Employee-Management Relations in the Movie Gung Ho

  Step 1. Read Chapter 13 (Creating Positive Employee-Management Relations) of our textbook. Step 2. Watch the movie Gung Ho (Link: https://digitalcampus-swankmp-net.tamuct.idm.oclc.org/tamuc343337/play/0303658371cc275f to the movie, TAMUCT ID and PW required) and answer the following four questions. Q1. In many cases, the conflict between management and employees stems from the management aiming for higher productivity while employees strive for better working conditions. These two things are often difficult to be achieved at the same time. Explain how this was depicted in the movie. In answering this question, make sure that you are clearly answering the following two sub-questions. (15 points) 1) What were some sources for the management’s (Assan Motor’s) expectation of higher productivity? In other words, why was management not satisfied with the productivity level of American workers? 2) What were some sources for the employees’ (American workers’) expectation of better working conditions? In other words, why were employees not satisfied with their current working conditions? Q2. As described in the section ‘Conflict Management Strategies’ in Chapter 13 of our textbook (see page 296), a conflict can be dysfunctional or functional. In the earlier part of the movie, the conflict between management and employees is illustrated as dysfunctional. But at some point, the conflict became closer to functional due to the deal made between Hunt Stevenson (employee liaison) and Takahara Kazihiro (plant manager). Explain how this was depicted in the movie. In answering this question, make sure that you are clearly answering the following three sub-questions. (15 points) 1) Explain some examples of dysfunctional conflict depicted in the movie. 2) Explain the deal made between Hunt Stevenson and Oishi Kazhiro in detail. 3) Explain how the deal has changed the nature of the conflict to be more functional. Q3. Despite the effort described in Q2, the conflict becomes more dysfunctional due to a communication problem between management and employees (with Hunt Stevenson relaying the communication between the two parties). Explain how this was depicted in the movie. Explain in detail what the communication problem was. (15 points) Q4. The movie ends with favorable outcomes for both the management and employees. What are some implications for managing employee-management relations that can be driven by the movie? In answering this question, you do not need to be bounded by your answers in Q1, Q2, and Q3. However, your answer should be based on the things that were depicted in the movie. (15 points)