Managing Human Resources, Eight Edition

You Manage It! 4: Discussion Conflict at Northern Sigma

Northern Sigma, a hypothetical high-technology firm headquartered in New York, develops and manufactures advanced electronic equipment. The company has 20 plants around the United States and 22,000 employees, 3,000 of whom work at a single site in Chicago that is responsible for research and development. About half of the employees at that facility are scientists and engineers. The other half are support personnel, managers, and market research personnel. Corporate executives are strongly committed to hiring women and minorities throughout the entire organization, but particularly at the Chicago site. The company has adopted this policy for two reasons: (1) Women and minorities are severely ...