WORKPLACE AUTONOMY AND MOTIVATION

Management should be more about enabling employees to be successful than overseeing their every move. This is especially true in early childhood programs where the teachers may function autonomously in some respects but are beholden to the established procedures of the larger organization. When more direct supervision is warranted, managers must attempt to strike a balance that falls somewhere between complete autonomy and micromanagement.

Consider both the positive and negative aspects of autonomy in the workplace. What might a manager need to do to be sure employees are fulfilling their obligations while maintaining a comfortable level of autonomy?

Submit a 2- to 3-page response that includes the following:

• What are the risks and benefits of allowing team members to be autonomous? When is autonomy appropriate, and when is it appropriate to adhere to established protocols?
• What procedures would need to be put in place to ensure that assignments are still being completed?
• What happens when your employees are educated in a Type X environment? As a manager, how can you help them succeed in a Type I environment? Be specific.

Answer preview

The ultimate aim of management is to coordinate organizational operations and organize tasks to ensure that the company attains its goals. A manager’s immediate concern is organizing an organization’s human resources to yield optimal outcomes. The concept of autonomy has become more common in discourse…