Submitted by: Submitted by lasell
Views: 487
Words: 1150
Pages: 5
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 11/06/2010 06:43 PM
Bell Canada
Introduction
For over a hundred years, Bell Canada was a monopoly. However in 1993, the telephone industry was deregulated. Almost overnight, startup companies emerged and quickly gained market share by focusing on highly profitable segments of the long distance market and using newer technologies to reduce costs.
In response to this increased competition, Bell Canada underwent a three year business transformation plan which resulted in cutting its workforce by 15, 000 employees. However, the company may be required to cut more to insure its survival.
The Network Installation Coordinator (NIC) section group has been looked upon as potential source of course savings. Danielle Ford’s predecessor, John Gray wondered if the group should be eliminated because it was rewarding errors caused by other departments. Danielle’s immediate boss, Brian Devon didn’t think the company should support a unit that was fixing problems that shouldn’t happen anyway. He hired Danielle with the expressed intention of reducing the need for 19 managers. Even his boss, Rick Steebe, while recognizing the need for the NIC, wished it to reduce costs by working “smarter”.
Questions
What challenges does Danielle face in her efforts to build a unified team?
A major challenge is that there are no standard job responsibilities across the section. This has led to the formation of three distinct groups, the facilitators, the firefighters and the project managers, each with different motivations and orientations. Each group is entrenched in its own way of doing things. Instead of we are also in this together, it’s every man for himself. There is blatant mistrust and suspicion among the mangers which creates an inhospitable environment for collaboration.
Exacerbating the situation is that there is pressure to cut costs. Managers are reluctant to chance how they operate if it invites downsizing. Managers may also be suspicious of Danielle’s motives. They undoubtedly know she...