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Note On Commodity Futures Case Study Solution

Background and Facts

Note On Commodity Futures an office products seller for small and moderate sized services has actually recently been involved in preparing for a merger with its competitor Residence Deport, which has actually affected performance degrees in departmentswith the elderly supervisor associated with lawful difficulties put forth by the government Trade Commission. With the Advertising Head putting forward the information of his departure from the firm in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the present head of procedures has actually been asked to take the function in the future. With obstacles in the kind of a possible social adjustment as well as low staff member spirits, the organization needs a total reengineering effort at the advertising and marketing division.

Trouble Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The possible social modification at the advertising and marketing department of Note On Commodity Futures is enhancing uncertainty in the workplace resulting in different challenges for the Jeannie Lewis who would be replacing the head of the department in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a significant duty in affecting critical decisions considering that Stapes Inc. needed to abandon its plans of combining with Workplace Deport after the Federal Trade Payment's intervention at the same time. Given the truth that the shop has an international presence with branches in UK, USA, Canada and also Germany, political factors in each of these nations may have the ability to affect performance or critical goals. Federal Profession Commission's antitrust fit versus the merger occupied beneficial time of the company's senior monitoring suggesting that 'political' factors can have significant implications for a global service.

Economic Factors: Financial factors such as the emergence of local business in the global scenario suggest that Note On Commodity Futures is flourishing in an environment where there is prospective development of organisations. Along with this, reality that store customers are primarily searching for workplace products for home offices recommends that the marketplace has a rising trend of business owners and online services.

Social factors: Social trends in the economic climate reveal that customers are searching for benefit in addition to appealing prices. Market research demonstrates how the customer for Note On Commodity Futures does not have recognition about locating remedies which can supply a mix of ease and affordable.

Technical factors: Innovation plays a vital function in Note On Commodity Futures's service approach specifically as the organization is piloting Modern technology facilities which would use technology sales as well as support in the form of memory upgrades, peripheral installments. (Summary of BUG in appendix 2).

OB Issues and also Manifestations.

Numerous underlying Business Actions concerns can be seen in Note On Commodity Futures's case as highlighted in this section.

Uneasiness regarding social modification: There is worry regarding a social change that would take place as soon as Todd Krasnow leaves from his placement as the Executive Vice Head Of State of Advertising with a lot of the staff members currently showing discontent over this prospective action. This expected adjustment has produced stress and anxiety in the office which has been combined with the previous stress and anxiety of preparing the firm for a potential merging with Residence Deport.
Pest Analysis
Stressful Job Atmosphere for Newcomers: There is scarcity of employees that can match the difficult atmosphere of a fast-paced organization. Not just does this cause problem in locating the best people, it places tension on brand-new hires as can not hold up against the rate and also stress that the organization anticipates them to bear.

Twin Reporting Lines: Newcomers find this business society cumbersome and also tough to manage particularly as dotted line relationships are meant to be weaker generally and also objective setting as well as efficiency examination is still done by the solid line manager. This means that novices can lose clearness regarding their particular functions and also goals particularly as dotted line reporting does not maintain them in direct communication with the solid line supervisors.

Resentment From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's choice to make Lewis his successor instead of Bridget Coles although it had been hypothesized that the latter would certainly take Krasnow's placement came as a blow to her morale. Lewis might have been qualified as well as ideal for the task but the fact that Kransnow's departure would make Coles a straight record to Lewis may have been the reason for Coles' resignation from services.

Anxiety & Work Instability: Anxiety as well as insecurity can be determined as two major problems that Lewis would certainly be taking care of specifically as the merging has currently be terminated and also two elderly execs of the advertising division would be leaving. The entire responsibility of the department would certainly be dropping on Lewis's shoulders who would certainly not simply be in charge of brining regarding a social change yet would certainly also need to show herself in her new role.

Inappropriate Management Design of Leader: Lewis's monitoring design and also its conflict with the marketing division's role can likewise be seen as an OB obstacle specifically as she has actually been used to managing problems in the procedures division where employees are taught to concentrate on procedures and obtain them right. The marketing department on the other hand can be viewed as a team of individuals who are utilized to being nurtured by Krasnow who focused much more on outcome than procedures.

Interdepartmental Arguments: Interdepartmental differences between 3 divisions, advertising, merchandizing and also operations respectively over the allowance of the marketing mix can be determined as an additional OB problem. Although the advertising department does not share the very same vision as the other two divisions regarding the aloocation of the marketing mix twoards promos and advertsing, the merchandizing and operations divisions do not concur over the advertising mix allocation amongst each other either.

Disintegration in Advertising Division: Fragmentation between the marketing and advertising departments can be determined as one more OB problem which might need more interest. The fact that the advertising and marketing areas in the marketing department are separated is stopping both departments from gaining from each various other's experience as well as competence. Assimilation of marketing with merchandising and procedures would certainly become more difficult if the advertising department itself is broken down which can be one more possible OB issue.

Note On Commodity Futures Analysis

Different theories have actually been used to describe the situations to get further quality regarding the scenario available.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Theory X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Theory X, most managers think that staffs are easy and also lazy, have little passion as well as withstand change. The circumstance at Note On Commodity Futures is not entirely complying with Theory X, it can be seen that brand-new hires are discovering this setting instead difficult which may eventually lead to a greater inclination of the monitoring in the direction of Theory X. Also while examining Lewis's monitoring design, theory X might have been suitable in the operations division to some level but the Marketing department would need dependence on Concept Y in order to get the creative thinking as well as originality from the groups.

Tuckman's Synergy Concept: As for Lewis's worry about bringing harmony in between the marketing and advertising division is concerned, this would originally lead to clash as reviewed by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Teamwork Concept'. (Tuckman, 1965). According to Tuckman's theory displayed in appendix 3, during the initial phase of group development, people may not bond, as they are busy finding their place in the group. By integrating the marketing and advertising department's job, there may coincide first detach which could cause the second phase of 'storming' where the teams test each other. However, it is only throughout the third phase or 'norming' when they would certainly come together to share suggestions prior to the team can produce synergy in the fourth phase 'doing'.

Bridges' Shift Model: According To William Bridge's concept (appendix 4), people are rather uncomfortable with modification, which is noticeable by the situation at Note On Commodity Futures The circumstance can be seen as a normal course of life if is researched according to Bridge's theory where he clarifies that individuals go through three phases of shift when they experience modification. 'End, shedding as well as Releasing', The Neutral Area and also 'The New Beginning' (Bridges, 2004). When individuals are presented with adjustment, they enter phase one and so there might be emotions like unhappiness, unpredictability, irritation, temper, fear, denial as well as disorientation.The circumstance at the marketing department of Note On Commodity Futures is similar so Lewis can obtain comfy with the idea that it is not amazing habits. In the 2nd phase, there might be a demand to connect the void in between the new as well as old society so Lewis may need to face this ordeal as soon as Krasnow leaves. There might be reduced spirits and also reduced performance at this phase which need to not be taken as a problem. It is throughout this phase that Lewis will certainly need to offer assistance to the department so that they can locate a sense of direction. It can be seen just how Krasnow has actually currently made this transition easier by making Lewis get involved in the division a year prior to his actual separation. Based on Bridges' Model, stage 3 will certainly produce visibility to learning, High energy and commitment as people will accept the modification (Bridges, 2004).
Vrio Analysis
Maslow's Demand pecking order: The OB issue pertaining to insecurity at the workplace has actually been set off to start with by the adjustment in administration and also second of all by the fact that the merging will certainly no longer be launched. Abraham Maslow in his Concept of 'Requirements Hierarchy' (appendix 5) has goes over the importance of 'protection needs as being a lower level demand of a human for activating inspiration. As seen in the pyramid cooperated appendix 3, we can see exactly how 'the need to really feel secure and also safe' goes to the 2nd degree of needs. Before a staff member can be made to establish mentally, he needs to have his 'Physical 'as well as 'Security' needs fulfilled. This shows that unless the personnel are made to feel safe and secure about their existing employment condition in Note On Commodity Futures they may not reach 'Self-Fulfillment'. (King, 2009).

SWOT Analysis for Note On Commodity Futures Case Study



Effects of Analysis.

The OB analysis has actually taken a look at different concepts to recognize how to manage the current circumstance at hand. The following 3 alternatives have been recommended to aid Lewis handle the business difficulties in the advertising and marketing division. Each of these options has been proposed for relieving the change required to bring the advertising division according to the needs of the marketplace and for making the social adjustment that would certainly comply with when the existing leader leaves.

Integration of advertising and marketing features. Dividing Adverting as well as Production features. Combination of Marketing with Procedures.

Examination of Alternatives.

Judith Shapiro that has earlier been talked to by Lewis throughout the earlier merging days has proficiency in business-to-business marketing along with firm and retail marketing experience. When Krasnow leaves, Lewis can hire Shapiro as an EVP for advertising and marketing to handle both advertising and marketing functions.

The benefit of this strategy is that it will certainly integrate the two functions while minimizing the requirement for working with an added resource for advertising. Lewis would be heading the marketing department and also in any case her replacement would be needed for the existing role that she is doing. The disadvantage of this alternative is that outside hiring may cause animosity from internal employees that might be looking at the position of EVP after Lewis takes control of Krasnow's setting.

Dividing Adverting and Production: Given the affordable stress and high quality work needed from the advertising and marketing company, it is suggested that Lewis needs to enable the production unit to be a separate feature from the advertising unit. Given that most advertising and marketing agencies had these two features as different devices, it makes even more feeling to comply with the norm.

Assimilation of Marketing with Procedures: Given that Lewis is already taking care of the advertising and marketing and procedures divisions simultaneously; it makes feeling to integrate the two features because she has been effectively taking treatment of both ends. The reality that Lewis has to adapt her management design for the marketing division suggests that these two departments would be culturally diverse.

Suggestion.



An evaluation of the 3 choices indicates that integration of advertising and marketing as well as operations would certainly not be a feasible relocation due to the huge differences between the two divisions despite the fact that currently Lewis is managing both. While separation of the manufacturing feature may have been a desirable move for the marketing division, the reality that it would imply putting a 3rd function under Lewis's wing implies this ought to be avoided. The combination of the advertising division is the best choice in terms of obtaining the optimum arise from the division. An action prepare for this option is discussed listed below.

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

Marketing and advertising functions would be combined.

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

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

Lewis will separate herself from procedures.

A democratic management style with worker empowerment will be used in marketing department.

Open door plan as well as focus on cross department communication will be focused on eliminating disharmony.

Backup plan.

If the integration does not work out as intended, a contingency strategy would certainly comply with which would divide the production feature from the advertising and marketing feature to lower the tons on the SVP of advertising and marketing. In case Judith Shapiro does not obtain worked with, Lewis will certainly be heading the marketing division without an SVP. In that case the manufacturing function will certainly be separated by putting it under an SVP production.