Affecting Change

AFFECTING CHANGE

Affecting Change

University of Phoenix Online

Feburary 20, 2011

Dr. Debby McNichols

Affecting Change

In today’s fast moving business environment, it is vital for companies to create and encourage organizational changes. Change allows organizations to stay inventive and competitive in their industry. Smith & Falmouth is a mid-size tele-shopping and mail order network with operations in the United States and Canada. Driven by industry forecasts and internal strategy road map, Smith & Falmouth started the e-tailing division, S&F online, six months ago. The division is considered crucial to the company’s growth strategy over the next three years University of Phoenix. (2004). Irene Seagraves the company’s online CEO has hired a Chief Operating Officer to streamline online operations, increase the reach of Online Sales Channels, and make S&F Online a profitable Strategic Business Unit. The COO has until the end of the financial year to achieve Irene’s target goals. Before these issues can be fixed several changes in the company’s culture, size, structure, and leadership must be implemented. All of the following will be discussed in this paper.

Restructuring Department to Improve Culture and Empower Employees

Organizational culture refers to a system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations (Robbins & Judge, 2007). Strong organizational culture gives the company and employees a direction. Culture helps employees to understand what should be done and what is expected from them. Every organization has a culture and depending on its strength, it can have a significant influence on the attitudes and behaviors of organization members (Robbins & Judge, 2007). For S&F to improve their culture and empower the company’s employees they must provide a clear vision with a well-defined strategy and structure. Managers have to make their employees...