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Strong Tie Ltd Case Study Solution

Background and Facts

Strong Tie Ltd a workplace materials store for tiny and also moderate sized organisations has recently been associated with preparing for a merger with its rival Home Deport, which has actually influenced effectiveness levels in departmentswith the elderly manager involved in legal complications put forth by the government Trade Payment. With the Advertising Head advancing the information of his departure from the company in one year, Jeannie Lewis, the present head of operations has been asked to take the role in the near future. With obstacles in the form of a prospective cultural modification as well as reduced staff member spirits, the organization wants a full reengineering effort at the advertising division.

Trouble Declaration
Porter's 5 Forces Analysis
The possible cultural modification at the advertising and marketing division of Strong Tie Ltd is enhancing uncertainty in the working environment causing different obstacles for the Jeannie Lewis that would be replacing the head of the division in one year. nalysis

PEST analysis

Political Factors: Political factors play a significant role in impacting calculated decisions since Stapes Inc. had to abandon its plans of combining with Workplace Deport after the Federal Profession Payment's treatment in the process. Offered the reality that the shop has an international visibility with branches in UK, U.S.A., Canada as well as Germany, political factors in each of these countries may be able to influence efficiency or calculated goals. Federal Trade Payment's antitrust match against the merging used up beneficial time of the company's elderly management recommending that 'political' factors can have major ramifications for a global business.

Economic Factors: Financial factors such as the development of small businesses in the international situation suggest that Strong Tie Ltd is thriving in an atmosphere where there is possible development of organisations. Truth that store consumers are mainly looking for workplace materials for home offices suggests that the market has a climbing trend of business owners as well as house based businesses.

Social factors: Social trends in the economy reveal that clients are searching for ease in addition to attractive prices. Market research shows how the consumer for Strong Tie Ltd does not have recognition about finding services which can use a combination of convenience and also affordable.

Technical factors: Innovation plays an essential role in Strong Tie Ltd's organisation method especially as the company is piloting Technology centers which would provide modern technology sales and support in the type of memory upgrades, peripheral setups. (Recap of INSECT in appendix 2).

OB Issues and also Effects.

A number of underlying Business Behavior issues can be seen in Strong Tie Ltd's case as highlighted in this section.

Concerns regarding cultural adjustment: There is worry concerning a social change that would certainly happen when Todd Krasnow leaves from his placement as the Exec Vice President of Advertising with the majority of the team member already revealing discontent over this prospective move. This predicted modification has actually created stress in the workplace which has actually been combined with the previous tension of preparing the company for a prospective merger with Residence Deport.
Pest Analysis
Stressful Job Environment for Newcomers: There is lack of personnel that can match the stressful setting of a fast-paced company. Not just does this bring about problem in locating the appropriate people, it places stress and anxiety on brand-new hires as can not endure the pace and also pressure that the company expects them to bear.

Dual Coverage Lines: Beginners discover this business culture difficult and also tough to handle especially as dotted line connections are implied to be weak in general and unbiased setup and efficiency assessment is still done by the solid line supervisor. This means that newcomers can lose clarity about their corresponding duties as well as goals especially as populated line coverage does not maintain them in direct interaction with the solid line managers.

Animosity From Cross Departmental Hiring: Krasnow's decision to make Lewis his follower rather than Bridget Coles although it had actually been speculated that the last would take Krasnow's setting came as an impact to her spirits. Lewis may have been qualified and suitable for the work however the reality that Kransnow's departure would certainly make Coles a straight report to Lewis might have been the factor for Coles' resignation from services.

Concern & Task Insecurity: Anxiety as well as insecurity can be recognized as 2 major worries that Lewis would certainly be handling especially as the merging has now be cancelled as well as 2 senior executives of the marketing department would certainly be leaving. The whole obligation of the division would be dropping on Lewis's shoulders who would not simply be in charge of brining regarding a cultural change however would certainly additionally need to verify herself in her new function.

Incompatible Monitoring Design of Leader: Lewis's administration style as well as its incompatibility with the advertising department's role can also be seen as an OB challenge especially as she has been utilized to dealing with issues in the operations division where employees are shown to focus on processes and obtain them. The marketing division on the other hand can be viewed as a team of people who are utilized to being nurtured by Krasnow who concentrated extra on outcome than processes.

Interdepartmental Differences: Interdepartmental disputes in between three departments, advertising, merchandizing and procedures specifically over the appropriation of the advertising mix can be recognized as another OB worry. Although the marketing division does not share the very same vision as the various other 2 divisions relating to the aloocation of the marketing mix twoards promos as well as advertsing, the merchandizing and also procedures divisions do not agree over the advertising mix allocation among each other either.

Fragmentation in Marketing Department: Fragmentation between the advertising and marketing departments can be determined as one more OB issue which can need further interest. The fact that the advertising and marketing areas in the advertising department are detached is protecting against both divisions from obtaining from each various other's experience and proficiency. Integration of marketing with merchandising and also operations would certainly become harder if the marketing department itself is degenerated which can be another prospective OB worry.

Strong Tie Ltd Analysis

Numerous concepts have been utilized to discuss the conditions to get more clearness concerning the situation at hand.
Swot Analysis
McGregor's Concept X & Y: According to Douglas McGregor's Concept X, many managers believe that subordinates are easy as well as careless, have little aspiration as well as stand up to modification. The hard variation of this theory highlighted threat, limited controls, risks and also penalties. Over time it generates low efficiency, refined sabotage as well as rivalry (Deal, 2003). The situation at Strong Tie Ltd is not completely adhering to Theory X, it can be seen that new hires are locating this setting instead stressful which may ultimately lead to a higher disposition of the management towards Theory X. Based on McGregor's supported view, which he called Concept Y, the crucial task of the administration is to set up business problems to make sure that individuals can achieve their very own objectives best by directing their initiatives towards organizational rewards. If individuals find no satisfaction in their work, the administration would certainly have little choice yet to count on concept X and exterior control (Bargain, 2003). Even while assessing Lewis's monitoring design, theory X might have been suitable in the operations division somewhat however the Advertising and marketing division would need reliance on Theory Y to get the creative thinking and originality from the teams.

Tuckman's Teamwork Theory: As far as Lewis's issue concerning bringing harmony between the marketing and advertising division is worried, this would at first lead to contrast as discussed by Bruce Tuckman in his 'Team effort Concept'. By combining the marketing and also advertising and marketing department's job, there may be the exact same preliminary separate which can lead to the second stage of 'storming' where the teams challenge one an additional.

When people are presented with adjustment, they enter phase one and also so there might be emotions like sadness, unpredictability, frustration, rage, fear, rejection as well as disorientation.The situation at the advertising division of Strong Tie Ltd is comparable so Lewis can obtain comfy with the concept that it is not remarkable habits. It is during this phase that Lewis will have to offer support to the department so that they can discover a sense of instructions. It can be seen just how Krasnow has actually already made this transition much easier by making Lewis get entailed in the department a year before his real separation.
Vrio Analysis
Maslow's Requirement pecking order: The OB problem related to insecurity at the workplace has actually been activated first of all by the change in administration and also secondly by the fact that the merging will certainly no longer be launched. Abraham Maslow in his Theory of 'Requirements Hierarchy' (appendix 5) has talks about the importance of 'safety needs as being a lower degree need of a human for setting off inspiration. As seen in the pyramid shared in appendix 3, we can see how 'the demand to really feel protected as well as unharmed' is at the second level of requirements. Before a worker can be made to develop emotionally, he needs to have his 'Physiological 'as well as 'Safety' needs met. This indicates that unless the workers are made to feel safe concerning their present employment standing in Strong Tie Ltd they may not get to 'Self-Fulfillment'. (King, 2009).

SWOT Analysis for Strong Tie Ltd Case Study



Effects of Analysis.

The OB analysis has actually taken a look at different concepts to recognize exactly how to manage the present scenario handy. The following three alternatives have actually been suggested to aid Lewis manage the organizational difficulties in the advertising department. Each of these alternatives has actually been suggested for alleviating the change needed to bring the advertising department according to the needs of the market and for making the cultural adjustment that would follow as soon as the existing leader leaves.

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

Assessment of Alternatives.

Combination of Advertising And Marketing & Advertising And Marketing Functions: The in-house marketing agency of Strong Tie Ltd is already toughness for the organization in regards to saving up on expenses related to marketing and promotion. Given that no new employment has been done after Bridget Cole's departure with the coverage line being straight appointed to Krasnow for the marketing function, this is a beneficial opportunity for integrating the marketing and advertising features. Judith Shapiro that has earlier been spoken with by Lewis during the earlier merger days has knowledge in business-to-business advertising and marketing in addition to agency and retail advertising experience. Once Krasnow leaves, Lewis can hire Shapiro as an EVP for advertising to handle both marketing and advertising functions.

The benefit of this method is that it will incorporate both features while decreasing the demand for employing an additional source for marketing. Along with this, Lewis would be heading the advertising division and also regardless her substitute would certainly be required for the current role that she is performing. The drawback of this option is that outside hiring might cause animosity from inner employees that might be considering the placement of EVP after Lewis takes control of Krasnow's setting.

Dividing Adverting as well as Production: Given the competitive pressures and premium quality work needed from the advertising agency, it is recommended that Lewis needs to allow the production device to be a different function from the marketing unit. Considering that many advertising agencies had these 2 features as separate systems, it makes even more feeling to comply with the norm. Along with this, both features might have the ability to concentrate on their core triggers much more efficiently. The negative aspect of this strategy would certainly be that extra costs would certainly have to be birthed for establishing up different manufacturing features. A manufacturing head might have to be hired which could raise overheads for the company.

Combination of Advertising with Operations: Given that Lewis is currently taking care of the advertising and also operations divisions simultaneously; it makes sense to integrate the two features because she has been efficiently taking care of both ends. The reality that Lewis has to adjust her management style for the advertising division recommends that these 2 divisions would certainly be culturally varied.

Referral.



An examination of the 3 alternatives suggests that combination of advertising and marketing and procedures would certainly not be a feasible move due to the huge differences between the 2 departments in spite of the fact that currently Lewis is taking care of both. While separation of the manufacturing function might have been a desirable relocation for the marketing department, the reality that it would certainly mean placing a third feature under Lewis's wing means this ought to be prevented.

Action Plan.
Recommendation
Lewis will take over the duty of EVP Marketing after Krasnow leaves.

Advertising and Marketing functions would be combined.

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

Manufacturing feature will remain component of advertising under marketing function.

Lewis will separate herself from operations.

A democratic management design with worker empowerment will certainly be used in advertising and marketing division.

Open up door plan and emphasis on cross department communication will certainly be focused on eliminating dissonance.

Backup plan.

If the integration does not work out as planned, a backup plan would certainly comply with which would divide the manufacturing feature from the advertising and marketing function 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. Because case the manufacturing feature will most definitely be separated by positioning it under an SVP manufacturing.