Recommendation on the

Right Replacement for

Ashok
Sparkling Glass Limited
5/1/2014
732 Words
2

Contents
Situation Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 3
Job Description ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Priorities for the Role ............................................................................................................................ 4
Analysis on the Objectives .................................................................................................................... 4
Recommendations ................................................................................................................................ 6
Annexure ............................................................................................................................................... 6



















3

Situation Analysis:
Sparkling Glass Limited (SGL) is a medium scale glass container manufacturing unit and has a turnover of
Rs. 30 Crores. It is making loss for the past two years and it expects to make profit by this year. The
reasons for its loss are
Cost of production is outpacing sales.
Production costs are 75% of the sales turnover.
Government policies, wage agreements, or sales cartels controls most of the inputs and the cost
has been increasing regularly
Competition from small glass manufacturers who sell at low prices
There is a demand for different kinds of bottles but it is most economical to manufacture one
type only.
Ashok, General-Shift-in-Charge is to retire in a few months. He is the general shift supervisor and he also
looks after like production planning, scheduling and costing.
Objectives:
To find a replacement for Ashok from the profiles of four other shift-in-charges: Khanna,
Punjabi, Gupta and Gulati
To extend the tenure of Ashok
To recruit a new person

Figure 1: Objective Hierarchy
4

Job Description:
The new person replacing Ashok should have the following traits,
Planning.
Scheduling.
Costing.
Expertise in Glass Technology.
Resource Management Skills.
Handle Customer Relationship.
Priorities for the Role:
Based on the current situation, the priority of the required skill sets are,
1. Costing The Company is making loss due the imbalance in production and sales cost, the new
person should be in a position to achieve balance.
2. Employee Engagement - The new person must maintain a good relationship with the employees
and should channel the demands from top level management.
3. Production Planning Should have prior knowledge or experience in production planning.
4. Technology Should have a profound knowledge in the glass technology.
5. Experience Should have relevant work experience.
Analysis on the Objectives:
Table 1 explains the comparison of different profiles
Retaining Ashok:
Advantage:
Ashok has hands on experience in the role for many years. He was not responsible for the loss incurred
by the company in the past two years.
Disadvantage:
His tenure cannot be extended for long duration as it will incur more expense to the company. Also,
extending his tenure is a short term remedy.
Hiring a Recruit:
Advantage:
Hiring a new recruit with required skill sets for the job will be a suitable option.

5

Disadvantage:
This process will take time and further it will incur more expense for the company. It will also affect the
morale among other employees competing for the post. The new person will take some time to
establish a relationship with other employees.
Khanna:
Advantage:
Khanna has most of the qualification required for the job and has good communication skills.
Disadvantage:
His performance has deteriorated in the last one year for unknown reasons. He does not put in extra
hours required for the job. His attitude towards the workers is not very good.
Punjabi:
Advantage:
Punjabi is the most experienced person. He is a good trainer and maintains a good relationship with
workers and management as well.
Disadvantage:
He has less qualification when compared to the others preferred for the role. He has no hands on
experience on the required skills.
Gupta:
Advantage:
Gupta is a good glass technologist and good with numbers. He is also good with planning which is one of
the important qualities required for the role. He also has the potential for growth.
Disadvantage:
Guptas relationship with workers is barely adequate. He is less experienced and also his performance is
rated average. Apart from planning and scheduling he does not have hands-on experience on other
factors like costing.
Gulati:
Advantage:
Gulati has a ability to learn and grasp well. He also maintains good employee relationship and has the
capability to handle tense situation. He also puts extra hours across shifts whenever required.
6

Disadvantage:
Gulati is new to the company. He also has less educational background for the relevant technologies
required for the job. He does not have hands on experience on planning and scheduling.
Recommendations:
From the above analysis it is evident that none of them posses all the necessary skills required for the
profile. Since SGL is anticipating profit for the current year, I strongly recommend extending Ashoks
tenure by 6 months. During this period, I recommend Ashok should be assigned with the responsibility
to identify one among the four and train the right person for the job.
Annexure:
Table I: Profile Comparison
Khanna
Punjabi Gupta Gulati
Total
Experience
5 years 12 years 3 years 5 years
Company
Experience
3 years 12 years 3 years 1 year
Qualification
Glass Technologist.
Completed 1 year
course in Management.
Undergoing a course on
production planning
and management
Diploma.
Good Glass
Technologist.
Good with numbers
and planning.
Diploma in Glass
Technology.
Other qualification
through
correspondence
courses.
Costing** No No No No
Planning** Yes No Yes No
Scheduling** No No Yes No
Communicatio
n Skills*
Good Average Average Average
Training Skills* None Good None None
Employee
Relationship*
Poor Good Poor. ( Barely Adequate) Good
Customer
Relationship*
Good None None None
Productivity# Below Average Average Average Above Average
* *Factors are considered if the person has either educational background or a relevant experience in that category
# Factors are calculated in the scale of Below Average, Average and Above Average
* Factors are rated in the scale of Good, Average, Poor and None
Good If there are instances attributing to the skill.
Average If there are no Instances but has the skill.
Poor If there are bad instances relating to the skill.
None If there is no relevant experience related to the Skill.