Question

Compare the strength and weakness of those working settings and arrangements listed below. Identify which are individual settings and which are group settings.

1. job sharing

2. self-management teams

3. compressed work week

4. flex time

5. offsite work

6. contract work

Answer 1

1) Job sharing-Job sharing allows two people to share the responsibility of one full-time job typically with prorated salary and paid time off. It is an group setting because two people participate in this activity.

Weakness-If both the employees are not compatible then the failure of job positions will occur.

The cost of benefit arises if the company provides job benefits for both the employees. It also needs extra supervisory time and clash in meetings.

Strength- When an employee feels torn then job sharing helps to resolve this problem. The workload and stress in the workplace become minimal because of job sharing. And both the employee can give their 100% in the office.

2)Self-management teams-A self-managed team is a group of people that's responsible and accountable for all or most of the activity held in producing and delivering the goods. It is a group setting. It is good if a group is cross-trained and has a different number of skills in the group.

The weakness-Decision making process is longer because of a group of people who have different mindsets. Having more meetings will increase the chances of conflicts and it will be time-consuming. It will be not beneficial especially in online business.

Strength- Self-managed team is important because it encourages and motivates the employees to take ownership. Through this people will participate more in group meetings.

There will be increases in productivity and cost-saving, especially in small businesses.

3)Compressed workweek- It lets employees work for longer hours on fewer days. The schedule can be 4 days in a week that is full-time hours(10) and accrue enough time for additional days off. It is an individual setting.

Weakness-Some work does not support long hours as it may cause injuries or errors. It may also cause difficulties in meetings schedule. Long working hours can cause a lack of productivity.

Strenght-Additional day off brings the employee mental peace and satisfaction and he or she can manage work balance. It causes fewer interruptions and higher productivity. And the employee gets full pay and benefits.

4)Flextime- It is a flexible time that allows the workers to alter the start and finish the day. It is an individual setting.

Weakness-It causes less supervision for some time. Difficult in managing the working hour tracks.Causes mismanagement and difficult it scheduling the meetings.

Strenght-It decreases the tardiness and absenteeism. Lowcost and highly efficient employee benefits.

5)Offsite time-It is a part of extended conversations about strategy, goals, and tactics. It is a way of bringing together all the employees in a meeting so as to make decisions and employees can go to the office the next day and can start the work. It is a group setting.

Weakness-It causes less chance of collaborations. It will take more time in team organizing and makes difficult to adjust for the employee. It's difficult to notice the potential issues in offsite working.

Strenght-It saves time for all the employees who participate in an offsite meeting. And it increases the efficiency of the team members.

6)Contract work-It is a position where employment arrangement does not involve the same level of commitment as in permanent positions. It is an individual setting.

Weakness-In contract work there is no job security. An employee does not get the job benefit like health insurance, bonus, etc.

Strenght-There is less competition for the contract employee. And there is the flexibility in working hours and less burden as compared to permanent employees.