Downsizing/Rightsizing

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how working in the 21st century differs from years past when American workers were virtually assured of a job for life providing they worked hard and demonstrated loyalty to their companies. Today, however, the workplace is characterized by mergers and acquisitions as well as so-called "downsizing" or "rightsizing" initiatives. The author of this paper provides an exploration of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature to identify the history of the intervention, current models and application, and views on future application or relevance of the intervention of "downsizing." A summary of the research and important findings are presented in the conclusion.

Outline:
An Overview
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In the decades following World War II, job security was an accepted part of the American workplace and many workers came to believe in a social contract that provided them with a career if they followed the rules and worked hard. For instance, Karake-Shalhoub (1999) reports that, "Downsizing has changed the ways in which companies and their employees relate. Traditionally, loyalty was rewarded with security. However, with many organizations downsizing, they are no longer able or willing to guarantee lifelong employment" (p. 2). All of that has changed, though, and it would seem no one is immune from being laid off, fired or otherwise terminated from jobs they may have once believed were theirs for life. In this regard, DeMeuse and Marks (2003) report that, "Today, layoffs, divestitures, and closings are found in organizations of every size, in every industry, and just about every geographical location. What once were infrequent and, in some cases, unheard-of occurrences in most work organizations have become regularly occurring actions" (p. 1). Unfortunately, the regularity with which American jobs are being lost through outsourcing overseas has compounded the problem, and these trends have changed the workplace in fundamental ways. In this regard, Karake-Shalhoub notes that, "The global economic recession has forced companies to look closely at ways in which they can cut costs. In many cases, the solution has been found in downsizing, and outsourcing has been used as a vehicle" (p. 2)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bogle, J. C. (2007). Democracy in corporate America. Daedalus, 136(3), 24-25.
• Borman, W. C., Hanson, M. A. & Hedge, J. W. (1997). Personnel selection. Annual Review of Psychology, 48, 299.
• Capozzoli, T. K. (2003). The organizational model for workplace security. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, 36(2), 781-782.
• Custard, B. (2007). Do you have career insurance? Journal of Environmental Health, 69(9), 4-5.
• De Meuse, K. P. & Marks, M. L. (2003). Resizing the organization: Managing layoffs, divestitures, and closings -- Maximizing gain while minimizing pain. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

More papers on Downsizing/Rightsizing:

• Term Paper # 106157 : "The Victims and Survivors of Downsizing"
• Analytical Essay # 3957 : "Organizational Change: The Dynamics of Strategic Change"
• Essay # 71909 : "Workplace Layoffs "

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