Eagle Manufacturing

Case Study: 1

Eagle Manufacturing Company

I. Major Facts

 Departments within the company are not communicating.

 Training within his core group is substandard.

 Performance is down throughout the company in some areas.

 Morale is down within the supply department.

II. Major Problem

Interdepartmental communication is essential to any successful company and the lack thereof can affect efficient organizational functions, morale, and ultimately the customer who is the lifeblood of the company and right now, Eagle Manufacturing has an inherent major communications problem.

III. Possible Solutions/Alternatives

1. Ted needs to host an interdepartmental meeting at a minimum of twice a month.

 Advantage: The ability to communicate and head off issues in a timely manner.

 Disadvantage: Time consuming and has the possibility of a finger pointing contest.

2. Ted should recommend that individual department mangers meet to discuss details of what each department requires and focus specifically on those issues.

 Advantage: This keeps the monthly meetings to a minimum and allows department managers one on one time.

 Disadvantage: Schedule conflicts.

3. Ted should suggest that departments share information from interdepartmental meetings.

 Advantage: This allows the information to stay fresh for each department and eliminates information that a department may not require.

 Disadvantage: Not getting the information disseminated in a timely manner.

4. Ted should encourage each individual from each department to take time out and visit other departments instead of communicating electronically.

 Advantage: Increased communication between department members and it will also build trust between departments.

 Disadvantage: Not realistic due to different individual personalities.

IV. Choice and Rationale

If I were Ted, I would choose option 1.

Ted is in his office on a Saturday afternoon trying to figure out how to fix theses issues when the...