Dr. Alok Banarjee is the Chief Executive of a medium sized pharmaceutical firm in Kolkata. He holds a Ph.D. in pharmacy. However, he has not been involved in research and development of new products for two decades. Though turnover is not a problem for the company, Dr. Banarjee and his senior colleagues noticed that the workers on hourly basis are not working upto their full potontial. It is a well-known fact that they filled their days with unnecessary and unproductive activities and worked only for the sake of a pay cheque. In the recent past the situation has become quite alarming as the organisation began to crumble under the weight of uneconomical effort. The situation demanded immediate managerial attention and prompt remedial measures. Dr. Banarjee knew very well that the only way to progress and prosper is to motivate workers to peak performance through various incentive plans. One fine morning, Dr. Banarjee contacted the Personnel Manager and enquired: ―What is the problem with the workers on hourly basis? The wage bill shows that we pay them the highest in the industry. Our working conditions are fine. Our fringe benefits are excellent. Still these workers are not motivated. What do they require really? The Personnel Manager gave the following reply: ―I have already informed you a number of times, that money, working conditions and benefits are not enough. Other things are equally important. One of the workers in that group recently gave me a clue as to why more and more workers arejoining the bandwagon of ̳non-performers‘. He felt bad that hard work and efficiency go unnoticed and unrewarded in our organisation. Our promotions and benefits plans are tied to length of service. Ecen the lazy workers, accordingly, enjoy all the benefits in the organisation, which infact, according to the workers, should go only to those who work hard‖. Dr. Banarjee then wanted the personnel manager to look into the problem more closely and find out a solution to the problems of workers on hourly basis. Questions: (i) Explain the motivational problem in this case. If you were the manager, how would you motivate the employees so that they work better?

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Dr. Alok Banarjee is the Chief Executive of a medium sized pharmaceutical firm in Kolkata. He holds a Ph.D. in pharmacy. However, he has not been involved in research and development of new products for
two decades. Though turnover is not a problem for the company, Dr. Banarjee and his senior colleagues noticed that the workers on hourly basis are not working upto their full potontial. It is a well-known fact
that they filled their days with unnecessary and unproductive activities and worked only for the sake of a pay cheque. In the recent past the situation has become quite alarming as the organisation began to
crumble under the weight of uneconomical effort. The situation demanded immediate managerial attention and prompt remedial measures. Dr. Banarjee knew very well that the only way to progress and
prosper is to motivate workers to peak performance through various incentive plans. One fine morning,
Dr. Banarjee contacted the Personnel Manager and enquired: ―What is the problem with the workers on
hourly basis? The wage bill shows that we pay them the highest in the industry. Our working conditions
are fine. Our fringe benefits are excellent. Still these workers are not motivated. What do they require really? The Personnel Manager gave the following reply: ―I have already informed you a number of
times, that money, working conditions and benefits are not enough. Other things are equally important.
One of the workers in that group recently gave me a clue as to why more and more workers arejoining the
bandwagon of ̳non-performers‘. He felt bad that hard work and efficiency go unnoticed and unrewarded
in our organisation. Our promotions and benefits plans are tied to length of service. Ecen the lazy
workers, accordingly, enjoy all the benefits in the organisation, which infact, according to the workers,
should go only to those who work hard‖. Dr. Banarjee then wanted the personnel manager to look into the
problem more closely and find out a solution to the problems of workers on hourly basis.


Questions:
(i) Explain the motivational problem in this case. If you were the manager, how would you
motivate the employees so that they work better?

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