Affecting Change

Affecting Change

Describe the established methods of control and the current departmental and organizational cultures.

Smith & Falmouth (S&F) is a mid-size online shopping and mail-order network organization in the United States and Canada. S&F recently launched business to consumer (B2C) also called as e-tailing, and S&F Online. These new additions in the current business model can be a failure if no proper strategic planning is in place with regard to the organization structure and management practices. The Chief Executive Office (CEO) is in agreement that organizational structure needs to reform to enhance its expansion. Hence, my employment as Chief Operations Officer (COO) is to bring about necessary changes in the next nine months for the success of the new ventures and organization’s future. I am glad to undertake my new assignment without knowing much about the organization, and its culture, and cliques. Despite of the resistance from employees, and managers who I may face, I am ready to take control of the situation by studying the organization as quickly as possible and apply necessary changes for a successful organization’s future.

The established methods of control used at S&F are largely bureaucratic with the increase formalization. The management practices are keeping departments in isolation from one another and this is no communication among the members in different departments. The conceptual use of power and authority imply in maintaining the hierarchy and unity-of-command concept with no lateral communication among members. Project manager, logistics manager, and marketing manager communicate when necessary; there is no communication flow downward to the employees working on the project causing confusion and frustration among the employees. Department isolation is not only a communication disconnect but also causes ambiguity and hampers the productivity and cannot meet deadlines in the state of segregation with no concept of team.

Usually...