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Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc Case Study Solution

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Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc Case Study Help

Background and Facts

Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc a workplace products merchant for small and also moderate sized companies has just recently been associated with preparing for a merger with its rival Residence Deport, which has actually impacted performance degrees in departmentswith the elderly manager associated with legal problems presented by the federal Trade Commission. With the Advertising and marketing Head advancing the news of his departure from the business in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the present head of procedures has actually been asked to take the duty in the future. With obstacles in the type of a potential social modification as well as reduced employee spirits, the company is in need of a full reengineering initiative at the marketing division.

Issue Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The potential social modification at the marketing division of Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc is enhancing unpredictability in the workplace leading to different difficulties for the Jeannie Lewis who would be changing the head of the department in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a major duty in affecting tactical choices because Stapes Inc. had to desert its strategies of merging with Workplace Deport after the Federal Profession Payment's treatment at the same time. Provided the fact that the store has an international visibility with branches in UK, USA, Canada and Germany, political factors in each of these nations might be able to affect efficiency or critical objectives. Federal Profession Commission's antitrust suit against the merger occupied useful time of the company's elderly administration recommending that 'political' factors can have severe implications for an international organisation.

Economic Factors: Economic factors such as the emergence of small companies in the worldwide situation suggest that Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc is prospering in a setting where there is potential development of businesses. Truth that store customers are mainly looking for office supplies for house workplaces recommends that the market has an increasing fad of business owners as well as residence based companies.

Social factors: Social patterns in the economy show that consumers are looking for convenience along with eye-catching rates. Market research demonstrates how the client for Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc lacks recognition about finding options which can use a combination of convenience as well as inexpensive.

Technical factors: Innovation plays a crucial role in Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc's company approach specifically as the company is piloting Innovation facilities which would certainly offer innovation sales and assistance in the kind of memory upgrades, peripheral setups. (Summary of PARASITE in appendix 2).

OB Issues as well as Symptoms.

Numerous underlying Business Habits issues can be seen in Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc's case as highlighted in this area.

Uneasiness regarding cultural change: There is concern about a social change that would take place once Todd Krasnow leaves from his position as the Exec Vice President of Marketing with most of the staff members currently showing unhappiness over this possible action. This anticipated adjustment has developed stress and anxiety in the office which has been coupled with the past anxiety of preparing the firm for a potential merging with Home Deport.
Pest Analysis
Difficult Task Atmosphere for Newcomers: There is shortage of personnel that can match the stressful setting of a fast-paced organization. Not just does this result in difficulty in discovering the right people, it puts tension on brand-new hires as can not hold up against the pace as well as pressure that the organization expects them to birth.

Dual Reporting Lines: Newbies discover this business society difficult and also hard to handle particularly as populated line connections are implied to be weaker as a whole and also objective setting and performance assessment is still done by the solid line manager. This implies that newbies can shed clearness concerning their particular roles as well as purposes specifically as populated line reporting does not maintain them in direct interaction with the solid line managers.

Bitterness From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's choice to make Lewis his successor instead of Bridget Coles despite the fact that it had been speculated that the latter would take Krasnow's placement came as a blow to her spirits. Lewis might have been capable and appropriate for the job however the truth that Kransnow's separation would certainly make Coles a direct report to Lewis may have been the reason for Coles' resignation from solutions.

Concern & Work Insecurity: Concern and also instability can be determined as two major problems that Lewis would certainly be dealing with specifically as the merger has actually now be cancelled as well as 2 senior executives of the advertising department would be leaving. The whole obligation of the division would certainly be dropping on Lewis's shoulders that would certainly not simply be in charge of brining regarding a cultural modification but would certainly also need to verify herself in her new function.

Inappropriate Monitoring Style of Leader: Lewis's administration style and also its conflict with the advertising department's role can also be viewed as an OB obstacle specifically as she has actually been utilized to handling problems in the procedures division where employees are educated to focus on processes as well as 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 that focused extra on outcome than processes.

Interdepartmental Differences: Interdepartmental disputes in between three departments, advertising and marketing, merchandizing and also operations respectively over the allocation of the advertising and marketing mix can be identified as another OB concern. Although the advertising department does not share the same vision as the various other 2 divisions regarding the aloocation of the advertising mix twoards promos and advertsing, the merchandizing and also operations divisions do not agree over the advertising and marketing mix appropriation among one another either.

Fragmentation in Marketing Division: Disintegration between the advertising and marketing departments can be recognized as an additional OB issue which can need further attention. The reality that the advertising and marketing sections in the marketing department are disconnected is stopping both departments from obtaining from each various other's experience as well as competence. Combination of marketing with retailing and also operations would certainly end up being harder if the marketing division itself is broken down which can be another possible OB worry.

Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc Analysis

Numerous theories have been used to explain the situations to get more clearness about the scenario available.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Concept X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Theory X, most supervisors think that staffs are passive and also lazy, have little ambition as well as stand up to change. The hard version of this concept stressed coercion, tight controls, hazards and also punishments. With time it creates reduced efficiency, refined sabotage as well as rivalry (Offer, 2003). The situation at Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc is not entirely adhering to Theory X, it can be seen that brand-new hires are discovering this setting rather difficult which may at some point lead to a higher inclination of the administration towards Theory X. According to McGregor's supported view, which he called Concept Y, the crucial task of the management is to organize business problems so that individuals can attain their very own goals best by directing their initiatives towards organizational rewards. If individuals locate no complete satisfaction in their work, the monitoring would certainly have little choice yet to depend on theory X and also exterior control (Bargain, 2003). Even while examining Lewis's management style, concept X may have been suitable in the operations department to some extent yet the Advertising and marketing department would certainly need dependence on Theory Y in order to get the creative thinking and originality from the teams.

Tuckman's Teamwork Concept: As much as Lewis's concern about bringing harmony between the marketing and also marketing division is concerned, this would initially lead to contrast as gone over by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Teamwork Theory'. By combining the marketing and also marketing division's work, there might be the same first separate which might lead to the 2nd stage of 'storming' where the groups test one an additional.

Bridges' Transition Design: According To William Bridge's concept (appendix 4), people are quite awkward with change, which is noticeable by the situation at Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc The scenario can be seen as a regular training course of life if is examined as per Bridge's concept where he clarifies that people go through three stages of change when they experience modification. 'End, losing and also Letting go', The Neutral Area and 'The New Beginning' (Bridges, 2004). When people exist with change, they enter stage one therefore there might be emotions like sadness, unpredictability, stress, anger, fear, rejection and also disorientation.The situation at the advertising and marketing department of Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc is comparable so Lewis can obtain comfy with the suggestion that it is not remarkable habits. In the second phase, there may be a requirement to connect the space in between the new and old society so Lewis might have to face this ordeal as soon as Krasnow leaves. There may be reduced spirits and low productivity at this phase which ought to not be taken as a setback. It is throughout this stage that Lewis will need to provide assistance to the division so that they can discover a sense of direction. It can be seen just how Krasnow has actually already made this change less complicated by making Lewis obtain involved in the department a year before his actual separation. As per Bridges' Design, stage 3 will certainly bring about visibility to knowing, High power and also commitment as people will embrace the adjustment (Bridges, 2004).
Vrio Analysis
Maslow's Requirement power structure: The OB concern related to insecurity at the workplace has been activated to start with by the change in administration and also second of all by the reality that the merger will certainly no longer be initiated. Abraham Maslow in his Theory of 'Demands Power structure' (appendix 5) has discusses the importance of 'safety requires as being a lower level need of a human for setting off motivation. As seen in the pyramid cooperated appendix 3, we can see how 'the need to feel safe and untouched' is at the 2nd degree of needs. Before an employee can be made to create emotionally, he requires to have his 'Physical 'as well as 'Safety' needs satisfied. This shows that unless the workers are made to feel safe and secure regarding their existing work standing in Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc they might not get to 'Self-Fulfillment'. (King, 2009).

SWOT Analysis for Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc Case Study



Ramification of Analysis.

The OB analysis has actually looked at various concepts to recognize exactly how to deal with the existing situation handy. The adhering to three alternatives have been recommended to help Lewis handle the business challenges in the advertising and marketing department. Each of these choices has been recommended for alleviating the shift required to bring the advertising and marketing division according to the needs of the market as well as for making the cultural change that would certainly comply with when the present leader leaves.

Assimilation of advertising and marketing functions. Separating Adverting and also Production functions. Combination of Advertising with Procedures.

Assessment of Alternatives.

Combination of Marketing & Marketing Functions: The internal advertising firm of Philip Morris Companies And Kraft Inc is currently toughness for the organization in regards to conserving up on expenses related to advertising and promotion. Because no new employment has been done after Bridget Cole's separation with the reporting line being directly assigned to Krasnow for the advertising feature, this is a favorable possibility for integrating the advertising and marketing features. Judith Shapiro who has earlier been interviewed by Lewis during the earlier merger days has expertise in business-to-business advertising along with firm as well as retail advertising and marketing experience. When Krasnow leaves, Lewis can employ Shapiro as an EVP for marketing to take care of both advertising and marketing features.

The advantage of this strategy is that it will certainly integrate the two features while minimizing the demand for hiring an added source for advertising and marketing. Along with this, Lewis would certainly be heading the marketing department and in any case her replacement would certainly be required for the current role that she is doing. The drawback of this choice is that exterior hiring might bring about resentment from internal workers who may be considering the setting of EVP after Lewis takes over Krasnow's setting.

Separating Adverting and also Manufacturing: Offered the competitive pressures as well as high quality work needed from the marketing company, it is recommended that Lewis must allow the manufacturing system to be a separate feature from the advertising and marketing system. Since most marketing firms had these two features as different devices, it makes even more feeling to follow the norm.

Combination of Advertising with Operations: Given that Lewis is currently looking after the advertising and marketing as well as procedures divisions simultaneously; it makes sense to integrate the two functions given that she has actually been successfully dealing with both ends. The truth that the two departments currently have significant distinctions over allowance of sources suggests that this assimilation might have the ability to bring about harmony specifically as Lewis would be heading both ends.However there are various negative aspects of this relocation particularly as it would certainly place way too much worry over Lewis's shoulders. The reality that Lewis has to adjust her monitoring design for the marketing department suggests that these two divisions would certainly be culturally varied. Lewis may not be able to apply one type of leadership design to both divisions which could result in inefficiency in either one of the two functions.

Recommendation.



An examination of the three choices indicates that assimilation of marketing and procedures would certainly not be a practical move as a result of the vast distinctions in between both departments despite the fact that presently Lewis is taking care of both. While splitting up of the production feature may have been a favorable move for the advertising and marketing department, the fact that it would certainly imply placing a third function under Lewis's wing suggests this should be avoided as well. The integration of the advertising department is the most effective alternative in regards to obtaining the ideal arise from the department. An action prepare for this option is talked about below.

Action Plan.
Recommendation
Lewis will certainly take over the function of EVP Marketing 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.

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

Lewis will divide herself from operations.

A democratic leadership style with worker empowerment will certainly be made use of in advertising division.

Open door policy and emphasis on cross department interaction will certainly be targeted at getting rid of disharmony.

Contingency plan.

If the combination does not work out as planned, a contingency plan would certainly adhere to which would separate the manufacturing feature from the advertising and marketing function to reduce the tons on the SVP of marketing and advertising. In case Judith Shapiro does not get employed, Lewis will be heading the advertising and marketing division without an SVP. In that case the production feature will most definitely be separated by placing it under an SVP manufacturing.