Case Study Analysis

Khawaja Umar Ahmed

M.Ahmed Lashari
Syed Taimoor Ali
Iqra University
Summer 2014

Best Buy Overview

Sound of Music in 1966
Best Buy in 1983
As of 2011 Fiscal Year, 1099 stores in
the U.S.

Best Buy Overview

Best Buy Reports December 2011
Revenue of $8.4 Billion
Consumer Electronics & Home Office
make up 72% of Best buys Revenue
19% of Consumer Electronics Market is
made up of Best Buy

Best Buy Mission

"Our formula is simple: were a growth
company focused on better solving the
unmet needs of our customersand we
rely on our employees to solve those
puzzles. Thanks for stopping. "

 Question 1: Describe the element of

ROWE .What do you think might be
the advantage and drawback of this
program.

ROWE Program
The approach that Best Buy has taken towards
organizational change through the use of the ROWE
program was developed 6 years ago.
The ROWE program is the type of schedule that does
not focus on time clock and how many hours

worked, but results and if the job is completed.

Advantages
The idea is that in allowing people the freedom to
choose when they want to work they will work when
they are most motivated or focused.
Everyone was in communication with one another.
The managers could regulate the employees and
make sure that the company was still competitive.

Disadvantages
Lack of proper training, company
knowledge, and customer benefits.
Co-workers who would return late from their
lunch breaks.
On the organizational level it took more time
to make the transition.

 Question2: Using one or more

motivational theories from the chapter,
explain why you think ROWE works.

 Intrinsic motivation:

Intrinsic motivation refers to behavior that is driven

by internal rewards.
Ressler and Thompsons case studies as well as
independent scholarly research find that ROWE
increases productivity, employee well-being, and
work-life balance while decreasing turnover. At
Best Buy, these results produced $2.2 million in
savings over three years, according to the CultureRX
website.

 Question 3: What might be the

challenges for manager in motivating
employees in a program like this ?

The challenge for employers is not to destroy that intrinsic

motivation that every employee has about something.
And, the challenge for a manager is to help the employee
find ways to experience that motivation at work.
Help understand employees what needs to be done.
Give them the autonomy.
Trust and support to accomplish objectives in the ways
that work best for them.
Provide feedback and recognition to let them know
how well theyre doing and reinforce good performance

 Question 4: Does this sound like

something you would be comfortable
with? Why or why not ?

Yes, I would be because:

Autonomy: Give me autonomy over what im doing
and how i do it, including choosing my time, tasks,
team and techniques.
Mastery: Give me an opportunity to master my work
and make progress through deliberate practice.
Purpose: Give me a sense of purpose in my work preferably to something higher and beyond my job,
salary and company.

 Question 5: What's your interpretation of

the statement that Work isn't a place
you go- its something you do? Do you
agree ? Why or why not?

 Means: There is no judgment on how people spend their time

so long as they are accomplishing clearly defined objectives.
I agree because:
Employees have the freedom to work any way they want .
Nobody talks about how many hours they work .
No judgment about how you spend your time.