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Eric Wood B Case Study Help

Background and Facts

Eric Wood B a workplace supplies retailer for little as well as medium sized organisations has actually recently been associated with planning for a merger with its competitor House Deport, which has influenced performance levels in departmentswith the elderly manager associated with lawful problems put forth by the federal Trade Payment. With the Advertising Head putting forward the news of his separation from the business in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the existing head of procedures has actually been asked to take the role in the near future. With challenges in the type of a potential social adjustment as well as low employee morale, the organization requires a total reengineering effort at the advertising department.

Trouble Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The prospective cultural modification at the advertising division of Eric Wood B is increasing uncertainty in the workplace leading to numerous obstacles for the Jeannie Lewis who would be changing the head of the division in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a significant role in influencing tactical choices given that Stapes Inc. had to abandon its plans of merging with Office Deport after the Federal Trade Compensation's intervention at the same time. Offered the truth that the shop has a worldwide visibility with branches in UK, U.S.A., Canada and Germany, political consider each of these countries might be able to affect efficiency or calculated goals. Federal Trade Payment's antitrust fit against the merger used up valuable time of the organization's elderly administration suggesting that 'political' factors can have major ramifications for an international company.

Economic Factors: Economic factors such as the development of local business in the international situation suggest that Eric Wood B is growing in a setting where there is potential growth of services. In addition to this, fact that store customers are primarily searching for office materials for office recommends that the market has a climbing trend of business owners as well as home based services.

Social factors: Social patterns in the economic situation show that consumers are searching for ease in addition to eye-catching prices. Market research demonstrates how the customer for Eric Wood B lacks understanding concerning locating services which can supply a combination of comfort and also affordable.

Technological factors: Modern technology plays a vital role in Eric Wood B's business technique especially as the organization is piloting Technology facilities which would supply technology sales and support in the form of memory upgrades, peripheral setups. (Recap of BUG in appendix 2).

OB Issues and Manifestations.

A number of underlying Organizational Behavior concerns can be seen in Eric Wood B's case as highlighted in this section.

Concerns regarding cultural modification: There is worry about a social modification that would occur once Todd Krasnow leaves from his position as the Executive Vice President of Advertising with most of the employee already showing unhappiness over this prospective action. This predicted change has actually developed anxiety in the work environment which has actually been coupled with the past stress and anxiety of preparing the firm for a potential merging with Residence Deport.
Pest Analysis
Difficult Job Atmosphere for Newcomers: There is lack of personnel that can match the demanding environment of a fast-paced organization. Not just does this result in problem in finding the best individuals, it puts stress and anxiety on new hires as can not withstand the speed as well as pressure that the company expects them to birth.

Dual Reporting Lines: Beginners locate this business society troublesome and also challenging to manage especially as populated line relationships are indicated to be weak in general as well as objective setting as well as efficiency analysis is still done by the solid line supervisor. This means that newbies might shed clarity concerning their particular duties and also objectives particularly as populated line coverage does not maintain them in direct interaction with the solid line managers.

Resentment From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's decision to make Lewis his follower rather than Bridget Coles despite the fact that it had actually been speculated that the last would certainly take Krasnow's position came as a strike to her spirits. Lewis may have been qualified as well as proper for the work however the fact that Kransnow's departure would make Coles a straight report to Lewis may have been the factor for Coles' resignation from solutions.

Fear & Work Insecurity: Anxiety and instability can be recognized as 2 major worries that Lewis would certainly be managing specifically as the merger has actually currently be terminated as well as two elderly executives of the advertising and marketing division would be leaving. The entire responsibility of the department would certainly be falling on Lewis's shoulders that would not just supervise of brining about a social adjustment however would certainly likewise have to show herself in her new duty.

Incompatible Administration Design of Leader: Lewis's monitoring style and also its conflict with the advertising division's role can likewise be seen as an OB obstacle especially as she has been used to handling concerns in the operations division where employees are instructed to focus on processes and also obtain them. The advertising and marketing division on the other hand can be seen as a group of people who are utilized to being supported by Krasnow that focused much more on output than processes.

Interdepartmental Arguments: Interdepartmental disagreements between 3 divisions, advertising, merchandizing and also procedures specifically over the allocation of the marketing mix can be recognized as an additional OB worry. Although the advertising and marketing department does not share the very same vision as the other 2 departments concerning the aloocation of the advertising and marketing mix twoards promos and also advertsing, the merchandizing as well as procedures departments do not concur over the advertising and marketing mix appropriation among one another either.

Fragmentation in Advertising Department: Fragmentation in between the marketing and advertising divisions can be determined as another OB issue which can need further focus. The fact that the marketing and advertising areas in the advertising and marketing department are detached is protecting against both divisions from acquiring from each various other's experience as well as proficiency. Integration of marketing with retailing as well as procedures would end up being more difficult if the advertising and marketing division itself is degenerated which can be an additional possible OB concern.

Eric Wood B Analysis

Various concepts have been made use of to describe the conditions to get more clarity concerning the situation available.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Concept X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Theory X, a lot of supervisors think that staffs are passive as well as careless, have little aspiration and stand up to adjustment. The scenario at Eric Wood B is not totally adhering to Theory X, it can be seen that brand-new hires are locating this atmosphere rather difficult which may at some point lead to a better disposition of the management in the direction of Theory X. Also while analyzing Lewis's management design, theory X might have been suitable in the operations division to some level yet the Advertising department would certainly need reliance on Theory Y in order to get the imagination and also originality from the groups.

Tuckman's Synergy Theory: Regarding Lewis's problem about bringing consistency between the marketing and advertising department is concerned, this would originally cause clash as discussed by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Synergy Theory'. (Tuckman, 1965). As per Tuckman's theory shown in appendix 3, during the first phase of team advancement, individuals may not bond, as they are active locating their area in the team. By combining the advertising and marketing division's work, there may be the same preliminary separate which can bring about the 2nd stage of 'storming' where the groups challenge one another. It is just during the third phase or 'norming' when they would come together to share suggestions prior to the team can bring about harmony in the fourth stage 'performing'.

Bridges' Change Model: As per William Bridge's concept (appendix 4), people are rather uneasy with change, which is obvious by the circumstance at Eric Wood B The scenario can be seen as a normal training course of life if is studied according to Bridge's theory where he discusses that people go through three stages of transition when they experience modification. 'End, shedding and Letting go', The Neutral Zone and 'The New Beginning' (Bridges, 2004). When people are presented with change, they get in stage one and so there may be emotions like sadness, uncertainty, frustration, rage, worry, rejection and also disorientation.The scenario at the advertising and marketing division of Eric Wood B is comparable so Lewis can obtain comfortable with the concept that it is not extraordinary habits. In the second phase, there may be a requirement to connect the space between the new as well as old culture so Lewis may need to encounter this ordeal when Krasnow leaves. There may be reduced spirits as well as reduced efficiency at this phase which should not be taken as an obstacle. It is throughout this stage that Lewis will certainly have to give advice to the division so that they can discover a sense of direction. It can be seen just how Krasnow has actually currently made this shift easier by making Lewis get involved in the division a year before his actual separation. Based on Bridges' Design, phase 3 will certainly bring about openness to knowing, High power and commitment as people will certainly embrace the adjustment (Bridges, 2004).
Vrio Analysis
Maslow's Demand power structure: The OB issue related to insecurity at the workplace has actually been triggered first of all by the adjustment in monitoring as well as secondly by the reality that the merging will no longer be launched. Abraham Maslow in his Concept of 'Demands Hierarchy' (appendix 5) has talks about the significance of 'protection requires as being a lower degree need of a human for causing inspiration. As seen in the pyramid cooperated appendix 3, we can see exactly how 'the requirement to feel secure as well as safe' is at the 2nd degree of demands. Before a worker can be made to establish mentally, he requires to have his 'Physiological 'as well as 'Safety' needs satisfied. This shows that unless the workers are made to really feel protected about their current work condition in Eric Wood B they may not get to 'Self-Fulfillment'. (King, 2009).

SWOT Analysis for Eric Wood B Case Study



Implication of Analysis.

The OB analysis has considered different concepts to understand how to manage the existing scenario handy. The adhering to three options have been proposed to assist Lewis take care of the business obstacles in the advertising and marketing department. Each of these alternatives has been proposed for alleviating the change required to bring the advertising and marketing division in accordance with the demands of the marketplace and for making the cultural modification that would adhere to as soon as the present leader leaves.

Combination of advertising and marketing features. Dividing Adverting as well as Manufacturing functions. Assimilation of Advertising And Marketing with Workflow.

Evaluation of Alternatives.

Assimilation of Advertising & Marketing Functions: The in-house marketing firm of Eric Wood B is already stamina for the company in regards to saving up on expenses related to advertising and marketing as well as promo. Given that no brand-new employment has been done after Bridget Cole's departure with the coverage line being directly designated to Krasnow for the advertising feature, this is a desirable opportunity for integrating the marketing and advertising functions. Judith Shapiro that has actually earlier been talked to by Lewis throughout the earlier merger days has experience in business-to-business marketing along with company and retail marketing experience. As soon as Krasnow leaves, Lewis can employ Shapiro as an EVP for advertising and marketing to deal with both marketing and advertising features.

The benefit of this approach is that it will integrate both features while lowering the demand for working with an additional resource for advertising. Lewis would certainly be heading the marketing department as well as in any type of case her substitute would be required for the current role that she is performing. The downside of this option is that exterior hiring might bring about resentment from inner workers who may be looking at the setting of EVP after Lewis takes over Krasnow's placement.

Separating Adverting and Production: Provided the competitive pressures and excellent quality work called for from the ad agency, it is suggested that Lewis must enable the production unit to be a separate function from the advertising unit. Since a lot of advertising agencies had these 2 features as separate devices, it makes even more sense to comply with the norm. In addition to this, both features might be able to focus on their core turns on extra efficiently. The drawback of this technique would certainly be that added prices would certainly have to be borne for setting up separate manufacturing functions. A production head might have to be employed which can increase expenses for the company.

Integration of Marketing with Procedures: Given that Lewis is currently taking treatment of the marketing and also operations departments concurrently; it makes sense to integrate the two features because she has been efficiently taking treatment of both ends. The reality that Lewis has to adjust her management style for the advertising division recommends that these 2 divisions would be culturally diverse.

Recommendation.



An assessment of the 3 choices suggests that combination of advertising and marketing and also operations would certainly not be a practical move as a result of the large differences in between the two divisions despite the fact that presently Lewis is dealing with both. While separation of the production feature may have been a beneficial action for the advertising division, the reality that it would certainly imply placing a 3rd function under Lewis's wing suggests this need to be avoided. The integration of the marketing department is the very best choice in regards to obtaining the optimum results from the division. An action plan for this choice is gone over listed below.

Activity Plan.
Recommendation
Lewis will certainly take control of the role of EVP Advertising after Krasnow leaves.

Marketing and advertising functions would be merged.

Judith Shapiro will be hired to take Lewis's location as SVP of advertising and marketing.

Production feature will continue to be part of advertising and marketing under advertising function.

Lewis will separate herself from operations.

A democratic leadership style with staff member empowerment will certainly be utilized in marketing department.

Open door policy and also emphasis on cross department communication will be focused on eliminating dissonance.

Backup plan.

If the integration does not work out as prepared, a backup strategy would certainly comply with which would certainly separate the manufacturing feature from the advertising feature to reduce the lots on the SVP of marketing and advertising. In case Judith Shapiro does not get hired, Lewis will be heading the marketing department without an SVP. In that case the manufacturing feature will most definitely be separated by placing it under an SVP manufacturing.