Professional Development Program Proposal (1)

Professional Development Program Proposal

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The Eastman Kodak Company, an organization that was created over a hundred years ago has been experiencing a decline in sales in recent times. The decline in sales and dominance of Eastman Kodak in its industry arises because of the management’s failure to put up with technological changes experienced in the photography industry, poor employee motivation and decision making abilities. It was recommended that Eastman Kodak hires competitive leaders to ensure that sound decisions are made and the company heads to the appropriate direction. It was also recommended that these leaders be held accountable by the company’s board and these leaders provide employees with friendly working environments to boost their morale. More so, the report availed suggested that availing a friendly environment for Eastman Kodak’s employees will ensure they can familiarize with new technologies emerging in the field. Such activities would ensure workers become more productive and innovative thereby ensuring Eastman Kodak copes with technological changes experienced in the industry and earns greater income. In this regards, this professional development program proposal provides insight on how the management at Eastman Kodak can improve their decision making skills, increase their employee’s motivation and productivity and ability to cope with technological changes.

How the management at Eastman Kodak can improve their decision making skills

Under the professional development program adopted at Eastman Kodak, the management will be taught how they can improve their decision making skills. Decision making skills are important because thy assist individuals in avoiding indecisiveness and regretting owing to the humongous costs incurred since wrong decisions were made. Various strategies will be used for improving the decision making abilities of managers at Eastman Kodak. Among these strategies are those that shall be used for improving individual decision making abilities whereas others shall be used for improving group decision making abilities. Firstly, the individual managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to carry out a cost-benefit analysis before reaching a final decision about an issue affecting the company. In this regards, managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to weigh the disadvantages and advantages before agreeing on an action to adopt. Through such activities, a manager will be capable of identifying the opportunity costs in a situation and ensure they are utilized for the company’s benefit. Secondly, individual managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how they can narrow down on the choices at their disposure so that they can simplify their analyzing of costs and benefits of adopting a certain decision. Narrowing down the choices at their disposal is important because having numerous choices at our disposal presents an individual manager with increased difficulty when reaching a final decision (Kehoe, 2013).

Thirdly, individual managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught how they can successfully indulge in evaluating the significance of making a decision in the company before they can make one. In evaluating the significance that a decision has on the company, individual managers will be taught how they can ascertain a decision’s impact on the company and decide on a deadline for ascertaining its outcomes. Fourthly, individual managers will be taught how to avoid concentrating on small issues that hardly impact the business’s performance. For instance, the managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to avoid concentrating with activities employees carry out during their leisure time and concentrate on their performances at work to ensure they meet the set standards. Fifthly, individual managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to carry out research on issues affecting the company before making a decision on major issues. Sixthly, managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught how they can make decisions that are well informed and based on their research to ensure they can make decisions confidently and are assured they have made the correct decision (Kehoe, 2013).

Subsequently, various strategies will be used to improve the group decision-making processes and activities for the managers in Eastman Kodak. In this regards, the managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught how to apply conflict management skills to ensure that win-win situations are agreed upon for adoption by the company. More so, managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught the importance of planning ahead so that conflict can be avoided between members of the company’s management. Such skills will equip these managers with the ability of avoiding conflicting situations and bickering in the management team thereby ensuring the most appropriate decisions are reached. All the managers at Eastman Kodak will also be taught how they can take charge and become assertive leaders and drive their employees towards achieving the set performance standards or objectives. Lastly, managers at Eastman Kodak will be urged to avoid dwelling on the mistakes they have made in the past and focus on the progress they desire the company to achieve in the industry (Kehoe, 2013).

How the management at Eastman Kodak can increase their employee’s motivation and productivity

In improving the motivation and productivity of employees working at Eastman Kodak, the managers will be taught how they can use various strategies. Firstly, managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to keep genuine interest in their employees and also build personal connections with them. These activities will be carried out because employees require knowing their managers are interested more in them rather than their work. Such actions are vital in building trust and rapport and enabling employees to share their challenges or acquire insight into how they can correct their previous mistakes (Kimball & Nink, 2017). Secondly, managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to inspire their employees because such actions will ensure their behavior at work is appropriate. These are activities that will be enabled by teaching these managers better communication and listening skills to ensure they can effectively build good relationships with their employees and resolve any conflicts that arise in an amicable manner (Seroka, 2012). Thirdly, managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught how they can improve the trust placed on employees by creating quality control protocols for them and trusting them to adhere to them (Kimball & Nink, 2017). Fourthly, managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught how to provide paths to ensure their employees grow and succeeds in their endeavors at work. These activities will be carried out because employees require a future with the organization and grow personally or professionally. In this regards, managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught the importance of appreciating employee feedback and giving them directions. Such activities will also be important because managers will use them in identifying the talents and strengths employees possess (Seroka, 2012). Lastly, the managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught the importance of keeping their employees knowing what is happening in their company. These activities will make employees to feel appreciated and valued and end up improving their morale or productivity at work (Kimball & Nink, 2017).

How the management at Eastman Kodak can improve the ability to cope with technological changes

Managers at Eastman Kodak will be taught how to cope with technological changes in their industry using various strategies. Firstly, the managers will be required to follow the influencers in the social media for suggestions on how they can remain at par with the innovations in the industry. More so, by following influencers in social media technologies ensures that custom lists can be created to ensure the management can anticipate the technological changes in their industry. Secondly, managers in Eastman Kodak will be taught the importance of spending time on research and reading about technological changes in their industry. Through such activities, these managers will find ways for making improvements to the existing technologies or innovate new ones to achieve competitive advantage in their industry. Thirdly, the managers will be taught how to avoid being carried away by trends in their industry and ascertain their benefits or risks of adopting them. These managers will be taught the importance of carrying out a cost-benefit analysis on such trends and reach appropriate decisions on their usage before they can be adopted for use. Lastly, technology classes will be provided t employees and funding reserved for their research and development activities. These activities will ensure that both managers and employees can work together towards improving the technological standards. More so, they will ensure they can assist the company in attaining competitive advantage over competitors (Chapman, 2018).

References

Chapman, C. (2018). How to Keep Up with the Constantly-Changing Tech Industry. Retrieved on 19/5/18 from https://skillcrush.com/2017/06/26/changing-tech-industry/

Kehoe, K. (2013). 10 Ways to Improve Your Decision-Making Skills. Retrieved on 19/5/18 from http://www.wisebread.com/10-ways-to-improve-your-decision-making-skills

Kimball, L. S. & Nink, C. E. (2017). How to Improve Employee Motivation, Commitment, Productivity, Well-Being and Safety. Retrieved on 19/5/18 from http://www.mtctrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/How-to-Improve-Employee-Motivation-Commitment-Productivity-Well-Being-and-Safety.pdf

Seroka, S. (2012). Five Ways to Keep Employees Motivated, Committed and Productive. Retrieved on 19/5/18 from http://www.gordontraining.com/leadership/five-ways-to-keep-employees-motivated-committed-and-productive/