To better align the objectives of the lunch shift with the objectives of the dinner shift, I will create a reward system. Achievement is a higher order of motivation and can therefore be highly effective. The reward system would be store-wide so that all shifts understand that we are all working together for a common goal. At present, the only sense of motivation that any individual shift has is towards their own basic goals. By providing for a higher level of achievement, I will align each shift with an overall objective. I will, however, also maintain shift-level objectives. To do this, I will focus motivation on goal orientation. Each shift will have specific achievement objectives. By doing this, I will leverage the inherent competitiveness of the lunch shift. They will have specific targets that, if hit, will allow them to partake in rewards over and above the store-level rewards. This strategy will result in better goal alignment, more powerful motivational strategies. It will also reduce cognitive dissonance because each shift will have individual goals that do not depend on the success of other shifts, but there are store-wide goals that do.

e. The first thing I would do to staunch the growing rivalry between the two shifts is to bring them together. It is easy to vilify another group if you do not communicate with them. I would explain to them, at the...

As the manager, my formal authority establishes my views as superseding those of either shift. Doing this reframes the problem for both groups.
The second thing I will do is to provide reward systems both the store level and at the shift level. Teamwork can be coaxed by the opportunity to win mutual award, but rivalry can emerge if one group feels that the other is not holding up their end of the bargain. A separate reward system for each shift will reduce this cognitive dissonance and encourages success by providing multiple levels of achievement.

I will also provide positive feedback, very visibly, to the members of each shift who show the most enthusiasm for cooperation and reduction of rivalry. This may be done at the meeting between the two shifts. I want to reward desired behavior with positive consequences. This will help to encourage the behavior. I will also conduct myself with nothing but positivity, leading by example to show how we are all working, happily, towards a common goal. In this way, I believe I can foster a greater sense of teamwork and reduce damaging competitive rivalry between the two shifts.

Works Cited

Thomas, Kenneth W. & Kilmann, Ralph H. (1974) Conflict and Conflict Management. Kilmann.com Retrieved December 11, 2008 at http://www.kilmann.com/conflict.html