High Performance Work Systems

Running head: High-Performance Work Systems – Final Project

High-Performance Work Systems – Final Project

April 20, 2010

High-Performance Work Systems – Final Project

This case study includes three different cases involving expansion and growth of companies. One is based on outsourcing, one on expanding and hiring and the other on high performance work systems and compensation. They are all completely different in their own way, but they are examples of steps that every company has to face. All three case studies are also good examples of what companies can do to save time and money.

In the case of Professional Products, Incorporated, outsourcing some of their work to Mexico and Honduras will save the company time and money. With the new sales offices in Europe, it is inevitable that the demand for their product will increase. According to the case study, Kilby does not hire new employees when the demand for the product is high, and this may put a lot of pressure on the employees if changes are not made (Bohlander & Snell, 2007). By outsourcing some of the more minimal tasks to Mexico or Honduras, Kilby will be freeing up trained and skilled employees for tasks that require more attention. One concern is what will happen when the demand for the product is not high. If the demand does decrease, giving employees shorter work weeks will not benefit anyone, especially if the employees are paid hourly. The employees depend on that job to pay their bills and put food on their table. Management is just adding to any stress or problems the employees might have by shortening their work week. This could cause many employees to become disgruntled and possibly search for new jobs. Since, according to Stanton, these jobs are “highly skilled jobs,” it would be harder to replace any employee that might leave (Bohlander & Snell, 2007).

Kilby needs to sit down with management and Human Resources to think of how to reengineer the company without...