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Blackheath Manufacturing Company Case Study Solution

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Blackheath Manufacturing Company Case Study Solution

Background and Facts

Blackheath Manufacturing Company an office materials store for little and average sized organisations has actually recently been associated with preparing for a merging with its competitor House Deport, which has actually impacted effectiveness levels in departmentswith the senior manager involved in lawful complications presented by the government Profession Compensation. With the Marketing Head putting forward the information of his departure from the company in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the present head of procedures has actually been asked to take the function in the near future. With obstacles in the kind of a potential cultural modification and also reduced staff member spirits, the company needs a total reengineering initiative at the advertising division.

Problem Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The potential cultural adjustment at the advertising and marketing department of Blackheath Manufacturing Company is raising unpredictability in the working environment resulting in different obstacles for the Jeannie Lewis that would be changing the head of the division in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a major function in influencing strategic choices considering that Stapes Inc. had to desert its strategies of merging with Workplace Deport after the Federal Trade Compensation's intervention in the process. Provided the reality that the store has a worldwide existence with branches in UK, U.S.A., Canada and Germany, political consider each of these nations might have the ability to influence efficiency or tactical objectives. Federal Trade Compensation's antitrust suit against the merger used up beneficial time of the company's elderly administration recommending that 'political' factors can have serious effects for a global company.

Economic Factors: Financial factors such as the appearance of small companies in the global circumstance suggest that Blackheath Manufacturing Company is thriving in a setting where there is possible growth of services. Fact that shop consumers are mainly looking for office products for house offices recommends that the market has a climbing trend of entrepreneurs and also house based businesses.

Social factors: Social trends in the economic situation show that consumers are searching for ease along with attractive prices. Market research demonstrates how the consumer for Blackheath Manufacturing Company lacks understanding regarding discovering options which can supply a mix of convenience as well as affordable.

Technological factors: Modern technology plays an essential duty in Blackheath Manufacturing Company's service strategy specifically as the organization is piloting Innovation facilities which would offer modern technology sales and support in the type of memory upgrades, outer installations. (Recap of BUG in appendix 2).

OB Issues as well as Symptoms.

Numerous underlying Organizational Actions problems can be seen in Blackheath Manufacturing Company's case as highlighted in this section.

Apprehensions about cultural adjustment: There is concern about a social change that would occur once Todd Krasnow leaves from his setting as the Executive Vice President of Advertising And Marketing with the majority of the personnel already revealing discontent over this potential action. This anticipated change has actually developed tension in the office which has actually been combined with the previous anxiety of preparing the company for a prospective merger with Residence Deport.
Pest Analysis
Stressful Work Setting for Newcomers: There is shortage of workers that can match the difficult atmosphere of a fast-paced organization. Not just does this lead to problem in discovering the ideal individuals, it places tension on brand-new hires as can not stand up to the pace as well as stress that the company anticipates them to bear.

Dual Coverage Lines: Novices discover this business culture difficult as well as hard to deal with especially as dotted line partnerships are indicated to be weak as a whole and also unbiased setup and performance examination is still done by the solid line supervisor. This suggests that novices can shed clarity about their corresponding duties as well as purposes especially as populated line reporting does not keep them in direct interaction with the solid line managers.

Bitterness From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's decision to make Lewis his successor rather than Bridget Coles despite the fact that it had actually been speculated that the last would certainly take Krasnow's placement came as a blow to her morale. Lewis may have been qualified and ideal for the job yet the fact that Kransnow's separation would make Coles a direct record to Lewis may have been the factor for Coles' resignation from services.

Fear & Job Instability: Worry and also insecurity can be determined as 2 significant problems that Lewis would certainly be taking care of especially as the merger has now be cancelled and also 2 elderly execs of the advertising and marketing department would be leaving. The entire responsibility of the division would certainly be dropping on Lewis's shoulders that would certainly not just be in charge of brining about a social modification but would certainly also need to show herself in her brand-new duty.

Incompatible Monitoring Style of Leader: Lewis's management design and its conflict with the advertising and marketing division's role can likewise be seen as an OB difficulty specifically as she has been utilized to handling issues in the procedures division where employees are taught to concentrate on processes and get them. The advertising and marketing department on the other hand can be seen as a team of individuals who are utilized to being nurtured by Krasnow that concentrated much more on result than procedures.

Interdepartmental Differences: Interdepartmental disputes between 3 departments, advertising, merchandizing and also operations respectively over the allowance of the advertising mix can be identified as one more OB problem. Although the advertising and marketing department does not share the exact same vision as the other two divisions pertaining to the aloocation of the advertising and marketing mix twoards promotions and advertsing, the merchandizing and procedures departments do not concur over the advertising and marketing mix appropriation among each other either.

Disintegration in Marketing Department: Disintegration between the advertising and marketing departments can be recognized as an additional OB concern which might require more attention. The reality that the advertising and marketing sections in the advertising and marketing division are detached is preventing both divisions from gaining from each various other's experience and also knowledge. Combination of advertising with retailing and operations would certainly become more difficult if the advertising and marketing division itself is broken down which can be another prospective OB problem.

Blackheath Manufacturing Company Analysis

Numerous concepts have actually been utilized to describe the conditions to obtain additional clearness about the scenario handy.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Theory X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Concept X, the majority of supervisors believe that subordinates are passive and lazy, have little aspiration as well as withstand change. The situation at Blackheath Manufacturing Company is not completely following Theory X, it can be seen that brand-new hires are locating this environment instead difficult which may ultimately lead to a higher inclination of the monitoring towards Concept X. Also while examining Lewis's management style, theory X might have been ideal in the procedures division to some level however the Advertising division would need reliance on Concept Y in order to get the creative thinking and creativity from the teams.

Tuckman's Teamwork Theory: As for Lewis's worry regarding bringing consistency in between the advertising and marketing department is concerned, this would originally cause clash as discussed by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Synergy Theory'. (Tuckman, 1965). As per Tuckman's concept displayed in appendix 3, throughout the first stage of group advancement, individuals may not bond, as they are active discovering their location in the team. By combining the advertising and marketing department's work, there might be the same preliminary disconnect which can bring about the 2nd stage of 'storming' where the teams test one another. Nonetheless, it is just throughout the third phase or 'norming' when they would certainly collaborate to share concepts before the group can produce harmony in the 4th stage 'performing'.

When people are provided with change, they go into stage one as well as so there might be feelings like despair, unpredictability, disappointment, anger, worry, rejection and disorientation.The circumstance at the advertising division of Blackheath Manufacturing Company is comparable so Lewis can get comfy with the concept that it is not phenomenal behavior. It is throughout this stage that Lewis will have to provide assistance to the division so that they can find a feeling of direction. It can be seen exactly how Krasnow has currently made this change much easier by making Lewis get entailed in the department a year prior to his actual separation.
Vrio Analysis
Abraham Maslow in his Concept of 'Requirements Power structure' (appendix 5) has goes over the importance of 'security requires as being a reduced degree demand of a human for triggering motivation. As seen in the pyramid shared in appendix 3, we can see how 'the demand to feel secure and out of threat' is at the second level of needs. Prior to a staff member can be made to establish mentally, he needs to have his 'Physical 'and 'Safety' needs satisfied.

SWOT Analysis for Blackheath Manufacturing Company Case Study



Ramification of Analysis.

The OB analysis has taken a look at various theories to comprehend just how to handle the existing situation at hand. The adhering to 3 options have actually been suggested to assist Lewis manage the organizational challenges in the advertising division. Each of these choices has been proposed for easing the transition required to bring the advertising and marketing department in accordance with the requirements of the marketplace and also for making the cultural adjustment that would follow as soon as the existing leader leaves.

Assimilation of marketing and advertising functions. Separating Adverting as well as Production features. Combination of Advertising And Marketing with Operations.

Assessment of Alternatives.

Judith Shapiro who has earlier been spoken with by Lewis throughout the earlier merging days has experience in business-to-business advertising along with company as well as retail marketing experience. As soon as Krasnow leaves, Lewis can work with Shapiro as an EVP for advertising and marketing to take care of both advertising and marketing and also advertising and marketing features.

The advantage of this approach is that it will certainly integrate the two functions while decreasing the need for working with an extra source for marketing. In addition to this, Lewis would be heading the advertising division and also in any case her replacement would be needed for the existing duty that she is carrying out. The negative aspect of this option is that exterior hiring may bring about bitterness from internal employees that may be considering the setting of EVP after Lewis takes over Krasnow's position.

Dividing Adverting and Manufacturing: Offered the competitive stress and high top quality job required from the advertising company, it is recommended that Lewis needs to permit the production system to be a different function from the advertising and marketing unit. Considering that a lot of advertising companies had these 2 functions as different devices, it makes even more sense to comply with the norm.

Integration of Marketing with Operations: Given that Lewis is already taking care of the advertising and marketing as well as operations departments all at once; it makes sense to integrate the 2 features since she has been effectively taking treatment of both ends. The truth that Lewis has to adapt her management design for the advertising and marketing department suggests that these 2 divisions would certainly be culturally varied.

Suggestion.



An examination of the 3 choices shows that assimilation of advertising and operations would certainly not be a practical move due to the substantial distinctions in between the 2 departments despite the reality that presently Lewis is handling both. While splitting up of the production function may have been a desirable step for the advertising department, the fact that it would certainly suggest placing a third feature under Lewis's wing suggests this must be avoided.

Action Strategy.
Recommendation
Lewis will take control of the role of EVP Advertising and marketing after Krasnow leaves.

Advertising and Marketing features would certainly be combined.

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

Manufacturing function will certainly continue to be component of marketing under advertising and marketing function.

Lewis will divide herself from procedures.

A democratic leadership style with employee empowerment will be made use of in advertising department.

Open door plan as well as emphasis on cross departmental interaction will certainly be focused on removing discord.

Contingency strategy.

If the assimilation does not work out as intended, a backup strategy would certainly follow which would divide the production feature from the advertising feature to decrease the tons on the SVP of marketing and advertising. In case Judith Shapiro does not obtain hired, Lewis will certainly be heading the marketing division without an SVP. In that case the manufacturing feature will absolutely be separated by placing it under an SVP production.