Southern Discomfort

SOCI110 - Case for Module 10 - Southern Discomfort

Daft 7e p. 391

Names of Group Members |

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Instructions

1. Form groups of 4 to 6 students each

2. Individually, read the case on page 391 in the text; this will take most people less than 10 minutes

3. Using one discussion sheet write the name of each group member in the list above; return that sheet at the end of class

4. In your group discuss the questions that follow

Discussion Questions

1.  What are the forces that threaten the survival of the Lamprey plant in Oconomo [Oconomowoc?], Wisconsin?

2.  What are the advantages of moving the Lamprey plant to Mexico vs. keeping the plant in Oconomo, from the point of view of management and the point of view of the union? (Hint: You may want to list advantages of each decision in the following table.)

  | Moving plant to Mexico | Keeping plant in Oconomo |

 Advantages for Management  |   |   |

 Advantages for Union  |   |   |

3.  Suppose a decision is made to keep the plant in Oconomo.

* What changes are needed to reduce the costs of production?

* What kinds of changes are these (i.e., technology, products & services, strategy & structure, culture)?

* How could these changes be implemented ?

4.  If you had to give an educated guess, what do you predict the decision of management will be in this case: will the plant remain in Oconomo or will it be moved to Mexico?  Why?

Southern Discomfort

Summary:

Jim Malesckowski received a call from his boss, who wanted him to go to Mexico and determine some figures for their manufacturing company. Their present plant is in Oconomo, Wisconsin, where they employ 520 people. Oconomo is a small town of just under 10,000 people and jobs are limited, so the company provides some help to their poor economy. Jim’s boss is thinking about moving the plant into Mexico where he could cut costs...