Management of Multinational Company BA33203 2013

Group Assignment Case Study 1 The Fijian Experience - The Tau Relationship

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NAME TEEBAN A/L SELVARAJOO SUZANA GUPOH MOHD HAFIZ B. MAKSUD

MATRIX NUMBER BB11110603 BB11110585 BB11110327

PHONE NUMBER 014-7263303 019-5300978 019-8104426

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DESCRIPTIONS

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Content

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Case Summary: The Fijian Experience- The Tau Relationship

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Problem Statement

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Alternative Strategies or Solutions

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Evaluation of Alternative Strategies

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The Best Strategy and Justification

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Implementation Short Term

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7.2

Implementation Long Term

CASE SUMMARY

This case is about the dilemma that faced by Brett Taylor whom owned the hotel of Shangri-La Fijian Resort in Yanuca Island of Fiji. The island of Yanuca is being a native reserve land which is owned by and leased from the Nadraga tribe. Indigenous Fijian were about 70% of the total workers in the resort. Moala Tukana is one of their staff who has been working as the assistant food and beverages manager. He is also the first Fijian to hold an important executive position in a 5 stared hotel of an international hotel group. Meanwhile, Salome Suacake is the trainee waitress at the Lagoon Terrace Restaurant, the 24 hours coffee house of the Fijian. She was a very good performing staff for the first 2 months then, suddenly rumours were spreading that she take money from customers as for serving them. She was then caught red handed by Brett Taylor. Moala was heir tau. Tau beliefs the customary practices. Moalas ancestors owed Salomes ancestors debt thus, resulting in an unbreakable relationship or bond. Salome, therefore, hailed Moala as her tau. She could do as pleased towards Moala. The reason why Moala could neither prevent Salome from stealing nor reprimand her.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Salome stealing money from customers and was caught red handed by Brett Taylor. What are the alternative ways to overcome the problem? Lists of Problem 1. Salome stealing money from customers and was caught red handed by Brett Taylor. 2. Salome took an advantage on Moala as he is her Tau which is their beliefs. 3. Indigenous Fijians bonded strongly to their customary practices. 4. Moala was a person that has a potential in his career and Brett Taylor feels bad if he let Moala go as he is their asset. Lists of Symptoms 1. Salome did perform well for the first two month of her employment in the lagoon Terrace Restaurant. But, for her third month of working, she shows a negative attitude and work responsibilities in her service. Rumors are around that talk about her stealing money which is paid by the customers. 2. Moala knew that Salome did the wrong things but he has done nothing to prevent her from doing the action.

ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES AND EVALUATION

1. Firing Salome Suacake Firing was the harshest way to staff. However, in Salome case, fire her was the best way. It because stealing was a big mistake and cannot tolerated in any organizations. Trustworthy and integrity is important to staff in the organizations. By firing Salome, Moala will not tie up by their Tau relationship which is their symptom to this case happened.

2. Forgive Moala and Salome Suacake mistakes. Even though Moala and Salomes case considered as big mistakes to the organization, Brett can choose this strategy by forgiving them and give second chance. After all, Salome steal the money for build church at her village. So, Brett should give them a second chance and make agreement that if they made the same mistake again, they will fired immediately.

3. Make Moala and Salome pay for the loss caused by them. Brett must make Moala and Salome to pay all of the loss caused by their fault. However, payment does not mean to pay it all in instant. Brett can cut both of their salaries in appropriate amount every month until settled. The salaries cut system similar with the banking loan payment system which required the loaner to pay to bank every month until given time based on the loan amount.

THE BEST STRATEGY AND JUSTIFICATION

Based on all of three alternative strategies, the first strategy which is firing Salome Suacake is the best strategy to be taken by Brett Taylor. If we take a look on the second strategy, if Brett give Salome forgiveness, there is no guarantee that she will make the same mistakes again but in more systematic and efficient tactic to ensure she not get caught next time. Not just that, by firing Salome, Brett can avoid Tau bond between Moala and Salome immediately. It was a big waste to Shang-Ri La if they fired Moala too. It was because Shang-Ri La has sponsored Moala to study abroad with purpose to make him as skillful worker at ShangRi La and it was successful by seeing Moala performances as Assistant Manager at there. Strong Tau relationship belief between the Fijian indigenous caused Moala to help Salome and commit fraud. Salome should not take advantage on their Tau relationship by stealing and shows that she not have good work ethics and can be worst if not fired her early. In addition, firing Salome will give other indigenous Fijian work at Shang-Ri La to not repeat the same mistakes again. This case will give the entire employees moral value and teach them to not do the same fault like what has Salome done. It also shows that Brett Taylor is fair employer and not give chance to Salome just because Salomes stealing motives. If Brett not fired Salome, Brett will considered as not fulfil requirement needed to be an excellent manager because not take action on big mistakes that considered fine by a religious act.

IMPLEMENTATIONS

Short term implementation Individual In this stage, as we decide to choose the best strategy to resolve the problem statement by firing Salome Suacake, for individual, this could give lesson to the individual itself. This action of firing Salome will affect ones attitude and behaviour in the workplace. For every individual that worked in the Fijian Hotel, the company should give them counselling or talk by personally so that their problems can be detected and taken care. In the case of Salome, She did not tell what her problem is and taking the money that paid by customer. The action of Salome did was a big mistakes and breaking the law. Team/Group For the team or group members of Salome Suacake, her colleagues should take the lesson and do not repeat what Salome had been done. The team actually knew what Salome had been doing in her third month of working, but only the rumours are spread and did not take any proof to show to the highest level. As we can see from the case, Moala knew that Salome did wrong but he could do nothing but let her do whatever she want to do. The team or the group should be working together in the next time and cooperate with their supervisors. The company should give them brief laws and ethics that should they obey at working place and restricted the rules so that they do not dare to do wrong in their working place. As in the first stage, counselling or sharing among the team or groups also should be implemented. Despite of that,

new regulations should be implemented which related to the belief of the indigenous people so that they do not mixed their belief into their work. Employees For the overall employees in Fijian Hotel, the case of Salome Suacake and Moala which are stealing and deception, should be used as an example to all employees of Fijian Hotel. In the short term, as we chose to firing Salome as the best solution, and Moala was suspended in the same time, this would be the best warning to all employees that anybody that do mistake will be given a punishment just like the two. As we know from the text that most of the workers are indigenous people of Fijians, this will make the scared to do any big mistake. If the employees having a problem, they should talk to the responsible one so that things like this not occur anymore. The punishment given by the company by the two are giving big impact on the workers and this could strive them to work more responsible and ethically.

Long- term implementation Company For the company, the action done by Salome and Moala are giving their reputation bad. Customers will give bad perception on the management of their workers as the supervisor is collaborating with his worker to do the fraud. Even though Moala did not steal but it is his responsibility to overcome the problem and by his action to let Salome do as her pleased, he is also affected. What the company can do in the short term is reviewing all the departments need and problem. So that the company can do something to help their staff or at least know their needs and problems are. As a company that surrounded by peoples who worked for them which are still bounded by customary belief, reviews on the matter should be taken care too. This is to understand them more. Another way that the company do is to donate materials or money to the churches nearest of Fijian hotel. Society As the societies of Fijians are the 70% of Fijian Hotel workers, they should not mix their traditional beliefs and work matter together. This is because this will affect other person that is forced to do the wrong thing. Though the money stole from the restaurant are for the society which is for the development of the church, it is not right for the peoples to defend Salome and Moala. It is not the good way to raise funds for the development of the church. The society should do the right thing if they need materials or money for the church. What the society can do is write a proper business letter or proposal letter to request the sponsorship from the

company. If proper way is done, Moala and Salome are not suspended. The society also will not shame for their action.