Case Study Analysis (Milestone Five):
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant: Motivating in Good Times and Bad
Patrice Tave-Wagner
Southern New Hampshire University
August 23, 2020
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Abstract
The paper will explain how human behavior has the capacity to change the general
direction of the company. It will explain what exactly is fueling the change in negative behavior
and offers up solutions. To achieve this, the paper focusses on two case studies. The first deals
with a company, Engstrom Auto Mirror that has existed for numerous years and faced significant
challenges because of not comprehending human behavior of motivation. The paper will then
analyze my personal experience in a place of employment. In both cases, solutions to these
problems will be offered. To comprehend the importance of human behavior as a factor behind
improved employee motivation, it is paramount to analyze two case studies.
Tave-Wagner 3
Introduction
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant is a privately-owned business located in Richmond, Indiana
that manufactures mirrors for trucks and automobiles. With approximately 209 employees,
Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant has been experiencing a decline in productivity, reduced profits, and
a potential risk of closure. A few years before the most recent decline, the company made use of
bonuses to raise employee morale; however, this has not been effective. From the case study, it is
rather apparent that employees are under-rewarded as the bonuses and other privileges have been
withdrawn. This explains the reduced productivity and the low morale of the employees
Also, the employees don't feel valued as their efforts are not rewarded. According to "equity
theory", companies should strive to make employees feel that they are neither over-rewarded nor
under-rewarded. If employees feel that either case is being applied in their work setting, they will
attempt to balance equity.
Management failed to deal with the organization's issues that are the core causative
factors. These issues can be classified into three based on Sirota's Three-Factor theory. The first
is that the employees have lost trust in the company. Secondly, they do not experience
achievement when working in the company, and finally, there is no sense of unity in the
company. These are the critical organizational issues that are being experienced in the company
and need to be addressed quickly. The analysis will make use of Sirota's human theory of
motivation as a critical analysis factor, and this is because motivation is lacking with the
company. After taking a look at how motivation has been handled, solutions can then be
deciphered. This analysis will deal with how the company failed in motivating its employees and
the wrong moves undertaken to solve this issue. To understand the importance of human
behavior as a factor behind improved employee motivation, it is paramount to analyze two cas