Time Bandits: How They Are Created Why They Are Tolerated and What Can Be Done About Them Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Today, organizations own little slack, and they must carefully manage their resources. In this article, we describe the ubiquitous but often ignored problem of the use of resources which some workers abandon certain responsibilities and use free time to continue the personal interests such as hobbies and side businesses. In fact, these "Time Bandits" are working part-time, in exchange for full-time pay. While bandits are a minority among the workers, their negative effects are significant and widespread. Specifically, banditry undermines the organization's mission, morale and performance, and support of stakeholders to put at risk. To address this problem, we suggest ideas in three areas. First, we identify the main causes of banditry, including the leaders of not meeting the standards, poorly constructed of pay and lack of recognition individual differences in the design of jobs. Secondly, we look at the reasons why gangsterism is allowed within the organization, such as managers' desire to avoid conflict, and their fear of being labeled as hypocrites. Most importantly, we offer a set of methods that can prevent and reverse back banditry. They include carefully defining expectations, intermediate quickly when symptoms appear banditry bandits reducing compensation over time, and designing jobs that benefit individuals a variety of skills and motivation. "Hide
by David Ketchen Jr. , Christopher W. Craighead, MR Buckley Source: Business Horizons 9 pages. Publication Date: March 1, 2008. Prod. #: BH272-PDF-ENG