However other options can be considered which will significantly minimize costs and improve productivity. These include telecommuting and working in shifts. Both alternatives will allow for all employees to be engaged despite tier geographical constraints while meeting company goals.

Four criteria are considered, the first being cost which considers the cost effectiveness of buying a bus which requires maintenance and fueling especially if employees are spread out in their current residences. Durability is considered in terms of its long term benefits. In this case the bus is the better alternative because it would be unreasonable and costly to seek accommodation should the site of tender keep changing. Desirability is the third criteria which affects employees that have families and do not want to be disconnected thus prefer the bus. Fourthly time to execute any of the alternatives is considered. The procurement of a bus is found to be time consuming due to budget decisions hence preference for renting. Last but not least, efficiency is considered and the bus is the better alternative because of its extended usability and practicality.

The methods used to gather data that would inform the chosen alternative is questionnaires administered to the employees who will give responses on which alternative works best for them. The questions however have to be open-ended and conducted ethically so a so as to obtain nonbiased results. The other method is cost research which will engage property owners and vehicle dealers. The findings will be used to weigh the costs and benefits of both alternatives. It will involve comparing at least three of each so as not to be shortchanged. It is important that the company saves on costs and maximizes on productivity.

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Reverting back to the two possible solutions to be considered, providing a real world example to support the application of the two alternatives will be instrumental. Telecommuting is increasingly being adopted by companies because of the benefits it offers. For instance companies like Amazon and Teletech which are online and technology companies respectively are known for implementing telecommuting. This has enabled them to cut significant costs on staff and accommodation. Working in shifts, the second alternative, is also beneficial as it ease pressure on the employees hence enhancing their total motivation. Companies such as Exacto Springs, a manufacturing company and Mercury Marine Inc. both offer three 12-hour shifts per week (Barrett, 2013).They both find that it simplifies the operations and motivates employees.

According to the five criteria used, the two alternatives can be measured against them. In terms of cost, both telecommuting and working in shifts have cut down on costs such as software, accommodation and staff in the companies researched. In terms of durability both alternatives are long term solutions since the employees of the companies will always work online and in shifts due to operational arrangements respectively, hence the solution is practical. In terms of desirability research reports that employees perform better and do more when they work from home and if they have flexible working hours. All these companies understand this hence the implementation. In terms of time for implementation telecommuting and working in shifts are not as capital intensive as purchasing bus or seeking rental accommodation. It just requires availing employees with software and hardware and they can work anywhere for telecommuting and having the HR arrange work shift schedules in the work shift alternative .All the companies have seen to this. In terms of efficiency, both solutions are cost effective and enhance productivity because employees do not have to commute to work every single day.

Findings and analysis

Cost

Telecommuting: Telecommuting for at least three times a week will cost the company in terms of installing software and hardware for employees (Russell, 2013).

Shift working: It will increase the cost of training employees to take up responsibilities of those in off shifts.

Work shifts: According to Finn (1981), it is been found that work shifts especially night shifts to be accident prone due to poor concentration by employees. Thus this will cost the company in terms of time and money to institute safety measures.

Durability

Telecommuting: According to Russell (2013), it cannot be sustained because employers would want to keep tab of employees’ work. It is imperative that companies ensure employees are adhering to company policies and culture which this option limits.

Work shifts: According to Finn (1981) employees’ health will be undermined because work schedule might interfere with body metabolism such as blood pressure and the wake-sleep cycle. This will limit the work and personal obligations of employees.

Desirability

Telecommuting: It fosters disconnection by employees and also makes it hard for them to separate work and personal obligation when working from home (Russell, 2013).Employees need to be able to interact on a regular basis so as to share ideas and work as a team.

Work shifts: They will limit the social lives of employees since either working a day or night shift might limit developing relationships. It also limited time for volunteering (Finn, 1981).Most employees will not support this kind of system because it is inconveniencing.

Time for implementation

Telecommuting: when it comes to maintaining security of data, it may require certain measures to be undertaken which may take time (Russell, 2013). Some companies handle highly confidential data thus it demands for employees to undergo security procedures and for the software used to be protected from unauthorized access.

Work shifts: According to Finn (1981) research has established that there were high rates of accidents especially in night shifts due to a slow metabolism at night. This implies that the company as to seek safety measures which could take time to implement.

Efficiency

Telecommuting: The employer will be limited in engaging with employees in terms of work obligations and ideas (Russell, 2013). Employers are relevant for availing feedback and setting strategies which influence the job satisfaction and productivity of employees.

Work shifts: It limits the family life of employees because their routines clash with those of their families especially those who work in night shifts (Finn, 1981). Thus it undermines the motivation of the employees since social connection is necessary this eventually affects their productivity.

According to the evaluation of alternatives section, it is found that based on the five criteria used to evaluate the initial two alternatives: purchasing a bus and obtaining accommodation each either stack against or for the criteria. For instance in terms of cost, renting is more cost effective than purchasing a bus. This is because the procurement process is costly. The methods used to determine the best alternative are effective however it appears that most employees would prefer the bus because they do not want to limit personal obligations. On the other hand two other possible solution are considered, telecommuting and work shifts. Both have their pros and cons as indicated by the relevant research articles.

7. Feasibility

The telecommuting option is much more feasible that work in shifts because the company has integrated coordinating technologies in its operating systems, while it might take time the solution is long term as compared to the work shifts. It will also minimize the cost fo operations in terms of staff costs and accommodation. Relating to the five criteria the telecommuting option performs better that work shifts.

References

Russell, J.E.A. (2013). Career Coach: The pros and cons of telecommuting. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/career-coach-teh-pros-and-cons-of-telecommuting_story.html

Barrett, R. (2013). Manufacturers turn to 12 –hour shifts, nontraditional scheduling. Retrieved from http://archive.jsonline.com/businessmanufacturers-turn-to-12-hourshifts-nontraditional-scheduling-b9943225z-1-214337781.html

Finn, P. (1981). Monthly Labor Review. The effects of shift work on the lives of employees.