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Dunlap Corporation Case Study Solution

Background and Facts

Dunlap Corporation an office products seller for tiny and also medium sized businesses has lately been associated with planning for a merging with its competitor House Deport, which has actually impacted performance degrees in departmentswith the elderly manager associated with legal complications put forth by the federal Trade Commission. With the Advertising and marketing Head advancing the information of his departure from the business in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the present head of procedures has been asked to take the role in the future. With difficulties in the form of a possible social change as well as low staff member spirits, the company is in need of a complete reengineering initiative at the advertising and marketing division.

Issue Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The prospective cultural change at the marketing division of Dunlap Corporation is increasing unpredictability in the workplace bring about different challenges for the Jeannie Lewis that would certainly be changing the head of the division in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a major duty in affecting tactical choices considering that Stapes Inc. had to desert its plans of combining with Workplace Deport after the Federal Profession Compensation's treatment in the process. Offered the truth that the shop has a global existence with branches in UK, U.S.A., Canada and Germany, political consider each of these nations might have the ability to impact performance or calculated goals. Federal Profession Payment's antitrust suit against the merging took up important time of the company's elderly management recommending that 'political' factors can have serious implications for a worldwide company.

Economic Factors: Economic factors such as the appearance of small companies in the worldwide scenario recommend that Dunlap Corporation is prospering in an environment where there is prospective development of companies. Fact that store clients are mainly looking for office supplies for house offices recommends that the market has a climbing trend of entrepreneurs and residence based services.

Social factors: Social patterns in the economy show that customers are searching for comfort along with attractive rates. Marketing research shows how the consumer for Dunlap Corporation lacks awareness about discovering solutions which can supply a mix of benefit and also affordable.

Technological factors: Technology plays a crucial role in Dunlap Corporation's company method especially as the organization is piloting Modern technology centers which would certainly use innovation sales and support in the type of memory upgrades, peripheral setups. (Summary of BUG in appendix 2).

OB Issues and also Effects.

Several underlying Organizational Habits issues can be seen in Dunlap Corporation's case as highlighted in this section.

Apprehensions concerning cultural modification: There is apprehension concerning a cultural modification that would certainly occur as soon as Todd Krasnow leaves from his setting as the Exec Vice Head Of State of Advertising with a lot of the employee already revealing unhappiness over this possible relocation. This anticipated adjustment has actually produced stress and anxiety in the office which has actually been combined with the past stress of preparing the firm for a prospective merging with Residence Deport.
Pest Analysis
Difficult Job Setting for Newcomers: There is scarcity of personnel that can match the stressful environment of a hectic company. Not only does this bring about trouble in finding the appropriate individuals, it puts tension on brand-new hires as can not endure the rate and also pressure that the organization expects them to birth.

Twin Reporting Lines: Newcomers find this organizational culture difficult and also challenging to deal with particularly as populated line connections are implied to be weak in general as well as unbiased setting and also performance examination is still done by the solid line manager. This means that novices could shed clearness regarding their particular roles and goals especially as populated line coverage does not keep them in straight communication with the strong line supervisors.

Bitterness From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's choice to make Lewis his successor as opposed to Bridget Coles despite the fact that it had been guessed that the last would take Krasnow's position came as an impact to her spirits. Lewis might have been qualified and also ideal for the work however the reality that Kransnow's departure would certainly make Coles a direct report to Lewis may have been the factor for Coles' resignation from services.

Concern & Job Insecurity: Fear and also instability can be identified as two major concerns that Lewis would certainly be dealing with specifically as the merging has now be terminated and 2 elderly execs of the marketing department would certainly be leaving. The entire duty of the department would be dropping on Lewis's shoulders that would not simply be in charge of brining regarding a cultural modification however would certainly additionally need to prove herself in her new function.

Inappropriate Administration Style of Leader: Lewis's administration style and its conflict with the advertising and marketing division's role can likewise be seen as an OB difficulty especially as she has actually been made use of to dealing with problems in the procedures division where employees are educated to focus on procedures as well as get them right. The marketing department on the various other hand can be seen as a group of people who are made use of to being supported by Krasnow who focused more on outcome than processes.

Interdepartmental Disputes: Interdepartmental disputes between three departments, advertising, merchandizing and also procedures specifically over the allotment of the advertising and marketing mix can be recognized as an additional OB issue. Although the advertising department does not share the very same vision as the various other two divisions pertaining to the aloocation of the advertising mix twoards promos and also advertsing, the merchandizing and procedures departments do not concur over the advertising and marketing mix allotment amongst one another either.

Fragmentation in Advertising Division: Fragmentation between the advertising and marketing departments can be identified as an additional OB problem which could need more interest. The fact that the advertising and marketing sections in the advertising and marketing division are detached is avoiding both departments from acquiring from each other's experience as well as experience. Assimilation of marketing with merchandising and also procedures would certainly come to be harder if the advertising department itself is degenerated which can be another prospective OB problem.

Dunlap Corporation Analysis

Numerous theories have actually been used to explain the circumstances to obtain further clearness regarding the situation at hand.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Concept X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Concept X, a lot of managers think that subordinates are passive and lazy, have little aspiration as well as resist modification. The circumstance at Dunlap Corporation is not totally following Concept X, it can be seen that brand-new hires are locating this environment rather stressful which may eventually lead to a greater inclination of the monitoring towards Theory X. Also while evaluating Lewis's monitoring style, theory X may have been suitable in the procedures department to some extent yet the Marketing division would certainly call for dependence on Concept Y in order to get the imagination as well as originality from the teams.

Tuckman's Teamwork Theory: As far as Lewis's problem concerning bringing harmony between the marketing and advertising department is worried, this would initially bring about clash as discussed by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Synergy Concept'. (Tuckman, 1965). As per Tuckman's concept displayed in appendix 3, throughout the first stage of team advancement, people might not bond, as they are busy locating their location in the team. By combining the marketing and advertising division's job, there may coincide initial separate which can result in the second stage of 'storming' where the teams test one another. Nevertheless, it is only throughout the 3rd stage or 'norming' when they would integrate to share concepts before the group can produce harmony in the 4th stage 'doing'.

When people are presented with adjustment, they get in phase one and also so there might be emotions like despair, uncertainty, irritation, temper, worry, rejection and disorientation.The circumstance at the advertising division of Dunlap Corporation is similar so Lewis can obtain comfy with the suggestion that it is not extraordinary behavior. It is during this phase that Lewis will have to provide guidance to the division so that they can find a feeling of direction. It can be seen exactly how Krasnow has currently made this shift less complicated by making Lewis obtain involved in the department a year before his real separation.
Vrio Analysis
Abraham Maslow in his Theory of 'Needs Pecking order' (appendix 5) has reviews the value of 'safety and security needs as being a reduced degree demand of a human for activating motivation. As seen in the pyramid shared in appendix 3, we can see just how 'the requirement to really feel protected as well as out of risk' is at the second degree of needs. Before a worker can be made to create mentally, he needs to have his 'Physical 'as well as 'Safety' needs fulfilled.

SWOT Analysis for Dunlap Corporation Case Study



Effects of Analysis.

The OB analysis has checked out different concepts to recognize how to handle the existing circumstance handy. The complying with three alternatives have actually been proposed to aid Lewis deal with the organizational difficulties in the marketing division. Each of these alternatives has been suggested for easing the shift needed to bring the advertising department according to the demands of the marketplace as well as for making the social adjustment that would comply with when the existing leader leaves.

Integration of advertising and marketing functions. Separating Adverting as well as Production functions. Combination of Marketing with Procedures.

Examination of Alternatives.

Assimilation of Advertising And Marketing & Advertising Functions: The internal advertising agency of Dunlap Corporation is already toughness for the company in regards to conserving up on overheads associated with marketing and promo. Because no brand-new employment has actually been done after Bridget Cole's separation with the coverage line being directly designated to Krasnow for the advertising and marketing function, this is a desirable chance for integrating the advertising and marketing functions. Judith Shapiro that has earlier been talked to by Lewis during the earlier merging days has proficiency in business-to-business advertising along with company and retail marketing experience. Once Krasnow leaves, Lewis can employ Shapiro as an EVP for marketing to deal with both marketing and advertising functions.

The advantage of this approach is that it will certainly incorporate both features while reducing the need for hiring an extra source for advertising and marketing. Along with this, Lewis would be heading the marketing division and regardless her substitute would certainly be required for the current duty that she is carrying out. The negative aspect of this choice is that external hiring may bring about animosity from internal employees that may be considering the position of EVP after Lewis takes control of Krasnow's placement.

Dividing Adverting as well as Manufacturing: Offered the affordable pressures and also high quality work called for from the advertising and marketing company, it is recommended that Lewis must enable the production system to be a different feature from the advertising and marketing system. Since most advertising and marketing agencies had these two features as separate systems, it makes even more feeling to follow the standard.

Integration of Advertising And Marketing with Operations: Since Lewis is already taking care of the advertising and operations divisions at the same time; it makes sense to incorporate both features because she has actually been successfully caring for both ends. The fact that the two departments already have major differences over appropriation of resources recommends that this assimilation may have the ability to cause consistency specifically as Lewis would certainly be heading both ends.However there are different downsides of this relocation especially as it would place too much concern over Lewis's shoulders. The reality that Lewis has to adapt her management design for the advertising and marketing division suggests that these 2 divisions would certainly be culturally varied. Lewis may not be able to use one type of management design to both divisions which can result in ineffectiveness in either one of the two functions.

Suggestion.



An analysis of the 3 alternatives suggests that integration of marketing and procedures would certainly not be a feasible step due to the substantial differences between the two departments in spite of the truth that presently Lewis is handling both. While separation of the production feature might have been a beneficial action for the advertising and marketing department, the fact that it would certainly mean placing a 3rd feature under Lewis's wing implies this ought to be prevented.

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

Marketing and advertising functions would certainly be merged.

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

Manufacturing feature will certainly continue to be part of advertising and marketing under marketing feature.

Lewis will separate herself from procedures.

An autonomous leadership design with employee empowerment will certainly be made use of in advertising division.

Open door plan and focus on cross departmental interaction will certainly be aimed at removing dissonance.

Contingency strategy.

If the assimilation does not exercise as intended, a contingency strategy would certainly comply with which would certainly divide the manufacturing feature from the advertising and marketing function to reduce the load on the SVP of advertising and marketing. In case Judith Shapiro does not get hired, Lewis will be heading the advertising and marketing division without an SVP. In that case the manufacturing feature will definitely be separated by positioning it under an SVP production.