VDOT: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving

VDOT: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving








VDOT: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving
Grand Canyon University: MGT 420: Organizational Behavior and Management
June 10, 2012

VDOT: Trying to Keep Virginia Moving
Just as businesses need to re-evaluate themselves in order to stay competitive in the 21st century, so do managers. In order to be competitive and help their businesses to be successful, it is imperative that managers at all levels look at different styles of management as a whole. The following paper will discuss the struggle that Virginia Department of Transportations (VDOT) had and how management affected its success. This essay will look at different managerial theories, assess what factors affect their general and specific environments, setting goals, as well as looking at different techniques to motivate employees.
Part One: Management Theories
One management theory that could be applied to VDOT and positively affect its organizational behavior is the contingency approach of management. “This approach is based on the idea that there is no one best way to manage and that to be effective, planning, organizing, leading, and controlling must be tailored to the circumstances faced by an organization.” (Helms, 2006) As VDOT faced many issues from external factors such as economic recession, public mistrust, etc.; having in place a management theory such as the contingency approach would allow the managers to work together at each level to find the best solution for the individual problem. Consequently this would have allowed managers at all levels to obtain ownership for their department instead of feeling as though they had no voice in the matter.
Another management theory that could easily be applied to VDOT is the scientific management, which “involves a job science that includes careful selection and training of workers, and proper supervisory support” (Oke, 2011, p.21). When VDOT lost 2500 experienced workers during its two major...