📋 WAT/Essay Analysis Guide
🌐 Understanding the Importance of the Topic
A four-day workweek directly aligns with modern business themes like employee well-being, productivity, and sustainability,
making it highly relevant to B-school discussions on future workplaces.
📝 Effective Planning and Writing
- Time Allocation (30 minutes):
- ⏱️ Planning: 5 minutes
- 🖊️ Writing: 20 minutes
- 🔍 Review: 5 minutes
- Introduction (70 words): Start with a compelling fact or comparison.
- Body (350 words): Divide into achievements, challenges, and global perspectives.
- Conclusion (80 words): Highlight a balanced outlook or actionable recommendation.
💡 Introduction Techniques for Essays
- Statistical Lead:
“A four-day workweek increased productivity by 40% in Microsoft Japan’s trial, prompting global debate on redefining workplace norms.”
- Contrast Introduction:
“While developed nations experiment with shorter workweeks, industries in developing economies still struggle with overwork cultures.”
📊 Structuring the Essay Body
- Achievements: Enhanced productivity, better employee satisfaction, and environmental gains, supported by case studies from Iceland and Japan.
- Challenges: Sectoral limitations, cultural resistance, and operational overloading.
- Future Outlook: Recommend gradual implementation, hybrid models, and sector-specific strategies.
🎯 Concluding Effectively
- Balanced Perspective:
“The four-day workweek has potential but needs careful adaptation to industry and cultural contexts.”
- Future-Oriented Conclusion:
“As global workplaces evolve, shorter workweeks may emerge as a cornerstone of productivity and sustainability.”
✍️ Sample Short Essays
- Balanced Perspective (100 words):
“A four-day workweek could redefine modern workplaces by improving productivity and reducing burnout. Trials in the UK and Iceland demonstrate its success, yet challenges persist.
Industries like healthcare and retail, dependent on continuity, may find it hard to implement. Countries with rigid overwork cultures also face adoption barriers.
A hybrid approach, balancing flexibility with productivity goals, could address these concerns, enabling organizations to reap its benefits without compromising efficiency.” - Solution-Oriented:
“To make the four-day workweek viable, gradual implementation and sector-specific models are key. Policymakers and businesses must collaborate on flexible frameworks,
drawing from global success stories. This approach ensures productivity gains and inclusivity.” - Global Comparison:
“Comparing Iceland’s and Japan’s models reveals that cultural adaptability determines the success of a four-day workweek.
While Iceland’s trial thrived due to societal readiness, Japan faced resistance despite productivity gains. Tailored strategies are essential.”
These guides offer structured approaches to discussing and analyzing the topic for B-school preparation.