Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

In:

Submitted By jonahandstevie
Words 894
Pages 4
Organizational Issues Paper
ETH/316
2013

Wally-world For many years, Wal-Mart has climbed the business ladder to become the largest retailer in the world. Wal-Mart has been unstoppable and undoubtedly unbeatable in its pricing when compared to its competitors. Many mom and pop stores have fallen victims having to close up their doors when a new Wal-Mart has opened in their neighborhood. With such high volume of sales, and an ever demanding stockholders standard of high dividend payouts year after year, Wal-Mart unfortunately went through many years where it put dollars ahead of its corporate responsibilities. Numerous organizations were created to keep a watch on Wal-Mart’s practices with its employees, and just as importantly, with the products it sells to unsuspecting customers. Wal-MartWatch (n.d.) stated “Wal-Mart is famous for its low prices….making customers forget about everything except low prices. The reality is much harsher than the company’s marketing would have consumers believe: these low prices often come at a deadly cost” (p. 1). Wal-Mart continues to be a target and placed under a microscope to ensure its ethical behavior improves along with the merchandise it provides.
The Evil Empire Since its founding, Wal-Mart has made great efforts to establish itself as a reputable company in the United States and around the world. Customers have flocked to the giant retailer in hopes of finding a bargain they may not otherwise find at a local store in town. According to Wal-Mart (2005), “Last year, more than 270 million of the 290 million people in the United States shopped at Wal-Mart, a staggering number that translates into a very popular option for rewarding employees and business clients with something they are going to want” (p. 57). Most customers do not bother with learning where or how their products were manufactured

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Organizational Behavior Issues

...Organizational Behavior Issue Nirali Patel GMGT / 530 September 09, 2013 Brian Frank Organizational Behavior Issue According to Brief & Weiss, (2002), “Organizational behavior is an area of inquiry concerned with both sorts of influence: work organizations on people and people on work organizations.” Organizational Behavior is one of the important features to preserve and improve communication between employees in the business. Qualities like leadership, openness to discuss problems, challenge-initiative are related to the notion of Organizational Behavior (OB) to aid the business accomplish its tactical business objectives. In this paper the OB issues and organizational cultural differences of the two companies will be discussed. These issues have risen because of the decision made by the stakeholders of Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), located in the United States to acquire Technical Concepts located in the Netherlands. The other point of discussion will be the challenges faced by the manger of Technical concept to create a smooth merger and create an environment of cooperation within the organizations. The merger and acquisition is to expand and continue to create a strong stand in the market place. As the manager of Technical Concepts, I have challenged to implement the changes necessary to make the acquisition process successful and to have a smooth transition while still maintaining high quality of performance. As the manager I will give recommendations...

Words: 2008 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Management and Organizational Structure Issues

...The Spectrum Brands Organize Using A Matrix Structure A matrix structure as a project management structure sets up teams from different departments, thereby creating two or more intersecting lines of authority. Also, matrix addresses issues that arise with the growth, diversification, productivity, and competitiveness in its structure. Matrix structures provide flexibility, enhanced cooperation, and creativity. They enable the company to respond quickly to changes in the environment by giving special attention to specific projects or problems. An approached to organization design in which employees report both to a functional or departmental supervisor and a project supervisor is a matrix design. When David Jones started his career in Rayovac in 1996, the company almost exclusively produced batteries. In his first year, Rayovac generated sales of about $400 million. Mr. Jones has changed the strategic direction of the company, introducing Matrix structures and he diversified the product lines and Rayovac is not competing in several different markets. Ultimately, Jones strategies have led to a name chang for the corporation. It is now known as the Spectrum Brands Corporation. The Spectrum Company not only produces batteries; but also many varieties like pet products, personal grooming, and lawn and garden care. Matrix structure has helps the company annual sales growth and diversified its production in to multi- items. The market becomes bigger in the world wide markets and...

Words: 1165 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues ETH/316 June 19, 2013 Organizational Issues In the past month a very popular retail store has been criticized and even boycott. Abercrombie & Fitch has been on top of the news headlines where the CEO Mike Jeffries makes some unwanted comments in regards to the time of people that their clothing caters to. In an a Business Insider interview Mr. Jeffries makes it known the public that they will not make any clothing extra large for women. He believes big girls are not hot enough to wear his clothing line. (Bennett, 2013) Issue This issue is important to address because it targets teenagers that just do not fit the mold that Mr. Jeffries is wanting to target. He believes that thin, hot looking people are considering the “cool kids” and the most attractive. These kids are the popular kids the fat girls are the unpopular kids, and he does not want to see then in his clothing line. His stores have been boycotting because of the discriminations against larger women that might have wanted to purchase an item of clothing, but is unable because his company does not make clothing larger that Large size. In which it has been said that their large size run small to be even consider large. (Bennett, 2013) Social Pressure Boycotting has been putting a great amount of social pressure to the company after the CEO made those remarks on the business insider interview and in another interview in 2006. But it has not had much effect on the company to retract...

Words: 879 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues ETH/316 June 10, 2013 Viewing the short film Lighthouse in “The Responsibility Project Website,” the organizational issues was exhibited. Ethical principles are something to be focused on by the organization’s issues. By watching this short film “Lighthouse” it was abundantly clear how important ethical principles are in any organization and how this can alter and influence them. “A grumpy lighthouse keeper tests and redefines his own limits of responsibility.” (June, 2008). The issues in the film are important in this case because it is clear how a normal shift things are not going right, and there would be nothing, which could make things go any worse. There are many times when an employee will rather stay in bed for the day. Incidents happen, and things are out of one’s control, the easy thing to do is throw in the towel; however this is not the thing to do. Mishaps occur, and when it does, one should assess what is occurring at work. In this situation the light can be fixed, and used the equipment utilized for this job. The lighthouse keeper looks as there was not a solution, and at the time he did not view what was available to fix this problem. In this case the best thing for the lighthouse keeper was not to panic. Darkness may appear in a job, but there is always options, in this case the light at the end of the tunnel. The film “Lighthouse” teaches when one thing fails, go at it another way, the people came together and helped the lighthouse...

Words: 937 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Devon Okafor ETH/316 October 30, 2013 Organizational Issues In the responsibility project discussed, we will view Erin Ganju’s organization “Room to Read” and the important issues viewed in the film that surround this organization and why they are of importance. As Ganju’s embark on her journey across international waters, we will examine the external social pressures Ganju faces, how they may be influencing the organizational ethics. We also determine if these issues hold relevance to influence the decisions made both personally and organizational. Possessing such a global vision, we look to see existing legal challenges, along with ethical matters and how the relate to one another. Important Issues Through Ganju’s childhood experiences she has co-founded “Room to Read” which recognizes the need to provide educational literature to children all across the world regardless of their geographic location, hope that it will groom world change. Ganju’s believes that in order to bring about world change, it must begin with educating and empowerment of children. Ganju faces a continuous battle of breaking through the social, economic and cultural barriers which impede ability to empower the children through books. External Social Pressures In certain nations and cultures, it is socially unacceptable for young children and especially females to read. In some cases, due to the social and economic demands placed on children they are found taking on jobs...

Words: 716 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Your approach to solving the problem arising from the substantive issues and any specific decision that needs to be taken Some of the solutions to the potential issues are * Organizational Issues – The issues with organizational structure are of utmost importance especially with Lockhardt reporting to Ewers. A probable solution to this is a relatively flat structure of the organization with both Ewers and Lockhardt at the same hierarchical level and reporting to the board directly. This will resolve the issue of lockhardt reporting to Ewers and going back to her for her approval on every decision he is making. Not only this will allow them to work independently but in a way they could compliment each others skills and work more efficiently. Also both of them are pioneers of their field so to avoid any friction due to their respective positions in organization after merger it is important that they both work in cohesion. So by a flat structure there will be relatively less chance of ego clash and more synergy between them, * Musician Issues – Probably musicians were thinking that symphony management as usual is thinking against their interests. This feeling needs to go away for the smooth merger process and smooth working of the organization after merger. Management of both the boards has to negotiate the contract terms and conditions with musicians. * Financial Issues – Opera and Symphony have different strengths as far as financial front is concerned. Both need...

Words: 538 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Ethics and Social Responsibility/ETH 316 December 10, 2012 University of Phoenix Organizational Issues Ethics are a set of principles or values that help guide people to determine if something is right or wrong. They influence decisions that people make everyday. They are also the principles and standards of conduct the guide an individual or a group. In this week's assignment I opted for the EthicsGame simulations: “The Mysterious Blogger” and “The Veiled ID” The two simulations provided different ethical issues. “The Mysterious Blogger concerns the issue obtaining information that was illegally obtained to prove that an employee violated a non-disclosure agreement. Aaron Webb is an employee working in the MD department and posted confidential information in a blog concerning the company. An IT tech, Jamal Moore felt that his supervisor was not taking the situation seriously. He took it upon himself to hacked into Mr. Webb's home computer and found incriminating evidence. In “The Veiled ID” concerns the issue of protecting employees while also protected their rights and special needs. The company is beefing up security due to an unfortunate situation. The solution is to have each employee where security badges with a photo ID. Atsha Mullah religious belief is not to be seen without her veil to anyone other than her family and the photo would be in violation of that belief. In both simulations the solutions...

Words: 579 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Name ETH/316 January 14, 2013 Penny Hylton ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES Security measures are being implemented to prevent confidential information leaks within the company. Once the security measures have been established it immediately noticed that there was a leak of information, which was not considered confidential. This information had been leaked from an employee of the company. In addition, another member of the company did additional research to find out who exactly was sharing the information with the public. It came from an initially anonymous source who hacked into the personal computer of a fellow employee. A decision has to be made on how to handle the two employees who have violated company policy and prevent further occurrences of the same situations. Decision Making The first step in the decision making process is to be attentive. In this step you pay attention to your surroundings. You need to know the facts, you need to know who has to make the decision, and you need to know what problem needs to be solved. In this scenario the sources of information are emails, background information, and knowing the issues. The second step is being intelligent. In this step in the decision making process you have to evaluate the situation. It is also important to know who the stockholders are and know the values of the stockholders. The third step in the decision making process is be reasonable. During this step in the decision making...

Words: 831 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Pamela E. Williams ETH/316 August 13, 2012 Michelle Clark-Washington Organizational Issues There were two dilemmas presented in the ethics game .The first ethics dilemma was two employees Aaron and Jamal hacking into their company system. Both of the employees thought they were doing the right thing for different reasons. Aaron was hacking the company’s computer system because he felt that the company was hiding unethical practices that he felt the consumers who bought their product should know about. The second employee Jamal also felt the need or duty to hack in to the company’s computer system to prove who the person was that using sensitive material about the company in a blog. They both were acting out of a sense of duty to something that they felt strongly about. Aaron believed it was his duty to let other employees and prospective customers know that there were some unethical, practices within the company. Jamal felt that the company was not doing what it should be doing to find out who the leak was that was writing the blog about the company. He then hacked the computer system to find out whom the leak was and that he did do and reported it to the proper people. I had to then determine what the right thing to do concerning both parties was. Both parties felt that they were right by doing what they did. The ethical theory that Aaron based his decision on was utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that achieving the greatest happiness...

Words: 609 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Micaela Johnson ETH316 March 24, 2014 Charles Wittenberg Organizational Issues After completing the Ethical issues simulation I learned that there are different lenses that help to facilitate how one makes an ethical decision. The ethical issue presented in case one was about a current employee who leaked confidential information on his personal blog and another employee who violated codes to find out who it was. Both employees were in the wrong even thought one employee considered himself helping the situation by finding out who leaked the information and coming forward. His means of finding out who committed the crime were illegal which therefore makes him liable for his actions, even if he had good intentions. In the second case, the ethical issue was how to develop a security policy that provides for employees' physical safety and accommodates special needs.  The first thing to considered in the decision making process is who are the stakeholders? Consider the people involved in the dilemma and determine who will be affected by the decision made. The stakeholders are the people that are directly involved in the situation, directly affected by the decision, or hold interest that need to be protected. The next step in the decision making process is to determine which ethical lens best fits the issue the company is dealing with. There are four different lenses rights and responsibility lens, result lens, relationship lens and reputation lens. Each...

Words: 790 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Axia College of the University of Phoenix ETH/316 Mary Sortino Feb. 12, 2013 The film I choose is “Good Vibrations” an animated film that was found on the, The Responsibility Project website. The film is about community responsibility and what the cost are involved in being self- righteous. In the film there is a construction worker using a jackhammer to break up concrete in the street, which is causing the surrounding area shake. It is causing a loose piece of concrete shake causing people who walk by it on the sidewalk to trip and fall. In the office building across the street from where this was happing, many of the office workers were watching the people trip and fall on the loose concrete and laughing and making fun of all the people that were falling. The next person that was walking down the side walk was an older gentleman that was walking with a cane. One of the workers that was laughing at the other people that fell noticed the old man he was going to warn the gentleman about the trip hazard, but he was unable to get the window open in time. The man did not fall and stood on the loose concrete after seeing that this is a major hazard to other people. The older man keeps putting up the caution sign that keeps falling over due to the vibration of the jackhammer, before the little boy riding his bike passes over it and gets hurt from falling on the loose section of concrete. The issue in this film makes a very important point...

Words: 614 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues Ashley Anderson ETH/316 March 6, 2014 Organizational Issues The ethical issues presented in Week Three Ethics Game Simulations were from the Mysterious Blogger and The Veiled Id, the ethical issues address in game simulation of "The Mysterious Blogger" was whether or not the material gained by IT Tech, Jamal Moore was ample to control blogging employee Aaron Webb for violating the NDA policy. The ethical concerns for the game simulations for "The Veiled ID", was to address how to improve a security policy that would accommodate the special needs and the physical safety of the employees'. The decision-making steps one took to address these issues are base on the situation one held "The Mystery Blogger" one was able to conclude the best avenue ethically to approach in order to take action on both issues address in the game. First, this authors decision-making capability are base on protecting the interest of the shareholders and how these conclusions could affect the shareholders in both short and long-term. Ethical issues that ascend within an organization or business but also harm an individual employee, but it will harm the business and anyone who has made an investment in the business or business. Apart from shielding the interest of shareholders and the company, it also comes down to always subsequent company policies and doing the right thing. If organizations policies are broken in any way, shape or form, this author would be...

Words: 817 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Organizational Issues

...UDE 1123 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT Semester I Session 2013/2014 INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT EXPLORE THE ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR/ISSUES FACING YOUR ORGANIZATION AND SUGGEST SOLUTIONS. “WORKING INDOOR BUT THE SUN IS JUST ABOVE YOUR HEAD” NAME : NUR RAHIDA BINTI RAHMAN MATRIC’S NO. : MR131002 LECTURER’S NAME : DR. BATIAH MAHADI “WORKING INDOOR BUT THE SUN IS JUST ABOVE YOUR HEAD” Introduction A work environment can be identified as the place that one works, which means the milieus around a person. The work environment has a significant impact upon employee performance and productivity. By work environment we mean those processes, systems, structures, tools or conditions in the workplace that impact favourably or unfavourably individual perform. The work environment also includes policies, rules, culture, resources, working relationships, work location, and internal and external environmental factors, all of which influence the ways those employees perform their job functions. It is the quality of the employee’s workplace environment that most impacts on the level of employee’s motivation and subsequent performance. How well they engage with the organization, especially with their immediate environment, influences to a great extent their error rate, level of innovation and collaboration with other employees, absenteeism and, ultimately, how long they stay in the job. The environment that people are required to work in can have a significant impact on their...

Words: 4882 - Pages: 20

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues For any business that depends on the community to survive, Greyston Bakery feels it is important to let everyone know that they support their community and its people. It is important that companies give back to the communities that support them in their business endeavors and Greyston Bakery does it well. They not only hire local people from the community to work in their bakery but they give back in other ways as well. Greyston funds other community services such as after –school day care, low-income housing, they assist with health care for those with HIV that cannot afford to pay for it. There was a time when small mom and pops played a big part in their communities by helping those that needed help with food or rent. Everyone in the community patronized these local community businesses and helped to grow some of them into empires. According to "Mom And Pop Business That Turned Into Empires" (2011), (There are 10 mom and pop businesses that turned into empires, Walmart, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Ben and Jerry’s, Party Pieces, Energy Brands, Wrigley, Burt’s Bees, Yankee Candle Company, Mattell and Whole Foods Market.) Because of community support and their interaction with the community they grew to mega corporations. This decision to give back to the community had to be made at the top and flow down to the staff. This decision has given the owners an opportunity to show their workers and the community it is not always about the money, but...

Words: 370 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Organizational Issues

...Organizational Issues It has been said that integrity is doing the right thing when we think no one is looking. Maybe integrity is choosing to do hard things when most people would give us a pass on taking the easy way out. For the purpose of this paper, integrity could be defined as ethics inspired actions. While the story of Avalon International Breads (Avalon) is focused on their commitment to the rebuilding of Detroit, it can stand as a model of integrity for the many cities and towns across America that have been devastated during the recent economic crisis. Detroit has suffered greatly in recent years because of the economic shift in our nation that has greatly impacted the manufacturing sector. Detroit had been an epicenter of manufacturing for the past century, thanks to manufacturing innovators such as Henry Ford, and the auto industry (The City of Detroit, 2012). Today, Detroit is a shadow of its former self, and to many it serves as a stark warning of what might lie ahead for many other cities. Politicians and bureaucrats in Washington D.C. continue to argue as to the state of our economy, whether we are on the road to recovery, or whether we are simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. Many of us get a good indicator of the situation every time we fill up our gas tank, or buy groceries. The video about Avalon demonstrates that ordinary people can make a difference by sharing the hope with others that we still control our own destiny. Jackie Victor and...

Words: 927 - Pages: 4