Case Study - Perception
Sharma, assistant plant manager for Frame Manufacturing Company, is chairperson of the adhoc committee for space utilization. The committee is made up of the various department heads in the company. The plant manager of Frame has given Sharma the responsibility for seeing whether the various office, operations, and warehouse facilities of the company are being optimally utilized.
The company is beset by rising costs and the need for more space. However, before okaying an expensive addition to the plant, the plant manager wants to be sure that the currently available space is being utilized properly. Sharma opened up the first committee meeting by reiterating the charge of the committee. Then Sharma asked the members if they had any initial observations to make.
The first to speak was the office manager. He stated: "well, I know we are using every possible inch of room that we have available to us. But when I walk out into the plant, I see a lot open spaces. We have people piled on top of one another, but out in the plant there seems to be plenty of room." The production manager quickly replied: "we do not have a lot of space. You office people have the luxury facilities. My supervisors don't even have room for a desk and a file cabinet. I have repeatedly told the plant manager we need more space. After all, our operation determines whether this plant succeeds or fails, not you people in the front office pushing paper around." Sharma interrupted at this point and said : " obviously, we have different interpretations of the space utilization around here. Before further discussion I think it would be best if we have some objective facts to work with. I am going to ask the industrial engineer to provide us with some statistics on plant and office layouts before our next meeting. Today's meeting is adjourned".,
Q) Analyze this case on the basis of perceptual principles evident in the case.