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Portnoy's Dilemma
A classic management dilemma. Portnoy is truly in a pickle: how to get an immediate improvement in performance from his associates and at the same time keep their morale and willingness to cooperate high. Should he increase the pressure on his department, emphasize friendly relationships, or involve people in adult problem solving processes? What would you do if you were
Portnoy?
Based on Douglas McGregor's well-known Theory X and Theory Y, Portnoy's Dilemma first presents participants with a brief case study concerning a manager whose department is facing a serious merchandise shortage problem. Then participants are asked to rate 30 action alternatives in terms of their perceived importance.
Use Portnoy's Dilemma to:
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Introduce a supervisory or management skills development program.
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Illustrate the relationship between supervisory/management attitudes, beliefs or philosophy.
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Assist a participant in examining his/her
own orientation to human resource management.
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Encourage group discussion of an effective organizational human resource development philosophy.
Originally developed for first-level managers in a retail environment, Portnoy's Dilemma is universal and managers in any organization can benefit from study and discussion of the case. Add Portnoy's Dilemma to your next management development training session to stimulate discussion of how assumptions affect managerial and team
practices.
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