Reference no: EM133904678

Assignment:

SUBJECT: Hybara Casino Project

Good Afternoon Tim,

I have heard about the Hybara Casino project your team has taken on. I can imagine you and your team are in a stressful position to try to complete the project within the next two weeks. I think you initially should have not accepted the project with such a short deadline. I would have tried to negotiate for the project to be extended by a couple of weeks. The project deadline seems unrealistic. As a manager, part of your role is to set goals that are timely and attainable for your team. I understand Driscoll is in a position of needing revenue to prevent staff reduction next year, but this decision is having a negative effect that could impact Driscoll. The team members already have vacations approved and to affect those on such short notice will most likely lead to morale decreasing and the team losing respect for their management. This may lead to team members quitting after searching for work opportunities at a company that respects their employees' work-life balance.

In your current situation, I think you need to take initiative to help your team. I think you have put a huge burden on your team and stepping in to help would improve the team's morale. This would show the team that upper management is taking efforts to play a part in a stressful situation because currently, their view on you is that you accepted an unrealistic project and left it in their care as you go and enjoy your holidays. You need to be aware of your employees' inner work-life system. Workday events have an impact on your employees' perceptions and emotions, which then impact their motivation for their work leading to an impact on their overall work performance (Amabile & Kramer, 2007). This project is hurting your employees' perceptions and emotions and likely will lead to a lack of motivation and poor work performance. Even if the team meets the deadline, the programming they provide to Hybara Casino may be of poor quality, which could lead to damaging Driscoll's reputation and revenue even worse.

I think you should hire Alessandra. I know you think this could impact the team negatively, but I think if you discuss with the team that hiring Alessandra would benefit the project and help take some pressure off of them I think it would help alleviate some stress from the project. Alessandra has competencies and flexibilities your team does not offer, and she can handle traveling abroad rather than your team. I think with this meeting you can be more involved with what you can contribute to help accelerate meeting the project's deadline. Kristen is a new manager and she may need more coaching. For only being two months into her promotion, putting this situation in her hands is demanding, and if you want her to benefit from the situation your support can help.

Moving forward, try to be more mindful of your decisions and how they can impact your team's morale. While revenue is a priority, remembering your employees are humans that need a healthy work-life balance is important.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can assist.

Sincerely,

References:

Amabile, T. M., & Kramer, S. J. (2007). Inner Work Life: Understanding the Subtext of Business Performance. Harvard Business Review, 85(5), 72-83.

Question:

Share an experience that is relevant to you about this post regarding a high-stress situation in your professional career as a manager or leader that expanded how you approached developing job satisfaction and motivation for others.