...a) Discuss the traditional and contemporary views of each of the six key elements of organizational designs. b) Contrast the three traditional organizational designs. a)The key elements in organizational design are work specialization ,chain of command, span of control, departmentalization, centralization- decentralization, and formalization. Traditionally, work specialization was viewed as a way to divide work activities into separate job tasks. It makes efficient use of the diversity of skills that workers have. In most organizations, some tasks require highly developed skills; others can be performed by employees with lower skill levels. If all workers were engaged in all the steps of say ,a manufacturing process, all would need the skills necessary to perform both the most demanding and the least demanding jobs. For example,McDonald’s uses high work specialization to get its products made and delivered to customers efficiently and quickly that’s why it’s called fast food . One person takes orders at the drive- through window, others cook and assemble the hamburger , another works the fryer, another gets the drinks, another bags orders, and so forth. Secondly, the departmentalization are grouped together. Five common forms of departmentalization are used, although an organization may develop its owns unique classification. For example, a major Japanese electronics firms organizes its divisions along functional lines, its manufacturing units around processes, its...
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...302-545-2892. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course focuses on the classical and modern aspects of organizations and the role of managers as leaders and facilitators of change. Organizational theory and design are introduced to understand the implementation of policy within the organization. This course emphasizes design concepts that impact employee motivation, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, leadership, teams, and organizational culture of the context of both emerging theory and current/future practice. COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of organizational theory and factors involved in the functioning of complex organizations. 2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the images of organizations that we have in the United States and the role of individuals in those organizations. 3. Analyze an organization, using a common vocabulary, in light of the images and make recommendations for initiating organizational improvement. 4. Recognize the relationships between the organization and its internal and external environment. 5. Assess motivation, group dynamics, decision making, power/authority/responsibility, leadership and organizational culture in view of the critical role of the...
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...1 Rowe Program at Best Buy Joyce Henry Dr. Sherrie Lu, PhD BUS 520: Organizational Behavior December 12, 2010 2 Introduction Competitive businesses face the challenge of being docile and successful organizations. The tasks are multifaceted when attempting to comprehend and accomplish organizational change. Employees have to adjust rapidly and leaders have to be proficient in order to be successful. The demands for change are important in the success or failure of an organization. The globalization of markets, technology advancement, increased developments of social networks, and generational differences are the most important reasons. The cultures of organizations help determine their need for change. However, the employees have to acknowledge that there is a need for change. The resistance to change may occur, if so the causes need to be recognized. Best Buy has taken an organizational change for the improvement of its employees’ productivity. This paper will discuss Best Buy’s culture, the ROWE program implemented and the resistance to the change as a result of the ROWE program. This paper will also discuss the stress that occurred and whether or not the organizational culture has helped with the change. 3 Describe the Culture of Best Buy. An organization that practices formality, rules, standard operating procedures, and hierarchical coordination has a bureaucratic culture (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011, p. 490.). The members of this type of this culture...
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...differentiation is located to the right of the model. The focus is primarily outwards, to the external environment, customers and suppliers. The Vertical dimension is located at the top and bottom of the model. This lower axis has more to do with who makes the decisions. At the bottom of the model, is Stability and Control which is geared more to management control. While at the top is Flexibility and Discretion which empowers employees to make decisions for themselves. There is Stability when there is a stable business with efficiency leading the way. However, when the environment creates a need for change, the Flexibility and Discretion become more important. Slide A: CVF Cultures Adhocracy describe and discuss the adhocracy culture and discuss commonalities (if any) that it shares with the symphony or the opera. Market...
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... |Syllabus | | |School of Business | | |LDR/531 Version 4 | | |Organizational Leadership | Copyright © 2011, 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course prepares students to apply leadership principles to the roles they play as managers. Students will discover more about themselves and will learn more about the connection between the individual and the organization. Other topics include organizational culture, structure, group behavior, motivation, power, politics, organizational change, and workplace conflict. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.2+10+ University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may...
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...because of the pressure to perform at the level higher than their capacity. Best Buy is not the only company that was witnessing this trend in their corporate culture. Unfortunately as the economic situation in the country worsened, and the competition increased, a lot of companies had to strive to meet the demands of the business. Every company was trying and is trying to produce the goods or services faster than the others and at the lower cost. This enormous stress is falling on the workforce. As the result, “the number of people in the United States who say they are overworked has been rising from 28% in 2001 to 44% in 2009”, according to the Families and Work Institute (Hellriegel, D., & Slocum, J. W., Jr., 2011). 2. Discuss the approach to organizational change that the ROWE program illustrates. All the problems described above created a very unhealthy situation at Best Buy, where employees were incredibly stressed out, scared of the judgment that their peers might impose on them, etc. Those are very serious stress factors that lead to lower performance of the workforce (employees that are...
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...pass this issue to an associate of hers in order to leave in time however without hesitation Jenssen left work as expected without any questions asked. Janssen knew she was able to provide flexibility and get the work done from home and also care for family all in the same evening without guilt for having to leave. So under ROWE “results only work environment) allows employees can work when and where they like, as long as they get the job done. Overall results of the ROWE program has been favorable and encouraging as voluntary turn- over has decreased remarkably and now Best Buy has developed a division called Culture X to tailor to the needs of the ROWE members and participants. Discuss the approach to organizational change that the ROWE program illustrates. The organizational development approach is the development of employee’s compentencies to solve problems by enabling them to identify and become emotionally committed to improving their performance of the firm (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011). This is the...
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...Sears, Roebuck and Co. Overview Sears, Roebuck and Co. is the leading retailer of home appliances in the United States. Sears, Roebuck and Co. is an ideal retailer compared to its competitors, because of the consolidated approach that the company has established over the years. They are not only leaders in home appliances, but they reach consumers with different needs, such as: tools, fitness equipment, home and garden, automotive repair and maintenance, and apparel. Sears, Roebuck and Co. also provides different homes services to customers, which consist of home repair, maintenance, installation, cleaning, and home improvement. Richard W. Sears made his way into the retail industry by receiving a shipment of watches that was unwanted by a neighboring jeweler. He purchased and sold the watches Culture in business or corporate America is described as a blend of the values, beliefs, taboos, symbols, rituals and myths companies develop over time (http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/term/82104.html). My definition of culture for organizations in business is what makes the business operate the way that it does and what strategies they use to reach their goals. Before Best Buy implemented the new plan called ROWE, the culture at Best Buy was like any other organization, come to work on a daily basis and repeat the same task over and over again. This caused a great deal of turnover within the company that needed a workable solution...
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...Table of Contents 1. Understand the relationship between organizational structure and culture: 2 1.1 Compare and contrast different organizational structure and cultures: 2 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organization’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business: 4 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behavior at work: 4 2. Understand different approaches to management and leadership: 5 2.1 Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organizations: 5 2.2 Explain how organizational theory underpins the practice of management: 5 2.3 Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organizations: 6 3. Understand ways of using motivational theories in organizations 7 3.1 Discuss the impact that different leadership styles may have on motivation in organizations in period of change: 7 3.2 Compare the application of different motivational theories within the workplace: 8 3.3 Evaluate the usefulness of a motivation theory for managers: 9 4. Understand mechanism for developing effective teamwork in organizations 10 4.1 Explain the nature of groups and group behavior within organizations: 10 4.2 Discuss factors that may promote or inhibit the development of effective teamwork in organizations: 10 4.3 evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within a given organization: 11 References: 12 Introduction: Organization is the combination of people for...
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...1. Define organizational culture and discuss its three layers. Organizational culture represents the shared assumptions that a group holds. It influences employees' perceptions and behavior at work. The three layers of organizational culture include observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions. Artifacts are the physical manifestations of an organization's culture. Espoused values represent the explicitly stated values and norms that are preferred by an organization. Basic underlying assumptions are unobservable and represent the core of organizational culture. 2. Discuss the difference between espoused and enacted values. Espoused values represent the explicitly stated values and norms that are preferred by an organization. Enacted values, in contrast, reflect the values and norms that actually are exhibited or converted into employee behavior. Employees become cynical when management espouses one set of values and norms and then behaves in an inconsistent fashion. Chapter Scan Corporate cultures provide identifying characteristics and values for organizational members to appreciate and learn. Cultures are distinguished by artifacts, values, and basic assumptions. The socialization process is the entry stage in an organization that provides clues about its culture. Cultures are difficult to change, yet change is necessary in some instances for survival. Organizations need an adaptive culture in order to respond effectively to the...
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...Explain how you would respond if you were Palmer at the end of the case. It is obvious that everyone involved could have handled things differently in order to maximize time and resources while maintaining a healthy and product work environment for all involved. From the beginning it was evident that Olds skills were definitely in demand. It’s not question that due to his background, Olds talent was quite possibly the best that the Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm had. Because his expertise was so in demand, when met with an organizational structure that had an obvious weak matrix structure, it caused hardship. A weak matrix closely resembles the functional approach, which among other things gives functional managers responsibility over the project manager (Gray & Larson, 2009). In this case Ruby Sands had the role of functional manager and therefore ultimately made a decision that affected Palmer’s account. From the onset of the situation, Palmer should have voiced his concerns regarding spreading his project members to think across other accounts. Due to the weak matrix environment, it may not have mattered. As soon as Palmer recognized the problems he should have addressed the issue. At the end of the case, Palmer should accept that the decision made by management was the best decision for all parties involved. Valuable employees leave projects all the time for one reason or another. The only reasonable thing to do is find a suitable replacement and continue on with...
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...Best Buy - The Importance of Organizational Culture and Change Organizational cultures that can be a liability to an organization include those that create barriers to change, create barriers to diversity or barriers to mergers and acquisitions. (Robbins, S. P. 2011) Organizational cultures are also good for change and revitalization of a company. This paper will provide background information on Best Buy and the ROWE (Results-Only Work Environment) Program. This paper will describe the culture of Best Buy. This paper will also discuss the approach to organizational change that the ROWE program illustrates. This case has sources of stress and this paper will discuss the sources that are apparent in the case. Changes have occurred and this paper will discuss whether the organizational culture has helped with the change. Describe the culture of Best Buy Best Buy’s culture has changed. The old culture embraced long hours. Managers rewarded those employees who were first in the building and the last to leave the building with tokens of appreciation. One employee earned a bonus and a vacation when he stayed up three days in a row to complete a report that was suddenly due. Yet, he was hospitalized due to the stress. The new culture revitalized Best Buy and changed how most employees view work. Employees thanked the organizers for allowing them to have a better home-work life balance. One employee was considering resigning after the birth of her child, but with the new...
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...LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and papers. Week ONE July 2 – 8 Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 1: Learning about Organizational Behavior o e-Activity o Use the Internet to research an especially effective leader and / or manager. Be prepared to discuss. Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 2: Individual and Organizational Ethics o Chapter 3: Understanding Individual Differences Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 4: Perceptions and Attributions o Chapter 5: Learning Concepts to Improve Performance o e-Activity: o Use the Internet to research a social learning theory applicable to the workplace that has not been addressed in Chapter 4. Be prepared to discuss. PAPER DUE: o Assignment 1: Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study. Please see Course Guide for Specific Questions which must be addressed in the paper. o Log into BUS520 Classroom on Blackboard (Bb); go to WEEK 3; scroll to the bottom of the week and submit your assignment using the Link found there. o Your paper is due Sunday, July 22 by 11:59 p.m. ET Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 6: Motivating Employees o Chapter 7: Motivation: Goal Setting and Reward Programs o e-Activity o Use the Internet to research a rewards program that has been especially effective at improving employee performance. Be prepared to discuss. PAPER DUE:...
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...MBA 540 Final Exam 1. (10 pts.) Discuss how organizational architecture and corporate culture are related. Use an example of a real-life firm and discuss how its corporate culture blends with its organizational architecture. Organizational architecture and corporate culture should be intertwined within any successful company or organization. In the text, Brickley (2009), refers to organizational architecture as being three legs of a company: assignments of decision rights, 2) methods of rewarding individuals, and 3) the structure of systems to evaluate the performance of both individuals and business units. Organizational architecture is the framework of company departments such as managerial chain of command, the duty description and responsibility of each position. Corporate culture includes the ways work and authority are organized, the way people are rewarded and controlled for their work, as well as taboos, customers, heroes, slogans, and social rituals. The three elements of architecture help form the existence of how a culture is developed. A prime example is Merrill Lynch. Merrill is a well know investment company that manages the portfolio of investors. It suggested to its client to buy Info Space though, internally, analyst knew the stock had tanked in price. They were never upfront about selling the stock. Their ethical violations caused shockwaves in the investment community forcing other to ensure measures were in place to prevent a disaster. Merrill Lynch had...
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...agreement that in a mature market, the crucial factor that whether a competitive enterprise enables to settle in the market is determined by the effectiveness of both its internal and external controlling. Controlling is the process of assigning, regulating resources and comparing work performance in order to do better correction to accomplish the organization’s goals. It makes plans effective and make sure that organizational activities are consistent, which plays a significantly decisive factor of the organizational performance nowadays. Former studies have gone into the details of an specialized sides of the controlling process, and these studies is limited to the description and analyze of the practice controlling cases. This essay will discuss how to achieve an effective organizational control from the three interdependent and integrated factors: the organizational system, culture and the correction process. First, I will elaborate the substance of organization and the patterns of the organizational control, then go into details to discuss how the organizational system and culture contribute to the effectiveness of controlling. And go through the effect of correction process to the controlling. This paper will illustrate from academic perspective and combined with the real life cases in order to build a...
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