Job Design Model Analysis

Topic 2 Business process and job re-design

1. Collaborative space – Curtin University has embarked on a BPR program called EQUIP.

1. What is the primary objective of the program?

The primary objective for the EQUIP program been put into place at Curtin University is to enable Curtin to streamline/improve business processes in administration, support services, clarify responsibility among faculties and to seek out ways to make better use of current and future technologies. For example, Curtin, every semester has a high intake of new students so administration will be under intense pressure to process applications and get student timetable sorted out in a timely manner. With EQUIP being put into place Curtin can propose implementing better automation software, which in turn highlights one of Curtin strategic plan to be a responsive and innovative organisation.

1. Describe the job design model.

In EQUIP the job design model will greatly impact the staffing at Curtin as faculties reporting lines will change drastically, which may decrease paperwork or getting approval from multiple sources.

All student service staff from July will be forced to join a transitional pool meaning that staff will be eligible to apply from new vacant Teaching Support Coordinator and teaching support staff position. This may require staff to get re-trained in these new job roles or Curtin have found a way to regulate the amount of staffing they have in the Student Service faculty.

New proposed positions will be readily available for Curtin staff members at all level of employment allowing the staff to be focused on specialising in their roles.

Senior leadership roles may not be filled by current Curtin Staff in which case Curtin will look from external applicants.

1. What implementation issues will the University need to manage?

The implementation of EQUIP in Curtin will greatly impact the staff as it will affect 600 to 700 staff members. The Curtin Hierarchy must work closely with faculty managers and supervisors to give staffing clear instruction to save mass confusion on how their roles will be affected.

Another implementation issue will be how staff training will be provided for the enormous number of staff be relocated and be put into new job roles which may differ from their current role which they occupy.

Staffing in research administration, HR and finance must be aware of the new reporting lines and processes.

1. How will the University know if it has done a good job or otherwise?

Curtin will know they have done a good job by conducting staff survey in each affected faculty. Another way of seeing if the implementation has been affected is by considering staff complaints in regards to the implementation. Thirdly another way to compare if the EQUIP implementation compare historical data on involuntary redundancies and staffing requests to new roles.

1. What are the ethical issues of using internal consultants? (refer to the six values of the ACS Code of Ethics)

Public interest will be put at risk as internal consultants might have formed strong bonds will departments or have family working for Curtin so the personal interest will be placed above public interests, resulting in unfair decisions been made effectively. This sort of judgement issues will lead to Curtin staff not seeing the consultant as a professional staff member who can perform their job with competency.

Ethical morals will get distorted as good principles, values and beliefs won’t be at the forefront of decision making.

Social ethics can change drastically as the consultants deals with certain departments it may not like on a personal level ruling in unfairness against them. For example HR was slow in processing the consultants annual leave so the consultants may deal with that department in a fair manner.

1. Refer to the article “Trading places brick by brick…” provided in class.
   1. What changes in business process would Hadrian force?

• Hadrian would revolutionise the business processes of the brick trading business as this machine would set over a medium to long term new standard on how fast and efficient the brick layering industry will be. A good return on investment will enlighten the invests as the robots helping hand in decreasing production cost will be outweighed by initial set up.
• Construction companies can potentially save more money brick for brick with robots as they natural hold leverage over the brickies who are over charging due to shortages in various parts of Australia.

• Hadrian’s introduction into the construction industry will force the workforce to become more technology savvy which will require specialised training/certifications. This might indicate the older generation of the workforce might have to change career. This automation movement will just be like the one the automotive industry has experienced. Human interaction has become very limited in this industry as only electricians and machine operaters are the only human element of the automotive left in contact with the cars. Robots have provided the automotive industry with the means to achieve high throughputs with the least amount of spending.
• Definite deductions in scheduling and cost will encourage more buying customers to buy land to build houses as Hadrian would drive down housing cost.
• A normal business processes in the construction industry having a lot off cover insurance on workers to cover the company which can cost a lot of money but with Hadrian that process become less and less important as the human element of building houses will be eliminated.
• Hadrian would slowly phase out the older workforce leaving the industry reaping the benefits of a younger workforce, as retirement packages and pensions costs will be lowed.
• The whole industry will experience a decrease in pension/retirement payouts and health care costs because of lower aging work force and lack of retirees.

1. How would jobs be redesigned?

• Jobs can be redesign in the fact that tradies wont be obsolete; trades men will still be needed to do the task like window, insulation installations, electrics and joinery in housing projects. It will be an environment where machines and humans can work in sync with one another.
• Another way jobs can be redesigned is tradies can become trained certified specialists in programming, operating and troubleshooting the machine. For example, job roles like configuration analyst or control engineer will be available in the brickie industry as jobs.
• Old workforce will be phased out as they would cost more to retrain then training a post graduate TAFE student getting trained in the field, making jobs for the younger generation easier to come by.
• Brickies would have to reinvest them self as window fitter or be qualified on mechanic to be able to work with Hadrian.
• Once Hadrian hits commercial usage and become industry standard, the industry will become 85% machine 15% human making jobs harder and harder to come by within the industry.