Week 3 Assignment: Investing in Your Team

Types of Investment

Recall the types of investment you studied in the course. Use them in this assignment.

Growth Mindset: Growth mindset means you believe that you can improve (or “grow”) abilities such as intelligence, talent, and skills through hard work and self-discipline.
Job-sculpting: Job-sculpting means developing an employee’s role so that their work duties match what they are passionate about; what interests them.
Work Flexibility: Work flexibility means allowing employees to work when and where is best for them, if they get the job done.

Instructions

Assuming the role of General Manager of Hometown Cars, you have talked to the Hometown Cars employees one-on-one to see how they feel about their current work environment. For each of the employee observations, write a response in which you choose a type of investment and explain how it will improve the situation described in the observation. Explain whether the type of investment recommended leads to intrinsic motivation or extrinsic motivation. Be sure to include details from your approach to justify your response.

This example is provided to get you started.

Observation

Your assistant manager, Jorge, shows potential for being a general manager. One day he mentions that he really enjoys the financial side of managing.

General Manager Recommendation

Job sculpting was the motivational investment selected to use with Jorge. Because of his interest in the financial side of managing, developing his role so he can highlight his passion and interest in finance is a worthy investment. To do that, Jorge will be given the opportunity to take ownership of tracking invoices for the company. Being given the task of tracking invoices intrinsically motivates Jorge to dedicate himself to the continued success of the company. By diversifying his skill set and developing new skills, he will become a better candidate for a promotion. He will also be motivated to do well because he knows that by performing his best, he will have a better chance at a promotion and the job security that comes along with it.

Write a response for each observation beginning under the label, General Manager Recommendation. Submit your completed responses in this document to the Week 3 assignment.

Observation 1

Employees tell you there does not appear to be the option for personal career development at Hometown Cars. For instance, competition within the sales department prevents seasoned sales associates from mentoring new sales associates, and the company does not offer any formal training.

General Manager Recommendation

Observation 2

A few of the sales associates have emphasized that they are car enthusiasts and take a genuine interest in how the cars they sell perform. However, because of the animosity between departments, they have never been allowed to really explore the cars they sell.

General Manager Recommendation

Observation 3

Employees share that they are stressed because it feels like there is little opportunity to take care of important personal issues – like keeping up with doctor’s appointments and attending their children’s school functions.