What opportunities and potential problems are posed by the formation of more than one coalition within an organization, each one advocating a different direction or alternatives? What steps can you take as a manager to make sure that dueling coalitions result in constructive discussion rather than dissension?
> 1. Alex Patterson notes that our educational system is often focused on individual achievement, but when we go out into the work world as adults, almost all of us are required to work in teams. In what ways does this early focus on individual work make i
> How do you think a system for self-management such as the five-step system described in this chapter could benefit you as a student? What parts of the system seem particularly useful to you? Explain.
> Managers at some banks and mortgage companies have argued that providing subprime mortgages was based on their desire to give poor people a chance to participate in the American dream of home ownership. What is your opinion of this explanation in terms
> Is it reasonable to expect that managers can measure their social and environmental performance on the same level as they measure their financial performance with a triple bottom line? Discuss
> Some people argue that the matrix structure should be adopted only as a last resort because the dual chains of command can create more problems than they solve. Discuss. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
> 1. In what ways is Barcelona’s management approach consistent with modern developments in management thinking? 2. In what ways does Barcelona’s management approach run counter to contemporary developments in management thinking? 3. What aspects of rest
> Discuss how the dilemmas of teamwork might be intensified in a virtual team. What dilemmas do you feel when you have to do class assignments as part of a team? Discuss.
> What are some specific tips that you would give a new manager for building trust with subordinates? With other managers?
> How might a corporate management team go about determining whether the company should diversify? What factors should they consider? What kinds of information should they collect?
> Suppose that you are the leader of a team that has just been created to develop a new registration process at your college or university. How can you use an understanding of the stages of team development to improve your team’s effectiveness?
> Is it ethical and socially responsible for large corporations to lobby against an SEC rule requiring that they report the ratio of their CEOs’ pay compared to that of their average employee, as described in the chapter? Discuss.
> Explain the basic idea underlying the contingency view. How would you go about identifying the key contingencies facing an organization?
> As a manager, how would you deal with resistance to change when you suspect employees’ fears of job loss are well founded?
> Imagine yourself in a situation of being encouraged by colleagues to inflate your expense account. What factors do you think would influence your decision? Explain.
> How do you think planning in today’s organizations compares to planning 25 years ago? Do you think planning becomes more important or less important in a world where everything is changing fast and crises are a regular part of organizational life? Why?
> Which style of communicating do you think would be most beneficial to the long-term success of a U.S. company operating internationally—high-context or low-context communications? Why?
> Two U.S. companies are competing to take over a large factory in the Czech Republic. One delegation tours the facility and asks questions about how the plant might be run more efficiently. The other delegation focuses on ways to improve working condition
> One company had 40 percent of its workers and 20 percent of its manager’s resign during the first year after reorganizing into teams. What might account for this dramatic turnover? How might managers ensure a smooth transition to teams?
> As a manager, how would you use symbols to build an adaptability culture that encourages teamwork and risk taking? What kinds of symbols could you use to promote the values of an involvement culture?
> Distribution center managers for Anheuser-Busch InBev frequently start the day with a sort of pep rally, reviewing the day’s sales targets and motivating people to get out and sell more beer. What does this suggest about the type of culture the company’s
> If you were the leader of a newly formed team, what might you do to make sure that the team developed norms of high performance?
> Assume you are a project manager at a biotechnology company, working with managers from research, production, and marketing on a major product modification. You notice that every memo you receive from the marketing manager has been copied to senior manag
> Netflix has successfully adapted to a number of challenges in its industry. What do you see as some emerging opportunities and threats for the company?
> Consider the factors that influence the environmental uncertainty (rate of change in factors and number of factors in the environment) that are presented in Exhibit 3.4. Classify each of the following organizations as operating in either (a) a low-uncer
> Contemporary best-selling management books often argue that customers are the most important element in the external environment. Do you agree? In what company situations might this statement be untrue?
> Think about the highly publicized safety problems at General Motors (GM). One observer said that a goal of efficiency had taken precedence over a goal of quality within this company. Do you think managers can improve both efficiency and effectiveness sim
> Why do you think workplace stress is skyrocketing? Do you think it is a trend that will continue? Explain the reasons for your answer. Do you think it is the responsibility of managers and organizations to help employees manage stress? Why or why not?
> You are a bright, hard-working entry-level manager who fully intends to rise up through the ranks. Your performance evaluation gives you high marks for your technical skills but low marks when it comes to people skills. Do you think people skills can be
> You are a manager, and you believe the expense reimbursement system for salespeople is far too slow, taking weeks instead of days. How would you go about convincing other managers that this problem needs to be addressed?
> Why are inter organizational partnerships so important for today’s companies? What elements in the current environment might contribute to either an increase or decrease in inter organizational collaboration? Discuss
> What do you see as the primary advantage of using big data analytics—understanding the environment or influencing the environment? Why?
> Microsoft and Intel are giants of the computer industry. Why do you think that these large companies have had such a hard time competing against disruptive innovations such as mobile computing?
> List some possible advantages and disadvantages to using computer technology for managerial decision making.
> Critics argue that RFID can potentially jeopardize consumer privacy by making it possible to link purchases to individuals or even to track the movements of individuals. Should this concern prevent companies from adopting RFIDs? Explain.
> Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner was seriously delayed because of slow deliveries from suppliers who were responsible for large chunks of the jet. Outsourcing has become an important aspect of supply chain management as companies strive to cut costs, yet the pra
> Some companies are using both lean manufacturing and Six Sigma (discussed in Chapter 19) methods simultaneously to improve their operations. How do you think the two approaches might complement or conflict with each other? Explain.
> What are the three types of inventory? Which of these is most likely to be affected by the JIT inventory system? Explain.
> Surveys by the Conference Board show that job satisfaction has declined from 61 percent of people surveyed in 1987 to 45 percent in 2009, and one workplace analyst has said a high level of dissatisfaction is “the new normal”. What are some factors that m
> 1. Evaluate Theo’s new strategy in light of the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 2. Using the BCG Matrix, explain Theo’s decision to offer a classic line of chocolate bars after having limited success with Fantasy Flavor choco
> In a study asking what people wanted from leaders versus followers, people ranked maturity number 8 for followers, but number 15 for leaders. What might account for people wanting a higher maturity level from followers?
> Think of a class you’ve taken in the past. What standards of performance did your professor establish? How was your actual performance measured? How was your performance compared to the standards? Do you think the standards and methods of measurement wer
> What type of production layout do you think would work best in a car dealership? What type would work best for an insurance company that provides customers with auto, home, health, and life insurance products? Discuss reasons for your answers.
> Analyze three decisions you made over the past six months. Which of these were programmed and which were non-programmed? Which model—the classical, administrative, or political—best describes the approach you took to making each decision?
> Explain the difference between risk and ambiguity. How might decision making differ for a risky versus an ambiguous situation?
> Managers at Gap Inc., a once- popular retail chain, are reported to have made a series of decisions that hurt the company: they expanded so rapidly that the chain lost touch with customers; they tried to copy the successful approach of rivals rather than
> A survey of teachers found that two of the most important rewards were the belief that their work was important and a feeling of accomplishment. According to Maslow’s theory, what needs do these rewards meet?
> How does starting an online business differ from starting a small business such as a local auto repair shop or delicatessen? Is it really possible for businesses that operate totally in cyberspace to build close customer relationships? Discuss.
> Experts advise that most catastrophes in organizations result from a series of small problems or mistakes. As a new entry-level manager, how might you apply this understanding to help your organization avoid making major mistakes?
> Can you think of a bad decision from your own school or work experience or from the recent business or political news that was made in an effort to correct or justify a past decision? As a new manager, how might you resist the urge to choose a decision a
> Goals that are overly ambitious can discourage employees and decrease motivation, yet the idea of stretch goals is proposed as a way to get people fired up and motivated. As a manager, how might you decide where to draw the line between a “good” stretch
> Using Porter’s competitive strategies, how would you describe the strategies of Walmart, Macy’s, and Target?
> As organizations become more technology-driven, which do you think will become more important—the management of the human element of the organization or the management of technology? Discuss.
> Studies have suggested that extroverts contribute less to teams and are poor listeners, yet other studies suggest that they are more likely to earn six-figure incomes, even in today’s collaborative, team-oriented workplaces. Discuss why you think this mi
> 1. In the video, Mike Boyle talks about establishing a work environment that motivates employees to do great work. List two or three specific ways Boyle has created this type of environment in his gyms, and explain how these actions empower the employee
> Describe specific ways that you might incorporate Twitter into an organization’s crisis communication plan for customers. How about for employees
> Assume that it is the year 2027. In your company, central planning has given way to frontline decision making and bureaucracy has given way to teamwork. Shop floor workers use handheld devices and robots. A labor shortage currently affects many job openi
> Does it seem like a good idea to let a big data computer program make hiring decisions, as some companies like Xerox are doing, as described in this chapter? What types of positions do you think this might be suitable for? What might be some drawbacks to
> How would you go about deciding whether to use a job-based, skills-based, or pay-for-performance compensation plan for employees in a textile manufacturing plant? For waitstaff in a restaurant? For salespeople in an insurance company?
> 1. Part of Honest Tea’s mission is to convince consumers to make healthier choices by offering innovative products. Based on what you saw in the video, describe at least two “disruptive innovations” this company has made to support this goal. 2. When Ho
> Analyze the driving and restraining forces of a change you would like to make in your life. Do you believe understanding force-field analysis can help you more effectively implement a significant change in your own behavior?
> 1. How do managers at Barcelona control the company’s financial performance? 2. What is the “balanced scorecard” approach to measuring corporate performance, and in what ways does Barcelona utilize this approach? 3. List the four steps of the feedback co
> If managerial work is characterized by variety, fragmentation, and brevity, how do managers perform basic management functions such as planning, which would seem to require reflection and analysis?
> What do you see as the major advantages and disadvantages of a company moving to open innovation?
> Do the underlying values of OD differ from assumptions associated with other types of change? Discuss.
> A management professor once said that for successful management, studying the present was most important, studying the past was next, and studying the future should come last. Do you agree? Why?
> If you wanted to add a group of big data scientists to a large organization such as PepsiCo, would you centralize the scientists in a central pool at headquarters or decentralize them to separate divisions? Discuss your reasons.
> Many successful entrepreneurs say that they did little planning, perhaps scratching notes on a legal pad. How was it possible for them to do well, even so?
> Would you expect the structure of a company such as Facebook that operates almost entirely online to differ from the structure of a bricks-and-mortar company such as AT&T that uses the Internet for some things, such as customer service and business-to-bu
> Suppose that you manage an employee who is spending too much time using social media at work. The result is that he has missed three important deadlines in one week. You are planning a face-to-face conversation to address this performance problem and you
> 1. What role does an advisory board play in this business owner’s approach to decision making? If you were a business owner, would you want to develop an advisory board? 2. After listening to this entrepreneur’s perspective on decision making, how would
> Can intuition and evidence-based decision making coexist as valid approaches within an organization? How might managers combine their intuition with a rational, data-driven, evidence-based approach?
> 1. What are some of Seth Goldman’s responsibilities as “TeaEO” of Honest Tea? Provide at least three detailed examples. 2. How does Goldman’s experience as the founder of the company influence his ability to delegate? 3. Referring to Woodward’s researc
> If you are the CEO of a global company, how might you determine whether a globalization, multidomestic, or transnational strategy would work best for your enterprise? What factors would influence your decision?
> What strategic issues have the potential to create environmental uncertainty in the following four industries: (a) automobile; (b) social media; (c) newspaper; and (d) medical services
> 1. How does JetBlue’s commitment to diversity influence the way it treats its employees? How does it influence the way it treats its customers? 2. JetPride and VetConnect are two of JetBlue’s diversity initiatives. What are some of the benefits JetBlue
> Describe how a diversity of perspective boosts creativity and innovation in the workplace. Why do managers consider a diversity of perspective a competitive advantage?
> Discuss some of the ways organizations and jobs changed over the past ten years. What changes do you anticipate over the next ten years? How might these changes affect the manager’s job and the skills a manager needs to be successful?
> Why do you think a large number of women are opting out of the corporate world? Discuss whether this trend is likely to continue over the next ten years.
> What are the glass ceiling and bamboo ceiling, and why do you think they have proven to be such barriers to women and minorities?
> If talkative men are viewed as powerful and competent, why do you think talkative women are seen as less capable and pushy? Do you think this perception would be different in an organization with a large percentage of female managers at top levels?
> Describe the elements of the communication model in Exhibit 17.2. Give an example of each part of the model as it exists in the classroom during communication between teacher and students.
> How might employee affinity groups contribute to the advancement of women and minorities to higher-level positions in an organization?
> Many people who are successful at the start-up stage of a business are not the right people to carry the venture forward. How do you decide whether you’re better suited to be a serial entrepreneur (start the business and then move on to start another), o
> Describe employees who are most vulnerable to stereotype threat. Why is it important for managers to understand that some employees may experience stereotype threat?
> Surveys reveal dramatic shifts in social attitudes toward issues such as gay marriage and citizenship for illegal immigrants. How do you think these changing attitudes might affect the manager’s job over the next few years?
> 1. Based on how this business owner describes her business, write a one- or two-sentence organizational mission statement for Mi Ola Swimwear. 2. Pick four of the following six categories: strategic goal, strategic plan, tactical goal, tactical plan, o
> Until Sheryl Sandberg was promoted to chief operating officer of Facebook in 2012, its board was composed of only men. Yet a majority of Facebook’s 845 million users are women. Given this demographic, explain how Facebook might benefit from increasing th
> An organizational consultant was heard to say, “Some aspect of functional structure appears in every organization.” Do you agree? Explain.
> You’re a manager who employs a participative control approach. You’ve concluded that corrective action is necessary to improve customer satisfaction, but first you need to convince your employees that the problem exists. What kind of evidence do you thin
> Have you ever experienced or witnessed the queen bee syndrome? What specific strategies might top executives use to avoid the queen bee syndrome among female managers? Do you think that men might employ some of the same tactics as “queen bees” and are si
> How might organizations strike a balance between respecting and meeting the needs of a diverse workforce and shaping a high-performance corporate culture where shared values contribute to the accomplishment of strategic goals?
> 1. List the three main activities of human resource management (HRM) and identify which activity is examined at length in the video. 2. Of the various steps in Barcelona’s employee selection process, the job interview is the briefest. Do you agree with
> What might be some disadvantages of acqui-hiring? As a manager, how would you draw up a contract with a new employee who was an acqui-hire? Include considerations such as compensation and benefits, performance measures, training, and a noncompete agreeme
> What are the characteristics of an open communication climate? Describe the organizational benefits of managers cultivating an open communication climate.
> What personal skills do you need to keep your financial backers feeling confident in your new business? Which skills are most useful when you’re dealing with more informal sources such as family and friends versus receiving funds from stockholders, a ban
> The chapter suggested that structure should be designed to fit strategy. Some theorists argue that strategy should be designed to fit the organization’s structure. With which theory do you agree? Explain.
> A college professor told her students, “The purpose of a management course is to teach students about management, not to teach them to be managers.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Discuss.
> If you are in charge of training and development, which training option or options—such as OJT, cross-training, classroom—would you be likely to choose for your company’s production line manager? A customer service representative? An entry-level accounta
> One human resource manager recently got a thank you note on her iPhone that said “Thx 4 the Iview! Wud ♥ to wrk 4 u!!!☻” The manager had liked the candidate’s interview, but after getting the note, she put him in the reject pile. Do you think it was fair
> What strategic plans could the college or university at which you are taking this management course adopt to compete for students in the marketplace? Would these plans depend on the school’s goals?
