Fred Starky worked his way upward in the NBY Company until he became assistant plant manager in the Illinois plant. Finally, his opportunity for a promotion came. The Houston plant was having difficulty meeting its budget and production quotas, so he was promoted to plant manager and transferred to the Houston plant with instructions to "straighten it out." Starky was ambitious and somewhat power-oriented. He believed that the best way to solve problems was to take control, make decisions, and use his authority to carry out his decisions. After preliminary study, he issued orders for each department to cut its budget 5 percent. A week later he instructed all departments to increase production 10 percent by the following month. He required several new reports and kept a close watch on operations. At the end of the second month he dismissed three supervisors who had failed to meet their production quotas. Five other supervisors resigned. Butterfield insisted that all rules and budgets should be followed, and he allowed no exceptions. Starky's efforts produced remarkable results. Productivity quickly exceeded standard by 7 percent, and within five months the plant was within budget. His record was so outstanding that he was promoted to the New York home office near the end of his second year. Within a month after he left, productivity in the Houston plant collapsed to 15 percent below standard, and the budget again was in trouble. Questions 1. Discuss the model of organizational behavior Starky used and the kind of organizational climate he created. 2. Discuss why productivity dropped when Starky left the Houston plant. 3. If you were Starky's New York manager, what would you tell him about his approach? How might he respond?

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Fred Starky
Fred Starky worked his way upward in the NBY Company until he became assistant
plant manager in the Illinois plant. Finally, his opportunity for a promotion came. The
Houston plant was having difficulty meeting its budget and production quotas, so he was
promoted to plant manager and transferred to the Houston plant with instructions to
"straighten it out."
Starky was ambitious and somewhat power-oriented. He believed that the best way
to solve problems was to take control, make decisions, and use his authority to carry out his
decisions. After preliminary study, he issued orders for each department to cut its budget
5 percent. A week later he instructed all departments to increase production 10 percent by
the following month. He required several new reports and kept a close watch on operations.
At the end of the second month he dismissed three supervisors who had failed to meet their
production quotas. Five other supervisors resigned. Butterfield insisted that all rules and
budgets should be followed, and he allowed no exceptions.
Starky's efforts produced remarkable results. Productivity quickly exceeded standard
by 7 percent, and within five months the plant was within budget. His record was so
outstanding that he was promoted to the New York home office near the end of his second
year. Within a month after he left, productivity in the Houston plant collapsed to 15 percent
below standard, and the budget again was in trouble.
Questions
1. Discuss the model of organizational behavior Starky used and the kind of organizational
climate he created.
2. Discuss why productivity dropped when Starky left the Houston plant.
3. If you were Starky's New York manager, what would you tell him about his approach?
How might he respond?
Transcribed Image Text:Fred Starky Fred Starky worked his way upward in the NBY Company until he became assistant plant manager in the Illinois plant. Finally, his opportunity for a promotion came. The Houston plant was having difficulty meeting its budget and production quotas, so he was promoted to plant manager and transferred to the Houston plant with instructions to "straighten it out." Starky was ambitious and somewhat power-oriented. He believed that the best way to solve problems was to take control, make decisions, and use his authority to carry out his decisions. After preliminary study, he issued orders for each department to cut its budget 5 percent. A week later he instructed all departments to increase production 10 percent by the following month. He required several new reports and kept a close watch on operations. At the end of the second month he dismissed three supervisors who had failed to meet their production quotas. Five other supervisors resigned. Butterfield insisted that all rules and budgets should be followed, and he allowed no exceptions. Starky's efforts produced remarkable results. Productivity quickly exceeded standard by 7 percent, and within five months the plant was within budget. His record was so outstanding that he was promoted to the New York home office near the end of his second year. Within a month after he left, productivity in the Houston plant collapsed to 15 percent below standard, and the budget again was in trouble. Questions 1. Discuss the model of organizational behavior Starky used and the kind of organizational climate he created. 2. Discuss why productivity dropped when Starky left the Houston plant. 3. If you were Starky's New York manager, what would you tell him about his approach? How might he respond?
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