Pedro - a Case Study

Pedro

A Case Analysis

Synthesis

Pedro is a professional working for a large electronic firm with its management that seems to slash off jobs every year due to bad business condition. Job opportunities will be provided again once the business has stabilized. Pedro’s team noticed it is that time of the year again when the executives started meeting behind closed doors. Pedro’s boss however was a good friend and also a voluble talker. So Pedro felt no qualms asking him about the future. His boss explained the contingency plan at length mentioning that should layoffs be needed, Pedro will lose his team member, Jaime. He made it plain to Pedro that this information shall be kept confidential. Not long after their conversation, Jaime approached Pedro and asked if he could confirm what the rumor mill was saying: that he himself would be the target.

Point of View

No business is stable. Every business is expected to encounter sways and business struggles at some points of the timeline that could make or break them. A business struggling to gain profits might consider to slash off jobs. This is a strategic approach to reduce cost of operations making the objective to gain profit more obtainable. However, business decisions shall be communicated properly. Desirable benefit packages shall also be considered to give to whoever will be affected by the business decisions.

Statement of the Problem

How to strategically approach a critical business condition that involves cutting of jobs affecting the immediate subordinates/colleagues?

Statement of the Objectives

1. To determine the effective and efficient way of communicating business plans and decisions involving job cutting of subordinates/colleagues
2. To come up with a just and fair selection process of the target employees
3. To create a desirable and appropriate benefit package to target employees
4. To consider alternative options that could help the business benefit instead of slashing off jobs

Areas of Consideration

(Using SWOT Analysis)

Strength

Pedro’s relationship with his Boss

        It can be considered a strength that Pedro has good relationship with his boss. He uses his relationship to ask how is the current business condition leading him to the notion that one of his team members will be removed if the plan will be implemented.

Pedro’s relationship with his subordinates

        Pedro knew that his subordinates have already an idea regarding the management’s style of slashing off jobs to help gain business stability. It then led him to ask his boss regarding the status of the business.

Job opportunities when business starts to stabilize

        Even the management has decided to slash off jobs due to work slacking, it is still a good indicator that they still do provide job opportunities when business stabilizes. This could in effect create assurance to every member of the organization that whatever the business is currently dealing with, it will surpass and will normalize.

Weakness

Cutting off jobs to stabilize business

        It has become noticeable that the management slashes off jobs every few years to address slacking of work. It’s detrimental to the organization as employees may start to think that they aren’t secured with their jobs and their managers aren’t protecting them from such.

Improper way of cascading business information

        Pedro approached his boss to ask about the future of the business and the boss provided him an answer right away. Even Pedro and his boss are friends; proper communication of business decisions should still be observed.

Development of small social groups within the business

        Pedro’s team members notice that the managers are conducting meeting again behind closed doors. This led the team to expect the worst come whatever decision they will arrived on. This can be clearly considered as weakness. The formation of small social groups in an organization can develop or destroy it as a whole. In this case, speculations are made.

Slashing off jobs has becoming a Norm

        Slashing off jobs has become noticeable every few years in the organization. This can be considered a week point since it denotes the business’ very unstable condition.

Jaime’s awareness about himself as the target        

        Jaime approached Pedro and asked if he can confirm if the rumor was true. This caught Pedro in the middle between informing Jaime about the decision as a concerned boss or to refrain from saying anything as these things shall be kept confidential until further notice.        

Opportunities

Coordinate with other business groups or departments

        The current business condition can create opportunities between departments to coordinate with one another regarding job transfers and reshuffling. It is an opportunity of a member of the organization to be part of another group that is in need of additional manpower.