The Paradoxical Twins: Acme and Omega Electronics

The Paradoxical Twins: Acme and Omega Electronics Prepared by Samuel Jackson Rene smith Pedro curiz Tomm Brown for Dr. Jordan MAN 701 – Organizational Design and Theory School of Business/Graduate Studies Barry University Miami Gardens, Fla. Term A2/Spring, 2006 March 25, 2006 Case Summary: In 1986 a Cleveland manufacture bought Technological Products and subsequently sold the electronics division to separate investors that manufactured computer chips and printed circuit boards. One of the investors renamed their company Acme Electronics and the other investor renamed their company Omega Electronics, Inc. The Acme company retained its original management team and promoted the general manager to president. The Omega company hired a new president and upgraded several of its existing personnel. Both companies are located in the same geographical area and compete for the same contracts. Acme employs 550 people, whereas the Omega employs 480 people. In the 1990s, production of complex circuit boards by Acme and Omega was threatened by mixed analog and digital devices. Both companies realized the pending threat and started to aggressively seek new customers. In July of 1992, a major photocopier manufacturer was looking for subcontractors to assemble digital memory units for a new experimental copier. The project contract was estimated between $7 million to $9 million in sales. Both Acme and Omega submitted competitive bids for the production of units and both companies were selected to produce 100 units. The photocopier manufacturer explained to both companies that production speed was a critical element of the contract and that each company would only have about two weeks to produce the prototypes or risk delaying the final copier production. On July 13, 1992 the Acme company started ordering the necessary the parts and began production on the memory units. Each department worked separately and encountered problems that led to delays in the production cycle. Two days prior to the delivery date the photocopier manufacturer informed Acme that the rival company Omega had discovered a design flaw in the connector cable and that he would be sending over a new blueprint to re-work the memory units. According to the photocopier manufacture, Acme would still be held to the delivery date. On July 10, 1992, Omega started having meetings to get production underway. Within days the Drafting department prepared blueprints, while the engineering and production departments work together to begin methods design. However, on July 20 Omega discovered a design flaw in the connector cable. The engineering department redesigned the cable and the drafting department finalized the changes in the manufacturing prints. The additional delays in reassembly of the units at Acme caused them to deliver the 100 units late. However, Omega completed a full quality inspection of all 100 units and delivered the final units on time. The photocopier manufacturer split the contract between Acme and Omega and included additional provisions stipulating zero defects and reduced final cost. Ultimately, the Acme reduce it overall cost by 20 percent and won the total contract. Summary Recommendation: The Omega company should consider redesigning its organizational structure to become more functional in design in order to take advantage of economies of scale; in-depth skill knowledge and overall efficiency. The company should implement organization charts with clearly define job duties and responsibilities so employees fully understand their role in the organization. Also, the management team should used formal written communication to covey project expectations and a sense of urgency to complete the assignment within the allotted time frame. Case Analysis: The Acme Company appears to be designed around being efficient and task oriented in order to be a high volume manufacturer. The company has detailed organizational charts and job descriptions which define clear responsibilities. Management believes in providing written communication to achieving the task at hand. In fact, as soon as the company received the blueprints management immediately sent out written communication to all department heads and executives indicating the critical constraints and the expectations of performing efficiently. Based on the organizational structure, each department worked independently and at different speeds. Mr. Tyler, President was developing a relationship with the photocopier manufacturer by keeping in telephone contact and trying to learn of new developments. The Acme strategy has traditionally been to keep the client happy. In a time of crisis, Mr. Tyler was able to give direct orders and instruct certain departments to reconfigure the components as needed. At the same time critical decisions were made to skip normal quality control processes to stay on course. Ultimately, the company generated 90 quality made units with 10 being defective. On the other hand, the Omega Company appears to be designed around the team work approach to achieve production goals. The company does not have organizational charts and management believes that all employees should be familiar with various activities throughout the organization. Also, management does not allow written memos to the staff employees. Once the company received the blueprints management began having meetings to discuss the production method instead of dividing up the specific work assignments to achieve. The engineering and production departments pooled resources to work on the methods design. On the positive side, most of the problems identified within Omega’s production cycle were resolved quickly and overcome by the team effort approach. In the time of crisis and rapid changes needed to produce a quality product the company was able to effectively work as a team. Ultimately, the company delivered a high quality product with no defects and within the required time frame. Alternative Identified: Since, Omega is relatively small with only a few product lines the first alterative would be for the company to be more formal in its organizational design and structure, which includes organizational charts and well defined job responsibilities in order to become more efficient and reduce cost. Recommendation: First, Omega needs to restructure the company within the next three to six months. Implement a functional organization chart that has a well define hierarchy. Next, Omega needs to immediately implement a formal communication process throughout the organization to provide clear guidance and management expectations to reduce wasted manpower and maximize available staff resources. The Omega Company should consider sending out memos to show the significant time constraint of each job deadlines and definitely continue the company’s meeting process before productions. The Acme Company needs to meet with multiple employees involved in the workflow to prevent any complication to appear during productions. Acme should require each employee to have some sort of knowledge of everyone functions in the organizations. Perhaps, have a day dedicated to altering each employee positions to have a vivid understanding of their job titles. This would slow down further delay in production if a crisis occurs. Furthermore, it’s best that Acme improve the communication flow between the actual employees.

Stalin and the Five Year Plans

Stalin's technique to take Germany forward was using five year plans. Stalin believed there was need for these five- year plans as : First of all many of the regions were behind other countries in growth and that the USSR were backward Stalin believed that to be be backward you are defeated and enslaved but if you are powerful people must beware of you. Stalin also believed (with Lenin) the USSR should overtake and out strip the capitalist countries He believed Socialism in one country and the USSR would be powerful enough to survive then would take over the rest of the world.Another reason for the 5 year plans was because he believed that Germany would invade and in one of his speechs he said â€Å"If we make a good difference in 10 years or so they will crush us. Lastly the 5 year plans included a lot of useful propaganda which helped protray Stalin as a very pleasant and powerful man. In the first five year plan Stalin focused on radip industrialisation. He demanded a 200% increa se in iron production and a 335% in electrical power. To do this Stalin used alot of prisoners as they were cheap and in a large supply.If a worker was found guilty of treason for any reason they would either be shot or sent to forced labor on the Baltic Sea Canal or the Siberian railway. In Soviet Union workers constructed damns,roads,railways and canals which all helped to expand the industry and manufacturing. Although factory output soared as a result of the first Five year plan the agricultural production was damaged. In 1932, grain production was 32 % below average whic resulted in a widespread famine. Second plan For the Second FIve Year Plan, Stalin expanded the goals of his previous plan and continued to emphasise on heavy industry.This plan's aim was to advance the Soviet Unions communication systems especially railways which improved in speed and reliability. The Second Five Year Plan didnt reach the level of success that the First Five Year plan did with the production l evels in coal and oil industries. The First Five year plan encouraged a high status family life and In the Second Five Year Plan initiated a lower standard of living as consumer preferences were disregarded and focus shifted toward military goods and heavy industry Third PlanThe Third Five year plan lasted for only three year, as it was interrupted by Germany's declaration of war on the Soviet Union During world war II. Stalin continued to implement additional Five Yer Plans in the Years following WWII. By 1952 the industrial production was nearly double 1941 level. Stalin's Five Year Plans helped transform the Soviet Union from an untrained Society of Peasent to an advanced industrial economy.

HR Management Transformation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HR Management Transformation - Research Paper Example This can be explained with the help of an example. Business leaders would want to maximize their profits. The HR leaders may be honored if they are capable of explaining the business leaders of numerous ways to manage the people in the organization for maximizing their profitability. In order to develop a better organization, the leaders need to have lucidity in their thoughts as well as sense of directions. They need to have patience which seems to be the toughest stage. Since the HR managers needs to face the situations where negotiations are made, therefore, the HR leaders’ need to be self disciplined (Saha, n.d.) It can be mentioned that the history of the human resource management can be traced back to the 19th century during the existence of the welfare officers. It was the First World War that sped up alterations in the development of personal management where the women were recruited in order to fill up the gaps that were left by the men who were going to fight. It was during the Second World War, the concept of welfare and personnel work came into being. Further, during the 1960s and the 1970s the development of employment was evident. ... HR as a strategic partner can be understood as maintaining long-term relation with the organizational partners so that the common objectives can be achieved. The companies are capable of making the human resources as the strategic partner’s by delivering effective human resource services. The main reason behind the change of HR management from administrative and operational functions to the strategic partner is that there is constant change in the demands and trends of the organization triggering the need for new ways of thinking as well as operating. Such change necessitates the HR as well as the other professionals to alter their ways of looking at things. In order to add value to the organization, it becomes essential for the human resource professionals to play new roles and thus show broader competencies with the change in time. Furthermore, the companies require new model so that they can assist the decision makers at making sound decisions related to the human resource policies. The companies are capable of enhancing their competitive advantage by aligning the HR strategies to their business plan (Dye, n.d.). Ford Motor Company has changed it view from tough managerialism that can be described as a management philosophy based upon the rigid pursuit of tight control over its employees, to a strategy where the employees are encouraged to participate and involve themselves in the strategy building process. According to the views of the HR Director of Ford Motor Company, Mr. Patrick David, for the restructuring organizations the job of the human resource department comprises one of the challenging tasks. Since many years, human

Assigment 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assigment 2 - Assignment Example Most of the information on the internet was in the form of advertisement luring people to some clinic or mother-baby care program. She wanted to join one but she did not have the money for that. Her primary source of information was the doctor she was visiting, magazines and the internet. She said that the first time she realized that she might be pregnant was when she felt like throwing up. She ignored it first thinking that pregnancy does not effect that early but the nausea was frequent. She went to the doctor to confirm it. After a few days she also had morning sickness and experienced wild mood swings. The weight gain followed soon. She was not bothered by it much she was expecting such symptoms. On the contrary she was relieved that there was no psychosis or any serious allergies. She also faced the opposite of departing from her relationship with her spouse; her husband turned out to be very caring. They had a few arguments every now and then but that was part of their normal life. They had arguments before the pregnancy so the new ones did not make any difference. They decided to get the baby delivered at the nearest hospital. The couple even agreed to get an appointment from the doctor that was taking care of the mother during pregnancy. Overall, the reality was much easier than the shocking expectations that the media usually portrays. She did talk about the pain during child birth (at the hospital, a normal delivery case) but she soon forgot about it when she rocked her first baby to sleep for the first time. The second mother vividly remembered what she was told about pregnancy. Most of the information came from friends and her mother. Her own mother was helping her all the way as she knew what to exactly expect. She was told that there can be complications but she needs to take care of herself. Her mom was strict about her diet and told her that if she eats right she will give birth to a healthy baby. She

Are certain democratic institutions more or less democratic than Essay

Are certain democratic institutions more or less democratic than others - Essay Example Russia is a federal presidential government with the executive power split between the President and the Prime Minister, however, President is the supreme head (Hale, 2006, p. 243). Two chambers represent the legislative system, the State Duma (lower house) and the Federation Council (upper house) (Chaisty, 2006, p.73). The Federation Council acts as a voice of Russia’s federated entities, and it forbids political factions. The Council is not directly elected, and consists of representatives from federal entities. It works with the lower house to complete and vote on draft laws. In addition, the Federal Council has special powers to declare presidential election, impeach the president and decides on the use of military forces outside Russia’s jurisdiction. However, the State Duma is the lower house and it consists of 450 deputies elected for terms of five consecutive years. Any Russian of age 21 years is eligible to run for parliamentary seat in the state Duma. The depu ties are elected from party lists through proportional representation. State Duma first considers all the bills. Immediately the majority in Duma State  passes the bill, a draft law is returned to the Federation Council. If the Council rejects the bill, the two chambers form a commission to work out a compromise. Norway is a constitutional monarchy having a parliamentary democratic system of governance.  The head of state is the King  whereas Prime Minister is the head of government (Wardahl, 2011, p.379). The government structure consists of three branches, the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch. Norway has a unicameral legislature. The parliamentary system consists of the Stortinget that has two significant functions. It enacts legislation and approves the national budget. Stortinget also votes on proposals and the bills introduced by the Executive Branch. It monitors the executive and

Complexities of the U. s financial system Assignment

Complexities of the U. s financial system - Assignment Example Efficiently operating financial markets play a part in the health of the economy (Fabozzi, Modigliani & Ferri, 1994). Economic growth is underpinned by financial market development. Financial markets guide the flow of individual and business savings and investments, within the economy to improve the buildup of capital and enhance effective production of products and services. The price of returns on investments and credit plays a part in signaling financial market participants such as consumers and producers to channel funds, particularly from businesses and households to investors, governments, consumers and businesses. Financial markets link those who need the funds with willing lenders (Demirguc-Kunt & Ross, 2001). Strong financial markets and institutions and a wide array of financial instruments and products, meets the needs of both lenders and borrowers, therefore, the entire economy. Moreover, strong financial markets enhance the flow of funds among countries, thereby enhancin g the economies. Additionally, financial markets also reduce transaction and search costs within the economy. Through the provision of a wide array of financial products with differing pricing and risk structures and maturities, financial systems provide products to participants, which offer borrowers and lenders with close matches for their needs. Persons, businesses, as well as governments that need funds can effortlessly discover which financial markets or institutions offer funding and the costs imposed on the borrower (Pryor, 1996). This enables investors to compare financing costs to their anticipated returns on investment hence making the most effective investment choices suited to their needs. Therefore, financial markets influence the allocation of credit within the economy, facilitating production of products and services. The key rationale for creating the Federal Reserve was to deal with banking panics. Other roles are provided in the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Res erve furnishes an elastic currency, allowing for the rediscounting of commercial paper and establishes an effective supervision system of banking in the US. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve serves as the head of the country’s central banking system and is the executive officer of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors (Demirguc-Kunt & Ross, 2001). Conversely, the Federal Reserve Board, conducts the country’s monetary policy, supervises and standardizes banking institutions and protects consumers’ credit rights. The Board also ensures the financial system’s stability and offers financial services to the government, official foreign institutions and the public. Today, the Federal Reserve serves as the country’s central bank, striking a balance between the government’s role as a centralized institution and banks’ private interests. It also monitors and regulates banking institutions and protects consumers’ rights. Thro ugh a monetary policy, the Federal Reserve manages the country’s money supply in order to attain stable prices by deterring deflation and inflation, maximum employment and minimal long-term interest rates. Moreover, the Federal Reserve maintains the US financial system’s stability and acts as a banker and lender of last resort to commercial banks and the US government (Pryor, 1996). The reserve

MGT302 - Org. Behavior and Teamwork SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MGT302 - Org. Behavior and Teamwork SLP - Essay Example The strategic processing styles combines to give four Strategic Patterns that are Changers, Performers, Perfectors and Conservators. Affect of Strategic Processing Styles and Strategic Pattern on Communication and Decision-making at Work The four strategic processing styles are of equal value but the two strategic styles that will give the optimal results are relational innovators and hypothetical analyzer. The relational innovator is capable of producing ideas and enjoys using unconventional methods. Hypothetical analyzer is able to resolve such problems which cannot be solved easily. The combination of these two strategic processing styles generates strategic pattern perfectors. Perfectors strategic pattern is the combination of planning and action. In perfectors strategic pattern the relational innovator has the capacity to produce new and innovative ideas and hypothetical analyzer is capacitive of analyze the idea, make changes to it or amend it and give rise to a idea that will certainly result in a profitable condition. The whole process of this pattern generates a circle of ideas and their examination which always produces new and innovative ideas and new businesses comprising these ideas.