Running head: Global Communications Benchmarking
Global Communications Benchmarking
University of Phoenix
Global Communications (GC) is facing a severely competitive market that requires organizational change at the same time it faces strong resistance from its unionized workforce. Improved methods of communication combined with a better understanding of emotional intelligence and organizational commitment concepts is required in order to build success. This benchmarking exercise will illustrate the application of concepts that GC can learn from.
The Unilever soap plant in Baltimore, Maryland built a strong environment of organizational commitment. The concept was very simple: employees were allowed to control their production machines and asked to operate them cost effectively in order to keep the plant viable; keeping the production in-house and away from outsourcing companies. To help ensure the results, a compensation plan was created that linked employee bonuses to cost savings; a plan jointly negotiated by the union and management. “Employees feel that they are part of the organization when they make decisions that guide the organization's future. Through participation, employees begin to see how the organization is a reflection of their decisions. (McShane, Von Glinow, 2005). In order to facilitate the partnership approach, physical barriers were removed, creating situations where “teams of union and management were on one side of the table arguing with a team of union and management on the other side over the best way achieve the production goals.” (C. Torres, 2002) In contrast, Global Communication’s one way, dictatorial style of communication to the unionized call c ...