PK Book 6614
PK Book 6614
PK Book 6614
NOW!
Gary Dessler
Florida International University
Jean Phillips
Rutgers University
No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
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inquiries to College Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116-3764.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9—CRK—11 10 09 08 07
BRIEF CONTENTS
PREFACE xi
iii
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CONTENTS
PREFACE xi
8 CONTROLLING 208
OPENING VIGNETTE: Controlling the Cappuccino Makers at Starbucks 208
The Fundamentals of Effective Control 209
■ W INDOW ON M ANAGING N OW : Using Technology to Stay in Control at UPS 212
Traditional Controls 214
Managing Now: IT-Enabled Control Systems 219
■ W INDOW ON M ANAGING N OW : Millipore Corp. Integrates
CHAPTER SUMMARY 231 Its Global Operations with ERP 221
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 231
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES 231 How Do People React to Control? 224
CASE STUDY Commitment-Based Control Systems 225
CONTROLLING RITZ-CARLTON 232 ■ P RACTICE IT: Controlling the Cappuccino Makers at Starbucks 230
CASE STUDY
and Reward Employees 426
MOTIVATION AT GENERAL ■ P RACTICE IT: Online Incentives at Mercury Interactive Corporation 428
MOTORS 434 ■ W INDOW ON M ANAGING N OW : Using Technology to Retain Knowledge Workers 432
Managing Now
Managing Now! is a basic management textbook for the Principles of Management
course. The book competes with the many popular principles books now on the
market and basically follows the familiar management process theme. However,
Managing Now! recognizes that the nuts and bolts of what managers do is qualita-
tively altered by the Internet and IT. In practice, we think this means that basic
management textbooks need to be more explicit at showing how the Internet and
IT change how managers carry out tasks such as planning, organizing, and man-
aging interunit relations.
Throughout history, some things in management have not and will not quickly
change. Managers still plan, organize, lead, and control. And they still get things
done through people—by communicating, leading, appraising, and coaching.
This is a book on management. We therefore focus our attention on what
managers should know about planning, organizing, leading, controlling, and
dealing with people. However, managers now manage in a fast-changing and
highly competitive global environment. To succeed here, they use information
technology devices including software systems, cell phones, and PDAs to do their
jobs. We therefore include in this book discussions about how managers use these
devices. Every chapter shows, with “Managing Now” examples, how the manager
plans, organizes, leads, and controls, in light of the Internet, IT, and ever-changing
technology.
xi
xii Preface
Syllabus Flexibility
Managing Now! also includes several new topics, including certain selected topics
in Chapters 5 (the role of information systems/IT, knowledge management, and
the Internet in managing companies), 9 (managing supply chains and opera-
tions), 16 (building community, culture, and teamwork), and 17 (encouraging
sharing and collaboration).
However, we recognize that few professors have the luxury of assigning 17 full
chapters. We’ve therefore included summary descriptions of core technology top-
ics such as supply chain, enterprise, and knowledge management systems in
Chapter 1, as well as in Chapters 5 (Information and Knowledge Management)
and 9 (Managing Operations and Supply Chains). We touch on collaboration in
several chapters, including Chapters 3 (Managing in a Global Environment),
9 (Managing Operations and Supply Chains), and 17 ( Managing Trust and Collabo-
ration). The professor can therefore assign this book without covering one or more
of Chapters 5 , 9, and 17, with no loss of continuity.
Acknowledgments
We are very grateful to the many people who supported us in making Managing
Now! a reality. At Houghton Mifflin, we are grateful to George Hoffman and Lisé
Johnson for their advice, dedication, intelligence, insight, creativity, and courage
in bringing this book to the market. Thanks to Julia Perez and Nancy Blodget for
making the book’s editorial and production process a smooth and pleasant one.
We thank Nicole Hamm and the Houghton Mifflin marketing and sales staff for
their hard work and dedication to making adopters aware of Managing Now!.
We are grateful to Managing Now! ’s academic reviewers for their support, dili-
gence, and many helpful suggestions.
John Anstey, University of Nebraska, Omaha
Karen Barr, Penn State, Beaver Campus
Bret Becton, Winthrop University
James D. Bell, Texas State University
Keith Benson, Winthrop University
Mauritz Blonder, Hofstra University
Bruce Bloom, DeVry University, Chicago
Lon Doty, San Jose State University
Bret R. Fund, Penn State University
Melissa Gruys, Wright State University
Rebecca Guidice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
J.W. Haddad, Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
James Hess, Ivy Tech State University
Nancy B. Higgins, Montgomery College
Phillip Jeck, University of Central Oklahoma
Carol Jensen, Northeast Iowa Community College
Stephen Jones, Southwest Missouri State University
Cynthia Lengnick-Hall, University of Texas, San Antonio
Susan Looney, Delaware Technical & Community College
Grace McLaughlin, University of California, Irvine
Mark Miller, Carthage College
LaVelle Mills, West Texas A&M University
Benham Nakhai, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Muhammed Obeidat, Southern Poly State University
Leah Ritchie, Salem State College
Stephen Schuster, California State University, Northridge
Marianne Sebok, Community College of Southern Nevada
Mansour Sharifzadeh, California State Poly University, Pomona
Leslie Shore, Concordia University
Gary Springer, Texas State University, San Marcos
Charles Stubbart, Southern Illinois University
Robert Tanner, California State University, East Bay
On a personal note, we want to thank our families. Gary’s mother, Laura
Dessler, was always a source of support, and would have been very proud to see
xiv Preface
and hold this book. His wife Claudia’s managerial expertise helped make it possi-
ble for Gary to concentrate on his writing. As usual, the advice and support of his
son, Derek, the best people manager he knows, were invaluable. Jean’s husband,
Stan, and sons, Tyler and Ryan, provided the love and support that enabled Jean to
complete her work on this book.
Gary Dessler
Jean Phillips
What Managers Do
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE M anagers can have the most remarkable effects on organizations. A few years
ago, Avon Products was struggling.1 Its whole back-end operation—buying
from suppliers, taking orders, and distributing products to sales reps—lacked au-
tomation. Sales reps took orders by hand. One-third of the orders went out wrong.
Within two years of becoming CEO, Andrea Jung had systems in one country couldn’t communicate with an-
turned Avon around. She did it by overhauling “everything other’s. At Avon’s headquarters,managers didn’t know what
about the way Avon does business: how it advertises, man- each country’s factories had in stock or were shipping. No
ufactures, packages, and even sells its products.”2 She one could plan the next day’s production levels.Things were
started with a turnaround plan. It included launching a slipping out of control. Avon sends out about 50,000 orders
new line of businesses, developing new products, building each day, and one-third of them went out wrong.
the sales force, and selling Avon products at retail stores. To solve this, Avon installed a single“supply chain man-
Next, she told R&D,“You’ve got two years. I need a break- agement system” in all its countries’ facilities.This system
through . . . . ”3 By the end of the year, Avon’s new Retroac- combines special software with new hardware and
tive, an anti-aging cream, sold $100 million. Jung also telecommunications devices such as handheld PDAs. Now,
reorganized Avon. She created an “office of the chairman.” every night, this new system “. . . collects supply chain in-
Now, many of the divisions that had their own managers formation from Avon’s 29 markets; information such as in-
report instead directly to her office.The effect was to flat- ventory, future sales demands, transport schedules, and
ten Avon’s chain of command (by cutting out a layer of sales history.”5 This information, along with the system’s
managers). This, Jung said, “. . . will significantly increase built-in planning software, automatically creates daily pro-
speed and flexibility in decision making . . . .” 4 duction and distribution plans for all of Avon’s facilities. It
Next, Jung appointed a new chief operating officer to also enables Avon sales reps to work collaboratively across
get Avon’s global operations under control. The company borders. For example, if a customer in Germany needs a
sells worldwide,and eachAvon facility around the world had product that is out of stock there, the rep might see that
its own unique computer system. In Poland, Germany, and it’s available in Paris and have it shipped from France.The
the United Kingdom, for instance, the shipping was manual. new high-tech system helped cut $400 million in costs.6
In other countries, it was computerized. The computer Andrea Jung’s effective management turned Avon around.
What Managers Do ■ 3
Customers no longer just wanted products like Avon’s that made them look good;
they also wanted healthier skin. Yet Avon spent a fraction of what competitors
L’Oréal and Estée Lauder spent on research and development. The company had
to take action. It appointed Andrea Jung as CEO. Within two years, she added new
products, raised Avon’s sales by tens of millions of dollars, and boosted profitabil-
ity by automating operations and cutting costs. The Window on Managing Now
feature shows how she did this.
The effect of good management is amazing. Take an underperforming—
even chaotic—situation and install a skilled manager, and he or she can soon get
the enterprise humming. In the New Orleans turmoil after Hurricane Katrina hit
several years ago, no one in government seemed to know what to do. People were
starving on rooftops, begging passing planes for help. The U.S. Army sent in
Lieutenant General Russell Honore. He swiftly established a chain of command,
decided what had to be done, prioritized those tasks, assigned officers to do
them, and created a communications structure through which he maintained
control.
● FEMA vs. Wal-Mart That storm brought out the best and the worst in several
management teams.7 Most people still remember that even days after Katrina hit
New Orleans, the U.S. government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) was still trying to organize its rescue efforts. Compare that to Wal-Mart’s
response. Many people are understandably upset today with Wal-Mart manage-
ment’s labor relations actions in the past few years, for instance, with respect to
low wages. However, in the case of Katrina, Wal-Mart’s other management actions
were quite effective. Six days before Katrina hit, Wal-Mart’s emergency operations
center managers made plans to shut and guard potentially endangered stores, and
they worked out how they would reopen and restock them. Emergency merchan-
dise began moving to distribution sites close to New Orleans but outside Katrina’s
likely path. Twelve hours before the National Weather Service issued its hurricane
warning, Wal-Mart’s own meteorologists told Wal-Mart’s emergency operations
managers that Katrina would hit. Its stores hunkered down. Then, once Katrina
passed, hundreds of Wal-Mart trucks rolled out to restock stores, with desperately
needed food, water, and supplies. Wal-Mart’s labor relations policies are a serious
issue. But after Katrina, one police officer surveying the devastation said that the
city’s only lifeline was the Wal-Mart.
Manager effects like these don’t occur just in big companies. Right now, man-
agers at thousands of small businesses—diners, dry cleaners, motels—are running
their businesses well, with courteous, prompt, first-class service; high-morale
employees; and a minimum of problems like cold dinners, or pants not pressed
on time.
● The Ineffective Manager Yet the opposite can be true. Take an enterprise
that’s been managed well for years—say, a neighborhood stationery store—and
watch as a new, less-competent owner takes over. Shelves are suddenly in disarray,
products are out of stock, bills are unpaid. One study of forty manufacturing firms
concluded that effective management was more important than factors like mar-
ket share, firm size, industry average rate of return, or degree of automation.8
Another study concluded that organizations with better managers had lower
turnover rates and higher profits and sales per employees.9 About 90 percent of
the new businesses started this year will fail within five years; Dun & Bradstreet
says that the reason is usually poor management. The aim in this book is for you to
be a better manager. Let’s start with some definitions.
4 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
Organization Defined
All these enterprises—Avon, the diner, the dry cleaner, even the New Orleans res-
organization: a group of cue effort—are organizations. An organization consists of people with formally
people with formally assigned assigned roles who work together to achieve stated goals. Organizations need not
roles who work together to be just business firms. The word applies equally well to colleges, local govern-
achieve the group’s stated goals
ments, and nonprofits like the Red Cross. The U.S. government is an organization—
certainly a not-for-profit one—and its head manager, or chief executive officer, is
the president. All organizations have several things in common.
First, organizations are (or should be) goal-directed. Thirty strangers on a bus
from New York to Maine are not an organization, because they’re not working
together to accomplish some singular aim.
Organizations are also (one hopes) organized because everyone has a job to
do, and people know who does what. Even a local dry-cleaning business has an
organizational structure. Employees know who does what (pressers press, for
instance, and cleaners clean) and how the work (the incoming clothes) should
flow through the store and get cleaned and pressed.
But as we just saw, whether organizations achieve their goals or not depends
on how the organizations are managed. This is because organizations, by their na-
ture, cannot simply run themselves. Who would ensure that each employee knew
what to do? Who would ensure that all employees work together, more or less
harmoniously? Who would decide the goals? The answer is, the manager.
Management Defined
Management expert Peter Drucker said that management “. . . is the responsibility
for contribution.”10 In other words, managers are responsible for making sure that
manager: a person who plans, the company achieves its goals. Specifically, a manager is someone who is re-
organizes, leads, and controls sponsible for accomplishing an organization’s goals, and who does so by planning,
the work of others so that the organizing, leading, and controlling the efforts of the organization’s people.
organization achieves its goals
Management most often refers to the group of people—the managers—who are
management: the group of responsible for accomplishing an organization’s goals through planning, organiz-
people—the managers—who are ing, leading, and controlling the efforts of the organization’s people. However,
responsible for accomplishing management also refers to the totality of managerial actions, people, systems,
an organization’s goals through procedures, and processes in place in an organization (such as when someone
planning, organizing, leading, says, “the management of that crisis was totally inept”).
and controlling the efforts of the
organization’s people; also the
● Three Aspects of Managerial Work Our definitions of management high-
totality of managerial actions,
people, systems, procedures, light three key aspects of managerial work. First, a manager is always
and processes in place in an responsible for contribution—on his or her shoulders lies the responsibility for
organization accomplishing the organization’s goals. Therefore, while managers may apply
management theories, managing is never just theoretical. The manager is respon-
sible for getting things done. That is why former Honeywell CEO and successful
manager Lawrence Bossidy named his book Execution: The Discipline of Getting
Things Done.
Second, managers always get things done through other people. The
owner/entrepreneur running a small florist shop without the aid of employees is
not managing. Only when she starts hiring people and trying to get things done
through them can she call herself a manager. She’ll have to train and motivate her
new employees and put controls in place so that the person who closes the store
won’t borrow part of the day’s receipts.
What Managers Do ■ 5
The third aspect of managerial work refers to what managers actually do (and
why some people turn out to be better at managing than others). That third aspect
is that managers must be skilled at planning, organizing, leading, and controlling if
they are to accomplish the organization’s goals through other people. Manage-
ment writers traditionally refer to the manager’s four basic functions—planning,
management process: the organizing, leading, and controlling—as the management process. They include:
manager’s four basic functions
of planning, organizing, leading, ◗ Planning. Planning is setting goals and deciding on courses of action, develop-
and controlling ing rules and procedures, developing plans (for both the organization and those
who work in it), and forecasting (predicting or projecting what the future holds
for the firm).
◗ Organizing. Organizing is identifying jobs to be done, hiring people to do them,
establishing departments, delegating or pushing authority down to subordi-
nates, establishing a chain of command (in other words, channels of authority
and communication), and coordinating the work of subordinates.
◗ Leading. Leading is influencing other people to get the job done, maintaining
morale, molding company culture, and managing conflicts and communication.
◗ Controlling. Controlling is setting standards (such as sales quotas or quality
standards), comparing actual performance with these standards, and then
taking corrective action as required.
Some people think that managing is easy and that anyone with half a brain
can do it. But if it is so easy, why do 90 percent of new businesses fail within five
years due to poor management? Why did FEMA drop the ball when Katrina hit?
The words about management and managing in this book are easy to read. How-
ever, don’t let that lull you into thinking that managing is easy.
itineraries are checked so there are no mistakes. Now let us consider another
real-life managing example.
T ABLE 1.1
CEOs of e-Businesses Need Some Special Skills
Traditional Company’s CEO eBay, Google-Type Company E-CEO
Encouraging employees Evangelizing to employees
Alert to change Obsessed with change
Cordial Brutally frank
Infotech literate Infotech superliterate
Fast decisions Superfast decisions
Can handle ambiguity Thrives on ambiguity
A paragon of good judgment Also a paragon of good judgment
Average age: fifty-seven Average age: thirty-five
Rich Really rich
Source: Adapted from Fortune, 24 May 1999, p. 107. © 1999 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
What Managers Do ■ 7
Types of Managers
There are different types of managers. We may classify managers based on their
organization level (top, middle, first-line), their position (manager, director, or vice
8 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
president, for instance), and their functional title (such as sales manager or vice
president for finance). (Function refers in this instance to business function, such
as sales, accounting, production, and human resources.)
In Figure 1.1, the managers at the top level, of course, are the firm’s top man-
executives: the managers at agement. These are the company’s executives. Typical positions here are presi-
the top of an organization dent, senior vice president, and executive vice president. Functional titles here
include senior vice president for sales and chief financial officer (CFO).
Beneath the top management level (and reporting to it) may be one or more
levels of middle managers. The positions here usually include the words man-
ager or director in the titles. (In larger companies like IBM, managers report to
F IGURE 1.1
Types of Managers
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
TOP
President
MANAGEMENT
Vice President for Sales
Advertising Director
MIDDLE Sales Director
MANAGEMENT Production Director
Director Director Manager Personnel (HR) Manager
Production Supervisor
Manager Supervisor
FIRST-LINE Sales Manager
MANAGEMENT Assistant HR
Supervisor Supervisor Manager
Non-supervisory Employees
What Managers Do ■ 9
directors, who in turn report to top managers like vice presidents.) Examples of
functional titles here include production manager, sales director, human re-
first-line managers: sources (HR) manager, and finance manager. Finally, first-line managers are at
managers at the lowest rung of the lowest rung of the management ladder. Positions here include supervisor or
the management ladder assistant manager. Functional titles include production supervisor and assistant
marketing manager.
● Personality and Interests Career counseling expert John Holland says that
personality (including values, motives, and needs) is an important determinant
of career choice. Specifically, he says that six basic personal orientations
determine the sorts of careers to which people are drawn. Research with his Voca-
tional Preference Test (VPT) suggests that almost all successful managers fit into at
least one of two (or both) personality types or orientations:
◗ Social orientation. Social people are attracted to careers that involve working
with others in a helpful or facilitative way. (So managers as well as others, like
clinical psychologists and social workers, would exhibit this orientation.) So-
cially oriented people usually find it easy to talk with all kinds of people; are good
at helping people who are upset or troubled; are skilled at explaining things to
others; and enjoy doing social things like helping others with their personal
problems, teaching, and meeting new people.23 It’s hard to be a manager if you’re
not comfortable dealing with people.
◗ Enterprising orientation. Enterprising people tend to like working with people in
a supervisory or persuasive way. They like influencing others. Enterprising peo-
ple often characterize themselves as being good public speakers, as having repu-
tations for being able to deal with difficult people, as successfully organizing the
10 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
work of others, and as being ambitious and assertive. They enjoy influencing
others, selling things, serving as officers of groups, and supervising the work of
others. Managers need to be comfortable influencing others.
Technical Skills
First, managers have to be technically competent with respect to planning, organ-
izing, leading, and controlling. For example, they should know how to develop
a plan, write a job description, and design an incentive plan. Chapters 2 to 17
focus on these management skills. In today’s high-tech environment, managers
also must know when and how to use the manager’s new technological tools.
Chapters 5, 6, and 8 focus on these skills, for example, on how managers use
decision-making software. Finally, managers should be competent in their areas
of expertise. For example, accounting managers need accounting skills. Your other
business courses will help develop these latter skills.
Interpersonal Skills
Researchers at The Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina,
studied why managers fail, and they came to some useful conclusions. Some man-
agers simply didn’t do their jobs. These managers thought more about being pro-
moted than about excelling on their current jobs.29 However, most of the failures
were interpersonal. These managers had abusive or insensitive styles, disagreed
with upper management about how to run the business, left a trail of bruised feel-
ings, or didn’t resolve conflicts among subordinates.
Second, managers must therefore have good interpersonal skills. Interper-
sonal skills “include knowledge about human behavior and group processes,
ability to understand the feelings, attitudes, and motives of others, and ability to
communicate clearly and persuasively.”30 These skills include tact and diplomacy,
empathy, persuasiveness, and oral communications ability. Because managing in
today’s Internet environment requires getting employees and alliance partners to
work together, encouraging collaboration and trust is also crucial. Chapters 13 to
17 will help you learn these skills.
Conceptual Skills
Third, studies also show that effective leaders tend to have more cognitive ability.
In other words, their intelligence (and subordinates’ perception of that intelli-
gence) tend to be highly rated.31 Conceptual (or cognitive) skills “include analyti-
cal ability, logical thinking, concept formation, and inductive reasoning.”32
Conceptual skills manifest themselves in good judgment, creativity, and in the
ability to see the big picture in a situation.
Intelligence is one thing; good judgment is another. Many high-IQ people
have wobbly judgment. And many people of lower IQ have great judgment.
As Lawrence Bossidy puts it, “If you have to choose between someone with a
12 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
staggering IQ and elite education who is gliding along, and someone with a lower
IQ but who is absolutely determined to succeed, you’ll always do better with the
second person.”33 Chapter 5 will help you hone conceptual skills.
● Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and Motion Study The work of this
husband-and-wife team also illustrates the classical/scientific manage-
ment approach. Born in 1868, Frank Gilbreth began as an apprentice
bricklayer, and he soon became intrigued by the idea of improving effi-
ciency.38 In 1904, he married Lillian, who had a background in psychol-
ogy. Together, they invented motion-study principles to scientifically
analyze tasks. Two principles were “The two hands should begin and
complete their motions at the same time,” and “The two hands should
not be idle at the same time except during rest periods.”39
● Max Weber and the Bureaucracy Max Weber’s work was first published in
Germany in 1921. At the time, managers still had few principles they could apply
in managing organizations. Weber therefore created the concept of an ideal or
bureaucracy: to Max Weber, pure form of organization, which he called bureaucracy. Bureaucracy, for Weber,
the ideal way to organize and was the most efficient form of organization. Managers, he said, would do well to
manage an organization; organize their companies along these lines:
generally viewed today as a term
reflecting an unnecessarily rigid 1. A well-defined hierarchy of authority
and mechanical way of getting
things done 2. A clear division of work
3. A system of rules covering the rights and duties of all employees
4. A system of procedures for dealing with the work situation
5. Impersonality of interpersonal relationships
6. Selection for employment and promotion based on technical competence.41
By the 1920s, things were changing. People moved from farms to cities and
became more dependent on each other for goods and services. Businesses mech-
anized their factories, and jobs became more specialized, monotonous, and inter-
dependent.42 The Great Depression began. These events made people wonder: Are
hard work, individualism, and maximizing profits—the building blocks of classical
management—really as beneficial as they were thought to be? Soon, government
became more involved in economic matters. Social reformers worked both at
establishing a minimum wage and at encouraging trade unions.
● The Hawthorne Studies In 1927, what we call today the Hawthorne studies
began at the Chicago Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric Company. Re-
searchers from Harvard University conducted several studies, one of which is
known as the relay assembly test room studies. The researchers isolated a group of
workers in a separate room. Then the researchers began changing the working con-
ditions (for instance, modifying the length of the workday and the morning and af-
ternoon rest breaks). Surprisingly, these changes did not greatly affect the workers’
performance. The researchers concluded that employee performance depended on
factors other than working conditions or pay—a stunning discovery at the time.
In short, the researchers found that it was the workers’ social situations, not
just their working conditions, that influenced how they behaved at work. Most no-
tably, the researchers discovered that their study had inadvertently made the
workers feel they were special. The research observer had changed the workers’
situation by “his personal interest in the girls and their problems.”43 Scientists call
this phenomenon the Hawthorne effect. It’s what happens when the scientist, in
the course of an experiment, inadvertently influences the participants.
The Hawthorne studies were a turning point in the study of management.
They proved that employee morale and showing an interest in employees had a
big effect on employee performance. The human relations movement, inspired by
this realization, was born. It emphasized that workers had social needs that the
organization had to accommodate.
● Changing Environment Hawthorne wasn’t the only reason for this new
point of view: the environment was also changing. Having grown large and then
made their companies more efficient, many managers were turning to research
and development (R&D) to develop new products. For example, after World War II,
companies such as U.S. Rubber and B.F. Goodrich (which had concentrated on tire
manufacturing) began developing and marketing new products such as latex,
plastics, and flooring.
The new R&D and product diversification influenced management theory in
several ways. For one thing, efficiency was no longer a manager’s only concern.
With more diversified product lines to keep track of, managers had to decentralize—
that is, set up separate divisions to manage each new product. That meant relying
on these new divisions’ managers and employees to make more decisions. And
with the need to encourage employees to innovate, managers had to let even
lower-level employees make more decisions. Thus, because of the Hawthorne
findings and the other changes taking place after World War II, managers started
taking a much more people-oriented approach to managing employees.
● Chris Argyris and the Mature Individual Chris Argyris reached similar
conclusions, but he approached the situation differently.47 Argyris argued that
Chris Argyris established healthy people go through a maturation process. Gaining employees’ compliance
many of the principles that by assigning them to highly specialized jobs with no decision-making power and
led managers to take a more then closely supervising them encourages workers to be dependent, passive,
people-oriented view of how and subordinate. He said that it’s better and more natural to give workers more
to manage organizations. responsibility and broader jobs.
● The Management Science Approach Historian Daniel Wren says that op-
erations research/management science has “. . . roots in scientific management.”52
Like Taylor and the Gilbreths, today’s management scientists use research and
analysis to find optimal solutions to management problems. Modern-day manage-
ment scientists, of course, use much more sophisticated mathematical tools
and computers. And management science’s goal is not to try to find a “science
of management” but “to use scientific analysis and tools to solve management
problems.”
● The Systems Approach Management science evolved along with the sys-
tems approach. A system is an entity—a hospital, city, company, or person, for
instance—that has interdependent parts (or subsystems) and a purpose. Systems-
approach practitioners advocate viewing organizations as systems with interre-
lated subsystems. Focusing on the interrelatedness of the subsystems (and between
the subsystems and the firm’s environment) provides useful insights. For exam-
ple, it suggests that a manager can’t change one subsystem without affecting the
rest. Hiring a new production manager might have repercussions in the sales and
accounting departments.
Similarly, according to systems experts, managers can’t properly organize and
manage their companies without understanding the firms’ environments. For ex-
ample, when the tire companies diversified into new products, they abruptly faced
more diverse markets and competitors. That prompted these companies to split
themselves into separate divisions so each division could focus on its own market.
That got management experts thinking that the organization and how you
manage it must be contingent (rely) on the environment.
globalization: the extension ● Competition Is Global Globalization refers to extending a company’s sales,
of a firm’s sales, ownership, or ownership, and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad.55 Toyota produces the
manufacturing to new markets Camry in Kentucky, while Dell produces and sells personal computers in China.
abroad
In 2006, Google extended its reach into China by instituting its new Google China
instant messenger service. Free trade areas—agreements that reduce tariffs and
barriers among trading partners—further encourage international trade.
More globalization means more competition, and more competition means
more pressure to improve—to lower costs; to make employees more productive;
and to do things better, faster, and less expensively. When Carrefour opens stores
in Chile, the local retailers either improve or leave. Similarly, Ikea changed the
18 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
ground rules for local U.S. furniture stores when it opened in New Jersey. As one
expert says, “The bottom line is that the growing integration of the world economy
into a single, huge marketplace is increasing the intensity of competition in a wide
range of manufacturing and service industries.”56
Managers react in various ways. Some, like Levi Strauss, outsource or transfer
operations abroad to seek cheaper labor and to tap what Fortune magazine calls
“a vast new supply of skilled labor around the world.”57 Others, as we’ll see, adapt
by applying world-class management practices. Many of these practices, such as
flexible manufacturing and computerized links between a company and its sup-
pliers, rely on technology.
● The Nature of Work In turn, using new technology to the fullest usually re-
quires changing how people work. For example, one bank installed special software
that made it easier for customer-service representatives to handle customers’
inquiries. Seeking to capitalize on the new software, the bank upgraded the
customer-service representatives’ responsibilities. The bank gave them new train-
ing, taught them how to sell more of the bank’s services,
gave them more authority to make decisions, and
raised their wages. Here, the new computer system
improved profitability.
A second bank installed a similar system but did
not change the workers’ jobs. Here, the system did help
each service representative handle a few more calls.
But this second bank saw few of the performance gains
that the first bank did by turning its reps into moti-
vated, highly trained salespeople.60
As Microsoft Corporation chair Bill Gates put it, “In
the new organization, the worker is no longer a cog in a
machine but is an intelligent part of the overall process.
Welders at some steel jobs now have to know algebra
and geometry to figure weld angles from computer-
generated designs.”61 This means managers must
be skilled at managing knowledge work and human
Managers need a new approach when managing knowledge capital.62 Knowledge work is work that depends on
workers like the person pictured here. employees’ training, knowledge, and expertise. Human
The Evolution of Modern Management ■ 19
capital refers to the sum total of all the knowledge, education, training, skills, and
expertise of a firm’s workers.63 Today, “the center of gravity in employment is mov-
ing fast from manual and clerical workers to knowledge workers, who resist the
command and control model that business took from the military 100 years
ago.”64 In other words, managers need new principles and tools for managing
knowledge workers.
F IGURE 1.2
Why Companies Need to Be More Flexible and World Class
Factors including globalized competition, technology revolution, new competitors, and changing
tastes produce more uncertainty, more choices, and more complexity. The result is that
organizations must be responsive, smaller, flatter, and oriented toward motivating knowledge
workers.
Managing Now
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE I nformation technology is now a familiar aspect of our lives. We use computers,
e-mail, software, cell phones, iPods, fax machines, flash drives, scanners, and
BlackBerries© to assist with our daily chores. We search for travel information on
Expedia, download airline tickets, and register for and take college courses online.
Computerized diagnostic tools analyze our autos’ problems, point-of-sale com-
puters at Zara process our credit-card purchases, and computerized traffic-flow
systems control our trips to work.
twenty-two countries use these bulletin boards to get updates on matters such as
how to handle specialized projects on which they are working.
◗ The team that developed the Boeing 787 made extensive use of videoconferenc-
ing for meeting with engine suppliers and airlines around the world to discuss
the new aircraft’s design.
◗ Managers make extensive use of mySpace.com-like virtual online communities.
For example, to win a $300 million navy ship deal, Lockheed-Martin established
a virtual design environment with two major shipbuilders via a private intranet.
Eventually, about 200 global suppliers also connected to the network via special,
secure Internet links. This allowed secure transfer of design, project manage-
ment, and even financial data back and forth via simple browser access.
◗ Procter & Gamble’s R&D executive, Larry Huston, knew his firm had to reach out
to get more and better new-product ideas. Procter & Gamble (P&G) now uses var-
ious information technology tools to connect itself to various sources of new-
product ideas. For example, InnovationNet is an intranet Web portal for 18,000
Procter & Gamble innovators in research and development, engineering, market
research, purchasing, and patents. One P&G senior vice president calls it a sort of
global lunchroom. It lets 18,000 P&G employees worldwide exchange ideas.
◗ With about 10,000 stores and 34 million transactions a week, Seattle-based Star-
bucks Coffee Company’s managers must make sure they stay in control of what’s
happening at each of their stores. That’s why Starbucks uses a global informa-
tion technology system to monitor transactions in each of its stores. Its system
(called XPR) remotely monitors an assortment of metrics at each store. XPR then
triggers reports when any of the metrics for a store seem to be moving in un-
usual ways. For example, the system monitors point-of-sale activities and then
triggers reports if a particular register seems to be recording too many free re-
fills. That helps Starbucks’s executives stay in control, even from thousands of
miles away.
◗ Aiming to improve its service, Safeway Supermarkets installed special point-
of-sale computerized registers. Their suppliers now get real-time information
regarding sales of their products, which they need in order to replenish Safeway’s
shelves using just-in-time inventory management. Some Safeway customers
receive handheld devices in order to communicate to Safeway, prior to leaving
home, the items they need to purchase.
◗ Wal-Mart recently had its top 100 suppliers start attaching radio frequency iden-
tification (RFID) tags to shipments. These help Wal-Mart and its supply chain
partners keep track of inventory as it moves from manufacturer to warehouse to
stores.79
◗ Information technology is critical to UPS’s success. Its drivers use handheld
computers to capture customers’ signatures along with pickup, delivery, and
time-card information and automatically transmit this information back to
headquarters via a wireless telephone network. UPS and its customers can
then monitor and control the progress of packages throughout the delivery
process.
◗ Caterpillar Corporation needed a better way for its employees to share their
knowledge. The company recently introduced its Knowledge Network, a Web-
based system that Caterpillar employees use to collaborate and share knowledge.
Managing Now ■ 23
Using the Knowledge Network, Caterpillar employees can more easily communi-
cate and participate in chatroom-type discussions, and post best ideas on
community bulletin boards.
◗ A “digital dashboard” presents the manager with computerized desktop graphs
and charts so he or she can get a picture of where the company has been and
where it’s going. For example, a top manager’s dashboard for Southwest Airlines
might display daily trends for activities such as airplane turnaround time,
attracting and keeping customers, and on-time flights. This keeps the manager
in control. For example, if ground crews are turning planes around slower today,
financial results tomorrow may decline unless the manager takes action.
decision support system ● Decision Support Systems A decision support system (DSS) is a set of
(DSS): a set of computerized computerized tools that helps managers make decisions. The DSS helps the man-
tools that helps managers make ager make decisions in two ways. It helps that person access the data he or she
decisions
needs (for instance, on which products sold best last year). And it provides user-
friendly software to analyze that data.
After hitting turbulence in the 1990s, J. Crew sold out to its departments. They started with financial systems and
Texas Pacific Group, which brought in The Gap Inc.’s for- then moved on to human resources and inventory man-
mer CEO Millard Drexler to turn the company around. agement and replenishment.
One of Drexler’s first steps was to articulate a new plan The new enterprise system made J. Crew a more
for J. Crew, which had struggled with an identity crisis for agile and efficient company. For example, by automating its
several years. Drexler took J. Crew back to its preppy purchase order system, J. Crew reduced the time required
roots and also began offering more upscale merchandise, to fill an order and get it to the store by about three
including $550 tuxedo jackets for men. weeks. More important, the new system gives J. Crew’s
However, Drexler knew that in the increasingly com- headquarters merchandise managers and buyers a real-
petitive retail industry, having the right image was not time view of what’s selling and what’s not. This changed
enough. J. Crew was now competing with huge multina- the firm’s whole planning system. Previously, it took two
tional companies like Zara, H&M, and, in some markets, to three days for J. Crew’s buyers and merchandisers to
even with Target and Wal-Mart. Companies like these had find out what was selling in each store. That made it im-
hugely efficient information technology-based systems. At possible to accurately gauge exactly what to design and
Target, for instance, every time an item moved through a produce. Now, sales and inventory data move digitally
point-of-sale register, digital signals went out to its suppli- from every store to headquarters every night. As Fusco
ers and transportation companies, automatically signaling says, “[I]t’s so important when the buyers and merchan-
them to replenish the items. Zara’s technology systems disers arrive each morning for them to have a complete
were, in a way, even more impressive. Zara does almost all view of what’s sold the previous day . . . having a better
its own designing and manufacturing in its plant in Spain. view of yesterday helps our merchants to make more
When it receives the overnight digital signals about what informed decisions.”80
customers are buying each day, management springs into Millard Drexler’s J. Crew turnaround has been a huge
action. Zara then quickly designs, produces, and delivers success. For 2005, J. Crew had profits of $3.8 million, com-
to each store similar, complementary items. Drexler knew pared with a loss of just over $100 million in the previous
J. Crew’s success depended in part on installing such man- year. And in July 2006, J. Crew’s new owners sold off some
agement information systems. of their stock in one of the largest initial public offerings in
J. Crew’s new chief intelligence officer (CIO) Paul the previous five years, raising about $350 million. In three
Fusco decided to install an enterprise system from one of years, Drexler had turned the company around, using
the largest suppliers of such systems, SAP. J. Crew began effective management skills supported by information
by installing separate SAP enterprise modules for each of technology.
Practice IT feature shows how Millard Drexler used an enterprise system to help
supply chain management
systems: systems to help a turn J. Crew around.
company manage its
relationship with its suppliers ● Supply Chain Management Systems Supply chain management systems
and retailers by providing help the company manage its relationship with its suppliers and retailers. They
information to help suppliers, provide information to help suppliers, purchasing firms, distributors, and
purchasing firms, distributors, logistics/transportation companies coordinate, schedule, and control a company’s
and logistics/transportation
procurement, production, inventory management, and delivery services. For
companies coordinate, schedule,
and control a company’s many firms today, much of their fame rests on their supply chain management
procurement, production, systems. Target keeps its costs famously low largely because its point-of-sale com-
inventory management, and puters automatically notify vendors like Levi’s and P&G when it’s time to replace
delivery services merchandise.
Managing Now ■ 25
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Virtual Integration at Dell Computer
Michael Dell built Dell Computer by using supply chain more. Computerized information from Dell continually
and customer relationship technology to “blur the tradi- updates suppliers regarding the number of components
tional boundaries . . . among suppliers, manufacturers, and they should deliver every morning.The outside suppliers
the end users.”81 thus actually start to look and act more like an inside part
For most computer companies, the manufacturing of Dell. Similarly, instead of stocking its own monitors,
process is like a relay race: components come in from sup- “[w]e tell Airborne Express or UPS to come to Austin and
pliers, these components are assembled into computers, pick up 10,000 computers a day and go over to the Sony
and the computers are then handed off for distribution factory in Mexico and pick up the corresponding number
through wholesalers and retailers (such as CompUSA) to of monitors. And while we’re all sleeping, they match up
the ultimate customers. Dell’s system changes all that. For the computers and the monitors, and deliver them to the
example, Dell interacts with and sells to customers directly, customers . . . [O]f course, this requires sophisticated data
so it eliminates the activities of the wholesalers and retailers exchange.”82
in the traditional distribution chain. The result of this virtual integration is a lean, efficient,
Virtual integration—linking Dell with its suppliers and fast-moving operation. It can turn on a dime when the
and customers via the Internet—speeds things up even products demanded by customers change.
What’s to Come
T hroughout history, some things in management have not and will not quickly
change. Managers still plan, organize, lead, and control. And they still deal
with people—communicating, leading, appraising, and coaching them.
This is a book on management; therefore, we focus on what managers should
know about planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, and dealing with peo-
ple. However, we have seen that managers now manage in a fast-changing and
highly competitive global environment. To succeed here, managers simply have
no choice but to effectively use information technology (IT) devices and systems,
including software systems, cell phones, RFIDs, and PDAs. We therefore include in
this book many examples of the Internet and IT tools that managers use today to
plan, organize, lead, and control. We place some of these examples, like the ac-
companying one on Dell Computer (on page 25), in the Practice IT and Window on
Managing Now features.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. An organization consists of people who have for- 6. Almost everything a manager does involves inter-
mally assigned roles and who must work together acting with and influencing people. The bottom
to achieve the organization’s goals. Organizations line is that the leading, or people, side of what
needn’t be just business firms. managers do is not just another step in the
management process; it is an integral part of the
2. Organizations are run by managers. A manager is
manager’s job.
someone who plans, organizes, leads, and controls
the people and the work of the organization so that 7. Managers and their organizations now confront
the organization achieves its goals. rapid change and intense competition. Trends
contributing to this include globalization, techno-
3. Management writers traditionally refer to the
logical advances, and an emphasis on knowledge
manager’s four basic functions of planning, organ-
work.
izing, leading, and controlling as the management
process. 8. Modern management theorists’ prescriptions for
streamlined, agile, lean, faster-acting companies
4. We can classify managers based on organizational
would be hard to achieve without information
level (top, middle, first-line), position (executives,
technology. Information technology (IT) refers to
managers or directors, supervisors), and func-
any processes, practices, or systems that facilitate
tional title (vice president of production, sales
processing and transporting information.
manager). All managers get their work done
through people and by planning, organizing, lead- 9. Information system refers to the interrelated com-
ing, and controlling. Top managers spend more ponents working together to collect, process, store,
time planning and setting goals. Lower-level man- and disseminate information to support decision
agers concentrate on implementing goals and making, coordination, analysis, and visualization
getting employees to achieve them. in an organization. Managerial information sys-
tems support managerial decision making and
5. Managers play other roles too—for instance, fig-
control.
urehead, leader, liaison, spokesperson, negotiator.
They also engage in entrepreneurial, competence-
building, and renewal processes.
Experiential Exercises ■ 27
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Is your professor responsible for managing this 7. What accounts for the fact that companies must be
class? Why or why not? agile today?
2. Is your management class an organization? Why or 8. List ten examples of information technology you
why not? would typically expect to deal with on the job.
3. Give examples of each of the four functions of 9. What information technology tools do you use?
management. List at least three ways in which managers
4. Give examples of top, middle, and first-level man- use these for planning, organizing, leading, or
agers at your college or university. controlling.
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Most people tend to think of organizations as the following questions: (a) In a university in which
pyramid-shaped hierarchies, with authority and students evaluate the faculty and the faculty is “the
decision making flowing from the top down. The boss” when it comes to deciding on new programs,
boss gives the orders, and the employee does the how can you determine who the “managers” and
work. As this chapter points out, today’s changing “employees” are? (b) What five specific recent envi-
environment demands new forms of organization. ronmental trends do you think have had the most
In a team of four to five students, graphically de- pronounced effect on the methods used to manage
pict some of the newer organizational designs your college or university today? (c) List several
mentioned in this chapter. First, draw the shapes ways in which you believe these trends have influ-
you think represent the organization charts of the enced the way in which the college or university’s
new team-focused organizations. Then write a managers plan, organize, lead, and control.
brief (one- to two-page) summary describing what
3. Write a short essay on this topic: the tasks I’ve per-
you have drawn and what you think the implica-
formed that I most enjoyed, was proudest of, and
tions of these designs are for planning, organizing,
was most successful at. (Perhaps, if you’re lucky,
leading, and controlling organizations today.
one task fills the bill!) Now do the same for the task
2. While most organizations do tend to be hierarchies or tasks you least enjoyed, were least proud of, and
with bosses telling employees what to do, colleges were least successful at. Now answer this question:
and universities have long been somewhat differ- based on what you know about what managers do
ent. For example, many universities traditionally and what it takes to be a manager, do you think you
have faculty senates that make decisions about have what it takes to be a manager?
what new programs to approve, and on what bases
the university will evaluate and appraise profes-
sors. Similarly, many universities have students
evaluate the faculty—still an unusual arrangement
even in progressive companies. As a team, answer
28 PART ONE CHAPTER 1 Managing and the Evolution of Management
CASE STUDY
No Rules, Just Right
hris Sullivan and the founders of Outback Steak- for a minimum of five years, and a work environment
C house, Inc., developed a unique vision for a restaurant
concept and the management system that would make
serving dinner only. Outback’s unique employment
benefits aren’t just for management. Recently, the
it work. Having worked for other chain restaurants in company rolled out a benefits program for part-time
the past, Sullivan and his team wanted to do things very employees. In contrast to many other companies, the
differently. They wanted a restaurant that was a fun less you make at Outback, the less you are required to
place for employees to work. pay for health insurance.
Sullivan and his cofounders had originally planned Sullivan insists that one key for a successful restau-
to build just a few restaurants and then play a lot of rant is for the local team to have fun. Local Outback
golf. Things didn’t work out that way. The company managers have noted that one of the first questions
they created captured the imagination and appetites CEO Sullivan asks them when visiting their location is,
of the public. Within its first six years, Outback “Are you still having fun?” Management’s casual style
Steakhouse had become the fastest-growing restaurant and its fiercely entrepreneurial culture echo the corpo-
chain in the casual-dining segment of the restaurant rate motto: “No rules, just right.”
industry. Outback’s management team took the com-
pany public. It has won numerous awards for business
growth, including Entrepreneur of the Year awards DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
from both Inc. magazine and the Kauffman (Entrepre-
1. Based on this case, what management roles does
neurship) Foundation.
Sullivan fulfill?
Part of Outback’s success has come from its un-
orthodox management system. First, Sullivan and his 2. List at least ten specific management tasks Sullivan
colleagues wanted restaurateurs to be able to make a will have to attend to in a typical week.
career as store managers. In many restaurant chains,
3. Is Sullivan using a classical or a behavioral man-
the best-paying positions are in the corporate office,
agement approach, and why do you think he is
not directly serving customers. Top store managers in
doing so, given his environment and situation?
those systems leave the restaurant to move to corpo-
rate to make a good salary. 4. What environmental forces are acting to influence
To attract managers, Outback offered very strong Outback’s business and management style, for
financial packages (in many cases offering the manager good or for ill?
equity in the local restaurant), assignment to a location
ETHICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES 2
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Sarbanes-
M anagers today run big legal risks if they don’t manage their compa-
nies ethically.1 For example, the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act now
requires that publicly traded companies’ CEOs and CFOs personally
Oxley Act of 2002
● Ethics in an Age of
Information Technology
certify the accuracy of their companies’ financial statements and that Ethics and the Law
● What Influences Ethical
their firms’ internal controls are adequate.2 This means the managers
Behavior at Work?
must be able to show they’ve done their best to ensure that all their Individual Factors
employees are acting ethically. Organizational Factors
To do this, managers must ● Encouraging Ethical
Behavior at Work
provide employee ethics training Publish an Ethics Code
(among other things) and prove What Managers Do to Encourage
that employees actually got Ethical Behavior
IMPROVING YOUR ETHICS-
trained. However, offering and BUILDING SKILLS
following up on such training Managing Now: Using Information
Technology to Encourage Ethical
programs can be expensive,
Behavior
particularly when hundreds of WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
employees are involved. So when Complying with Sarbanes-Oxley
and Other Regulations
DTE Energy needed ethics train- PRACTICE IT: DTE Energy’s
ing for its 14,000 employees, its Web-Based Ethics Training System
managers wanted a cost-effective ● Social Responsibility Now
program.What should they do? Franklin Raines, the CEO of the Business Social Responsibility Defined
Roundtable business association, leads a To Whom Is the Company Responsible?
You should have a good answer group of managers in an ethics training Why Are Companies Socially
after reading this chapter. ■ program. Responsible?
How to Improve the Company’s Social
Responsiveness
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
● Managing Diversity
After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Bases for Diversity
Barriers in Dealing with Diversity
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by How to Manage Diversity
➤ Explaining what is meant by ethical behavior. Recruiting a More Diverse Workforce
➤ Describing the organizational factors that influence ethical behavior at work.
➤ Listing five ways in which a supervisor can personally improve the ethical behavior of
his or her subordinates.
➤ Answering the question,“To whom is the company responsible?”
➤ Listing the bases for diversity.
29
30 PART ONE CHAPTER 2 Ethical and Social Issues
● Ethical or Not? Sometimes it’s clear what the ethical thing to do is, but often
it is not. Sometimes it’s fairly clear. One guideline is that if the decision makes the
person feel ashamed or remorseful, or involves a matter of serious consequence
such as murder, then chances are it is unethical. For example, you are the pur-
chasing manager, and your biggest supplier offers you a $10,000 all-expenses-paid
trip to play golf in Scotland, but asks you not to tell your boss. Most people would
(rightly) assume that taking the trip is unethical.
On the other hand, many ethical decisions are judgment calls, and here it’s not
so clear what is ethical and what is not. Conflicts of interest often fall in this cate-
gory. Conflicts of interest arise when someone who represents Party A in dealings
with Party B has a hidden relationship with Party B. For example, a big supplier
(who you know your firm is thinking of dropping in favor of another) offers you
(the purchasing manager) some help in getting admitted to a graduate program by
Ethics in an Age of Information Technology ■ 31
calling his friend, the dean. What would you do? Similarly, some doctors accept
expensive free dinners and trips from drug companies, although they contend
(perhaps correctly) that accepting those gifts cannot affect whether and how
much they prescribe those companies’ drugs.
There are countless other ethical judgment calls. For example, at election
time, many newspapers size up the accuracy and honesty of political ads. How far
can a candidate (or company) go in embellishing the truth or stating facts out of
context in ads? It’s an ethical judgment call. As another example, most people
would say that lying is bad. But if a person who plans to cause harm asks you
where his victim is, would lying still be bad? Perhaps not.5 The fact that ethics may
be situational complicates things even more. For example, bribery in some coun-
tries is so widespread that people in those countries don’t view it as wrong.
F IGURE 2.1
The Wall Street Journal Workplace Ethics Quiz
The spread of technology into the workplace has raised a variety of new ethical questions, and
many old ones still linger.
1. Is it wrong to use company e-mail 7. What’s the value at which a gift from a 15. Due to on-the-job pressure, have you
for personal reasons? supplier or client becomes troubling? ever abused or lied about sick days?
Yes No $25 $50 $100 Yes No
2. Is it wrong to use office equipment 8. Is a $50 gift to a boss unacceptable? 16. Due to on-the-job pressure, have
to help your children or spouse do you ever taken credit for someone
schoolwork? Yes No
else’s work or idea?
Yes No 9. Is a $50 gift FROM the boss Yes No
unacceptable?
3. Is it wrong to play computer games on
Yes No
office equipment during the workday?
Yes No 10. Of gifts from suppliers: Is it OK to
take a $200 pair of football tickets?
4. Is it wrong to use office equipment
Yes No
to do Internet shopping?
Yes No 11. Is it OK to take a $120 pair of
theater tickets?
5. Is it unethical to blame an error you
Yes No
made on a technological glitch?
Yes No 12. Is it OK to take a $100 holiday food
basket?
6. Is it unethical to visit pornographic
Yes No
Web sites using office equipment?
Yes No 13. Is it OK to take a $25 gift certificate?
Yes No
SOURCE: Adapted from Wall Street Journal, 21 October 1999, pp. 81–84. Ethics Officer Association, Belmont, Mass.: Ethics Leadership Group,Wilmette, Ill. Surveys sampled a
cross-section of workers at large companies and nationwide.
● Privacy and IT As the Managing Now section notes, privacy is now more of a
concern than in the past because information technology facilitates collecting,
processing, and disseminating vast quantities of employee and consumer informa-
cookies: small files deposited tion.12 For example, websites use cookies to track users’ online behavior. They do
on a visitor’s hard drive to track this to see which targeted ads are most effective and to maintain passwords and
the person’s visits other personalization features at many websites.13
Most consumers don’t like cookies. For example, in a survey, 64 percent of 150
Internet users said cookies represented an invasion of their privacy. Fifty-two per-
cent disable cookies before using the Web. About 39 percent delete cookies on a
weekly basis, and 25 percent do so monthly.14 DoubleClick Inc. uses cookies to
Ethics in an Age of Information Technology ■ 33
track users’ online habits. Several years ago, it created controversy by matching
identifiable personal information with previously anonymous user profiles.15
Cookie-related ethical issues can be tricky. For example, if a consumer willingly
sends a website personal information, then collecting that information is ethical.
On the other hand, a monitoring program that secretly gathers this information to
use for identity theft is unethical. But suppose the person willingly gives informa-
tion to one site. That site then sells it to another site, which in turn uses it to pro-
mote its own Web services to the individual. In this situation, it isn’t clear that what
the websites did was ethical or not.16
Two events brought the privacy/ethics issue into focus for many people. Pas-
sage of the post-9/11 Patriot Act basically entails a tradeoff of some privacy for
added security. However, some in Congress argued that the government’s moni-
toring of some domestic phone calls without judicial consent was both illegal and
unethical. Others questioned whether librarians should have to transfer user lists
to law enforcement officials.
Similarly, passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) affected many people. This act established national standards for
maintaining and electronically transferring patients’ health-care information. It
stemmed in part from concerns that the health-care industry was not doing
enough to protect patients’ privacy.17
● Reducing IT’s Ethical Concerns Technical and legal safeguards can reduce
piracy, privacy, and security concerns up to a point. For example, techniques for
improving security include encrypting e-mail messages, installing firewalls and
antivirus software, instituting access control techniques for preventing unautho-
rized access, making the computer itself physically secure by using passwords,
attaching a privileged notice to each e-mail, and using digital signatures on
e-mails.
However, most ethical issues come back to the ethics of people. What about the
entrepreneur who’s thinking of saving some money by illegally duplicating a pro-
gram for his or her employees to use? Or, say, the employee whose company is
monitoring his or her e-mail messages, or the consumer who’s submitting personal
information to a website? In most cases, the ethics of those involved—the entre-
preneur, the people doing the monitoring, and those managing the website—are
the only real safeguards.
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Why would a star CFO do this?
Because, he said, he thought he was helping MCI: “I took these actions, knowing
they were wrong, in a misguided attempt to preserve the company to allow it to
withstand what I believed were temporary financial difficulties.”27
Managers can learn some lessons from MCI-WorldCom. Even gifted man-
agers fail if they make the wrong ethical choices. And even honest managers find it
easy to convince themselves that what they’re doing is not really wrong.
As the example from WorldCom shows, there is no simple answer to the ques-
tion, What influences ethical behavior at work? It is not just an issue of personal
honesty. Basically, to quote just one source, “[E]thical decisions are the result of
the interaction of the person and the situation.”28 Let us look more closely at what
this means.
Individual Factors
Certainly, people do bring to their jobs their own ideas of what is morally right and
wrong, and this influences what they do. Managers use a variety of devices, from
polygraph (lie detector) machines (now banned in most cases) to written honesty
tests to uncover such tendencies.
Personal ethical tendencies are important. For example, researchers surveyed
CEOs of manufacturing firms. The aim was to explain the CEOs’ intentions to
engage (or to not engage) in two questionable business practices: soliciting a
competitor’s technological secrets and making payments to foreign government
officials to secure business. The researchers concluded that the CEOs’ personal
tendencies more strongly affected their decisions than did environmental or orga-
nizational pressures.29
Several personal traits seem to predispose people to possibly making ethical
mistakes. Age is one factor. One study surveyed 421 employees to measure the
degree to which age, gender, marital status, education, dependent children,
region of the country, and years in business influenced responses to ethical
decisions. (Decisions included “doing personal business on company time” and
“calling in sick to take a day off for personal use.”) Older workers in general had
stricter interpretations of ethical standards and made more ethically sound
decisions than did younger employees. Other studies have found this ethical
generation gap.30
Researchers in another study asked graduate and undergraduate students to
complete a questionnaire containing eleven statements. Each statement de-
scribed a common but probably unethical behavior concerning intellectual prop-
erty. The good news was that the students did label as highly unethical those
behaviors that had to do with personal privacy or property theft. The bad news
was that those behaviors that had to do with theft of the company’s property or
privacy did not elicit the same negative reactions. Instead, the students tended to
be neutral about whether these behaviors were ethical or not.31
Another study focused on how different people react to protecting intellectual
property and privacy rights. Machiavellian personalities—those who took some
pleasure in manipulating others—were more likely to view ignoring the intellec-
tual property and privacy rights of others as acceptable.32
sum this up, “Corrupt individuals tend not to view themselves as corrupt.”33 They
rationalize their unethical acts as being somehow okay. As the president of the
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners puts it, people who have engaged in
corrupt acts “. . . excuse their actions to themselves, by viewing their crimes as
non-criminal, justified, or part of a situation which they do not control.”34
Table 2.135 summarizes six ways managers rationalize away the corruptness of
their corrupt acts. For example, consider the “appeal to higher loyalties” rational-
ization. Here the manager might say, “I’m doing this to protect the company.” In
one real example, three former executives pleaded guilty to federal charges in
what authorities then called the largest and longest accounting fraud in history;
the fraud had lasted for twelve years. The managers said they had done what they
did to keep their company’s stock price high.36
T ABLE 2.1
How Managers Rationalize Their Corrupt Behavior
Strategy Description Examples
Denial of responsibility The actors engaged in corrupt “What can I do? My arm is being twisted.”
behaviors perceive that they “It is none of my business what the
have no other choice than to corporation does in overseas bribery.”
participate in such activities.
Denial of injury The actors are convinced that “No one was really harmed.”
no one is harmed by their “It could have been worse.”
actions; hence, the actions
are not really corrupt.
Denial of victim The actors counter any blame for “They deserved it.”
their actions by arguing that “They chose to participate.”
the violated party deserved
whatever happened.
Social weighting The actors use two basic approaches “You have no right to criticize us.”
to reduce the perceived importance “Others are worse than we are.”
of corrupt behaviors: (1) condemn
the condemner and (2) selective
social comparison.
Appeal to higher loyalties The actors argue that their “We answered to a more important cause.”
violation of norms is due to “I would not report it because of my
their attempt to realize a loyalty to my boss.”
higher-order value.
Metaphor of the larger The actors rationalize that they “We’ve earned the right.”
are entitled to indulge in “It’s all right for me to use the Internet for
deviant behaviors because of personal reasons at work. After all, I
their accrued credits work overtime.”
(time and effort) in their jobs.
Source: Vikas Anand et al., “Business as Usual: The Acceptance and Perpetuation of Corruption in
Organizations,” Academy of Management Executive, 2004, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 41. Copyright 2004 by Academy of
Management (NY). Reproduced with permission of Academy of Management (NY) in the format Textbook via
Copyright Clearance Center.
What Influences Ethical Behavior at Work? ■ 37
Organizational Factors
In a famous study first conducted at Yale University some years ago, researcher
Stanley Milgram showed that, given the right situation, even ethical people do
unethical things.37 In this case, numerous undergraduate students were willing
to inflict what they erroneously thought was pain on fellow students in a mis-
guided effort to help the researcher conduct his study. One conclusion we can
draw is that misplaced loyalties distort peoples’ ethical choices. Most of the ap-
parently sadistic students felt they were, in effect, “just following orders.” A sec-
ond is that the organization and its leaders have a big influence on whether
people behave ethically. Pressure, the boss, and the firm’s culture are three such
factors.
T ABLE 2.2
Principal Causes of Ethical Compromises
Senior Middle Front-Line Professional Administrative, Hourly
Management Management Supervisor Nonmanagement Salaried Employees
Meeting schedule pressure 1 1 1 1 1 1
Meeting overly aggressive 3 2 2 2 2 2
financial or business
objectives
Helping the company 2 2 4 4 3 4
survive
Advancing the career 5 4 3 3 4 5
interests of my boss
Feeling peer pressure 7 7 5 6 5 3
Resisting competitive 4 5 6 5 6 7
threats
Saving jobs 9 6 7 7 7 6
Advancing my own career 8 9 9 8 9 8
or financial interests
Other 6 8 8 9 8 9
Source: O. C. Ferrell and John Fraedrich, Business Ethics, 3rd ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997), p. 28.
Adapted from Rebecca Goodell, Ethics in American Business: Policies, Programs, and Perceptions (Ethics
Resource Center, 1994), p. 54. Reprinted with permission of the Ethics Resource Center.
38 PART ONE CHAPTER 2 Ethical and Social Issues
● The Boss’s Influence The leader’s actions may be “the single most important
factor in fostering corporate behavior of a high ethical standard.”39 In other words,
employees tend to take their ethical signals from their bosses. Yet only about
27 percent of employees in one poll strongly agreed that their organizations’ lead-
ership is ethical.40 One writer gives these examples of how supervisors knowingly
(or unknowingly) lead subordinates astray ethically:
◗ Tell staffers to do whatever is necessary to achieve results.
When managers do set the wrong tone, it often starts at the top. The National
Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting concluded that “more than any
other key individual, the chief executive sets the tone at the top that affects
integrity and ethics and other factors of a positive, controlled environment.”42
Some top managers react to ethical crises in admirable ways. When he found
out that a rogue group of Procter & Gamble (P&G) investigators were going through
competitor Unilever’s garbage for information, former P&G CEO John Pepper was
reportedly shocked. He ordered the campaign to stop, and he fired the managers
responsible for hiring the spies. Then, he blew the whistle on his own company. He
had P&G inform Unilever of what his firm had done. Unilever demanded, among
other things, that Procter & Gamble retain a third-party auditor to make sure it does
not take advantage of the documents its spies stole from Unilever’s trash.43
● The Organizational Culture Employees also get signals about what is ac-
organizational culture: the ceptable behavior from the culture of the organization in which they work. We may
characteristic traditions, norms, define organizational culture as the characteristic traditions, norms, and values
and values that employees share employees share. Values are basic beliefs about what you should or shouldn’t do
and about what is and is not important. Google’s
founders famously wrote “Do no evil” in the firm’s
prospectus when they took their company public on
the stock market. They wanted “Do no evil” to be a
basic value or rule employees applied when making
decisions on behalf of Google.
Managers shape organizational cultures in many
ways. They do so consciously, for example, by using
symbols (such as incentives to reward ethical
behavior), offering stories about ethical employees,
and holding ceremonies to reward employees who did
the right thing. Writing the values up as rules or codes
(as Google did) also illustrates using symbols.
Managers sometimes shape culture unconsciously.
Thus, the manager who unthinkingly accepts expensive
dinners from a supplier in violation of company rules
may send the signal to subordinates that unethical be-
Google’s organizational culture. havior really isn’t that bad.
Encouraging Ethical Behavior at Work ■ 39
F IGURE 2.2 ■
Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum Business Code of Conduct
(www.cauxroundtable.org)
Codes of Conduct ■
Caux Round Table Principles for Business (www.cauxroundtable.org)
■
European Corporate Code of Conduct (European Union Parliament, www.europa.eu.int)
■
Fair Labor Association Workshop Code of Conduct (www.fairlabor.org)
■
Global Sullivan Principles (http://globalsullivanprinciples.org)
■
ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social
Policy (www.ilo.org)
■
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises—2000 (www.corporate-accountability.org)
■
OECD, Principles of Corporate Governance—2004 (www.oecd.org)
■
Rules of Conduct on Extortion and Bribery in International Business Transactions
(International Chamber of Commerce, www.iccwbo.org)
SOURCE: Adapted from Standards of
■
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (www.un.org)
Corporate Social Responsibility by Social
Venture Network, 1999, www.svn.org/.
40 PART ONE CHAPTER 2 Ethical and Social Issues
Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum) have corporate codes they expect
companies to follow. These codes generally do not carry the weight of law. How-
ever, they do set out what these countries view as acceptable corporate behavior.
As such, “. . . They are slowly defining the terms and conditions of a company’s
license to operate—around the world.”49
Businesspeople also hope that an antibribery treaty signed by thirty-four
trading nations will reduce the incidence of corruption. Some executives also ad-
vocate a global corporate ethics standard under the auspices of the International
Standards Organization (ISO). The ISO now provides international quality (ISO
9000) and environmental (ISO 14,000) standards. “We want a simple, effective way
to operate [ethically] internationally—one that meets all the criteria of doing
business overseas, whether it’s proving assurance of quality or ethical business
practices,” says one executive.50 ISO ethical standards would provide a detailed list
of criteria companies must meet to prove that they do business ethically.
Codes of conduct tend to include several common principles. After reviewing
various international codes of conduct, researchers concluded that most codes
address the eight principles listed in Figure 2.3.
F IGURE 2.3 I. Fiduciary principle: act as a fiduciary for the company and its investors.
Carry out the company’s business in a diligent and loyal manner, with the degree of
Eight Common Code of candor expected of a trustee.51
Conduct Principles
II. Property principle: respect property and the rights of those who own it.
Refrain from theft and misappropriation, avoid waste, and safeguard the property
entrusted to you.
III. Reliability principle: honor commitments. Be faithful to your word and follow through
on promises, agreements, and other voluntary undertakings, whether or not
embodied in a legally enforceable contract.
IV. Transparency principle: conduct business in a truthful and open manner. Refrain from
deceptive acts and practices, keep accurate records, and make timely disclosures of
material information while respecting the obligations of confidentiality and privacy.
V. Dignity principle: respect the dignity of all people. Protect the health, safety, privacy,
and human rights of others. Adopt practices that enhance human development of the
workplace, the marketplace, and the community.
VI. Fairness principle: engage in free and fair competition, deal with all parties fairly and
equitably, and practice nondiscrimination in employment and contracting.
VII. Citizenship principle: act as responsible citizens of the community. Respect the law,
protect public goods, cooperate with public authorities, avoid improper involvement in
politics and government, and contribute to community betterment.
VIII. Responsiveness principle: engage with parties who may have legitimate claims and
concerns relating to the company’s activities, and be responsive to public needs while
recognizing the government’s role and jurisdiction in protecting the public’s interest.
Encouraging Ethical Behavior at Work ■ 41
T ABLE 2.3
Six Steps to Effectively Implementing an Ethics Code
1. Distribute the code of ethics to all employees, subsidiaries, and associated
companies.
2. Assist employees in interpreting and understanding the application and intent
of the code.
3. Specify management’s role in the implementation of the code.
4. Inform employees of their responsibility to understand the code, and provide
them with the overall objectives of the code.
5. Establish grievance procedures.
6. Provide a conclusion or closing statement, such as this one from Cadbury
Schweppes: The character of the company is collectively in our hands. Pride in
what we do is important, and let us earn that pride by the way we put the
beliefs set out here into action.
Source: O. C. Ferrell and John Fraedrich, Business Ethics, 3rd ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997), p. 176.
Adapted from Walter W. Manley II, The Handbook of Good Business Practice (London: Routledge, 1992), p. 16.
It is customary for the firm to set forth its ethics code in the form of written
documents.52 Table 2.3 summarizes six steps for effectively implementing an
ethics code.
● Are Ethics Codes Effective? Enron was a large gas and power trading
company that basically imploded in the face of allegations of top management
misconduct. Eventually, several of its managers plead guilty. Yet Enron’s ethics
code was readily available on the company’s website. It said, among other things,
“As a partner in the communities in which we operate, Enron believes it has a re-
sponsibility to conduct itself according to certain basic principles.” Those values
include “respect, integrity, communication and excellence.”53
However, in most cases, ethics codes do have a positive impact on employees’
ethical behavior. One study consisted of interviews with 766 subjects over a
two-year period.54 The researchers drew two main conclusions. First,
Respondents who worked for companies having a code of ethics judge subor-
dinates, co-workers, themselves and especially supervisors and top managers
to be more ethical than respondents employed in organizations not having a
formal code of ethics. . . .55
Second, it seemed to be the mere presence of the code (rather than its content)
that was important.
In fact, we found that although most respondents could not recall specific fea-
tures of their company’s ethics code, employees of companies having a code
had very different perceptions of ethical climate and behavior than employees
of companies lacking a code. . . .56
There is much that you, as a manager, can do to make it in the company went to do the right thing. The news is
more likely that your employees behave ethically. always a good source, as when that MCI-WorldCom exec-
utive said that he knew he was doing wrong, but he was
Walk the Talk trying to save the company.
However, clarifying expectations doesn’t mean just
First, we’ve seen in this chapter that the leader’s actions
talking about them. Strong statements may reduce the
are the biggest element in determining whether employ-
risk of legal and ethical violations. But those statements
ees’ ethical standards stay high. Supervisors therefore
are meaningless if subordinates see that you or your com-
need to walk the talk when it comes to behaving ethically
pany does not back them up with enforcement.
and enforcing ethics rules.
Unfortunately, supervisors sometimes send the
Screen Out the Problem Employees
wrong cues. For example, telling subordinates they should
do “whatever it takes” to get the job done, overloading To some extent, the easiest way to avoid ethical lapses is
subordinates, and ignoring incidents of wrongdoing help to screen out potential problem employees before you
set the stage for ethical misdeeds. hire them. Some companies use honesty tests to screen
Even for experienced supervisors, knowing where to out ethically undesirable applicants, but testing is not your
draw the ethical line sometimes isn’t easy. Questions to only option.
ask include, Is what you’re about to do legal? Is it right? To the degree possible, make sure you’ve checked
How do you think you’ll feel afterward? How would you out the person you’re thinking of hiring with careful back-
react if you saw your actions described in the newspaper? ground and reference checks. There’s generally nothing
wrong with asking all candidates some very direct ques-
Clarify Your Expectations tions. For example, Have you ever observed someone
stretching the rules at work? What did you do about it?
Make it clear what your expectations are with respect to
Have you ever had to go against company guidelines or
the ethical values you want subordinates to follow. If your
procedures to get something done? Have you ever stolen
company has a corporate ethics code, emphasize, from
anything at work?
your subordinate’s first day, that you expect him or her to
follow that code.
Support Ethics Training
Some managers use stories and examples to make
their ethical expectations come alive.The examples may be We’ve seen that, for all practical purposes, ethics training
local, as when they describe the lengths to which someone is mandatory today. Federal sentencing guidelines from
1991 reduced penalties for employers accused of miscon- the ethical employees (not the unethical ones) who feel
duct who had implemented codes of conduct and ethics punished.
training. An amendment to those guidelines, which be-
came effective in 2004, outlines stricter ethics training Strive to Build an Atmosphere of Fairness, Justice,
requirements. and Respect
In most firms, the manager’s responsibility here is to
Ethics always involve questions of right and wrong and of
make sure his or her employees are participating in the
society’s moral standards. Therefore, employees tend to
ethics training program and doing so seriously. Packaged
associate unfair, unjust, disreputable behavior with unethi-
ethics training programs are also widely available online.
cal companies and supervisors.They tend to associate fair,
For example, skillsoft.com and netG.com offer such
just, respectful behavior with ethical companies and
programs.
supervisors.
Some workplace unfairness is blatant. For example,
Ensure Fair and Unbiased Performance Appraisals
some supervisors are workplace bullies, yelling at or ridi-
How the supervisor handles the employees’ periodic culing subordinates, humiliating them, and even making
performance appraisals is important. Unfairness and bias threats. Behavior like this is not just unfair, but unethical
in the appraisal sends a strong signal that ethics is sec- too. Many firms therefore have antiharassment policies.
ondary in the company or to the supervisor.To send the For example,“It is the policy of this company that all em-
signal that fairness and ethics are paramount, the em- ployees, customers, and visitors are entitled to a respect-
ployees’ standards should be clear, employees should ful and productive work environment, free from behavior
understand the basis upon which you’re appraising them, and language constituting workplace harassment.”
and you should perform the appraisals objectively and Yet in practice, it’s not gross behavior like workplace
fairly. bullying that’s the problem. Instead, it’s the many small day-
to-day opportunities where the manager should have been
Use Rewards and Discipline fair but was not. To the extent that the manager carries
out his or her hiring, training, appraisal, reward, discipline,
Because behavior tends to be a function of its conse-
and termination responsibilities with honesty, fairness, and
quences, it is the manager’s (and the company’s) responsi-
respect, he or she can foster a feeling among employees
bility to ensure that the firm rewards ethical behavior and
that they’re working in a place that values ethical behavior
penalizes unethical behavior. In fact, when the company
and where ethical behavior must be the norm.
does not deal swiftly with unethical behavior, it’s often
example, based on one survey, 89 percent of surveyed ethics officials said that their
companies use the new-hire orientation to convey ethics codes, and 45 percent
use annual refresher training sessions. Figure 2.4 on page 44 shows other findings
from this survey.
● Measure and Enforce One study of effective ethics programs found that all
these firms used surveys or audits to monitor actual compliance with ethical
standards.59 Board members and employees should then discuss the results.60
Managers should address any ethical lapses by enforcing the firm’s ethics code.
As one study of ethics concludes, “Strong statements by managers may reduce
the risk of legal and ethical violations by their work forces, but enforcement of
standards has the greatest impact.”61 The accompanying feature, Improving Your
Ethics-Building Skills, focuses on what the individual manager/supervisor can do
to encourage ethical behavior.
44 PART ONE CHAPTER 2 Ethical and Social Issues
Company ethics officials say they convey ethics codes and programs to employees
F IGURE 2.4 using these training programs:
The Role of Training in Ethics New hire orientation
89%
Annual training
32%
No formal training
5%
Company ethics officials use these actual training tools to convey ethics training
to employees:
Copies of company policies
78%
Ethics handbooks
76%
Online assistance
39%
SOURCE: Susan Well,“Turn Employees
Ethics newsletters
into Saints,” adapted from HRMagazine,
30%
December 1999, p. 52.
Particularly for larger firms, complying with Sarbanes- Control System checks for embargos and then automati-
Oxley (SOX) would be prohibitively expensive without cally performs the necessary export license activities. Says
IT support. For example, SOX requires that top man- one Adaptec manager, “Many of our orders, destinations,
agers certify, through a series of sign-off procedures, that and business partners have to be screened the day of the
the company has complied with its financial statement shipments . . .We now have that data in a single, integrated
accuracy and whistle-blower requirements. Enterprise- system for a more easily accessible electronic record.”64
based financial-software packages enable managers to Similarly, IT helps international employers comply
quickly analyze each department’s compliance proce- with local employment, payroll, safety, and recording
dures, and to organize the financial data for documenta- regulations in each country in which they operate.65 For
tion and sign-off.63 example, software packages combined with special data-
Sarbanes-Oxley is just one of the many national and in- input devices help companies comply with federal money-
ternational laws and regulations with which companies must laundering regulations by automatically identifying and
comply. For example, Adaptec Corp. provides data storage classifying suspicious cash-flow activities. Others help fi-
to many companies and government agencies, many nancial companies comply with banking regulations such
abroad.Particularly for high-technology companies such as as the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.66 The European
Adaptec, complying with global trade regulations is quite Union requires most publicly traded companies to issue
complex.The software company SAP’s “Global Trade Ser- consolidated financial statements consistent with Interna-
vices” software package helps Adaptec to comply. For ex- tional Financial Reporting Standards. Compliance here
ample, this system automatically compares Adaptec’s busi- would be impossible without using financial-software
ness partners around the world with the “restricted party” packages for planning, budgeting, financial reporting, and
lists various governments publish. The package’s Export cost and profitability management.
repairperson Johnny Cupid starts his service truck, his employer BellSouth
knows exactly where he is. Thanks to BellSouth’s new global positioning satellite
(GPS) units, BellSouth supervisors know every time Cupid stops at a stoplight
and where he is as he makes his daily rounds. “I feel like they got their eye on me
all the time,” he says. “I can’t slow down anywhere anymore.”67 A BellSouth
spokesperson says, “GPS was not installed as an employee monitoring system.
It’s an efficiency tool, just like the wireless laptops and cellphones our techni-
cians have.” However, union workers filed about fifty grievances about the system
in one recent year. Cupid says, “I love my job (but) I don’t need any more stress.”
As at BellSouth, managers generally don’t use IT just to check up on em-
ployees but to improve efficiency. The Window on Managing Now feature
shows how managers use information technology to comply with government
regulations.
Lockheed Martin relies on IT for managing its ethics compliance programs.
For example, Lockheed uses its intranet to help its 160,000 employees take ethics
and legal compliance training online. Each short course addresses topics ranging
from insider trading to sexual harassment. The system also keeps track of who is
(and is not) taking the required courses.
Lockheed’s special electronic ethics software also keeps track of how well the
company and its employees are doing in terms of maintaining high ethical stan-
dards.68 For example, the program helped top management see that in one year,
4.8 percent of the company’s ethics allegations involved conflicts of interest. It
PRACTICE IT
DTE Energy’s Web-Based Ethics Training System
Complying with Sarbanes-Oxley means that publicly traded company can monitor their progress. As one officer at In-
companies need a cost-effective way of training employees tegrity Interactive said, it would have been easy in the 1990s
and of certifying that they really were trained.So when DTE for companies to resist ethics training by saying
Energy, with 14,000 employees, needed ethics training, it
turned to a Web-based program from Integrity Interactive [W]e have 30,000 employees and 40% turnover.There’s
Corp. of Waltham, Massachusetts. Now, all the company’s no way to train all these people in our code of conduct
employees have easy access through their computers to a and ethical compliance . . . The Internet has taken that
standardized ethics training program. DTE can also easily excuse away. It is now physically possible to reach any-
track who has taken the training and who has not.The em- one, anywhere on the globe—and what’s more, to
ployees can take the training when they want to, and the prove that you’re doing it.69
shows that it takes just over thirty days to complete an ethics violation internal in-
vestigation.70 It also shows that several years ago, 302 Lockheed employees were
sanctioned for ethical violations. The accompanying Practice IT feature shows
how DTE Energy uses information technology for ethics training.
A Corporation’s Major
Stakeholders
Employees Managers
One view of social responsibility is
that a firm must consider and serve THE BUSINESS
all the stakeholders that may be
affected by its business decisions.
Community Suppliers
Customers
and the local community.80 Stakeholder theory holds that the rights of these
groups must be ensured, and, further, the groups must participate, in some sense,
in decisions that substantially affect their welfare.81
managerial capitalist would knowingly commit unethical acts, say, by selling med-
icines that tests have shown to be deadly.
Second, how socially responsible the company is depends on top manage-
ment’s philosophy—whether they believe in managerial capitalism, stakeholder
theory, or the moral minimum, for instance. The original Ben and Jerry (of Ben &
Jerry’s Ice Cream) were famous for buying milk from local Vermont farmers,
although their prices were higher than those of other regions.
Third, as at the sofa plant, outside monitors and pressure groups help to nudge
the process along. As another example, when shoppers in several Home Depot
stores heard, “Attention shoppers, on aisle 7 you’ll find mahogany ripped from the
heart of the Amazon,” store managers scampered to find pranksters with mega-
phones.84 There were none. Rainforest Action Network activists had cracked Home
Depot’s intercom system’s security code.
Finally, as explained above, economic realities like rising fuel costs and envi-
ronmental regulations require that managers like those at GE pursue socially
responsible aims to support their companies’ strategic needs.
Companies usually don’t go from being socially irresponsible to socially
responsible overnight. Instead, they evolve. Figure 2.785 illustrates the typical
evolution. Firms move from defensive to grudging compliance, and then on to af-
firmatively making the changes a valued part of management’s strategic plans.
STRATEGIC Integrate the societal issue To enhance economic value in the long
into their core business term and to gain first-mover advantage
strategies by aligning strategy and process
innovations with the societal issue
● The Social Audit One important step is to ascertain just how socially re-
sponsible the firm really is. Some firms measure this by using a rating system
corporate social audit: a called a corporate social audit.86 This is a review and analysis of the firm’s social
review and analysis of a firm’s responsibility, usually based on a checklist that addresses issues such as “How
social responsibility many accidents have you had this year?” “What percent of your profits go to com-
munity services?” and “What portion of your managers are minority or women?”
The DeCoro plant’s social audit is typical of those used at facilities throughout
China’s Pearl River Delta, which contains many of China’s industrial cities.
Auditors come in for a few hours or days. They review payroll records, interview
employees, check fire escapes, and take similar actions.87
The Sullivan Principles for Corporate Labor and Community Relations in
South Africa is the classic audit example.88 The Reverend Leon Sullivan was an
African American minister and General Motors (GM) board of directors member.
For several years during the 1970s, he had tried to pressure the firm to withdraw
from South Africa, whose multiracial population was divided by government-
sanctioned racist policies known as apartheid.
As part of that effort, Sullivan codified a set of principles “to guide U.S. busi-
ness in its social and moral agenda in South Africa.”89 The code provided measur-
able standards by which one could audit U.S. companies operating in South
Africa. For example, there were standards for nonsegregation of the races in all eat-
ing, comfort, and work facilities.90
stakeholder Web forum. The website makes it easy for anyone with an interest in
Shell’s operations—consumers, people living near Shell refineries, and owners of
Shell-branded gas stations, for instance—to make their opinions known. This
helps Shell be more socially responsive, by making it easier for management to en-
gage with parties who have legitimate concerns.96
Managing Diversity
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE
O f all the firm’s nonowner stakeholders, perhaps none has so obvious a claim on
receiving socially responsible treatment as do its employees. To a great extent,
the company is its employees, since they largely determine if the firm will succeed.
So the care, courtesy, integrity, and humanity the firm applies in managing its
employee diversity is a measure of how socially responsible it is.
managing diversity: Managing diversity means “planning and implementing organizational sys-
planning and implementing tems and practices to manage people so that the potential advantages of diversity
organizational systems and are maximized while its potential disadvantages are minimized.”97 Managing
practices to manage people so
diversity refers to questions like, How much effort should a manager make to
that the potential advantages of
diversity are maximized while employ minorities? How ethnically diverse should the company be? and, How
the potential disadvantages are much effort should employers make to manage the resulting diversity?
minimized Diversity management is increasingly important for several reasons. Treating
employees equitably is, first, an ethical and moral matter. There are also equal-
employment laws for those employers that require some added motivation. From
a practical point of view, the workforces of many industrialized countries, includ-
ing the United States, are increasingly diverse, and employers have little choice but
to recruit and then productively assimilate women and minorities. Furthermore,
in an increasingly diverse and globalized business environment, smart employers
capitalize on their diversity. For example, Longo Toyota in El Monte, California,
built a sixty-person salesforce that speaks more than twenty languages. This is a
powerful competitive advantage in demographically diverse Southern California.
Having a smoothly functioning diverse workforce is also advantageous for compa-
nies that routinely do business abroad. As the Wall Street Journal recently put it,
“As companies do more and more business around the world, diversity isn’t simply
a matter of doing what is fair or good public relations. It’s a business imperative.”98
Today, therefore, the aim of diversity management is not just to get diverse
employees to work together but to create “a workplace where differences can be
learned from and leveraged.”99 Leveraging—capitalizing on—diversity can pay big
dividends. For example, starting with low percentages, people of color recently
held 17 percent of PepsiCo’s mid- and top-level jobs, and women held 29 percent.
PepsiCo learned from and leveraged its newly diverse management pool. For ex-
ample, in one recent year, new diversity-driven products such as guacamole-
flavored Doritos (Hispanic) and wasabi-flavored snacks (Asian) accounted for
about one percentage point of PepsiCo’s 8 percent revenue growth.
diverse: composed of two or A workforce is diverse when it is composed of two or more groups, each of
more groups (when referring to whose members are identifiable and distinguishable based on the following de-
a workforce), each of whose mographic or other characteristics:101
members are identifiable and
distinguishable based on ◗ Racial and ethnic groups. African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans,
demographic or other Native Americans, and other people of color comprise about 25 percent of the
characteristics U.S. population.
◗ Women. Women represent about 48 percent of the U.S. workforce.
● Stereotyping and Prejudice Stereotyping and prejudice are two sides of the
stereotyping: a process in same coin. Stereotyping is a process in which someone ascribes specific behav-
which someone ascribes specific ioral traits to individuals based on their apparent membership in a group.103
behavioral traits to individuals Prejudice is a bias that results from prejudging someone based on some trait.
based on their apparent
Most people develop lists of behavioral traits that they associate with certain
membership in a group
groups. For example, stereotypical male traits might include strong, aggressive,
prejudice: a bias that results and loud; female traits might include cooperative, softhearted, and gentle.104
from prejudging someone based When someone allows traits like these to determine how he or she reacts to mem-
on some trait bers of one of these groups, then we say the person is prejudiced.
tokenism: appointing one or ● Tokenism Tokenism occurs when a company appoints one or a small group
a small group of women or of women or minority-group members to high-profile positions, rather than more
minority-group members to aggressively seeking full representation for that group. Tokenism is a diversity
high-profile positions, rather
barrier when it slows the process of hiring or promoting more members of the
than more aggressively seeking
full representation for that group minority group.
Token employees often fare poorly. Research suggests, for instance, that token
employees face obstacles to full participation, success, and acceptance in the
company. The extra attention their distinctiveness creates magnifies their good or
bad performance.107
F IGURE 2.8
Activities Required to Better Manage Diversity
Changes in Culture
Assess Your
Leadership Education and Management Evaluate
Situation
Systems
■
Top management ■
Comprehensive ■
Awareness training ■
Recruitment ■
Evaluation
commitment and organizational ■
Development of ■
Orientation ■
Accountability
support assessment in-house expertise ■
Performance appraisal ■
Continuous
■
Steering and advisory ■
Baseline data ■
Orientation programs ■
Compensation and improvement
groups ■
Benchmarking ■
Advanced training benefits
■
Communications ■
Promotion
strategy ■
Training and develop-
ment
personal stands on the need for change, become role models for the behaviors
required for the change, issue a statement that defines what they mean by diver-
sity, and provide financial and other support to implement the changes.110
After settling a class-action suit by black employees, Coca-Cola took steps to im-
prove its diversity management record. For example, it established a formal men-
toring program. It also is spending $500 million to support minority suppliers.111
● Assess Your Situation For example, use surveys to measure current em-
ployee attitudes and perceptions toward different cultural groups in the company.
Conduct audits of your minority and female hiring and staffing practices.
Wal-Mart denies any systematic discrimination and has policies forbidding sex-
ual harassment of any kind. However, some lawyers argue that it’s not whatWal-Mart
says, it’s what it does. They argue that Wal-Mart has long had a policy of vigorously
defending itself in such lawsuits. They say such actions could prompt some employ-
ees to believe that Wal-Mart may not actually take sexual harassment seriously.
● Managing Now The manager assessing the effectiveness of his or her com-
pany’s equal-employment and diversity efforts has numerous measures to use.
These include, for example, the number of diversity-related (sexual harassment,
age discrimination, and so forth) legal claims per year, the percentage of minority/
women promotions, and measures for analyzing the survival and loss rate among
diverse employee groups.
Even for a company with just several hundred employees, keeping track of
metrics like these is expensive. Managers therefore tend to rely on technology. For
example, the typical diversity management software package provides manage-
ment with several diversity-related software options. These provide information
relatively efficiently. The typical package calculates for the manager things like the
cost per diversity hire, a workforce profile index, the amount of voluntary turnover
among diverse employee groups, and the effectiveness of the firm’s employment
agencies’ diversity initiatives.
Many progressive firms, such as the accounting firm KPMG, therefore make it
easier for females to, say, restart their careers after returning from even lengthy
maternity leaves, or to remain employed (if they so choose) in positions that don’t
involve the time commitments of being full-time partners in the firm. In any case,
recruiting (and retaining) a diverse workforce calls for having a comprehensive
plan in place for providing the employment support these employees need.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Managers face ethical choices every day. Ethics 9. Organizational culture is the characteristic tradi-
refer to the principles of conduct governing an tions, norms, and values employees share. Values
individual or a group. Ethical decisions always in- are basic beliefs about what you should or should
clude judgments of good and bad and of serious not do and what is and is not important. Managers
moral issues. need to “walk the talk” to set the right culture.
2. Being legal and being ethical are not necessarily 10. Employers’ use of information technology to
the same thing. A decision can be legal but still maintain high ethical standards goes well beyond
unethical, or ethical but still illegal. employee monitoring and employee training. For
example, it would be prohibitively expensive with-
3. Organizational factors influencing ethical behav-
out IT support for most companies to comply with
ior include pressure, the boss, and the organiza-
the standards in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding
tion’s culture.
financial statement accuracy and whistle-blower
4. To improve your ethics-building skills, walk the requirements. Similarly, IT enables companies en-
talk; clarify your expectations; screen out the prob- gaged in foreign trade to automatically perform
lem employees; support ethics training; ensure fair the necessary export license activities and to com-
and unbiased performance appraisals; use rewards ply with local employment, payroll, safety, and
and discipline; and strive to build an atmosphere recording regulations in each country in which
of fairness, justice, and respect. they operate.
5. Information technology has prompted new ethical 11. People differ in answering the question, To whom
concerns, particularly related to security (control- should the corporation be responsible? Some say
ling access to company resources) and privacy. In solely to stockholders, and some say to all stake-
terms of privacy, electronic performance monitor- holders. Some take an intermediate position: they
ing and wireless-based monitoring of employee agree that the purpose of the corporation is to
location and performance allow employers to keep maximize profits, but that it is subject to the re-
close tabs on what their employees are doing. Sim- quirement that it must do so in conformity with
ilarly, the majority of companies monitor e-mail the moral minimum.
activity and employee Internet use.
12. As business becomes more global and the work-
6. Information technology also raises serious security force becomes more diverse, it becomes more im-
concerns. For example, nonauthorized employees portant to manage diversity so that its benefits
or outsiders could gain access to employees’ per- can be leveraged while minimizing potential bar-
sonal data. riers. Potential barriers to managing diversity in-
clude stereotyping, prejudice, and tokenism.
7. Technical and legal safeguards can reduce privacy
Managing diversity involves taking steps such as
and security concerns, up to a point. However, the
providing strong leadership, assessing the situa-
ethics of those managing the company may be the
tion, providing training and education, changing
only real safeguards.
the culture and systems, and evaluating the diver-
8. Ethics policies and codes send a strong signal that sity program.
top management is serious about ethics and are
signs that it wants to foster a culture that takes
ethics seriously.
Experiential Exercises ■ 57
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is ethical behavior? 7. What are important managerial methods for en-
couraging ethical behavior?
2. Explain why information technology is a double-
edged sword with respect to ethical behavior in 8. What are three ways in which managers use infor-
organizations. mation technology to improve ethical behavior in
organizations?
3. What are two technology-related ethical issues busi-
ness managers face? Give examples of each. 9. To whom is the company responsible? Include
the three main points of view addressed in the
4. What individual factors contribute to one’s ethical
chapter.
or unethical behavior?
10. Why are companies socially responsible?
5. What are the organizational factors that influence
ethical behavior at work? 11. How is the subject of managing diversity changing
today?
6. What are eight common code of conduct principles?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Obtain the ethics code for your college. Then de- heard that they may want to clone every employee
termine to what extent it covers the eight common so that they can use the clones to harvest body
code of conduct principles discussed in this chap- parts as the original people age or become ill. You
ter. Do you think the college’s code is effective? are not sure you endorse the cloning of humans.
Why or why not? You joined the firm for its moral and ethical repu-
tation. You feel that the image presented to you was
2. Most students (and faculty members, for that mat- one of research and development of life-saving
ter) would not want unauthorized individuals drugs and innovative medical procedures. The
gaining access to the personal information the col- thought of cloning was never on your mind, but
lege has on file for them. In teams of three or four now it must be. In teams of four or five students,
students, compile a list of the information technol- answer the following questions: What, if any, is the
ogy tools the college uses to ensure that its stu- ethical decision to be made? What would you do?
dents’ records are secure. Particularly for professors Why?
teaching online courses, employee performance
monitoring (or, more accurately in this case, stu- 4. You are taking a month’s holiday in Europe. During
dent performance monitoring) is very important. your first week there, you became very ill with a re-
After all, the professor wants to make sure that curring ailment for which you have been previ-
students log on to do the online activities. And ously treated with limited success in the United
professors want to make sure that exams are also States. It is a chronic condition that is inhibiting
properly monitored. In your teams of three or four your ability to advance your career. The doctors
students, compile a list of ways in which the online who treated you in Europe have given you some
teaching system your college uses monitors medication that is legal there but has not been ap-
student performance online. proved for use in the United States by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration. You feel better than you
3. You work for a medical genetics research firm as a have in years. Because the European drug laws
marketing person. You love the job. The location is allow this drug to be purchased across the counter
great, the hours are good, and the work is challeng- without a prescription, you are able to buy a year’s
ing and flexible. You receive a much higher salary supply. However, you know that it is listed as an il-
than you ever anticipated. However, you’ve just legal drug in the United States and you must pass
heard via the rumor mill that the company’s elite through customs. If your decision is to smuggle the
medical team has cloned the first human, the firm’s drug in and you are successful, what will you do in
CEO. It was such a total success that you have a year?
58 PART ONE CHAPTER 2 Ethical and Social Issues
CASE STUDY
Allstate’s Disappearing Agents
ike many companies, Allstate faces pressure to be Proponents of this type of restructuring might
L cost-competitive and to provide new services to its
customers. It also faces pressure for continuous
argue that Allstate is simply taking the steps needed to
be competitive. They might even say that if Allstate did
improvement in its financial performance from its not cut jobs to create the cash flow needed to fund new
shareholders. Assume that for Allstate to survive and competitive initiatives, it might ultimately fail as a
prosper, it needs to respond to both customers and business, putting all 54,000 of its employees at risk.
shareholders. What responsibilities does it have toward Yet Allstate’s program raises concerns. One analyst
another important group of stakeholders, its employ- noted that by encouraging customers to purchase in-
ees? Several years ago, the Allstate Corporation an- surance products directly via the Internet, Allstate
nounced a series of strategic initiatives to expand its could threaten the commissions of its more than
selling and service capabilities, buy back company 15,000 agents. The announcement of cost cutting came
shares to raise its stock price, and cut expenses by re- one day after Allstate announced it would meet its reg-
ducing the workforce. As part of its restructuring, ular quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share. The com-
Allstate would transfer its existing agents to an exclu- pany has raised its dividend annually since 1993.
sive independent contractor program, whereby Allstate
agents would become basically self-employed inde- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
pendent contractors. This would markedly reduce the
1. Is reducing the number of employees in a com-
need for Allstate to provide agency support staff. In its
pany in and of itself unethical? Why or why not? Is
press release on this initiative, Allstate management
it socially responsible (or irresponsible)?
also announced it would eliminate 4,000 current non-
agent positions by the end of 2000, or approximately 10 2. If you decided it was generally ethical, what would
percent of the company’s nonagent workforce. the company have to do to make the employee dis-
Said Allstate’s CEO, “Now, many of our customers missals unethical?
and potential customers are telling us they want our
3. What responsibilities does a company like Allstate
products to be easier to buy, easier to service and more
have toward its employees?
competitively priced. We will combine the power of our
agency distribution system with the growth potential of 4. Is there a moral dimension to the question of mar-
direct selling and electronic commerce. . . . This unique keting Allstate insurance via the Internet? If so,
combination is without parallel in the industry and will what is it?
make Allstate the most customer-focused company in
the marketplace.”
T ramco, Inc. is a small company with big ideas. With only about
100 employees,Wichita, Kansas–based Tramco designs and manufac-
tures the big conveyors that food-processing firms like General Mills
Globalization Defined
The Pros and Cons of Globalization
● How and Why Do Companies
Conduct Business Abroad?
use to move ingredients around their factories.1 But like almost all Exporting
small-business managers today, Licensing
Franchising
Tramco’s managers knew that Foreign Direct Investment and the
to continue to grow, they had Multinational Enterprise
Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
to take their company abroad. WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
After all, many of their huge Shanghai GM
U.S. customers already had Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries
The Language of International Business
factories abroad, and Tramco
● The Manager’s International
wanted to serve them there. Environment
And there were also thousands The Economic Environment
of local food companies abroad The Legal and Political Environment
The Sociocultural Environment
that Tramco’s managers knew The Technological Environment
would buy Tramco’s products, Distance and Global Management
Managing Now: Global Communications
if Tramco could provide local
● Planning, Organizing, and
service. The problem was that Leon Trammell (center), Chairman of Controlling in a Global
Tramco’s conveyors are so big Tramco, had to decide how he and his firm’s Environment
managers should take Tramco’s business The Global Manager
and heavy that it costs as much abroad.
Planning in a Global Environment
to pack and ship one as it does Organizing in a Global Environment
to manufacture it. So Tramco had a dilemma. It could not just hire sales- WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
people abroad, get orders, and then ship the huge conveyors. But with Global Clustering
PRACTICE IT: Tramco, Inc.
only about 100 employees, Tramco wasn’t big enough to build its own Controlling in a Global Environment
factories abroad. What should they do? ■ ● Leading and Motivating in a
Multicultural Environment
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S Dräger Safety
Values
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Leadership in a Multicultural Environment
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by Motivation in a Multicultural Environment
Interpersonal Communications in a
➤ Explaining the economic, legal/political, sociocultural, and technological issues managers Multicultural Environment
should consider when expanding abroad. IMPROVING YOUR CULTURAL
➤ Listing the special challenges a manager faces in leading and motivating employees abroad. INTELLIGENCE SKILLS
59
60 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
➤ Listing the reasons why you would (or would not) be a good global manager.
➤ Giving examples of how to use information technology (IT) to improve global
communications.
Globalization
O utside Anchorage, Alaska, just off Northern Lights Boulevard, is FedEx’s new
Anchorage hub. This enormous facility handles FedEx air shipments between
North America and China. With package delivery growing relatively slowly in North
America, China presents FedEx with enormous growth possibilities. In one recent
year, the revenue FedEx generated from its package-delivery business to and from
China increased by about 50 percent.2 Like many companies today, most of FedEx’s
growth comes from international operations. Most businesses today are therefore
involved in international business. The main purpose of this chapter is to enable
you to better understand what it’s like managing in a global environment.
Globalization Defined
Globalization (as noted in Chapter 1) is the tendency of firms to extend their sales,
ownership, and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad. As with Tramco and
FedEx, managers expand their services abroad to take advantage of new opportu-
nities. Sony, Apple, and Nike are some firms that market and manufacture all over
the world. For these firms and most others, managing is increasingly global.
Globalization is a two-way street. General Motors (GM) manufactures and
sells cars in China, and China’s Shanghai Auto is planning to manufacture and
sell cars in the United States. In South Africa, numerous small wood furniture
producers use the Internet to work with trading partners around the world. In
South Korea, a special government program subsidizes small companies that want
to use information technology to boost their share of global commerce. Raju
Mirchandani, born in Dubai, recently expanded abroad by opening a branch of
his New York–based “Bar and Books” in the Czech Republic.3
Exporting
Exporting is often a manager’s first choice when expanding abroad, because it is a
exporting: selling abroad, relatively simple and easy approach. Exporting means selling abroad, either
either directly to target directly to customers or indirectly through agents and distributors. Agents,
customers or indirectly by distributors, or other intermediaries handle more than half of all exports. They are
retaining foreign sales agents
generally local people familiar with the market’s customs and customers.
and distributors
The manager can check business reputations of potential local representatives
via local agencies of the U.S. State Department. A U.S. Commerce Department trade
specialist will provide advice regarding generating overseas business. For example,
advertising in Commercial News USA, a government publication, will inform about
100,000 foreign agents, distributors, buyers, and government officials about U.S.
products. The Small Business Exporters Association (www.sbea.org) is another good
source.8
Exporting has pros and cons. It avoids the need to build factories abroad, and
it is a relatively quick and inexpensive way of going international.9 It’s also a good
way to test the waters in the host country and to learn more about its customers’
needs. Transportation and tariff costs and poorly selected representatives are
potential problems.
More and more companies rely on e-commerce to directly sell their products
abroad, but even this can produce surprises. One European country wanted the
Internet “closed” on Sundays to avoid competing unfairly with local merchants
who closed that day.10 Another country asked Lands’ End to revise its guarantee,
which it said was too good for local shops to compete with. And while getting an
online order from, say, Japan may be exciting, the Better Business Bureau says that
nondelivery is a chronic complaint, usually because the e-exporter is not familiar
with foreign shipping requirements.
Licensing
If someone with a great idea wants to let someone else use the same idea, he or she
might want to grant that person a license. Music companies grant licenses all the
time. For instance, if Universal wants to let MGM use one of its songs in a movie, it
licensing: an arrangement will grant a license for that use. Licensing is an arrangement whereby the licensor
whereby a firm (the licensor) (let’s say, Universal) grants another firm (let’s say, MGM) the right to exploit
grants a foreign firm the right to intangible (intellectual) property, such as patents, copyrights, manufacturing
use intangible property
processes, or trade names, for a specific period. The licensor usually gets royalties—
a percentage of the earnings—in return.11
Licensing is particularly useful when doing business abroad because it
enables a firm to generate income abroad from its intellectual property without
actually producing or marketing the product or service there. If a company in
Kansas has a patent on a new device, one way for it to make money on that patent
abroad is to license the patent’s foreign rights to a company abroad.
Global joint ventures would be impractical without infor- Shanghai GM’s managers found a better way. They used
mation technology such as computers, cell phones, fax, and information technology (including new software systems
software. As we mentioned, Shanghai Auto has a joint and the Internet) to link together all the partners of the
venture with General Motors, called Shanghai GM. The joint venture’s worldwide supply chain (this includes its
company’s manufacturing process involves assembling vehi- parts suppliers, shippers, and warehouses, for instance).
cles from parts and partially assembled components it im- Shanghai GM and its vendors and carriers now use an
ports from around the world. Before Shanghai GM installed Internet portal to get continuous real-time production
its new supply chain management software system,Shanghai schedules showing what vehicles are to be produced, as
GM’s parts suppliers could not get real-time knowledge of well as updates on the availability of various parts. This
what cars Shanghai GM had scheduled to assemble. And dramatically reduced the amount of time managers had to
Shanghai GM did not know what parts its vendors already leave for ordering vehicle components and reduced how
had in stock.This meant Shanghai GM had to order parts much inventory Shanghai GM had to keep in stock.17
far in advance and then stock these parts, sometimes for This helped ensure that Shanghai GM is an efficient,
several weeks. world-class joint venture.
joint venture: the joining of With a joint venture, two or more companies jointly form a separate
two or more companies to form company in which each party contributes assets, and each shares both ownership
a separate company so that each and risk.18 Companies execute joint ventures every day. For example, the big
party contributes assets, owns
Indian media company, Zee Telefilms, formed several partnerships with Time
the entity to some degree, and
shares risk Warner. The firms call their joint venture Zee Turner. It will distribute both partners’
television programs in India and neighboring countries.19
Partners usually form joint ventures to quickly gain advantages that would
otherwise take time to acquire. Shanghai Auto and GM formed Shanghai General
Motors. GM wanted to quickly produce Buicks for sale in China. Shanghai Auto
wanted to learn how to build world-class cars.20 The Window on Managing Now
feature shows how technology helped make their venture a success.
A joint venture lets a firm gain useful experience in a foreign country by using
the expertise and resources of a locally knowledgeable firm. As already mentioned,
GM and Shanghai Auto formed a joint venture near Shanghai to build GM cars for
China. Joint ventures also help both companies share the cost of starting a new
operation. One downside is that the joint-venture partners each risk giving away
their proprietary secrets. And sharing control and decision making can lead to
conflicts, and thus requires careful planning regarding who does what.
Joint ventures can be a necessity. In China, foreign companies that want to
enter regulated industries (like telecommunications) must use joint ventures with
Chinese partners. The partnership of Britain’s Alcatel and Shanghai Bell to make
telephone-switching equipment is an example.21
● Successful Joint Ventures Experts from consultants McKinsey & Co. estimate
that companies have launched over 5,000 joint ventures worldwide in the past few
years, but that these ventures’ success rate is barely 50 percent.22 Their study shows
that in organizing a joint venture, managers need to follow several guidelines:
◗ Achieve strategic alignment. Organize the joint venture so that each corporate
partner derives from the venture the strategic benefits it desires. For example,
when Starbucks formed a coffee venture with PepsiCo, Starbucks sought to
How and Why Do Companies Conduct Business Abroad? ■ 65
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries
Sometimes, the best way to go abroad is to open or own one’s own facility. A
wholly-owned subsidiary: wholly-owned subsidiary is one owned 100 percent by the foreign firm. In the
a firm that is owned 100 percent United States, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc., and its Georgetown, Kentucky,
by a foreign firm Camry facility is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation.
Wholly-owned subsidiaries let the company do things exactly as it wants (subject
to local laws and regulations, of course).
international business: any
firm that engages in international The Language of International Business
trade or investment; also
business activities that involve To do business abroad, the manager should also know the vocabulary of interna-
the movement of resources, tional business. An international business is any firm that engages in international
goods, services, and skills across
trade or investment. International business also refers to those activities, such as
national boundaries
exporting goods or transferring employees, that require moving resources, goods,
international trade: the services, and skills across national boundaries.23 International trade is the export
export or import of goods or or import of goods or services to consumers in another country. International
services to consumers in another management is the performance of the management functions of planning,
country organizing, leading, and controlling across national borders. As myspace.com’s
managers expand abroad, for instance, they necessarily engage in international
international management: management.
the performance of the
management process across A multinational corporation is a special type of international business. A
national boundaries multinational corporation (MNC) is one that operates manufacturing and
marketing facilities in two or more countries. Managers of the parent firm, whose
multinational corporation owners are mostly in the firm’s home country, coordinate the MNC’s operations.
(MNC): a company that Firms like GE and GM have long been multinational corporations. However,
operates manufacturing and thousands of small firms are MNCs, too. An MNC operates in two or more
marketing facilities in two or
more countries, and whose
countries and often adapts its products and practices to each one. Often, however,
managers, located mostly in the the MNC’s behavior may still reflect its national roots. When Germany’s
firm’s home country, coordinate DeutscheBank bought a British bank, the British managers’ high-incentive pay
the MNC’s operation prompted tension between them and their new German bosses.
66 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
● The Economic System Countries differ in the extent to which they adhere
to capitalistic economic ideals and policies like America’s. For example, America’s
is a market economy. In a pure market economy, supply and demand determine
what is produced, in what quantities, and at what prices. Managers here have
freedom of choice to compete and set prices without government intervention.
At the other extreme, North Korea is a pure command economy. Countries like
these base their yearly production and price targets on five-year plans set by the
government. Then the government establishes specific production goals and
prices for each sector of the economy (for each product or group of products), as
well as for each manufacturing plant. Managers from abroad usually need govern-
ment approval before entering these markets and forming partnerships with local
firms.
mixed economy: an In a mixed economy, some sectors have private ownership, while the
economy in which some sectors government owns and manages others.24 For example, France is a capitalist country.
are left to private ownership and However, it has a mixed economy. The government owns shares of industries like
free-market mechanisms, while
telecommunications (France Telecom) and air travel (Air France).
others are largely owned and
managed by the government Economic systems in transition can trigger social instability. Free-market
economies depend on commercial laws, banking regulations, protection of
private property, and an effective independent judiciary and law enforcement.
When Russia moved to capitalism a number of years ago, it lacked much of this
political and legal infrastructure. Early business owners there had to cope not just
with competitors but also with criminals and lax law enforcement.
measure of economic activity, is the market value of all goods and services bought
for final domestic use during a period.
Some countries (like China) are growing much faster than others (like the
United States). The growth rate of mature economies averages around 3 to 4 percent
per year. On the other hand, China is growing at about 9.5 percent per year
(10.5 percent in 2005–2006). Many managers at firms like General Electric (GE) are
therefore boosting their investments in high-growth, high-potential countries.25
Being relatively less-developed may suggest the potential for rapid development
and growth. However, it can also mean inadequate roadways, communications,
and regulatory and judicial infrastructures.
● Trade Barriers The Gap store in Paris’s Passy area (across the Seine from the
Eiffel Tower) sells jeans that someone could buy for two-thirds the price in mid-
town Manhattan. Why? In part because trade barriers distort the prices companies
trade barrier: a governmental must charge for their products. Trade barriers (such as tariffs and quotas) are
influence that is usually aimed governmental influences aimed at reducing the competitiveness of imported
at reducing the competitiveness products or services. Countries often use such barriers to make their domestic
of imported products or services
products look more attractive. Tariffs, the most common trade barrier, are
tariff: a government tax on governmental taxes levied on goods shipped internationally.26 The exporting
imports country collects export tariffs. Importing countries collect import tariffs. For
instance, a China textile manufacturer might have to pay an import tax, or duty, to
the United States in order to bring its textiles into the United States. Even people
flying internationally—say, to the United States—must pay a duty to bring in many
items, such as watches. Countries through which the goods pass collect transit
quota: a legal restriction on the tariffs. Other countries impose quotas—legal restrictions on the import of specific
import of particular goods goods.27 Managers thinking of doing business abroad ignore taxes like these at
their peril.
Nontariff trade barriers exist, too. For example, cars imported to Japan must
meet a complex set of regulations and equipment modifications. Side mirrors
subsidies: direct payments a must snap off easily if they contact a pedestrian. Some countries make payments
country makes to support a called subsidies to domestic producers. These are government payments that can
domestic producer make inefficient domestic producers more competitive.
free trade: the situation in ● Economic Integration and Free Trade Economic integration and free trade
which all trade barriers among
participating countries are are two big determinants of the economic situation international managers
removed so that there is an face. Free trade means all trade barriers among participating countries are
unrestricted exchange of goods removed.28 Free trade occurs when two or more countries agree to allow the free
among these countries flow of goods and services. Trade is unimpeded by trade barriers such as tariffs.
68 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
economic integration: the Economic integration means that two or more nations obtained the advantages
result of two or more nations of free trade by minimizing trade restrictions.
minimizing trade restrictions in There are several levels or degrees of economic integration: free trade areas,
order to obtain the advantages
custom unions, and common markets. In a free trade area, member countries
of free trade
remove all barriers to trade among them so that they can freely trade goods and
free trade area: a type of services among member countries. A customs union is the next higher level of
economic integration in which economic integration. Here, members dismantle trade barriers among themselves
all barriers to trade among while establishing a common trade policy with respect to nonmembers. In a
members are removed common market, no barriers to trade exist among members, and a common
external trade policy is in force. In addition, factors of production, such as labor,
customs union: a situation in capital, and technology, move freely between member countries, as shown in
which trade barriers among
members are removed and a Figure 3.1. We’ll look at some examples next.
common trade policy exists with More regions are pursuing economic integration. Back in 1957, founding
respect to nonmembers members France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxem-
bourg established the European Economic Community (EEC), now called the
common market: a system European Union (EU). Their Treaty of Rome called for the formation of a free trade
in which no barriers to trade area, the gradual elimination of tariffs and other barriers to trade, and the forma-
exist among member countries,
tion of a customs union and (eventually) a common market. Soon, the EEC further
a common external trade policy
that governs trade with reduced its trade barriers.29 By 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden became the
nonmembers is in force, and thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth members, respectively, of the EU. In 2002, the
factors of production, such as EU admitted ten more members, including some formerly Soviet Union countries,
labor, capital, and technology, such as Poland. On January 1, 2002, the EU’s new currency, the euro, went into
move freely among members circulation. It entirely replaced twelve EU countries’ local currencies.
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and
Vietnam comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).30 There is
F IGURE 3.1
Levels of Economic Member
Country
Integration
Member
Country
Member Nonmember
Country Country
Member country Goods and services move freely in free trade area, customs
union, common market.
Nonmember country Factors of production move freely in common market only.
also the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Members include
Australia, Chile, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, and the United States.31
Africa also has several regional trading groups, including the Southern African
Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa,
and the Economic Community of West African States.
Canada, the United States, and Mexico established the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA creates the world’s largest free trade market,
with a total output of about $11 trillion.
was locked in a dispute with Microsoft, which the EU accused of not making it easy
enough for other firms to design compatible software products.
● Political Systems Going abroad also means sizing up the political systems
and risks with which the manager must cope. Thus, democratic countries usually
provide a more open environment in which to run businesses than do
dictatorships. Sometimes, the company’s fate can change unexpectedly as the
political winds shift. For example, some time ago, the Coca-Cola Company was
very successful in Uzbekistan. One reason, perhaps, was that it opened the plant in
partnership with the Uzbekistan president’s son-in-law. When the president’s
daughter separated from her husband, the bottling company’s Uzbek fortunes
diminished.42
The manager also must take many practical risks into account. Examples
include the problems a firm’s employees might run into being robbed or arrested
while traveling abroad. A new website (www.assessyourinternationalrisk.org)
helps managers size up their international risks.43
when resolving workplace conflict.44 The Japanese prefer the power approach,
which meant tending to defer to the party with the most power. Germans used
a more legalistic, stick-to-the-rules approach. U.S. managers tend to try to take
into account all parties’ interests and to work out a solution that maximizes
everyone’s benefits.
Cultural differences like these should influence how managers conduct busi-
ness abroad. When it opened its new production plant in Valenciennes, France,
Toyota had to explain to the French Labor Ministry why management banned the
traditional red wine at lunchtime in the company cafeteria. The reasons given
were health and working conditions.45
On the other hand, Starbucks broke some traditions when it opened its first
Tokyo store. Starbucks (pronounced STAH-buks-zu in Japanese) redefined the
way the Japanese drink coffee. Its nonsmoking, bright, sofa-filled stores are in
marked contrast to the dimly lit, smoke-filled stores where many Japanese tradi-
tionally drink their coffee from tiny cups.46
company’s CEO says that Shanghai Auto will be producing 2 million vehicles
by 2010.
Technology transferred from GM and VW helped Shanghai Auto achieve this.
For example, when Shanghai Auto’s joint venture with GM (Shanghai General
Motors) started business, the joint venture received licenses to use GM’s technical
know-how. GM’s technical computer systems, blueprints, and other supporting
information helped Shanghai Auto create the manufacturing machines and
systems for its new high-tech factory.49 That helped Shanghai Auto to eventually
grow out of its dependence on joint ventures and to someday compete with its
joint-venture partners on their own turf.
F IGURE 3.2
Determinants of Global Distance
SOURCE: Adapted from Pankaj Ghemawat,“Distance Still Matters,” Harvard Business Review, September 2001, p. 140.
The Manager’s International Environment ■ 73
virtual decision-making team.54 The group DSS lets team members interact via
their PCs and use several software tools to assist in decision making and project
completion. These software tools include electronic questionnaires, electronic
brainstorming tools, idea organizers (to help team members compile ideas gen-
erated during brainstorming), and tools for voting or setting priorities (so that
group scheduling system: recommended solutions can be weighted and prioritized). A group scheduling
a system that provides a shared system provides a shared scheduling database for geographically disbursed
scheduling database for group members. Each group member puts his or her daily schedule into the
geographically disbursed group
shared database, which then helps to identify and set the most suitable times for
members
meetings. A workflow automation system uses an e-mail type of system to au-
workflow automation tomate the flow of paperwork.55 For example, if a proposal requires four signa-
system: an e-mail type of tures, the workflow automation system can send it electronically from mailbox to
system to automate the flow of mailbox for the required signatures.
paperwork
● Virtual Communities One Friday night, about eighty young people met in a
Tokyo club to exchange business cards and to learn more about some of the other
people in their Japan-based myspace.com-like virtual online community.57 Back
online, they spend hours discussing matters of mutual interest.58
Global companies also use virtual communities. For example, as the prime
contractor in an effort to win a $300 million navy ship deal, Lockheed-Martin
“established a virtual design environment with two major shipbuilders, via a pri-
vate internet existing entirely outside the firewalls of the three individual compa-
nies.”59 Eventually, about 200 global suppliers also connected to the network via
special, secure Internet links. This Internet-based network “allows secure transfer
of design, project management, and even financial data back and forth among the
extended design team via simple browser access, with one homepage as its focal
point.” Lockheed got the contract.
Using the Internet, Schlumberger engineers in Dubai (on the Persian Gulf )
can check e-mail and effectively stay in close contact with management at a
very low cost. In addition, the field staff is able to follow research projects as
easily as can personnel within the United States. Schlumberger has found that
since it converted to the Internet from its own network, its overall communi-
cations costs are down. . . . The main reason for the savings is the dramatic
drop in voice traffic and in overnight delivery service charges. . . .61
Planning, Organizing, and Controlling in a Global Environment ■ 75
T ABLE 3.1
Characteristics of More Successful International Managers
Scale Your Score Sample Item
Sensitive to cultural differences. When working with people from other cultures, works
hard to understand their perspectives.
Business knowledge. Has a solid understanding of our products and
services.
Courage to take a stand. Is willing to take a stand on issues.
Brings out the best in people. Has a special talent for dealing with people.
Acts with integrity. Can be depended on to tell the truth, regardless of
circumstances.
Is insightful. Is good at identifying the most important part of a
complex problem or issue.
Is committed to success. Clearly demonstrates commitment to seeing the
organization succeed.
Takes risks. Takes personal as well as business risks.
Uses feedback. Has changed as a result of feedback.
Is culturally adventurous. Enjoys the challenge of working in countries other than
his or her own.
Seeks opportunities to learn. Takes advantage of opportunities to do new things.
Is more open to (less sensitive Appears brittle—as if criticism might cause him or her
about) criticism. to break. (Reverse scored, so 1 is “strongly agree” for
this item.)
Seeks feedback. Pursues feedback even when others are reluctant to
give it.
Is flexible. Doesn’t get so invested in things that he or she cannot
change when something doesn’t work.
TOTAL SCORE
as Russia—that don’t have reliable legal systems.68 Even in more traditional mar-
kets, Carrefour won’t proceed without at least a year’s worth of on-site research. In
China, “Carrefour takes care to chop vegetables vertically—not laterally—so as not
to bring bad luck to superstitious shoppers.”69
Managers today increasingly use “clustering” to make bet- Clustering relies on information technology.70
ter decisions about whether to offer standardized or local- Clustering requires being able to quickly access and
ized products. Clustering means identifying commonalities analyze huge amounts of sales information across the
among customers based on their local tastes, and then company’s global operations. The company needs to
combining (or clustering) common customers together. analyze who buys what and how buyers are similar to or
The clustered customers still get their locally preferred different from each other. Information technology makes
products or services. The company gets improved this possible. For example, with information on details
economies by clustering together several customers with like style and size constantly streaming back to the
similar tastes and preferences. retailer Zara’s global headquarters from point-of-sale
For example, Best Buy clusters stores in terms of computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and special
several typical types of customers. For example, “Jill” is a software in stores, companies like Zara have developed
busy mother who is the chief buyer for her household methods for analyzing data on local buying patterns.This
and wants quick, personalized help navigating the world enables them to group these buying patterns into
of technology. Stores aimed at appealing to “Jill” have clusters—groups of stores that get similar merchandise
uncluttered, wider aisles, warmer lighting, and more and store layouts.
technology-related toys for children.
efforts. Thus, a company at the earliest stages of internationalization (or with few
globally qualified managers) will more likely opt for managing its international
operations out of a headquarters import-export or international department.
There is a typical evolution as the company becomes more international. In a
domestic organization, each company division handles its own foreign sales. In
response to increasing orders from abroad, the firm may move to an export-
oriented structure. Here, one department (often called an import-export depart-
ment) coordinates all international activities such as licensing, contracting, and
managing foreign sales.
In an international organization, management splits the company into
domestic and international divisions. The international division focuses on
production and sales overseas, while the domestic division focuses on domestic
markets. Reynolds Metals, for instance, set up six worldwide businesses, each with
a U.S.-focused group and a separate international group. In a multinational
organization, each country where the firm does business has its own subsidiary.
Royal Dutch Shell has separate subsidiaries for Shell Switzerland and Shell U.S.A.
(as well as many other countries).71
Other things affect how the manager organizes his or her international opera-
tions. Top management’s philosophy is another consideration. For example, some
CEOs are more globally oriented, while some are more local (ethnocentric) in their
philosophical outlooks. The manager who believes that his or her country’s ways
are best is less likely to delegate much authority to remote local managers.
Geographic distance is also important. Practical experience shows that it’s harder
to keep track of things that are happening far away. The following Managing Now
section shows how Porsche uses information technology to help headquarters
managers make better local decisions.
Planning, Organizing, and Controlling in a Global Environment ■ 79
PRACTICE IT
Tramco, Inc.
Wichita, Kansas–based Tramco wants to supply its con- wanted to do that design work in its own Wichita offices.
veyors abroad, but the conveyors are so big and heavy By installing special three-dimensional computerized
that it costs as much to pack and ship one as it does to design equipment at its own offices and at each partner
manufacture it. So they can’t economically ship them.And abroad, Tramco’s engineers in Kansas can design the
with only about 100 employees,Tramco can’t start build- conveyor and electronically transmit the design to the
ing its own factories in countries around the world. partner, which then manufactures it. It’s easy for Tramco’s
Tramco was able to use technology to solve its prob- engineers and the local manufacturer-partners’ produc-
lem. First, it entered into strategic partnership agree- tion teams to discuss and fine-tune designs electronically.
ments with manufacturers in several countries, who Thanks to its new technology, Tramco is now truly a
agreed to build the conveyors according to Tramco’s spec- global company, with customers and manufacturing part-
ifications. The engineering design work on these huge ners around the world. It’s hard to see how Tramco could
conveyors is highly specialized and proprietary, so Tramco have accomplished this without information technology.
● Deciding How to Maintain Control The global manager also must decide
how to control his or her global operations. Most managers today use computer-
ized information systems. For many years, Kelly Services, Inc., let its offices in each
country operate with their own individual billing and accounts receivable sys-
tems. However, according to Kelly’s chief technology officer, “we are consolidating
our operations in all countries and subsidiaries under a standard [information
system]. . . . All our customers expect us to deliver consistent practices, metrics,
and measurement. Establishing global standards is an important part of meeting
and exceeding that expectation.”75
Global managers also endeavor to foster their employees’ self-control and
employee commitment. Global managers do use computerized systems, financial
and operating reports, and personal visits to help control their international
operations.76 However, methods like these are limited when thousands of miles
separate boss and subordinate. Particularly in global companies, there’s wisdom
in making sure employees want to do what is right—and that they know what’s
expected of them in terms of the company’s values and goals.
In other words, global companies have to make sure their managers and em-
ployees buy into and are really committed to “the way we do things around here.”77
Many firms, like Shell Oil and GE, therefore spend millions of dollars each year
bringing managers together for special training sessions where the firm’s core val-
ues (such as “ethics is all-important”) are stressed. The Window on Managing Now
feature illustrates how Dräger Safety uses information technology to support its
control efforts.
Dräger Safety, based in Lubec, Germany, is the world’s Dräger installed a new software system that enables
largest supplier of personal-protection, gas-testing, and its managers to better control its global production. For
diving equipment, with operations in thirty-three coun- example, it installed a special enterprise software system
tries.80 Several years ago, Dräger faced a problem control- that integrated and made compatible the systems each of
ling its worldwide sales and inventory operations. Each of its facilities had been using. Now, all Dräger’s suppliers,
its facilities around the world basically had its own soft- facilities, and customers are linked together to Dräger’s
ware system. For instance, if managers at headquarters global database.
wanted to know what the company’s total inventory was, Figure 3.3 summarizes the new system. Dräger’s
headquarters employees had to collect the separate, suppliers, locations, and customers can all connect to the
incompatible reports from each of the company’s facilities common global database and thereby monitor product
and summarize them for management. and shipping status. Dräger salespeople can now give
This lack of comparable information was hurting customers accurate shipping estimates. Customers now
Dräger’s competitiveness. As Dräger’s chief financial offi- get accurate shipping information. Furthermore, Dräger
cer put it, “it got to the point where sales reps dreaded headquarters management can now access the global data-
going to customer sites . . . the customer would spend a base for producing sales forecasts, production plans, and
whole hour berating them about late deliveries and missed purchasing plans and for compiling budgets and financial re-
appointments.” For instance, warehouses found it difficult ports. At Dräger, IT—a combination of computers, special
to monitor the status of a product after it shipped, and the software, cell phones, PDAs, and fax, for instance—made
trucking company found it difficult to forecast when successful globalization possible.
Dräger would have a particular order ready to ship.
An Oracle-Based Supply
Chain
Sales Demand
Production Purchasing Drop ship
Forecast Planning
Intranet / Internet
Database
Common
GLOBAL DATABASE
Common Data
Integration
Values
values: basic beliefs about what One way people around the world differ is in terms of their values. Values are
is important and unimportant, basic beliefs we hold about what is good or bad, important or unimportant.
and what one should and should Values (such as West Point’s famous “Duty, honor, country”) are important to
not do managers because our values shape how we behave. When Professor Geert
Hofstede studied managers around the world, he found that societies’ values
differ in several ways:
◗ Power distance.81 Power distance is the extent to which the country’s less power-
ful members accept and expect that power will be distributed unequally.82 At the
time, Hofstede concluded that acceptance of such inequality was higher in some
countries (such as Mexico) than it was in others (such as Sweden).
◗ Individualism versus collectivism. In individualistic countries like Australia and
the United States, “all members are expected to look after themselves and their
immediate families.”83 In collectivist countries like Indonesia and Pakistan, society
expects people to care for each other more.
◗ Masculinity versus femininity. According to Hofstede, societies differ also in the
extent to which they value assertiveness (which he called “masculinity”) or caring
(“femininity”). For example, Austria ranked high in masculinity; Denmark
ranked lower.
◗ Uncertainty avoidance. Uncertainty avoidance refers to whether people in the
society are uncomfortable with unstructured situations in which unknown,
surprising, novel incidents occur. People in some countries (such as Sweden,
Israel, and Great Britain) are relatively comfortable dealing with uncertainty and
surprises. People living in other countries (including Greece and Portugal) tend
to be uncertainty avoiders, said Hofstede.84
(becoming the person you believe you are capable of becoming) needs. However, he
based his theory on Americans. In other societies, people’s needs don’t necessarily
revolve around the self as much as around social relationships. Thus, in China, social
needs might come first, then physiological, security, and finally self-actualization
needs. Not surprisingly, in Asia, paying an incentive to a work team for how well it
performs is very popular. In America, individual incentives are more popular.88
Interpersonal Communications in a
Multicultural Environment
Communication refers to exchanging information so that the manager creates a
common basis of understanding. Cultural differences influence communication in
84 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
obvious and subtle ways. Language barriers are one obvious problem. An American
manager negotiating a deal in England can generally make him- or herself under-
stood using English, but he or she might need an interpreter in France. Even when
the other party speaks some English, problems can arise. For example, using an
idiom (such as “you bet it is”) may be incomprehensible to the Swiss person with
whom you’re speaking. Furthermore, as General Motors once discovered, words that
sound or look the same (such as Nova, which means “won’t go” in Spanish) may have
different meanings in different countries.
The problem is not just the words. As much as 90 percent of what people “say”
is nonverbal, conveyed via facial expressions and signs and motions of one sort or
another. Here is where the novice international manager can really get into
trouble. Table 3.2 shows what some typical nonverbal behaviors mean in various
countries. Subtle differences like these can make international management an
adventure! The Improving Your Cultural Intelligence Skills feature presents other
examples of global cultural differences.
T ABLE 3.2
Implications of Various Nonverbal Behaviors in Different Cultures
Nonverbal Behavior Country Meaning
Thumbs up United States An approval gesture/okay/“Good job!”
Middle East A gesture of insult
Japan A sign indicating “male”
Germany A sign for the count of 1
A finger circulating next to the ear Argentina A telephone
United States “Crazy!”
A raised arm and waggling hand United States Goodbye
India, South America Beckoning
Much of Europe A signal for no
Showing the back of the hand England A rude sign
in a V-sign Greece, Middle East A sign for the count of 2
Showing a circle formed with United States “Very good!”
index finger and thumb Turkey Insult gesture/accusation of homosexuality
Eye contact, gazing United States A sign of attentiveness
Japan A rude behavior/an invasion of privacy
Most Asian countries Sign of disrespect to senior people
Widening eye United States An indication of surprise
Chinese An indication of anger
Hispanic Request for help
French Issuance of challenge
Nodding the head up and down Western countries A sign for agreement/yes
Greece, Bulgaria A sign for disagreement/no
Source: Adapted from Kamal Fatehi, International Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1996), Table 6.1, p. 194.
Leading and Motivating in a Multicultural Environment ■ 85
I M P R OV I N G Y O U R C U L T U R A L I N T E L L I G E N C E S K I L L S
In practice, there is more to being multicultural than just requires that the person also have what they call the right
using the right mannerisms and idioms. Two researchers say cognitive, physical, and emotional/motivational cultural
that being truly multicultural (having “cultural intelligence”) skills. Figure 3.5 presents a short cultural intelligence test.
F IGURE 3.5
Diagnosing Cultural Intelligence
These statements reflect different facets of cultural intelligence. For each set, add up your scores and divide by four to produce an
average. Work with large groups of managers shows that for purposes of your own development, it is most useful to think about
your three scores in comparison to one another. Generally, an average of less than 3 would indicate an area calling for improvement,
while an average of greater than 4.5 reflects a true “Cultural Quotient” (CQ) strength.
Rate the extent to which you agree with each statement, using the scale:
1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree.
Before I interact with people from a new culture, I ask myself what I hope to achieve.
If I encounter something unexpected while working in a new culture, I use this experience to figure out new
ways to approach other cultures in the future.
I plan how I’m going to relate to people from a different culture before I meet them.
When I come into a new cultural situation, I can immediately sense whether something is going well or
+ something is wrong.
It’s easy for me to change my body language (for example, eye contact or posture) to suit people from a
different culture.
I modify my speech style (for example, accent or tone) to suit people from a different culture.
+ I easily change the way I act when a cross-cultural encounter seems to require it.
I have confidence that I can deal well with people from a different culture.
I am certain that I can befriend people whose cultural backgrounds are different from mine.
SOURCE: Christopher Earley and Elaine Mosakowski,“Cultural Intelligence,” Harvard Business Review, October 2004, p. 143.
Reprinted by permission of the Harvard Business Review.
86 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
For example, the Cognitive Skills component of some- . . . Your actions and demeanor must prove that you
one’s cultural intelligence in the figure is reflected in have already to some extent entered their world.
statements like the following: “When I come into a new Whether it’s the way you shake hands or order a coffee,
cultural situation, I can immediately sense whether some- evidence of an ability to mirror the customs and gestures
thing is going well or something is wrong.” One point of the people around you will prove that you esteem them
these experts emphasize is that succeeding with people of enough to want to be like them. By adopting people’s
other cultures really takes being sensitive to who they are habits and mannerisms, you eventually come to understand
and to how they do things. As they say, in the most elemental way what it is like to be them.89
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Companies can pursue several approaches when it business abroad, managers should be familiar with
comes to extending operations to foreign markets: the economic systems, exchange rates, and level of
exporting, licensing, and franchising are popular economic development of the countries in which
alternatives. At some point, a firm may decide to they plan to do business. They must be aware of
invest funds in another country. Joint ventures and import restrictions, political risks, and legal differ-
wholly-owned subsidiaries are two examples of ences and restraints. Important sociocultural dif-
foreign direct investment. ferences also affect the way people in various
countries act and expect to be treated. Values,
2. An international business is any firm that engages
languages, and customs are examples of elements
in international trade or investment. Firms are
that distinguish people of one culture from those
globalizing for many reasons, the three most com-
of another. Finally, the relative ease with which the
mon being to expand sales, acquire resources, and
manager can transfer technology from one coun-
diversify sources of sales and supplies. Other rea-
try to another is an important consideration in
sons for pursuing international business include
conducting international business.
reducing costs or improving quality by seeking
products and services produced in foreign coun- 6. With respect to planning the products it sells, the
tries and smoothing out sales and profit swings. company can offer standardized products world-
3. Free trade means removing all barriers to trade wide, or products more specifically designed for
among countries participating in the trade agree- local preferences. Many companies group cus-
ment. Its potential benefits have prompted many tomers into clusters to gain some of the advantages
nations to enter into various levels of economic in- of both standardization and localization. Feasibil-
tegration, ranging from a free trade area to a com- ity planning is also important to global managers.
mon market. 7. Particularly given the geographic distances
4. Globalizing production means placing parts of a involved, the global manager has to choose the
firm’s production process in various locations activities he or she will control with great care.
around the globe. The aim is to take advantage of na- Micromanaging at long distances is not practical—
tional differences in the cost and quality of produc- even with the Internet, keeping track of people far
tion and then integrate these operations in a unified away is not easy. In practice, the amount of auton-
system of manufacturing facilities around the world. omy the local manager gets is usually least for
Companies are also tapping new supplies of skilled financial and capital decisions and most for
labor in various countries. The globalization of mar- personnel decisions.
kets, production, and labor coincides with the rise of 8. The company’s international organization reflects
a new type of global manager, someone who can the firm’s degree of globalization. In a domestic
function effectively anywhere in the world. organization, each division handles its own foreign
5. International managers must be skilled at weigh- sales. In response to increasing orders from abroad,
ing an array of environmental factors. Before doing the firm may move to an export-oriented structure.
Case Study ■ 87
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. If you owned a small U.S. business and wanted to 3. What do we mean by economic integration?
expand sales to Europe, explain briefly how you 4. What is the European Union?
would go about doing so.
5. How do managers generally organize for interna-
2. Why does globalization affect businesses and tional business? What do their organizining deci-
employees in the United States? sions depend on?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. You have just taken an assignment to assess the should pursue now. What global organization
feasibility of opening a branch of your company’s structure would that imply?
business in Russia. Your company manufactures
3. Spend several minutes using the tools and what
and sells farming equipment. Working in teams of
you learned so far in this book to list ten reasons
four or five, prepare a detailed outline showing the
why you would (or would not) be a good global
main topic headings you will have in your report,
manager.
including a note on the management tools you will
use to get the information you need for each topic. 4. Many rightfully believe that it is the business
school’s responsibility to familiarize business stu-
2. While Google’s strategy of exporting its e-mail and
dents with what it takes to be an effective global
other tools from the United States to various coun-
manager. In teams of four or five, compile a list,
tries seems to be working well, management is now
based on this course and any others you’ve taken,
concerned that local competitors may start eating
of what your business school is doing to cultivate a
into its business. Working in teams of four or five,
better appreciation of the challenges of doing busi-
use the discussions in this chapter to specify the
ness internationally.
global strategy (localize or not?) you believe Google
CASE STUDY
U.S. Bookseller Finds a Strong Partner in German Media Giant
hen Barnes & Noble was exploring ways to become chose to form an Internet joint venture with the
W more competitive in its battle with Amazon.com,
there were hundreds of U.S. companies to which it
German media giant Bertelsmann.
Bertelsmann was best known among college stu-
could turn. Research demonstrated that the cultural dents for its record label and music club, BMG (now
differences that characterize cross-border ventures both owned by Sony). At the time, BMG Entertainment
made them far more complicated than domestic ones. was second in the market with $1.9 billion in sales.
So Barnes & Noble surprised competitors when it Bertelsmann’s holdings include Random House, the
88 PART ONE CHAPTER 3 Managing in a Global Environment
world’s largest English-language book publisher, and endeavor? Suggest the pros and cons of this part-
Offset Paperback, a firm that manufactures nearly nership.
40 percent of all the paperback books sold in the
2. Specify the basic global strategy you believe
United States. Bertelsmann had also actively pursued
barnesandnoble.com should pursue, and explain
e-commerce on its own.
why. How, in very general terms, would you orga-
To fund the original barnesandnoble.com, the two
nize this venture?
created a separate company and conducted an initial
public offering (IPO) to raise capital. The offering 3. With all its experience in e-commerce, why wouldn’t
raised $421 million for the new venture after commis- BMG just set up its own competitor to Amazon
sions and expenses, making it the largest e-commerce .com?
offering in history. Since launching its online business
4. List three specific planning, organizing, leading,
in May 1997, barnesandnoble.com has quickly become
and controlling issues Barnes & Noble’s managers
one of the world’s largest e-commerce retailers. The
probably faced in establishing this new joint
company has successfully capitalized on the recog-
venture.
nized brand value of the Barnes & Noble name to
become the second largest online retailer of books. 5. Write a one-page essay on the following topic:
cultural factors our Barnes & Noble managers
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS should keep in mind when dealing with our
colleagues at Bertelsmann.
1. What may have motivated Barnes & Noble to part-
ner with the German firm Bertelsmann? In general
terms, what advantages would Barnes & Noble
gain by having an international partner in such an
MANAGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP 4
AND INNOVATION
Procter & Gamble CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Procter &
J ust about everyone uses products from Procter & Gamble (P&G)
every day. Some of its hundreds of famous brands include, just for a
Gamble
● Introduction:
Entrepreneurship and
start, Bounty, Crest, Clairol, Duracell, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Ivory, Innovation
Old Spice, Pampers, and Swiffer. Like almost every company, the only ● Entrepreneurship Today
Entrepreneurs and Small-Business
way P&G can stay ahead of the Management
competition is to keep coming The Environment of Entrepreneurship
up with new and improved Why Entrepreneurship Is Important
products. Whether it’s a ● What It Takes to Be an
Entrepreneur
new multiblade razor, a Research Findings
superwhitening toothpaste, or Anecdotal Evidence
a Swiffer mop (which did not Should You Be an Entrepreneur?
● Getting Started in Business
even exist a few years ago), Coming Up with the Idea for the
innovation is the name of the Business
game at P&G. The problem is Methods for Getting into Business
Forms of Business Ownership
that companies like P&G can’t Getting Funded
rely on just their own research Writing the Business Plan
labs to come up with the WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
Choosing a Web-Based Business
necessary new products. Just about everyone uses a P&G product
● Managing Innovation and
“The R&D model that most every day.
New-Product Development
companies are following is broken,” says Larry Huston, the firm’s head of WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
Using Computerized Business-
research and development.1 Instead, P&G also wants to tap the ideas of Planning Software
its millions of consumers, distributors, and retailers, as well as any scien- The Eight-Stage New-Product
tists who might want to contribute.The question for Larry Huston is, Development Process
Fostering Innovation
How should P&G do this? ■
● Innovation Now
Innovation and Collaboration
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S Innovation and Learning
Managing Now: Using Information
After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Technology for Innovation
PRACTICE IT: Collaborative
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by Innovation at P&G
➤ Explaining why you do (or do not) have the traits to be an entrepreneur. Product Life-Cycle Management
➤ Listing the pros and cons of four forms of business ownership. Managing Now: Product Life-Cycle
Management Software
➤ Listing what a person should keep in mind with respect to buying a business or
franchise.
89
90 PART ONE CHAPTER 4 Managing Entrepreneurship and Innovation
its first Internet website. Note how Monster is killing the market for newspaper
help-wanted ads. And consider how even Microsoft, long the king of the hill of
personal computers, is fighting to stay dominant now that people increasingly
find and use the software they need online. For example, in June 2006, Google
announced a new service that lets users access (online and for free) a spreadsheet
package that rivals Microsoft’s Excel program.
Schumpeter’s creative destruction theory neatly sums up a fact of manage-
ment life, and one we’ll discuss at more length later in this chapter. The develop-
ment and life of every product, no matter how innovative it is when first intro-
duced, follows what businesspeople call a product life cycle. An inventor or
entrepreneur gets a new-product idea, develops it, introduces it to the market (to
those buying the product), and then hopefully watches sales take off. Next, he or
she turns (again, hopefully) to innovating improvements to the product as the
market matures, for instance, as competitors like Canon and Wal-Mart clamber in.
Finally, as changing tastes and even more innovative new products cause the mar-
ket for the original product to decline, our inventor/entrepreneur needs to decide
what to do. What does P&G do as things get more and more competitive in the
toothpaste market? Keep adding new innovations (whiteners, and so on)? Get out
of producing toothpaste altogether?
In this chapter, we’ll focus on two inseparable topics, entrepreneurship and
innovation. No company that fails to innovate can survive, no matter how skilled
its managers are in their other endeavors. And it is most often through the efforts
Online Study Center
ACE the Test of entrepreneurs that truly innovative new products and services arise to chal-
Managing Now! LIVE lenge the status of the former kings of the hill. We’ll begin with entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship Today
entrepreneurship: the
creation of a business for the
E arly in their careers, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, and Donna Karan were all entre-
preneurs. Entrepreneurship is the creation of a business for the purpose of
gain or growth under conditions of risk and uncertainty.3 An entrepreneur is thus
purpose of gain or growth under someone who creates new businesses under risky conditions.4 Entrepreneurship
conditions of risk and uncertainty
“requires a vision and the passion and commitment to lead others in the pursuit of
entrepreneur: someone who that vision [and] a willingness to take calculated risks.”5 Figure 4.1 neatly sums up
creates new businesses for the what entrepreneurship is all about. In the pantheon of management, entrepre-
purpose of gain or growth under neurs are unique. Entrepreneurs “build something of value from practically noth-
conditions of risk and uncertainty ing.”6 Innovation, the creating of value, growth, and uniqueness, characterizes the
entrepreneur’s efforts. Many business students plan to and will start new busi-
nesses (and have to manage them) once they leave school.
DEFINING
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Organization
Growth
Creation
SOURCES: Adapted from Mary Coulter,
Entrepreneurship in Action (Upper Saddle
River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001), p. 4; based on
W. B. Gartner,“What Are We Talking About
When We Talk About Entrepreneurship?”
Profit or Creating
Journal of Business Venturing, 5, 1990, Not-for-Profit Value
pp. 15–28.
size limits by industry when it defines which businesses are small enough to be
eligible for SBA-guaranteed loans. Generally, manufacturing or wholesaling firms
with fewer than 100 employees are small businesses. Retailing or service firms
with annual sales under $5 million are small businesses.
Successful entrepreneurs like Neeleman tend to be good small-business man-
agers because the firms they start either grow successfully or die. However, success-
ful small-business managers needn’t necessarily exhibit the flair for innovation—for
creating new businesses under risky conditions—which is the hallmark of the en-
trepreneur. Small-business owners who inherit or buy small businesses and run
them successfully need to be good managers. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand,
don’t just have to run their businesses; they must also have the flair for starting a
business from scratch.
T ABLE 4.1
The Index of Economic Freedom: Selected Locales
Overall Rank Country Overall Score*
1 Hong Kong 1.35
2 Singapore 1.55
4 Ireland 1.80
4 United States 1.80
9 United Kingdom 1.85
45 France 2.70
60 Mexico 2.90
72 Saudi Arabia 3.00
153 Cuba 4.75
155 North Korea 5.00
Source: Adapted from “The Index of Economic Freedom: Selected Locales,” © 2001, The Heritage Foundation,
214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C., 20002–4999, at www.heritage.org.
500
350
SOURCES: U. S. Small Business Administration, 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2003
Office of Advocacy, from data provided by
the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the U.S.
Department of Labor, ETA. Employer firm births Employer firm terminations
94 PART ONE CHAPTER 4 Managing Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Research Findings
What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Psychologists have studied
this question with mixed results. Based on some studies, researchers say that the
entrepreneur’s personality characteristics include self-confidence, a high level of
motivation, a high energy level, persistence, initiative, resourcefulness, the desire
and ability to be self-directed, and a relatively high need for autonomy.13 This
certainly makes sense. Others argue that people high in the need to achieve are
more prone to be entrepreneurs because they like to set goals and achieve them.
Yet high-need-for-achievement people are no more likely to start businesses
than those with a lower need.14 One expert concludes that the trait approach
to identifying entrepreneurs is “inadequate to explain the phenomenon of
entrepreneurship.”15
What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur ■ 95
Recent studies are more positive. Some studies focus on the proactive person-
ality. Proactive behavior reflects the extent to which people “. . . take action to
influence their environments.”16 One study of 107 small-business owners found
some support for the notion that proactive personality contributes to innovation
in some circumstances.17
Still others study what they call the dark side of the entrepreneur. They say less
positive traits drive entrepreneurs, traits like the need for control, a sense of dis-
trust, the need for applause, and a tendency to defend one’s operations.18 This
approach doesn’t paint a pretty picture of how some entrepreneurs behave. With
respect to the need for control, for instance, “a major theme in the life and person-
ality of many entrepreneurs is the need for control. Their preoccupation with con-
trol inevitably affects the way entrepreneurs deal with power relationships and the
consequences for interpersonal action. . . . An entrepreneur has a great inner
struggle with issues of authority and control.”19
Anecdotal Evidence
A few behaviors do seem to arise consistently in anecdotal and case studies of suc-
cessful entrepreneurs. As we mentioned earlier, tenacity is one. Entrepreneurs
face so many barriers when creating a business that if they’re not tenacious,
they’re bound to fail.
Intensity—the drive to pursue a goal with passion and focus—is another trait
that often pops up. For example, Sky Dayton started EarthLink in the mid-1990s,
and the firm is now one of the largest Internet service providers.20 One friend, who
watched him surfing, says Dayton “took the sport up with a vengeance. He’s as
intense and fearless in surfing as he is in business.”
Scoring Key
To calculate your proactive personality score, add up your responses to all statements,
except item 3. For item 3, reverse your score.
◗ How will the business affect your family? The first few years of a business start-
up can be hard on family life. The strain of an unsupportive spouse may be
hard to balance against the demands of starting a business. There also may
be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could
take years.21
Getting Started in Business ■ 97
● Taking Over the Family-Owned Business Perhaps the easiest way to get
into business is to take over the family business. A family-owned business “is one
that includes two or more members of a family with financial control of the com-
pany.”25 About 90 percent of all businesses in the United States are family-owned
and -managed. They employ more than 50 million people and account for over
half of the country’s economic output.26
Balancing family and business pressures is not easy. As Dan Bishop, president
of the National Family Business Association, has said, “A family is based on emo-
tion, nurturing, and security, but a business revolves around productivity, accom-
plishment, and profit.”27 The owner may be torn between doing what’s best for the
business and a desire to help a child who may not have what it takes to succeed.
Many owners do little planning to help ease the burden for heirs. One survey
showed that only 45 percent of the owners of family firms had selected successors.28
98 PART ONE CHAPTER 4 Managing Entrepreneurship and Innovation
At a minimum, the owner of the family business should make his or her succession
plans clear. “The children should know if they will take over management or if the
business will be sold to an outsider. If they spend years working in the business
only to find it sold to an outsider, they may have trouble finding positions in other
companies.”29
● Starting a New Business When most people think of entrepreneurs, it’s their
role as the starter of a new business that comes to mind. (That was the route Lance
Fried chose.) It is in starting a new business that the entrepreneur supplies the
spark that makes something out of nothing. This spark brings a new business to
life, complete with customers, suppliers, permits, accountants, and lawyers.
Because the endeavor will require so much of the entrepreneur’s money and
time, starting a small business is not something to take lightly. To prepare, the en-
trepreneur should:
1. List the reasons for wanting to go into business. Some of the most common
reasons are that you want financial independence and creative freedom, and
you want to use your skills and knowledge more fully.
2. Determine what business is right for you. Ask yourself, What do I like to do
with my time? What technical skills have I learned? What do others say I am
good at? Will I make enough to support my family?
3. Identify the niche your business will fill. Research and answer questions such
as: What business am I interested in starting? What services or products will I
sell? Is my idea practical, and will it really work? What is my competition? What
is my business’s advantage over existing firms?
4. Conduct a prebusiness review. Now answer questions like these: What insur-
ance coverage will I need? What equipment or supplies will I need? What are
my resources? What financing will I need? Where will my business be located?
Answers to these questions will help you create a business plan. The business
plan should serve as a blueprint for the business. According to the Small Business
Administration, “[The plan] should detail how the business will be operated, man-
aged and capitalized.”30 We’ll discuss business planning in a moment.
franchise: a license to use a
company’s business ideas and ● Buying an Existing Business Buying an existing business is a double-
procedures and to sell its goods edged sword. At least in theory, buying an existing business means the buyer will
or services know what the existing market is, as well as what the company’s revenues, ex-
penses, and profits (or losses) are. Buying a business can also mean getting into
franchiser: a firm that licenses business faster and with less effort than starting a business from scratch.
other firms to use its business On the other hand, as one cynical management consultant once put it,
idea and procedures and to sell
its goods or services in return for
“There’s always a reason why the business owner wants to sell, and the reason is
royalty and other types of never good.” One risk is that the figures the owner reports may be inflated. An-
payments other is that the owner may know or sense that things are about to go wrong.
franchisee: a firm that obtains ● Buying a Franchise To some extent, buying a franchise gives the entrepre-
a license to use a franchiser’s neur the best of both worlds. A franchiser is a firm that licenses other firms to use
business ideas and procedures
and that may get an exclusive
its business idea and procedures and to sell its goods or services in return for roy-
right to sell the franchiser’s alty and other types of payments. A franchisee is a firm that obtains a license to
goods or services in a specific use a franchiser’s business ideas and procedures and that may get an exclusive
territory right to sell the franchiser’s goods or services in a specific territory. Each franchisee
Getting Started in Business ■ 99
franchising agreement: owns his or her franchise unit. The franchising agreement is a document that
a document that lays out the lays out the relationship between the franchiser and franchisee. The agreement
relationship between the creates a franchise, a franchiser, and a franchisee.31
franchiser and franchisee
Franchising can be a good way to get into business. The franchisee usually
gets the right to start his or her business from scratch without the excess baggage
of the problems associated with an existing business. Yet the franchisee gets much
of the preparatory work done by the franchiser and (hopefully) gets a business that
is based on a proven business model. Other benefits include name recognition,
management training and assistance, economies in buying, financial assistance,
and promotional assistance. On the other hand, some franchisers don’t put the
thought and care into developing the franchise idea that familiar ones like
McDonald’s do. In such cases, the unsuspecting buyer can end up investing his or
her life savings in a dud. One expert suggests looking for the following details
when evaluating a franchise opportunity:
1. Select a franchising company with a reputation for distributing quality prod-
ucts and services to ultimate customers. Franchisers like Dunkin’ Donuts and
McDonald’s are famous for their emphasis on providing high-quality products
and services—they’re not there just to sell franchises.
2. Pick a franchiser that is dedicated to franchising. Avoid franchisers with large
numbers of company-owned stores—or that distribute the product or ser-
vices through other channels, such as supermarkets.
3. Pick a franchiser that provides products or services for which there is an es-
tablished market demand.
4. Pick a franchiser that has a well-accepted trademark.
5. Evaluate your franchiser’s business plan and marketing methods.
6. Make sure your franchiser has good relationships with its franchisees.
7. Deal with franchising companies that provide sales and earnings projections
that demonstrate an attractive return on your investment.
8. Meet with your accountant and lawyer, and carefully review the franchiser’s
Uniform Franchise Offering Circular, a document required by the U.S. Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC oversees the interstate activities of the
franchise industry. Its Uniform Franchise Offering Circular rules require fran-
chisers to disclose all essential information about the business.32
The checklist in Figure 4.4 provides additional guidance for evaluating the fran-
chise and the franchiser.
sole proprietorship: a ● The Sole Proprietorship The sole proprietorship is a business owned
business owned by one person by one person. About 70 percent of businesses in the United States are sole
proprietorships.
F IGURE 4.4
Checklist for Evaluating a Franchise Opportunity
The Franchise
1. Did your lawyer approve the franchise contract you are considering after he studied it paragraph by paragraph?
2. Does the franchise call on you to take any steps that are, according to your lawyer, unwise or illegal in your state, county,
or city?
3. Does the franchise give you an exclusive territory for the length of the franchise agreement or can the franchisor sell a
second or third franchise in your territory?
4. Is the franchisor connected in any way with any other franchise company handling similar merchandise or service?
5. If the answer to the last question is yes, what is your protection against this second franchisor organization?
6. Under what circumstances can you terminate the franchise contract and at what cost to you, if you decide for any reason
at all that you wish to cancel it?
7. If you sell your franchise, will you be compensated for your goodwill, or will the goodwill you have built into the business
be lost by you?
The Franchisor
8. How many years has the firm offering you a franchise been in operation?
9. Has it a reputation for honesty and fair dealing among the local firms holding its franchise?
10. Has the franchisor shown you any certified figures indicating exact net profits of one or more going firms that you
personally checked yourself with the franchisee?
11. Will the firm assist you with
a. A management training program?
b. An employee training program?
c. A public relations program?
d. Capital?
e. Credit?
f. Merchandising ideas?
12. Will the firm help you find a good location for your new business?
13. Is the franchising firm adequately financed so that it can carry out its stated plan of financial assistance and expansion?
14. Is the franchisor a one-person company or a corporation with an experienced management trained in depth (so that
there would always be an experienced person at its head)?
15. Exactly what can the franchisor do for you that you cannot do for yourself?
16. Has the franchisor investigated you carefully enough to assure itself that you can successfully operate one of its
franchises at a profit both to it and to you?
17. Does your state have a law regulating the sale of franchises, and has the franchisor complied with that law?
You—the Franchisee
18. How much equity capital will you have to have to purchase the franchise and operate it until your income equals your
expenses? Where are you going to get it?
19. Are you prepared to give up some independence of action to secure the advantages offered by the franchise?
20. Do you really believe you have the innate ability, training, and experience to work smoothly and profitably with the
franchisor, your employees, and your customers?
21. Are you ready to spend much or all of the remainder of your business life with this franchisor, offering its product or
service to your public?
Your Market
22. Have you made any study to determine whether the product or service that you propose to sell under the franchise has
a market in your territory at the prices you will have to charge?
23. Will the population in the territory given to you increase, remain static, or decrease over the next five years?
24. Will the product or service you are considering be in greater demand, about the same, or less demand five years from
now than today?
25. What competition exists in your territory already for the product or service you contemplate selling?
a. Nonfranchise firms?
b. Franchise firms?
SOURCE: Franchise Opportunities Handbook (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1988).
Getting Started in Business ■ 101
The sole proprietorship is simple to start. The owner usually just has to regis-
ter the firm’s name at the county courthouse and perhaps get the necessary mu-
nicipal business license.33 As sole owner, there are no other owners with whom to
share the rewards or setbacks. Sole proprietors are their own bosses. Because the
sole proprietor is the firm, he or she pays only personal income taxes on its profits.
There is no income tax on the firm as a separate entity.
On the other hand, the sole proprietor has unlimited financial liability. Un-
limited liability means that the business owner is responsible for any claims
against the firm that go beyond what the owner has invested in the business. Sole
proprietors, therefore, risk losing everything they own if their businesses go
bust. Furthermore, there is no other owner with whom to share the management
burden.
may be able to obtain a business loan from a commercial bank. However, banks
are not in the venture capital business. The entrepreneur usually guarantees loans
like these with his or her personal assets and promise to repay.
Many entrepreneurs dip deeply into their personal debt-paying capacity to
support the business. By one estimate, the debts of smaller businesses are divided
roughly equally among (1) business credit lines (loans from banks, or from ven-
dors who are willing to wait a while to get paid) and loans, (2) business credit-card
debt, and (3) personal credit-card debt.37 Asset-based debt is a popular type of
business loan. It is debt collateralized (guaranteed) by one or more specific assets
of the business. If the business doesn’t pay, the lender takes the asset.
The Internet makes it easier to get into business. For ex- competition with bigger online bicycle retailers by focus-
ample, an entrepreneur can create a virtual bookstore or ing on hard-to-find replacement parts. He also cultivates
other business for a fraction of the time and cost that it a competitive advantage by offering free advice over the
would take to create a bricks-and-mortar version. In fact, Web.42 Ron Davis, who owns and manages a chain of ap-
eBay grew so fast in part by becoming the online market- parel stores called The Shoe Horn, also created a web-
place where entrepreneurs could sell their wares. site, but he kept it highly focused. He sells dyed wedding
In terms of deciding what one’s business should be, shoes online.43 He knows what his business is and sticks
the secret of small-business Web success seems to be to it.
choosing a niche. One expert calls this “the fragmenta- Highly focused online entrepreneurs can use giant
tion of the Web.”41 For example, Harris Cyclery is a suc- websites to help them get their businesses started. Thanks
cessful New England business. Sheldon Brown, the vet- to sites like eBay and Froogle, even tiny businesses can
eran mechanic who runs Harris Cyclery, avoids head-on offer their products to huge audiences online.
Sticking to that vision has taken Compass Records into some interesting mu-
sical niches. Its first release was an album of music played on a didgeridoo, a wood
instrument indigenous to Australia. Other titles “have included sets by the pro-
gressive jazz bassist Victor Wooten, the Czech Bluegrass band Druha Trava and the
neopop duo Swan Dive.”44 The partners know exactly what business they are in.
Their business is not “music” but “roots music/folk music.” Because they do know
what business they’re in, it is easy for them to make plans—regarding what musi-
cians to choose; how and where to record, market, and publicize their records; and
roughly speaking, what they can expect in terms of revenues, expenses, and sales
when they sign an artist. See the Window on Managing Now feature for another
example of the need for business planning.45
business plan: a plan that lays The business plan lays out in detail what the business is, where it is heading,
out what the business is, where and how it plans to get there. Figure 4.5 summarizes the contents of a typical
it is heading, and how it plans to business plan.
get there
● Creating the Business Plan Developing the business plan helps the entre-
preneur understand his or her options and anticipate problems. The entrepreneur
does not want to find out six months after opening that labor costs are twice as
high as anticipated and that the store’s economics, therefore, make it unlikely that
the business can survive. Furthermore, no banker, angel, or financier will make
cash infusions without a business plan.
Experts in writing business plans emphasize the importance of doing this
job right. You need to pay particular attention to four tasks: (1) clearly define the
business, (2) provide evidence of management capabilities, (3) provide evi-
dence of marketing capabilities, and (4) offer an attractive financial arrange-
ment.46 As one expert says, “Most entrepreneurs and small-business owners can
prepare a B or B⫹ business plan without too much trouble. That would be fine
if investors would fund B or B⫹ plans. Investors, however, fund only A or
A⫹ plans. . . .”47 The Window on Managing Now feature on page 106 shows one
way to accomplish this.
Managing Innovation and New-Product Development ■ 105
F IGURE 4.5
Contents of a Good Business Plan
Introduction
A basic description of the firm—name, address, business activity, current stage of development of the firm, and plans
for the future.
Executive Summary
An overview of the entire business plan, summarizing the content of each section and inviting the reader to continue.
Industry Analysis
A description of the industry the firm is competing in, focusing on industry trends and profit potential.
Management Section
A description of the management team and whether it is complete—and, if not, when and how it will be completed.
Manufacturing Section
A description of the complexity and logistics of the manufacturing process and of the firm’s production capacity and current
percentage of capacity use.
Product Section
A description of the good or service, including where it is in its life cycle (for example, a new product or a mature product);
of future product research and development efforts; and of the status of patent or copyright applications.
Marketing Section
A marketing plan, including a customer profile, an analysis of market needs, and a geographic analysis of markets; a description of
pricing, distribution, and promotion; and an analysis of how the firm’s marketing efforts are different from competitors’ efforts.
Financial Section
Financial statements for the current year and the three previous years, if applicable; financial projections for the next three to
five years; and assumptions for sales, cost of sales, cash flow, pro forma balance sheets, and key statistics, such as the current
ratio, the debt/equity ratio, and inventory turnovers.
Legal Section
Form of ownership (proprietorship, partnership, or corporation) and a listing of any pending lawsuits filed by or against the firm.
SOURCE: Adapted from Business Plan Pro (Palo Alto, Calif.: Palo Alto Software).
There are several business-planning software packages to business plan step by step. The result is an integrated
assist the entrepreneur in writing A⫹ plans. For example, plan, complete with charts, tables, and professional for-
Business Plan Pro, from Palo Alto Software, contains all matting. For example, click “start a plan,” and the Planning
the information and planning aids you need to create a Wizard presents a series of questions, including, “Does
business plan. It contains, for example, thirty sample plans, your company sell products, services or both?” “Would
step-by-step instructions (with examples) for creating you like a detailed or basic business plan?” “Does your
each part of a plan (executive summary, market analysis, company sell on credit?” Then as you go to each
and so on), financial planning spreadsheets, easy-to-use subsequent part of the plan—such as the executive
tables (for instance, for making sales forecasts), and auto- summary—the Planning Wizard shows instructions with
matic programs for creating color three-dimensional examples, making it easy to create your own executive
charts for showing things like monthly sales and yearly summary (or other plan section). The Planning Wizard
profits. even helps the entrepreneur translate his or her financial
Business Plan Pro’s Planning Wizard takes the entre- and other projections (such as for numbers of items
preneur “by the hand” and helps him or her develop a sold) into easy-to-understand tables and charts.48
something new. Many new inventions end up withering on some research and de-
velopment department’s shelf. Innovation means something more. Innovation
means uncovering a valuable need, inventing a new or improved product or ser-
vice to fill that need, and then developing and introducing the new product or ser-
vice so that it succeeds in the marketplace.49
F IGURE 4.6
The Eight Stages in New-Product Development
Concept Marketing
Idea Idea Business Product Test Commerciali-
Development Strategy
Generation Screening Analysis Development Marketing zation
and Testing Development
creative output. Google’s small entrepreneurial teams seem, at least for now, to be
coming up with more innovative new products and services than does Microsoft’s
more plodding, hierarchical approach.
in terms of age, income, and education) and the probable target price, sales,
and market share and profit goals.
5. In the fifth stage, business analysis, the manager examines the target market
and the potential new product’s pricing, sales, market share, and pricing goals
to determine how likely it is that this new product will succeed.
6. Assuming the answer is yes, the new-product process moves into its sixth
stage, product development. In creating the very successful RAZR cell phone,
Motorola scientists and engineers worked with production engineers and
marketing specialists to create the actual prototypes for the product. The
product development stage should answer the question, Can we turn this
product idea into a workable, saleable new product?
7. For most companies, the vast expense involved in gearing up to produce and
sell the new product means it is prudent to test-market it first. Test marketing
is the seventh new-product development stage. For example, Kraft Foods
might test-market a new cheese in one or two small U.S. cities before rolling
out full production and marketing nationwide. This gives Kraft managers an
opportunity to test and improve physical characteristics of the product. It also
lets the manager test aspects of the marketing plan for the product, such as
whether the price is too high, too low, or just right.
8. Now the manager is just about set to introduce the new product. In this eighth
stage, commercialization, the manager actually implements the marketing plan
by introducing the new product into the market. If the manager has done his or
her homework, the commercialization will be successful. The company will
have successfully innovated, from idea, to development, to commercialization.
Fostering Innovation
Managers traditionally use three methods—intrapreneurship, business incuba-
tors, and new-product development teams—to foster increased innovation. We
look at these next.
Innovation Now
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE I nnovation today is becoming more collaborative and technology-based. We
discuss how in this final section.
110 PART ONE CHAPTER 4 Managing Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Procter & Gamble’s R&D head, Larry Huston, knew his around the world. Each posting at www.Intelincentive.com
firm had to reach out to get more and better new-product includes a promised cash incentive for coming up with the
ideas. P&G now uses several information technology tools solution.
to connect itself to various sources of new-product
ideas.67 NineSigma Inc.
This company helps its fifty or so clients (including P&G)
InnovationNet
prepare technical briefs describing projects or problems
This is an intranet Web portal for 18,000 Procter & they want solved. NineSigma then sends these briefs
Gamble innovators in research and development, engineer- (without identifying the corporate customer) to re-
ing, market research, purchasing, and patents. One P&G se- searchers around the world for possible solutions.
nior vice president calls it a sort of global lunchroom. It lets
those 18,000 P&G employees worldwide exchange ideas. YourEncore Inc.
This is a network of about 400 retired scientists and engi-
InnoCentive
neers. P&G and other YourEncore corporate sponsors
This virtual laboratory posts scientific problems from its pay them for specific, short-term job assignments aimed
thirty idea-seeking corporate members (including P&G) to at helping the YourEncore Inc. sponsors develop new
a proprietary network of about 30,000 registered solvers products.68
◗ Another is enabling the companies’ designers to see how, for instance, they
might recycle a component from an existing Sony laptop to serve some purpose
in Sony’s new video game.
◗ A third is to show suppliers how the components they previously supplied for
product A are now going to be used (in a slightly modified fashion) in the com-
pany’s new product B.
Challenges like these don’t concern only companies that are trying to innovate
brand-new products. They also concern managers who are trying to update exist-
ing products. To address every product’s inevitable life-cycle maturity and decline,
every company continually fine-tunes its existing products, for instance, by
upgrading memory capacity. So Dell’s designers, for example, face the three
component-recycling challenges, not just for the new products they’re developing
but also for innovating and improving their existing products. How can managers
at Dell or Sony make sure they’re doing the best job of recycling existing products’
components?
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Entrepreneurship is the creation of a business for including tenacity and intensity—the drive to pur-
the purpose of gain or growth under conditions sue a goal with passion and focus.
of risk and uncertainty, and an entrepreneur is
5. Most entrepreneurs seem to stumble upon their
someone who creates new businesses under risky
ideas for a business. Most of those responding to
conditions.
one survey said that they got their ideas for their
2. Some environments are more conducive to entre- businesses through their previous employment.
preneurship than others. The level of economic Serendipity was the next source that most respon-
freedom is one consideration. Others include dents mentioned. A relative handful got their ideas
the ability to streamline, downsize, and fire em- from hobbies or from a systematic search for busi-
ployees at will; technological advances; the level ness opportunities.
of economic activity; globalization, and other
6. In creating the business entity, the entrepreneur
environmental factors, such as venture capital
needs to decide what the ownership structure will
availability; a technically skilled labor force; the
be. The four main forms of business ownership are
accessibility of suppliers; the accessibility of cus-
the sole proprietorship, the partnership, the corpo-
tomers; the availability of lenders; the accessibility
ration, and the LLC. Taxation and limiting the
of transportation; the attitude of the area’s popu-
owner’s liability are always big considerations in
lation; and the availability of supporting services
choosing an ownership form.
(such as roads, electric power, and accounting
firms). 7. Innovation means uncovering a valuable need, in-
venting a new or improved product or service to fill
3. Small businesses as a group account for most of
that need, and then developing and introducing
the new businesses created every year as well as for
the new product or service so that it succeeds in
most of the growth of companies (small firms grow
the marketplace. Today, most big companies rely
much faster than do big ones). Small firms also ac-
more on collaborative innovation, which involves
count for about three-quarters of the employment
reaching out with IT tools to those inside and out-
growth in the U.S. economy—in other words, small
side the company for good ideas.
businesses create most of the new jobs in the
United States. 8. Product life-cycle management software is a suite
of software applications that helps managers de-
4. A few behaviors seem to arise consistently in anec-
sign, manufacture, and manage the evolution of
dotal/case descriptions of successful entrepreneurs,
their products.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why is entrepreneurship important? 4. According to your state and county officials, what
is involved in incorporating where you live?
2. Do you know of anyone involved in a family busi-
ness, and if so, do they experience any of the family 5. Why do you think you would (or would not) make a
business issues we discussed in this chapter? good entrepreneur?
Which ones?
6. List ten innovative products introduced by P&G
3. If you were interested in buying a franchise, how over the past five years.
would you get started?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Using the information in this chapter, write a one- 2. At the library or on the Internet, review sales infor-
page paper on the topic “Why I would (or would mation on two popular franchises of your choice.
not) make a good entrepreneur.” Then, in teams of three or four people, evaluate
Case Study ■ 115
the pros and cons of these franchise businesses, outline what you would cover in such a study, and
and answer the question, Should I invest in this then explain why you believe her new program is
franchise? or is not a good idea.
3. The dean of your business school is eager to ex- 4. In teams of four or five people, choose a consumer
pand her college’s programs to new markets. She products company such as P&G and list the innov-
has decided to try to establish a new online MBA ative products they’ve introduced in the past three
program. She has asked you to conduct an infor- years. What was it about these products that you
mal, quick feasibility study. In teams of four or five, consider innovative?
CASE STUDY
Getting By with a Little Help from His Mother’s Friends
ndrew Morris had almost everything he needed to Andrew Morris has dipped into his mother’s susu a
A start his Caribbean grocery store in a New York City
suburb. He had an MBA from Columbia University, a
number of times to help his business grow. He used the
money to pay a sales tax obligation; purchase a com-
business plan, and a $50,000 loan from the European mercial oven to cook Jamaican meat patties; produce a
American Bank. However, after he negotiated the rent special Easter promotion with traditional cheese and
on a 1,600-square-foot retail space in Hempstead, New sweetbread sandwiches; and expand his inventory to in-
York, he found he did not have enough cash left for in- clude unusual but popular items, such as Jamaican Chi-
ventory, payroll, marketing, and licenses. Thanks to his nese soy sauce. “It’s a cash-flow boon,” Morris says. After
mother and her friends, he was able to secure an addi- seven years of ongoing susu support, Morris’s store now
tional $15,000 in resources, which enabled him to stock has annual revenues of over $1 million. Morris is now
the shelves with dozens of kinds of hot sauce, curry, counting on susu support to help it expand into distrib-
and reggae music that the growing Caribbean commu- uting coffee and developing a website. “[The susu is] no
nity craves. longer just a Christmas club,” he says. “It’s a way of life.”74
Morris got the money from his mother’s susu, a kind
of club or fund developed by West Indian housewives to DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
provide rotating credit for big-ticket household pur-
chases. A susu, which means “partner,” typically has 1. Andrew Morris has approached you for help. List
about twenty members, most of them either relatives or what you believe he is doing right and doing wrong
close friends. Each week, every member contributes a with respect to starting his business. What do you
fixed sum, or hand, into the fund for a twenty-week pe- think accounts for the fact that he ran out of money
riod. Any time during those twenty weeks, each member before he opened, even though he had a business
is entitled to borrow an amount, or draw, to use interest- plan? What remedy or remedies would you suggest
free during that time. For example, if a twenty-member at this point?
susu has a set weekly contribution of $100, each member 2. Develop a one-page outline showing Andrew
pays $100 into the fund every week—or pays a total of Morris how you would suggest he conduct an in-
$2,000 over twenty weeks. Each member is then also able formal business feasibility study.
to draw $2,000 at any point during that period. Essen-
tially, the susu is a kind of planned savings program that 3. List the activity areas for which Andrew Morris
pools money to help members of the group who need should establish controls.
help with cash flow. The Caribbean susu is not really a 4. What other alternative means for obtaining financ-
unique concept in the United States. Asian Americans ing would you recommend for Andrew Morris, and
and other ethnic groups have also developed informal what are their pros and cons when compared to
lending networks for their members. continuing to use his mother’s susu?
5 INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette:
Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar Inc.
● Data, Information, and
Knowledge
The Nature of Information
What Is Information Quality?
“
Knowledge management” at Caterpillar Inc. used to mean buying a
colleague a cup of coffee. This “would enable employees to learn
anything they needed to know.” And for many years, that was
Managing Now: Data Mining
● Information Systems for adequate.1 Caterpillar manufactures construction and mining equip-
Managing Organizations ment. Most of the company’s investment was in the sorts of machines
Management’s Requirement for
Information
and factories you would associate with a big industrial manufacturing
Transaction-Processing Systems company. Acquiring and sharing knowledge about things like best prac-
Management Information Systems tices and new ideas was not management’s major focus.
Decision Support Systems
Executive Support Systems Now things are different.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: Caterpillar’s managers saw that all
Computers Add Value at Bissett competitors had access to the
Nursery
● Enterprise Systems and
same manufacturing facilities and
Knowledge Management machinery. To compete in today’s
What Are Enterprise Systems? business environment, Caterpillar
Three Special Enterprise Systems
Types of Knowledge Management Systems had to put more emphasis on its
● Telecommunications and intangible, intellectual assets—on
Computerized Networks things like patents; new, creative
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
Ryder System’s Knowledge
ideas; and on world-class best
Management Center practices in all areas. These best
PRACTICE IT: Caterpillar practices include finding out what
Telecommunications Basics
How Managers Use Telecommunications customers want, delivering better The giant Caterpillar Inc. needed a better
Telecommunications-Based Workgroup service, producing equipment way to manage its accumulated corporate
Support Systems more efficiently, and better man- knowledge.
Networks
The Internet aging its huge workforce. As at
● Managing Now: Managerial most firms, best practices had become the key to Caterpillar’s success.
Applications of Information In today’s business environment, best practices like these now make
Technology
Planning: Using Information Technology the difference between success and failure. For Caterpillar, the chal-
for Strategic Advantage lenge was that much of the knowledge about best practices was filed
Organizing: Networking the away in procedures manuals or hidden away in their employees’ minds.
Organization Structure
Staffing: Telecommuting How could Caterpillar retrieve and store these millions and millions of
Leading: Reengineering the Company ideas and best practices and encourage employees to share what
Controlling
they know? ■
116
Data, Information, and Knowledge ■ 117
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
example, daily laptop sales figures for Dell computer comprise data. But data—
these numbers—are of little use for management decisions—they’re just raw data.
Information is data in context. For example, Dell’s CEO can review a graph of
laptop sales data for a week, and from that glean useful information about
whether Dell’s sales are trending up or down. Information is data presented in a
form that is meaningful to the recipient.3 “Information,” as Peter Drucker said, “is
data endowed with relevance and purpose.”4
All information systems deal with data. Some systems transform data into in-
formation, for example, by expressing them in the form of graphs or charts. Thus,
Dell’s CEO may start each day by viewing on his laptop computerized graphs and
charts summarizing the trends for Dell activities such as laptop sales, profit mar-
gins, and unit costs.
Managers combine information like that on Dell’s sales graph with what they al-
ready know, and with other information (such as competitors’ sales for the same
knowledge: information period), to create knowledge. Knowledge is “information . . . distilled via study or
distilled via study or research research and augmented by judgment and experience.”5 Managers use knowledge to
and augmented by judgment understand what is happening and to make predictions. The sales graph (informa-
and experience tion) shows that Dell sales are trending down. Dell’s CEO knows that a newly
rejuvenated Hewlett-Packard (HP) is selling comparable laptops for 5 percent less
cost. This knowledge (Dell sales trending down plus HP selling theirs for 5 percent
less) leads Dell’s CEO to conclude, based on his previous experience, that HP’s laptop
sales are undermining Dell’s, and that a lower Dell price and more ads are in order.
Consider another example. PepsiCo wants to determine why consumers are
not buying its Pepsi Light clear drink. The company’s market researchers conduct
a survey containing thirty multiple-choice questions, each with five possible
choices. They place all these data (all the answers to the thirty questions from the
hundreds of people who took the survey) on a DVD. If printed, all these data would
appear as streams of unrelated numbers. But then, PepsiCo’s market researchers
summarize these data using graphs showing average responses by age level and
other demographic traits. The result is information. For example, they may find
that older people, by and large, don’t seem to be purchasing this product. PepsiCo’s
marketing department can then apply its knowledge to draw meaningful conclu-
sions, such as, in this case, a hypothesis about why older consumers seem less
inclined to purchase Pepsi Light than are younger ones.
Reduces uncertainty
Accurate HIGH-QUALITY (it tells us something
(the information is
INFORMATION we needed to know
correct and truthful)
but did not know)
Timely
(in time to make
a good decision)
F IGURE 5.2
Types of Information Systems Executive
KIND OF Strategic Level:
Support
Senior Managers GROUPS
INFORMATION Systems
SERVED
SYSTEM
Management
Information
Systems Management Level:
Middle Managers
Decision
Support
Systems
Operational
Transaction
Level:
Processing
Operational
Systems
Managers
SOURCE: Kenneth C. Laudon and Sales and Manufacturing Finance and Human
Jane P. Laudon, Management Information Marketing and Production Accounting Resources
Systems 9e, © 2006, Prentice Hall,
Upper Saddle River, N.J., p. 41. FUNCTIONAL AREAS
Information Systems for Managing Organizations ■ 121
◗ The data management component retrieves, stores, and organizes the data, for
instance, from point-of-sale cash registers.
◗ The model management system retrieves, stores, and organizes the quantitative
and statistical models that the decision support system uses to analyze the data.
For example, Macy’s may use a formula to identify customers who make too
many returns.
◗ The knowledge engine does the actual reasoning for the system. For example, the
knowledge engine for a commercial bank might use its built-in rules to analyze a
loan applicant’s credit history, employment history, income level, and debt to ar-
rive at a decision regarding whether that person’s credit risk is high or low.
◗ The user interface consists of the tools (such as the keyboard and screen) the
manager uses to interact with the decision support system.
◗ Finally, the user is the decision maker who is actually using and controlling the
decision support system.
When it comes to helping managers make decisions, decision support sys-
tems are more powerful than are MISs because of the analytical tools and knowl-
edge engine the DSS contains. Whereas the MIS will dutifully print out prepro-
grammed sales graphs and reports, the DSS can actually analyze various
alternatives. For example, the dean of your school most likely receives weekly MIS-
produced reports on enrollments by class. Suppose, however, that your school is
facing a faculty strike. Now the dean would turn to a DSS. The dean may want to
include in her analysis her estimate of the likelihood that a number of the univer-
sity’s students would move across town to a competing university given the com-
peting university’s ability (or inability) to expand its class offerings. Among other
things, the dean’s DSS could then help the dean estimate the impact on school
revenues of having to drop various combinations of classes. Table 5.1 gives some
examples of how companies use their DSS systems. The Window on Managing
Now feature shows how one small business improved its revenues by installing
computerized transactions, MIS, and decision support information systems.
T ABLE 5.1
Examples of Uses for DSS Systems
American Airlines Price and route selection—how much will we earn if
we add or drop this route?
Cornell University Program selection—should we add a new school of
business in China or not?
Donald Trump Realty Investment evaluation—should we open a new casino
in Mississippi or not?
Burger King Price and promotion selection—if we add this new
giant burger, what’s the likely impact on our revenues
and costs?
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Computers Add Value at Bissett Nursery
Before it installed its new computer systems, Long Island, operations. He could now order with precision based on
New York–based Bissett Nursery could not have handled his customers’ historical needs. He could easily show
any more business. Bissett’s son Jimmy spent his days small contractors their annual needs for nonperishable
sprinting around the shop trying to serve customers, goods, enabling them to purchase in bulk and save money.
many of whom waited twenty-five minutes for a hand- Bissett Nursery’s customer base shot from 600 to 7,500.
written invoice. Bookkeeping was a month behind, and in- Bob Pospischil was just getting started.
ventory control didn’t exist.18 Marketing was costing Bissett $130,000 annually, and
Both Bissetts knew their company, a wholesaler of better than 60 percent of that budget went to producing
nursery materials and lumber, would have to change. The ads and catalogs. Pospischil had an easier time selling the
younger Bissett had ideas about expanding the business. elder Bissett on the idea that he needed a desktop pub-
He thought the best way to do so would be with the help lishing system. The price tag was $40,000, but “with the
of brother-in-law Bob Pospischil, an ex–fighter pilot first catalog, we saved enough to pay for the system,” says
knowledgeable about computer systems and the financial Pospischil.
data they could produce.“My goal was not to change the Landscapers face big barriers with homeowners be-
business,” says Pospischil,“but to use technology to meet cause they have to sell the aesthetics of their products.
the business needs.” The elder Bissett was skeptical. He’d It’s not easy to get a customer to visualize how a tree
seen competitors go the same route only to find it an ex- would look in the customer’s own front yard. That
pensive mistake, but he relented. changed when a software company sold Bissett on an
Pospischil spent sixty days getting a handle on buying, imaging system that could produce a rendering of how
sales, shipping, and accounting and then spent $135,000 the planned trees and plants would look in front of the
on the company’s first big computer. Order-entry em- customer’s house.
ployees took turns visiting the software vendor to learn The new technology gave Bissett Nursery a huge
the new system. After the first thirty minutes of opera- competitive edge. More than 95 percent of landscape con-
tions, the network crashed. A frantic Jim Bissett insisted tractors who bought from Bissett and used Bissett’s
everyone return to the old manual system. They ironed computer-generated images sold the job and came back
out the problem in fifteen minutes, and the elder Bissett to fill orders at the nursery. By 2006, Bissett Nursery had
gradually became accustomed to the new technology. grown to become the largest horticultural distribution
One big thing Jim Bissett soon gained from the new center in New York State. Its new computerized informa-
system was a better perspective on each phase of his tion systems helped make Bissett Nursery a huge success.
The information systems that fall under the executive support systems um-
brella are different. They use internal as well as external data (such as industry
sales trends). This is important. For the new CEO of Ford Motor Company, it does
little good to know just that Ford sales are up 5 percent. He also needs a compari-
son with auto industry sales to see that Ford’s market share is actually down 2 per-
cent last month. Executive support systems provide that sort of comparison.19
● How Executives Use ESSs Executives use executive support systems in many
ways. Executives such as Dell’s Michael Dell use their ESSs to monitor the pulse of
their companies. For example, Dell and his top managers have ESS-supported
“digital dashboards” on their PCs. These computerized graphs and charts help
them to monitor weekly performance, for instance, their progress relative to com-
petitors’. The Window on Managing Now feature presents another example.
Information Systems for Managing Organizations ■ 125
Executives also use ESSs to quickly identify and understand evolving situa-
tions. A university president could use an ESS to keep tabs on and analyze the
following questions:
Is the average student taking fewer courses?
Are costs for maintenance labor substantially higher than they have been in
the past?
Is there a significant shift in the Zip Codes from which most of our students
come?
An ESS also makes it easy for executives to browse through the data. Says one:
I like to take a few minutes to review details about our customers, our manu-
facturers or our financial activities first hand. Having the details flow across
the screen gives me a feel for how things are going. I don’t look at each record,
but will glance at certain elements as they scroll by. If something looks un-
usual, it will just jump out at me and I can find out more about it. But if noth-
ing is unusual, I will know that, too.20
The CEO can also use an ESS to monitor a situation. Thus, a university presi-
dent can use an ESS to monitor the new dining facilities management firm running
the student cafeteria, by reviewing ESS information
such as student usage, student complaints, and rev-
enues. Executives also use ESSs to keep track of their
competitors. For example, a wealth of information is
available in commercial computerized databases, in-
cluding financial information on tens of thousands of
U.S. companies. Executives can use an ESS to tap into
such databases and glean competitive data (for in-
stance, regarding last year’s sales) regarding other firms
in their industry. An ESS can also support analyses. For
example, it could enable our university president to
create “what if” scenarios that show the likely effects on
university revenues of increasing faculty salaries or
adding new programs. Finally, an ESS may enable the
executive to get at data directly. Using their terminals
and personal digital assistants (PDAs), executives can
use an executive support system to tap directly into the
CEO Michael Dell, shown here with the president of the company’s data files and get specific information that
Philippines, uses a desktop balanced scorecard with may be of interest (such as, What is that manager
computerized graphs and charts to monitor his company’s spending on labor?), without waiting for his or her as-
performance. sistants to assemble it.21
artificial intelligence (AI): The term artificial intelligence is often used in association with expert systems
a computer’s ability to because they both are related to replicating human thought processes. However,
accomplish tasks in a manner expert systems are relatively straightforward information systems made up of pro-
that is considered “intelligent”
grams that use decision rules. These decision rules, when combined with the facts
and is characterized by learning
and making decisions of the situation (like the person’s age and income level), allow the expert system to
mimic the expert’s decision-making style.
computer viruses: programs Artificial intelligence leaps beyond this sort of logical problem solving. Artifi-
that can perform destructive cial intelligence (AI) can be defined as a computer’s ability “to accomplish tasks
actions like erasing data while in a manner that is considered ‘intelligent’ and is characterized by learning and
attached to one of a computer’s making decisions.”22
existing programs
Trojan horses: items that ● Information System Security Regardless of the type of information system
seem innocent, like e-mails (executive, MIS, or other), managers need to anticipate and prepare for security
from a friend, but that once
embedded can contain
breaches. Most readers are already somewhat familiar with the sorts of problems
instructions that enable that can arise. For example, computer viruses are programs that can perform de-
outsiders to track or manipulate structive actions like erasing data while attached to one of a computer’s existing
the computer’s files programs. They’re called viruses because they’re capable of duplicating and trans-
ferring themselves to other linked computers. Trojan horses (named after the
worms: programs that act huge wooden horse of Trojan War fame) seem innocent, like e-mails from a friend,
basically like viruses but can
but once embedded, they can enable outsiders to track or manipulate the com-
operate independently, without
attaching to other programs puter’s files. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses can’t duplicate themselves. Worms ba-
sically act like viruses but can operate independently, without attaching to other
spyware: programs that hide programs. Spyware programs (as the name implies) hide themselves in a com-
themselves in a computer and puter and enable outsiders to keep track of keystrokes.
enable outsiders to keep track Computer security specialists take numerous steps to defend against security
of keystrokes breaches. Commercial information systems and those connected to broadband
firewalls: hardware/software services particularly require firewalls, hardware/software packages that stand
packages that stand between the between the company’s network and the outside network in order to inhibit unau-
company’s network and the thorized access. Systems also use authentication, for instance, via passwords, to
outside network in order to help protect systems. Various types of software, including antivirus and antispy-
inhibit unauthorized access ware programs, help identify and inhibit virus or spyware attacks. Companies
also use encryption, or coding of messages, to inhibit unauthorized people from
authentication: passwords reading messages. Companies use several protocols or coding methods to encode
and similar devices used to
verify a user’s identity data, including Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the newer Transport Layer Security
(TLS). Managers also take other steps to improve computer system security.
encryption: coding of Indeed, the International Standards Organization has special standards covering
messages security issues.
and what the results were. Microsoft’s frequently asked questions (FAQ) sections at
microsoft.com contain the firm’s accumulated knowledge on how to handle vari-
ous problem issues.
But much of a company’s most important knowledge is not written down; it
resides in the minds of its employees.29 For example, think of all the knowledge
that must reside in the mind of a company’s sales manager as he or she prepares
to retire after twenty years on the job. This sales manager knows about each
customer’s preferences and needs, who to call, the names of those people’s
spouses, how often they should be contacted, and thousands of similar items of
knowledge. The company must have some way to harvest this treasure trove of
knowledge before the manager retires.
F IGURE 5.4
Types of Knowledge Management Systems
Ryder Systems Inc. provides logistics and transportation news feeds on key market information; and providing col-
services worldwide. When companies in one country laborative work areas for project teams.”33
need to coordinate shipments among dozens of suppliers To meet these goals, Accenture created an online
and customers worldwide, they turn to Ryder. Because so Knowledge Management Center for Ryder.The new sys-
much of what Ryder does involves fast-changing, state-of- tem is based in part on Lotus Notes. Lotus Notes is a
the-art methods, Ryder’s managers recognized how im- suite of special collaborative software.34 For example, fea-
portant knowledge management can be. As Gene Tyndall, tures from Lotus Notes that Accenture embedded in the
Ryder’s executive vice president of global solutions and Knowledge Management Center include group calendar-
e-commerce, put it, “[P]eople, the knowledge they have ing and scheduling, instant messaging (which allows Ryder
and the new knowledge they create are the corporate as- employees to see each other online and conduct chat ses-
sets that impact Ryder’s performance more than any sions), and online instant meetings in which multiple em-
other form of capital.” ployees can meet to discuss particular issues. The new
Ryder’s managers therefore also knew that Ryder Knowledge Management Center therefore makes it easy
needed a way for all its employees to share new ideas and for Ryder employees worldwide to collaborate and to
to share what they knew about best practices. For Ryder, share knowledge.
an online knowledge management solution made the In creating its new Knowledge Management Center,
most sense, because its employees needed a simple way Ryder recognized that getting employees to use it was
to access and share knowledge worldwide.32 crucial. The implementation therefore included special
To build its knowledge management system, Ryder communications from the Knowledge Management Cen-
turned to the consulting company Accenture. Ryder ter team to all employees describing the center’s purpose
wanted its new knowledge management system to serve and tools, special training, and incentives to encourage
several purposes: “exchanging best practices, facilitating employees to use the new system.
quick access to experts within Ryder; supplying customized
As a huge manufacturer of construction and mining equip- The aim of the Knowledge Network is basically to
ment, Caterpillar’s managers knew they needed a way to make it easier for Caterpillar employees to share knowl-
encourage employees to share their best ideas and to edge and record the best way to do things. Using the
capture what the company already had squirreled away Knowledge Network, Caterpillar employees can more eas-
about best practices. Caterpillar engineers began thinking ily communicate and participate in chatroom-type discus-
that they wanted to capture what they called lessons sions and post best ideas on community bulletin boards.
learned and thus avoid duplicated efforts. For example, Over the past few years, Caterpillar has expanded its
one engineer said, “[W]e found we were repeating the Knowledge Network. In August 2002, Caterpillar invited
same mistakes and doing the same research multiple its 7,000 independent dealers to start using the Knowl-
times from different business units.”35 edge Network. Now, dealers can share best practices
Therefore, about seven years ago, Caterpillar intro- with each other and with Caterpillar employees. For ex-
duced its Knowledge Network, a Web-based system that ample, over the years, dealers had lost access to a simple,
Caterpillar employees use to collaborate and share knowl- hands-on aptitude test that some dealers used to hire
edge. Caterpillar divided its Knowledge Network into quality repair technicians. Thanks to the new access to
twelve communities. Each community focused on the Caterpillar’s Knowledge Network, a dealer posted a ques-
sorts of issues and challenges that might be of special in- tion about this in the dealer service training community.
terest to particular subgroups of Caterpillar employees. Another dealer posted a response about a quick and ef-
One community focused on the best way to bolt together fective selection tool dealers could use. Caterpillar’s
joints, thus enabling the Caterpillar employees who faced Knowledge Network means employees and dealers can
this issue to share their best practices and making it easier now share ideas and do things much more productively
for them to institute these best practices—in this case, to than they did before.
bolt together and fasten joints on heavy equipment.
telecommunications: the expense receipts to a central computer server. There, the system automatically
electronic transmission of data, transforms these hard-copy receipts into digital images and launches an e-mail-
text, graphics, voice (audio), or driven invoice and expense approval process. Managers in Select’s finance depart-
image (video) over any distance ment receive these images, view them, and approve payments (or, if necessary,
telecommunications return the bills unapproved with questions requesting clarification).36 In the rest of
system: a set of compatible this final section, we’ll look more closely at telecommunications and how man-
communications devices that agers use it.
link geographically separated
information-processing devices
Telecommunications Basics
telecommunications lines: Telecommunications is the electronic transmission of data, text, graphics, voice
links that provide the medium
through which signals are (audio), or image (video) over any distance.37 A telecommunications system is a
transmitted set of compatible communications devices that link geographically separated
information-processing devices38 (such as personal computers, telephones, and
terminals: input-output video displays) for the purpose of exchanging data and information.39
devices that send or receive data As you can see in the simple system shown in Figure 5.5, several common ele-
ments exist in any telecommunications system.40 The telecommunications lines
line adapters: devices that
or links are the medium through which signals are transmitted. They might be cop-
modify the signal from the
terminal and computer so that per wires, coaxial cables, optical fibers, or microwave transmission, for instance.
it is suitable to be carried on a Terminals are input-output devices that send or receive data. Line adapters mod-
telecommunications line ify the signal from the terminal and computer so that it is suitable to be carried on
Telecommunications and Computerized Networks ■ 133
F IGURE 5.5
A Telecommunications System
A telecommunications system like this one is a set of compatible telecommunications devices
like lines, adapters, and computers that link geographically separated devices.
TRANSMITTER RECEIVER
Information Information
source user
Modulation Demodulation
Multiplexing Demultiplexing
Channel
(transmission
medium)
SOURCE: Reprinted with permission from Encyclopedia Britannica, © 1999 by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
modem: the most familiar a telecommunications line. The most familiar line adapter is called a modem.41
type of line adapter Finally, telecommunications software is the computer program that controls
input and output activities and other communications network functions.
telecommunications
software: the computer
program that controls input
and output activities and other
How Managers Use Telecommunications
communications network Few of a company’s information systems could function without telecommunica-
functions tions support. For example, apparel manufacturer and retailer Zara uses a sophis-
ticated telecommunications system. The system includes handheld PDAs, which
its store staff use to link Zara’s own inventory and manufacturing facilities with
point-of-sale processing devices at its retail stores. Detailed sales information is
transmitted directly to headquarters, where computerized decision-support sys-
tems analyze it for trends and buying patterns. Management can then make deci-
sions regarding inventories and production plans. Similarly, retailers such as
JCPenney use telecommunications to manage in-store inventories. Its buyers get
134 PART TWO CHAPTER 5 Information and Knowledge Management
instant access to sales information from the stores and can modify their purchas-
ing actions accordingly.
The list of ways in which businesses rely on telecommunications to support
information transfer and management is endless: Delta Airline’s computers auto-
matically e-mail or fax your new reservation to your home or office; radiologists
rely on telecommunications to receive digital x-rays, which they can then read
from remote locations; your college uses telecommunications to allow you to
access library information from your office or home; computer-assisted manufac-
turing systems use telecommunications to transmit information from one loca-
tion in the plant to another; and banks depend on telecommunications to make
their remote automatic teller machines operational. We will look at managerial
applications of telecommunications in this final section.
Telecommunications-Based Workgroup
Support Systems
Workgroups and work teams play important roles in just about every company.
The team might be a door-assembly team at Saturn, the sales department at a Levi
Strauss subsidiary, or a project team set up in a manufacturing plant to solve a
quality-control problem. The team’s members might all be dispersed around the
city or even around the world.
Companies use a variety of telecommunications-supported devices to facilitate
group communications and decision making. These devices range from very famil-
iar tools such as e-mail to more specialized tools like collaborative writing systems.
F IGURE 5.6
Group Decision Support
System
The Ventana Corporation’s system
demonstrates the features of
its GroupSystems for Windows
electronic meeting software,
which helps people create, share,
record, organize, and evaluate
ideas in meetings, between offices,
or around the world.
brainstorming tools, idea organizers (to help team members synthesize ideas gen-
erated during brainstorming), and tools for voting or setting priorities (so recom-
mended solutions can be weighted and prioritized).
Using GDSS helps a workgroup avoid a lot of the group decision-making bar-
riers that often occur in face-to-face groups. For example, there’s less likelihood
that one assertive person will control the whole meeting, since the computerized
GDSS programs govern all the brainstorming and listing of ideas—and the voting.
collaborative writing ● Other Workgroup Support Systems Other workgroup support systems are
system: a computerized also available. For example, a collaborative writing system lets a workgroup’s
system that lets a workgroup’s members create long written documents (such as proposals) while working si-
members create long written multaneously at one of a number of interconnected or networked computers. As
documents (such as proposals) team members work on different sections of the proposal, each member has au-
while working simultaneously
tomatic access to the rest of the sections and can modify his or her section to be
at one of a number of
interconnected or networked compatible with the rest. A group scheduling system lets each group member
computers put his or her daily schedule into a shared database, which enables group mem-
bers to identify the most suitable times for meetings to be scheduled or to attend
group scheduling system: a currently scheduled meetings. A workflow automation system uses an e-mail-
computerized system that lets type system to automate paperwork flow.44 For example, if a proposal requires
each group member put his or four signatures, it can be sent electronically from mailbox to mailbox for the
her daily schedule into a shared
database, which enables group
required signatures.
members to identify the most Figure 5.7 summarizes how a PriceWaterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers)
suitable times for meetings to be team won a consulting job by using groupware.45 The four Price Waterhouse exec-
scheduled or to attend currently utives who needed to write the proposal (which was due in three days) were in
scheduled meetings three different states. But they were able to use their Lotus Notes Groupware to
conduct a four-way dialogue on their screens and extract key proposal compo-
workflow automation nents from various Price Waterhouse databases. They could pull up résumés of the
system: a computerized
system that uses an e-mail-type key Price Waterhouse experts to include in the proposal and borrow passages from
process to automate paperwork similar proposals. The team met the deadline and won the contract.
flow
network: a group of Networks
interconnected computers, work
stations, or computer devices For many of these applications, managers rely on telecommunications networks.
(such as printers and data A network “is a group of interconnected computers, work stations, or computer
storage systems) devices (such as printers and data storage systems).”46 Local area networks (LANs)
F IGURE 5.7
Winning the Job with Groupware
Here’s how Price Waterhouse put together a proposal in four days and won a
multimillion-dollar consulting contract by using Lotus Notes software for groups.
On Thursday a Price Waterhouse executive learned that a major securities firm was out
to award a big consulting contract to help develop a complex new trading operation.
Price Waterhouse was invited to bid, but there was a hitch: The proposals were due
Monday. A Price Waterhouse competitor had been working on its own bid for weeks.
SOURCE: Adapted from David Kirkpatrick,“Groupware Goes Boom,” Fortune, December 27, 1993, pp. 100–101.
Telecommunications and Computerized Networks ■ 137
wide area networks (WANs), and distributed networks are three examples of man-
agerial networks.
local area network (LAN): A local area network (LAN) spans a limited distance, such as a building or
a group of interconnected several adjacent buildings, often using the company’s own telecommunications
computers, work stations, or links, rather than common-carrier links like those provided by the local phone
computer devices (such as
company’s phone lines. At home, many people use LANs such as Bluetooth to link
printers and data storage
systems) that spans a limited together their telecommunications and computer devices.
distance, such as a building or Managers generally use LANs for one or more of the following reasons:
several adjacent buildings to distribute information and messages (including e-mail); to drive computer-
controlled manufacturing equipment; to distribute documents (such as engi-
neering drawings) from one department to another; to interconnect the LAN’s
computers with those of a public network such as the Internet; and to make
equipment sharing possible (including not just printers but disk storage file
servers, for instance).
wide area networks Wide area networks (WANs) are networks that serve microcomputers over
(WANs): networks that serve larger geographic areas, from a few miles to around the globe. Early WANs utilized
microcomputers over larger common-carrier networks, such as the phone lines of phone companies. However,
geographic areas, from a few many firms today own their own wide area networks, which are essentially private,
miles to around the globe
computerized telecommunications systems. For example, Benetton retail stores
distributed processing: accumulate sales data during the day and keep them on computer disks. At night,
a method for handling another larger computer at corporate headquarters polls the individual retail
computerized information stores’ computers, accessing data that are then transmitted over telephone lines
that generally uses small local back to headquarters. Here, the information is processed and a summary of sales
computers (such as point-of- trends is forwarded to headquarters and individual store managers.47
sale systems) to collect, store,
Benetton’s system also relies on distributed processing. Distributed process-
and process information, with
summary reports and ing generally uses small local computers (such as point-of-sale systems) to collect,
information sent to store, and process information, with summary reports and information sent to
headquarters as needed headquarters as needed.48
The Internet
Of course, the most familiar telecommunications-based network for most people
is the Internet. The value of the Internet lies in its ability to connect easily and
inexpensively so many people from so many places and to instantaneously supply
information and access to business firms’ products and data.
● How Managers Use the Internet We’ll see in this book that the Internet
supports a vast array of managerial activities. Whirlpool Corporation installed a
Web-based supply chain management system. This new system can “talk” directly
to a dealer’s system for things like transmitting orders, exchanging sales data, and
submitting and paying invoices. This cuts the time and cost associated with these
transactions and greatly facilitates managing these operations. Just about every
company uses the Internet to support the transfer of the encrypted data for their
transaction-processing, MIS, decision support, and enterprise information sys-
tems, and therefore to better control their operations. Companies can, in a sense,
Managers use information get a free ride on the Internet and thus use it to reduce the cost of their communi-
technology in the form of cations. For instance, many use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in lieu of con-
computer information systems, ventional telephone communications. Using groupware, the Internet makes it
cell phones, PDAs, fax easier and less expensive for companies to coordinate and supervise the work of
machines, and networks to small teams that may, for instance, be opening new markets in isolated places. We
support their activities. will discuss more examples in the following sections.
138 PART TWO CHAPTER 5 Information and Knowledge Management
top managers in New York immediately noticed her good work, and her responsibil-
ities were soon broadened. Her message and the network also altered the chain of
command, helping make the whole company more responsive:
She now gets requests for help from around the firm via the network. When a
client in Ohio needed someone with experience in cutting workplace injuries
in plastics factories, Dirkes clicked into a groupware database to find an
expert that could help. “Before, people would have called or sent a memo to
my boss, and then he’d assign it to me. . . . Now I do it on my own.”51
Staffing: Telecommuting
Millions of people around the world do most of their work at home and “com-
telecommuting: using mute” to their employers electronically. Telecommuting is using telecommuni-
telecommunications and cations and computers from home, rather than actually commuting to the office,
computers from home, rather to get one’s job done.
than actually commuting to the
The typical telecommuter falls into one of three categories. Some are not em-
office, to get one’s job done
ployees at all but are independent entrepreneurs who work out of their homes—
perhaps developing new computer applications for consulting clients, for instance.
The second (and largest) group of telecommuters includes professionals and
highly skilled people who work at jobs that involve a great deal of independent
thought and action. These employees—computer programmers, regional salesper-
sons, textbook editors, or research specialists, for instance—typically work at home
most of the time, coming into the office only occasionally, perhaps for monthly
meetings.52 The third telecommuter category involves workers who carry out rela-
tively routine and easily monitored jobs such as data entry or word processing.53
When you call American Express (Amex) for travel advice, chances are your
travel counselor will not be at Amex headquarters but back home keeping one eye
on the kids.54 For a company that spends over $1 billion annually on information
technology, it is probably not surprising that many of Amex’s travel counselors
have shifted to working at home.
American Express connects its home-workers to its phone lines and data lines
for a small one-time expense of about $1,300 each, including hardware. After that,
the travel counselors easily bounce information from their homes to the nearest
reservation center and check fares and book reservations on their home PCs.
Supervisors continue to monitor agents’ calls, thus ensuring good control. Home-
worker counselors handle 26 percent more calls at home than in the office, result-
ing in about $30,000 more in annual bookings each. Working at home often means
saving three hours a day on commuting and thus translates into having more time
with the family.55
meet with the customer to close the loan. This relay-race approach is not always
optimal. Much time may be lost passing the loan from department to department.
Customers may be lost to faster-moving rivals.
T ABLE 5.2
Selected Principles of Reengineering Applied
Reengineering Principle Company Example
Organize around Mutual Benefit Life A case manager performs
outcomes, not tasks. and coordinates all
underwriting tasks centrally.
Have those who use the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Department managers make
output of the process a note of their own purchases
perform the process. using a shared database of
approved vendors.
Link parallel activities Xerox Concurrent engineering—
during rather than at the let production participate in
end of the process. new-product design and
engineering.
Treat geographically Hewlett-Packard Each HP division has access
dispersed resources as to a shared purchasing
if they are centralized. database.
Capture information at Mutual Benefit Life Customer-service
the source. representatives enter
application information in a
central database.
Source: Adapted from Mary Summer, Enterprise Resource Planning, Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Prentice Hall, © 2004, p. 24. Reprinted by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J.
Chapter Summary ■ 141
Controlling
Information technology’s impact is particularly notable with respect to manage-
rial control. For example, Hyundai uses wireless handheld scanners to monitor
and control the 43,000 cars per year that go through one of its European import
centers. The scanners read bar codes on each car. That way, all employees, from ac-
counting to sales to the dealer, can continuously monitor each car’s whereabouts.
As another example, with offices in 36 countries, Alltech Inc. (which provides
products to the food and feed industries) needed a faster way to get information
regarding its order status and finances worldwide. Previously, auditors at each of
the company’s offices around the world manually entered data onto spreadsheets.
Then they sent the spreadsheets to Alltech’s headquarters, where accountants
compiled all this information into a master spreadsheet. Today, a Web-based soft-
ware system automatically collects financial information from standardized
financial accounting modules in each of the company’s offices around the world
and feeds this information back to headquarters. As a result, management receives
consolidated financial statements in 15 days, instead of 45.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Information is data presented in a form that is 2. Information technology refers to any processes,
meaningful to the recipient. Knowledge, on the practices, and systems that facilitate the process-
other hand, is information distilled via study or re- ing and transportation of data and information.
search and augmented by judgment and experi- The increasingly rapid development of informa-
ence. Good-quality information must be pertinent, tion technology in organizations has sped the
timely, and accurate and reduce uncertainty. transformation of many businesses today into
142 PART TWO CHAPTER 5 Information and Knowledge Management
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are the differences among data, information, 2. Is the content of this book information, or is it
and knowledge? knowledge? Why?
Case Study ■ 143
3. What are ten examples of information technology 5. What is an enterprise system, and why would a
you use every week? manager use one?
4. What knowledge management system do you use 6. What telecommunications networks do you typi-
for this course? cally use?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Every morning at 8:30 there is a sixty-minute daily b. How would you describe the way technology
operations review at FedEx. Fifteen to thirty repre- has shaped FedEx’s strategy and its thinking?
sentatives of key departments like Air Operations,
c. What other examples can you give for how
Computer Systems, and Meteorology attend in
FedEx uses information technology?
person or participate via conference call. The pur-
pose of the meeting is to see what happened last 2. Form teams with several other students in this
night and to figure out what needs to be done class. Your assignment is to list the knowledge
today to make sure that things run as smoothly as management techniques you would use for this
possible. This is so important because customer class, using only the knowledge management and
service is all FedEx offers and is the heart of their information technology devices you have with you
strategy. The meeting is designed to ensure that it’s in class.
reliable. Every weekday at 5 A.M., a recorded recap
3. Form teams with several students in this class.
of the night’s performance is made available by
Choose companies you have dealt with (such as
voice mail so that participants can check in before
Dell Computer), and list the instances in which you
the meeting and review any problems they will
believe you came in contact with their customer
need to discuss and solve.
relationship management systems.
a. What concepts discussed in this chapter is
FedEx using, and how do these affect the man-
agement of its operations?
CASE STUDY
Information Technology Wins the Day for KnitMedia
nitMedia is a company that owns several jazz in Tokyo, the Café @ Boat Quay in Singapore, and Ams-
K clubs, including The Knitting Factory in New York.
The company went interactive about ten years ago. The
terdam’s Paradiso. Michael Dorf, KnitMedia’s CEO,
knows this is only the start: What he needs are more
Knitting Factory presented what was billed as “the suggestions about how he and KnitMedia can use
biggest live event the Internet has ever experienced.” information technology to manage its clubs and to
This festival, called GIG (for Global Internet Gather- bring consumers the music they want to hear.
ing), presented interactive virtual live music from Lon-
1. How are music-related companies using informa-
don, Tokyo, Cologne, Paris, Toronto, San Francisco,
tion technology today? Compile a list of informa-
Amsterdam, and Hong Kong. The company used a
tion technology applications used by KnitMedia’s
website linking multiple live musical venues so that, for
competitors.
instance, Steve Lacy in Paris played and interacted
visually with a rhythm section in New York. All the Knit- 2. If you were advising Michael Dorf, how would you
Media clubs, as they go online in the future, will be- suggest he use information technology for improv-
come part of this Internet network. Outlets for these ing the performance of KnitMedia and its various
Internet broadcasts already include the Electronic Café businesses?
6 DECISION MAKING NOW
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Fortis Bank
Opening Vignette: Fortis Bank
● The Basics of Decision
Making
Why Make Decisions?
F ortis Bank is the biggest financial institution in Belgium, but that
doesn’t mean it can rest on its laurels.1 The bank’s managers know
that to stay ahead, it’s crucial to
Types of Decisions sign up new customers and get
Decision-Making Models: How Do
People Make Decisions?
current ones to add new ser-
● How to Make Decisions vices. Doing so requires a
Step 1: Define the Problem massive marketing effort. Con-
Step 2: Clarify Your Objectives sumers are deluged by offers of
Step 3: Identify Alternatives
Step 4: Analyze the Consequences credit cards and loans from
Step 5: Make a Choice banks. Spending tens of millions
● Managing Now: Technology- of euros each year reaching out
Supported Decision Making
Competing on Analytics
to customers requires a fo-
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: cused approach, or the money
Analytics Tools will be wasted. Some of the
Managing Now: Business Intelligence
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: questions the bank’s managers
Baylor University face are, for example,Which
● How to Make Even Better customers are most likely to Managers at Belgium’s Fortis Bank needed
Decisions to know more about their customers’
Increase Your Knowledge
purchase this new investment
preferences so they could make the decisions
PRACTICE IT: Fortis Bank product? How will the market to properly focus their marketing efforts.
Use Your Intuition react to a drop in interest
Don’t Overstress the Finality of
the Decision
rates? Which prospects are most likely to want this new credit card?
Make Sure the Timing Is Right And which client profile shows the highest risk of not being able to pay
Encourage Creativity back a loan?2 The challenge facing Fortis managers is how to get an-
● Avoiding Psychological
swers to these questions so they can make the decisions they must
Traps
Decision-Making Shortcuts make to properly focus their marketing efforts. ■
Anchoring
The Status Quo Trap
Delusions of Success B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
Psychological Set
Perception After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Other Psychological Traps
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by
➤ Distinguishing between programmed and nonprogrammed decisions.
➤ Listing and describing each step in the decision-making process.
➤ Explaining what is meant by competing on analytics and business intelligence.
144
The Basics of Decision Making ■ 145
Types of Decisions
Some decisions are bigger and harder to change (more strategic) than others.
Buying a house is more strategic than leasing a car. Some decisions are also more
146 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
T ABLE 6.1
Everything Managers Do Involves Making Decisions
Management Function Representative Decisions
Planning What do we want to achieve?
What are our goals?
What are the main opportunities and risks we face?
What competitive strategy should we pursue?
Organizing What are the main tasks we have to accomplish?
How should we divide the work that needs to
be done?
Should I make these decisions or let subordinates
make them?
How should we make sure the work is coordinated?
Leading What leadership style should I use in this situation?
Why is this employee doing what he or she is doing?
How should I motivate this employee?
How can I get this team to perform better?
Controlling How am I going to control this activity?
Are the goals on which these controls are based out
of date?
Does this performance deviation merit corrective
action?
T ABLE 6.2
Decisions Functional Managers Make
Manager Decisions
Accounting Manager What accounting firm should we use?
Who should process our payroll?
Should we give this customer credit?
Finance Manager What bank should we use?
Should we sell bonds or stocks?
Should we buy back some of our company’s stock?
Human Resource Manager Where should we recruit for employees?
Should we set up a testing program?
Should I advise settling the equal-employment
complaint?
Production Manager Which supplier should we use?
Should we build the new plant?
Should we buy the new machine?
Sales Manager Which sales rep should we use in this region?
Should we use this advertising agency?
Should we lower prices in response to our
competitor’s doing so?
The Basics of Decision Making ■ 147
obvious than others. If your car is out of gas, you must fill the tank. The bigger,
strategic decisions usually take more thought, as we will see.
Similarly, some decisions are more routine than others. In general, managers
try not to have to make the same decision twice. The manager of a Macy’s store
does not want clerks to check with her every time customers make returns. She
wants to focus on the big decisions—for instance, on what to buy for the fall line of
clothes. Thus, managers endeavor to premake (or program) as many decisions as
they can. Employees can make these decisions more or less automatically.
T ABLE 6.3
Comparing Programmed and Nonprogrammed Decisions
Programmed Nonprogrammed
Nature of decision Recurring and predictable; Unpredictable; ambiguous
well-defined information and information; shifting decision
decision criteria criteria
Decision-making strategy Reliance on rules and computation Reliance on principles, judgment,
creative problem-solving processes
Decision-making tools Policies and rules; capital budgeting; Judgment; intuition, creativity;
computerized solutions computerized decision support
systems and modeling
job to take, whether to move across the country, and who to marry are personal
nonprogrammed decisions. Deciding whether to buy a $1 million machine or to
expand to Asia are nonprogrammed business decisions. These decisions rely
heavily on judgment and on access to information. We will spend much of this
chapter showing you how to do a better job of making nonprogrammed decisions.
● The Classical Approach The idea that managers are totally rational when
making decisions has a long and honorable tradition in economic and manage-
ment theory. Early classical economists needed a simplified way to explain eco-
nomic phenomena, such as how demand affects prices. To come up with a work-
able theory, they accepted a number of simplifying assumptions. Specifically, they
assumed that the rational manager:
1. Had complete or “perfect” information about the situation, including the full
range of goods and services available on the market and the exact price of
each good or service.
2. Could distinguish perfectly between the problem and its symptoms.
3. Could identify all criteria and accurately weigh all the criteria according to his
or her preferences.
How to Make Decisions ■ 149
4. Could accurately calculate and choose the alternative with the highest per-
ceived value.7
5. Could, therefore, be expected to make an optimal choice without being con-
fused by irrational thought processes.
in the decision-making process: the steps that a decision maker uses to arrive at a
decision. These steps include:
◗ Identify alternatives.
◗ Make a choice.
● Application Example Harold has had his job as marketing manager for
Universal Widgets, Inc., for about five years, and he has been happy with his job.
However, the recent widget downturn wreaked havoc with the company’s busi-
ness, and it had to cut about 10 percent of the staff. Harold’s boss gave him the bad
news: “We like the work you’ve been doing here, but we’re closing the New York
office. We want you to stay with Universal, though, so we found you a similar posi-
tion with our plant in Pittsburgh.” Harold is thrilled. He tells his parents, “I have to
How to Make Decisions ■ 151
move to Pittsburgh, but at least I still have a job. The problem is, where should I
live?” He immediately starts investigating housing possibilities in Pittsburgh. His
father thinks Harold may be jumping the gun. What would you do?
Harold’s father is right. Harold jumped to the conclusion that his problem
now is finding a place to live in Pittsburgh. Is that really the main decision he has
to make? Why is Harold even thinking about solving this problem? What triggered
this problem? What is the connection between the trigger and the problem? The
trigger was his boss’s comment that Universal no longer needed his services in
New York and that it was, therefore, transferring him to Pittsburgh. What’s the real
problem Harold must face here? Let us assume that the issue—and the decision
Harold really must make—is this: Should I move to Pittsburgh with Universal
Widgets? Or should I try to get the best marketing manager job I can, and if so,
where?15
● Have More Than One Objective Therefore, few managers would make a de-
cision with just a single objective in mind. (There are exceptions. The great foot-
ball coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only
thing.”) However, for most decisions, most people do not have the luxury of focus-
ing like a laser on one single objective. When deciding on a new laptop computer,
you may want to get the most memory, portability, and reliability you can for the
price. You’d buy the one that, on balance, best satisfied all these objectives. You’d
avoid the trap of making your decision as if minimizing price was your only aim.
3. Separate ends from means to establish your fundamental objectives. This step
helps you zero in on what you really want. One way to do this is to ask “why.”
Harold asks himself, “Why do I want to live within a one-hour drive of a city
with a population of at least 1 million people?” Because he wants to make sure
he can meet many other people who are his own age and because he enjoys
what he sees as big-city benefits such as museums. This helps clarify what
Harold really wants. For example, a smaller town might do if the town has the
right demographics and cultural attractions.
4. Clarify what you mean by each objective. Banish fuzzy thinking. For example,
“getting a raise” is a fuzzy objective. Harold, to his credit, wants to earn at least
$1,200 per week.
5. Test your objectives to see if they capture your interests. This is your reality
check. Harold carefully reviews his full list of final objectives to make sure they
completely capture what he wants to accomplish with his decision.
typically requires forecasting future events.”18 Harold needs a practical way to de-
termine what the consequences of each of his alternatives are. Only then can he
decide which option is best.
Objective Marketing director Consumer products One-hour drive from Earn at least
Alternative in two years company major city $1,200 per week
Marketing manager, Little or no NA—eliminated this NA—eliminated this NA—eliminated this
Universal Widgets, possibility—eliminated option option option
Pittsburgh this option
Senior manager, High probability—if Consumer-oriented, Yes, excellent $1,250 plus stock
dot-com, New company survives but does not really options
York City that long sell products
Marketing manager, Moderate Yes, but not as Yes $1,100 plus great
Ford, Detroit possibility—bigger interesting as selling benefits (discount
company, longer widgets. I may on new T-bird)
climb get bored.
Marketing manager, High probability— Yes, but not quite as Yes $1,200
pet foods, Newark small, growing interesting as
company with little selling widgets
marketing expertise
now
Marketing manager, Fairly high Yes—exciting Yes—exceptional $1,200
Nokia, Washington, probability— industry cultural attractions
D.C. fast-growing and demographics
company
154 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
Competing on Analytics
When Alan Mulally recently took over as Ford’s new CEO, newsapers referred to
him as “an engineer’s engineer”—meaning that he doesn’t make decisions based
just on gut feel; he wants to see the data. Some managers still take a laid-back, in-
formal approach to sizing up situations. However, many others, like Al Mulally,
compete based on analytics: their decisions are heavily fact-based. They want to
make informed decisions.
Author Michael Lewis wrote a best-selling book called Moneyball. It describes
how the Oakland A’s baseball team uses statistical data analysis to improve their
performance. Some baseball managers go by their gut in deciding questions like,
Who should we put up at bat if we have two outs and runners on first and third,
and we are facing a left-handed pitcher? Not the A’s. Whether scouting players or
deciding how much to raise stadium prices, the A’s, and some other teams, rely on
data analysis.22
Marriott International has a hotel program called Total Hotel Optimization.
The team running this program uses knowledge management and decision sup-
port software, and statistical analysis. Marriott can now send just the right offer-
ings to frequent customers, for instance, and price the rooms at each hotel at the
right level, given the dates and weather conditions.23 Like the A’s, Marriott Inter-
national competes based on analytics.24 Figure 6.1 shows some more examples
Managing Now: Technology-Supported Decision Making ■ 155
F IGURE 6.1
How Companies Use Analytics
Analytics competitors make expert use of statistics and modeling to improve a wide variety of functions.
Here are some common applications:
Select the best employees for particular tasks New England Patriots, Oakland A’s,
HUMAN CAPITAL
or jobs, at particular compensation levels. Boston Red Sox
Copyright © 2006 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review.
of how companies use this analytical approach to make better decisions. Analy-
tical companies like Marriott have several attributes, which we discuss next.
● They Hire and Develop Analytical People Companies like Capital One
Bank and UPS don’t hire just mathematicians and engineers, although that is part
of it. They encourage all employees to back up and defend their decisions with
facts. And they provide all their employees with the necessary technological sup-
port for obtaining the data they need and analyzing it.
SAS© offers a decision support package called SAS© Ana- ◗ Forecasting. This software takes the data and lets the
lytics, which includes several software tools, listed below. manager predict outcomes based on historical patterns.
These are the IT-based decision tools managers can use. ◗ Econometrics. This software enables the manager to
◗ Statistics. The statistics tool enables the manager to use apply statistical methods to the data and trends, thus
statistical analysis to analyze relationships and to pro- helping him or her to better understand the trends.
duce decisions based on facts. ◗ Quality improvement. This software enables the manager
◗ Data and text mining. This software enables the manager to identify, monitor, and measure quality processes and
to mine or retrieve and to sift through the data in the trends over time.
company’s data warehouse (where it holds the data it ◗ Operations research. This software enables the manager
collects from its day-to-day sales, billing, and other to apply mathematical techniques to analyze the data
transactions). This helps the manager identify trends and thus to achieve the best result.28
and to make predictions and better decisions.
Managing Now: Technology-Supported Decision Making ■ 157
business intelligence (BI): ● Business Intelligence Managers use the phrase business intelligence (BI) in
synonymous with decision two ways. First, they use it more or less synonymously with the phrase decision sup-
support system (DSS), namely, a port system (DSS) (discussed in Chapter 5) to refer to a set of software applications
set of software applications and
and tools that transform data into a form that managers can use to make better,
tools that transform data into a
form that managers can use to faster decisions.31 Second, they use the phrase business intelligence to refer to the
make better, faster decisions; information (intelligence) itself on which the manager makes his or her decision.
also, the information Thus, the business intelligence Ben & Jerry’s got from its analyses helped its man-
(intelligence) itself on which the agers to decide what to do. It used its business intelligence systems to produce that
manager makes his or her information.
decision Business intelligence thus helps managers make better decisions. As a conse-
quence of doing business, companies continuously collect enormous amounts of
data from their sales, finance, customer-service, and other systems. This informa-
tion is of little use if the manager cannot access, manipulate, and analyze it. As we
explained earlier in this book, a decision support system is a set of computerized
tools that helps managers access and use information to make decisions. Ben &
Jerry’s managers used the firm’s decision support system (DSS) to compile, ana-
lyze, and present all these data (from the sales and production departments, for
instance) and thus produce the business intelligence its managers needed to
make the Cherry Garcia decision.
Recall that decision support systems have five basic components:32
◗ The data management component retrieves, stores, and organizes the data.
◗ The model management system retrieves, stores, and organizes the quantitative
and statistical models that the decision support system uses to analyze the data
and make predictions.
◗ The knowledge engine does the actual reasoning for the system.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Baylor University
◗ The user interface consists of the tools (such as the keyboard and screen) that the
manager uses to interact with the system. The user interface also often includes
a computerized video dashboard. For example, Ben & Jerry’s manufacturing
management dashboard might include (among other things) a bar graph show-
ing fruit ingredients used per pound of ice cream.
◗ Finally, the user is the decision maker who is actually using and controlling the
decision support system.
At Ben & Jerry’s, the business intelligence effort drew on data from dozens of
the company’s information systems. For example, it tapped into the company’s
customer relationship management system to get more information on the actual
How to Make Even Better Decisions ■ 159
complaints (who they’re coming from, and what the consumers were saying, for
instance). It tapped the company’s enterprise systems to see if the plant was using
too few cherries. It tapped its knowledge management system to see if there had
been similar complaints before. And it tapped its supply chain system to see if the
plant was purchasing too few cherries. Its managers could access and view all this
information on their desktop dashboards and thereby analyze it and determine
what the real problem was. The Window on Managing Now feature illustrates
business intelligence in action.
● Ask Questions Use the six main question words—Who? What? Where? When?
Why? How? In buying a used car, for instance, ask the following questions using
these question words: Who is selling the car, and who previously owned it? What
do similar cars sell for? What is wrong with this car? Where did the owner service it?
When did the owner buy it? Why does the owner want to sell? How much do you
think you could buy it for? Most people could save themselves aggravation by arm-
ing themselves with good questions.
● Get Experience For many endeavors, there’s no substitute for experience. For
example, many students find that interning in a job similar to the occupation they
plan to pursue can help in clarifying whether that occupation is right for them. Sim-
ilarly, multinational corporations with experience in a particular country generally
opt for ownership of foreign affiliates. Less-experienced companies tend to estab-
lish joint ventures in foreign markets, in part to develop the required expertise.36
● Use Decision Support Systems We saw that using data mining and other
decision support system tools is an invaluable way to get the business intelligence
a manager needs. The Practice IT feature shows how Fortis Bank did this.
PRACTICE IT
Fortis Bank
Fortis Bank managers had to decide how to target the address, income, and so on) were historically more likely
millions of dollars of marketing programs they offered to respond to particular offerings. That way, Fortis Bank
each year. But to do so, they needed information. The could create models—mathematical equations—that pre-
bank already had a relatively untapped customer data- dicted who would best respond to an offering.They could
base. It included an enormous amount of data that the determine, for example, that people with a certain income
bank’s transaction-processing systems collected. These level, Zip Code, savings level, spending level, credit rating,
data included facts and figures on each customer such as and so on will more likely want a gold credit card.
age, income, savings, other investments, payment pat- SAS Enterprise Miner is Web-based, so the bank’s
terns, and whether each person responded favorably to a managers can access it wherever they are. Says the bank’s
particular bank offering.37 commercial analysis manager,“SAS Enterprise Miner gave
Fortis Bank decided to install a new SAS Enterprise us a greater understanding of customer motivations. We
Miner decision-support software package. It enables can now fully exploit the data regarding our customers’
Fortis’s marketing analysts to sift through all these data, buying patterns and behavior.”38 The business intelligence
for instance by income level, age, and credit history. It also that Fortis Bank thereby derives enables the bank to
enabled them to identify which customers (based on age, make fact-based decisions, to compete on analytics.
As this story shows, we often reach intuitive decisions by quickly and unthink-
ingly comparing our present situation to situations we’ve faced in the past. In his
study of firefighters, Klein found they accumulate experiences and “subcon-
sciously categorize fires according to how they should react to them.”42 The fire
commander did this: the fire, based on his experience, just didn’t make sense. The
floor muffled the sounds of the fire and retarded the transfer of heat. The com-
mander, standing with his men in the living room, felt that something was wrong:
what he originally thought was a kitchen fire seemed too quiet and too cool. His
intuition saved them.
Now add the values for the first two items for one total and for the last two items for
another total. Subtract the second total from the first. If your total has a positive value,
your preference is Rational by that amount, and if your total has a negative value, your
preference is Intuitive by that amount. Ten represents the maximum possible rational
or intuitive score from the equally preferred midpoint (0). Mark your position on the
range of possible scores:
Intuitive Rational
-10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SOURCE: Adapted and reproduced by
permission of the publisher, Psychological
Assessment Resources, Inc., Odessa, FL These items are taken from a 30-item Personal Style Inventory (PSI) assessment of
33556, from The Personal Style Inventory by preferences for Rational and Intuitive behavior created by William Taggart.
William Taggart and Barbara Hausladen.
Copyright 1991, 1993 by PAR, Inc.
decisions. Researchers know that when people feel down, their actions tend to be
aggressive and destructive. Similarly, people tend to be lenient when they’re in
good spirits and tough when they are grouchy.
The manager therefore has to do a quick reality check prior to making a deci-
sion. Avoid regrettable decisions when moods are extreme, or when you are under
duress.
F IGURE 6.3
Harold’s Decision Matrix
Marketing
Director 2 2 5 4
0.50
in Two (2 x 0.50 = 1)* (2 x 0.50 = 1) (5 x 0.50 = 2.5) (4 x 0.50 = 2)
Years
Consumer
2 3 3 5
Products 0.20
Company (2 x 0.20 = .4) (3 x 0.20 = .6) (3 x 0.20 = .6) (5 x 0.20 = 1)
One-Hour
5 5 5 5
Drive from 0.15
Major City (5 x 0.15 = .75) (5 x 0.15 = .75) (5 x 0.15 = .75) (5 x 0.15 = .75)
Earn at least
4 3 4 4
$1,200 per 0.15
Week (4 x 0.15 = .6) (3 x 0.15 = .45) (4 x 0.15 = .6) (4 x 0.15 = .6)
*Shows the job’s rating (in this case 2) multiplied by the objective’s importance weight (in this case 0.50).
and 0.15—they should add up to 1.0. Then he rates (from 5—high to 1—low) the
extent to which each job fulfills each of his objectives. Looking over this matrix,
Harold sees that the pet-food and Nokia jobs look like the best bets. The pet-food
job is a possibility. In terms of senior director, it’s a good career move. However,
he’s a little less enthusiastic about the pet-food business, although it scores close
to the Nokia position. Harold has a good feeling about the Nokia job. It satisfies his
objectives, and his research suggests that living costs are comparable to New York.
He’s excited about the cell-phone business. Looking down the road, he sees this in-
dustry’s fast growth opening many new options for him. He can see himself living
in Washington, D.C. He takes the job.
Encourage Creativity
creativity: the process of To make good decisions, the manager needs to be creative—for instance, in how
developing original, novel he or she defines the problem and generates alternatives. Creativity is the process
responses to a problem of developing original, novel responses to a problem. It is an integral part of
164 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
making good decisions. We discuss techniques for being more creative in the fol-
lowing sections.
Decision-Making Shortcuts
heuristics: rules of thumb or People making decisions tend to take shortcuts. They do this by using heuristics,
approximations applied as which are decision-making shortcuts or rules of thumb. For example, mortgage
shortcuts to decision making lenders typically abide by the heuristic that “people shouldn’t spend more than
28% of their gross monthly income on mortgage payments and other house-
related expenses.”54
Based on 150 interviews with decision makers, one researcher concluded,
“Relatively few decisions are made using analytical processes such as generating a
variety of options and contrasting their strengths and weaknesses.”55 Instead,
most people tend to use cognitive shortcuts, such as rules governing what to do in
new situations that are similar to those addressed in the past. Doing so can trap
the unsuspecting decision maker when the situation is different.
Anchoring
anchoring: unconsciously Anchoring means unconsciously giving too much weight to the first information
giving disproportionate weight you hear. It can cause you to define the problem incorrectly.
to the first information you hear Assume that you’re selling your car, which you know is worth about $10,000.
Joe has responded to your classified ad; when he arrives, he offhandedly remarks
that the car is worth only about $5,000. What would you do? On the one hand, you
know that $5,000 is ridiculous. On the other hand, Joe is the only game in town
(one other person called but never showed up). So you start bargaining with Joe.
He says $5,000; you say $10,000. Before you know it, you’ve arrived at a price of
$8,000 (for your $10,000 car).
What happened? You just got anchored (to put it mildly). Without realizing it,
you gave disproportionate weight to Joe’s comment about $5,000, and your deci-
sion making (and bargaining) from then on revolved around his price, not yours.
What should you have done? One response might have been: “Five thousand dol-
lars? Are you kidding? That’s not even in the ballpark!” At least that might have
loosened that subliminal anchor so the bargaining could take place on your terms,
not his. When negotiating, “think through your position before any negotiation be-
gins in order to avoid being anchored by the other party’s initial proposal. At the
same time, look for opportunities to use anchors to your own advantage. . . .”56
166 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
Delusions of Success
A rising executive with a Fortune 100 manufacturing company led his firm into a
disastrous expansion in Asia, in the face of negative evidence. He first discussed
the opportunity with his executive staff and consultants; this rational analysis in-
dicated that it was a very risky venture. The market data looked barely favorable,
and the political and cultural factors were huge unknowns; yet the executive blun-
dered ahead. His overconfidence led him to assume that his associates really
shared his view but that they were being overcautious.61 He went ahead with his
expansion, a decision that proved disastrous.
Overoptimism misleads many decision makers. They have “delusions of suc-
cess.”62 Overoptimism is something of a built-in trait. Studies show that most peo-
ple overestimate their own talents. For example, in performance appraisals, about
half of all appraisees tend to place themselves in the top 10 percent, and almost all
the rest place themselves above the median. Another study asked students to rate
themselves on leadership ability; 70 percent said that they were above average.
Similarly, people “tend to exaggerate the degree of control we have, discounting
the role of luck.”63
psychological set: the Optimism is laudable, but managers need to guard against uninformed over-
tendency to look at things with a confidence. Successful managers compete on analytics. They use business intelli-
rigid point of view when solving gence to make fact-based decisions.
a problem
Psychological Set
Failing to think out of the box is another decision-making trap. The technical term
for this is psychological set, which means the tendency to look at things with a
rigid point of view when solving a problem.64 Doing so can severely limit a
F IGURE 6.4 manager’s ability to create alternative solutions. Figure 6.4 presents a classic ex-
Looking at the Problem in ample. Your assignment is to connect all nine dots with no more than four lines
Just One Way running through them, and to do so without lifting your pen from the paper.
Hint: Don’t take a rigid point of view.
To avoid this trap, always question your assumptions. Look again at the prob-
lem of the nine dots in Figure 6.4. Your instructions were to connect all nine dots
with no more than four lines running through them, and to do so without lifting
your pen from the paper. How would you do it? Start by checking your assumptions.
Most people view the nine dots as a square—they’re victims of psychological
set. Viewing them as a square limits your solutions. There is no way to connect all the
SOURCE: Problem originally appeared in Sam dots as long as you assume the dots represent a square. Figure 6.5 shows one solu-
Loyd’s 1914 Cyclopedia of Puzzles. tion. The key was checking your assumptions. Now solve the problem in Figure 6.6.
Avoiding Psychological Traps ■ 167
The psychological-set trap helps explain why many decisions go bad. For ex-
ample, the owners of the building whose tenants complained about the slow ele-
vators were victims of psychological set. They could see the problem in only one
way, and they did not question their assumptions. Luckily, the consultants didn’t
fall into the same trap.
Perception
The fact that we don’t always see things as they really are is another psychological
perception: the unique way trap. Perception is the selection and interpretation of information we receive
in which each person defines through our senses, and the meaning we give to the information. Many things, in-
stimuli, depending on the cluding our individual needs, influence how we perceive stimuli. Selective per-
influence of past experiences
ception means choosing, often without thinking about it, the information we’re
and the person’s present needs
and personality going to see or focus on. Experiences involving selective perception happen every
day. You might be less happy with a B in a course after finding out that your friend,
selective perception: who had about the same test grades, got an A.65 Similarly, in organizations, prior
choosing, often without thinking experiences influence how a person perceives a problem and reacts to it.
about it, the information we’re
A classic study illustrates this point. Researchers asked twenty-three execu-
going to see or focus on
tives, all employed by a large manufacturing firm, to read a business case.66 Re-
searchers found that a manager’s position influenced how he or she defined “the
most important problem facing the company.” Of six sales executives, five thought
the most important problem was a sales problem. Four out of five production ex-
ecutives, but only one sales executive and no accounting executives, mentioned
organization problems. The managers looked at the same case, but they drew very
different conclusions. Each would probably have taken action based on his or her
singular view of the problem.
Selective perception pops up when decision makers selectively ignore critical
information. In another study, the researchers told the participants to watch a
videotape of two teams passing basketballs and to count the number of times each
team passed the ball. The participants concentrated so hard on watching the bas-
ketballs that only 21 percent of them noticed a woman walking among the team
members with an open umbrella.67 This finding may seem incredible, but it is not.
168 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
Most people, when concentrating on a particular issue, can be blind to even the
most obvious information. The solution is to work strenuously to step back and
view the bigger picture.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. A decision is a choice from among available alter- 6. Although some managers still take an informal,
natives. Decision making is the process of develop- seat-of-the pants approach to getting the facts and
ing and analyzing alternatives and making a choice. information they need, many others now compete
based on analytics. In other words, their decisions
2. Decisions can be either programmed (repetitive
are heavily fact- and information-based. They do
and routine) or nonprogrammed (unique and
extensive analyses. They want to ensure their big
novel). Nonprogrammed decisions require more
decisions are well informed.
intuition and judgment of decision makers.
7. Business intelligence (BI) refers to a set of
3. Rational decision making assumes ideal condi-
processes (specifically, usually, a set of software ap-
tions, such as an accurate definition of the prob-
plications and technologies) that transform data
lem and complete knowledge about all relevant al-
into a form that managers can use to make better,
ternatives and their values. In contrast, decision
faster decisions.69 The phrase business intelligence
making in reality is bounded by differences in
also refers to the actual information these processes
managers’ ability to process information, man-
produce and on which the manager then bases his
agers’ reliance on heuristics or shortcuts, anchor-
or her decision.
ing, escalation, psychological set, and factors in
the organization itself. 8. Suggestions for making better decisions include
increase your knowledge, use creativity, use intu-
4. Defining the problem is crucial. Start by writing
ition, don’t overstress finality, and make sure the
down your initial assessment of the problem. Then
timing is right.
dissect it. Ask yourself, What triggered this problem
(as I’ve assessed it)? Why am I even thinking about 9. Psychological traps include decision-making short-
solving this problem? What is the connection be- cuts, anchoring, status quo traps, psychological
tween the trigger and the problem? set, perception, and ignoring information.
5. The consequences matrix compares alternatives
with objectives. The objectives matrix ranks each
alternative’s chance of achieving each objective.
Experiential Exercises ■ 169
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. List four programmed decisions and four nonpro- 6. Give an example of how you have used intuition to
grammed decisions you typically make. make a decision.
2. For managers, what are some of the practical im- 7. Explain what you would do to increase the creativ-
plications of Simon’s administrative theory? ity in a workgroup.
3. What are the five steps in the decision process? 8. Give an example of how you use a business-
intelligence approach when buying a computer,
4. Give one original example of why it is important to
car, or home.
define the problem correctly.
5. Explain how you would use a consequences matrix
to make a better decision.
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Most colleges and universities have grievance pro- Kmart’s operating expenses (compared with about
cedures to address inappropriate behavior by both 2 percent at Target and 1 percent at Wal-Mart).70
students and faculty. Working as a team, obtain the He believed Kmart had to reduce that expense.
student and/or faculty grievance procedures for Conaway and his team thus decided to change
your college or university, and answer the follow- their marketing approach. They abolished the cir-
ing questions: What provision (if any) does the pro- culars, slashed prices on about 40,000 products,
cedure have for allowing the parties to define the and started advertising that “Kmart’s prices are
student’s or faculty member’s problem? Assume lower than Wal-Mart’s.” Given Wal-Mart’s size,
that a student has accused a faculty member of giv- those were gutsy decisions.
ing him or her a lower grade than deserved, based They were also disastrous. Wal-Mart’s day-to-
on the grading policies laid out in the course day operating costs were way below Kmart’s, so
syllabus. Propose at least five objectives for the Wal-Mart simply dropped its own prices even more.
committee that must decide who is right and who Conaway’s decisions left Kmart with higher prices
is wrong. and no circulars. Customers stopped showing up.
“We made a mistake by cutting too much advertis-
2. Working in teams of three to four, choose an article
ing too fast,” is how Conaway put it. In December
from a recent newspaper about some decision a
2001—typically a retailer’s busiest month—Kmart’s
company or government executive recently made.
sales fell 1 percent, while Wal-Mart’s rose 8 percent.
If the decision is working out well, why do you
One month later, Kmart sought bankruptcy protec-
think that is so, based on what we discussed about
tion. Conaway’s last big decision was to close 284
decision making in this chapter? If it turned out to
stores and fire 22,000 Kmart employees. In March
be a bad decision, what errors do you think the ex-
2002, Conaway left the firm. Investment banker
ecutive made?
Edward Lampert gained control of Kmart when it
3. In November 2004, retailers were surprised to hear emerged from bankruptcy in May 2003. In March
that Kmart was buying Sears. In fact, that was only 2004, Kmart posted its first profitable quarter in
the latest in a series of events that actually began three years. Lampert then went on to merge Sears
about three years earlier. into Kmart. The whole chain of events started, in a
It began with one decision. Charles Conaway, way, with Conaway’s circulars decision.
then Kmart’s new CEO, decided to save Kmart by Working in teams of three or four students, an-
beating Wal-Mart at its own low-cost game. For swer this question: Based on what we discussed in
years, Kmart had attracted customers with circulars this chapter, where did Conaway go wrong? What
in weekly magazines. Conaway’s research showed would you have done differently?
that the circulars accounted for over 10 percent of
170 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
CASE STUDY
Which Routes to Fly?
s an experienced airline executive, JetBlue CEO Getting the slots (the permissions to fly in and out at
A David Neeleman knows the most important deci-
sions he has to make concern the routes JetBlue will fly.
specific times) at a busy airport like JFK is not easy.
Neeleman set up a lobbying operation in Washington,
The right decision will maximize ridership and mini- D.C., to help convince New York’s congressional delega-
mize competitive retaliation by offering low-cost tion that New York cities like Buffalo, Syracuse, and
flights that competitors aren’t now providing. The Rochester needed JetBlue’s low-cost alternative flights
wrong decision will force Neeleman’s fledgling airline from New York City. In turn, New York congressional
to confront fast and sure competitive retaliation, in members will have to work on convincing the Depart-
which case, JetBlue could be out of business before it ment of Transportation that the needs of New Yorkers
really takes off. (and JetBlue) are important enough to put JetBlue’s in-
The first and biggest route decision probably re- terest ahead of those of major airlines like American and
volved around whether to choose New York’s JFK Air- USAir.
port as JetBlue’s first major gateway.71 JFK Airport was Getting the slots doesn’t mean JetBlue is home
once the headquarters for several U.S. airlines, but free. For example, it was able to obtain numerous ar-
most moved on to other cities and airports where costs rival and departure slots at California’s Long Beach air-
were lower and space was easier to come by. From port. However, those slots came with the condition that
JetBlue’s point of view, JFK had several advantages. It is they must all be utilized within several years. American
in the middle of one of the ten busiest air-passenger Airlines is already battling to take over some of those
markets in the United States. New York’s political lead- slots; it is lowering prices to Long Beach and increasing
ers badly wanted a low-cost airline for their state that incentives (such as adding more frequent-flier miles
would help reduce the cost of flying from the New York for those who fly there from JFK).
City area to upper New York State. And while JFK did In addition, Neeleman was considering taking
have heavy delays, it actually was less busy than New JetBlue abroad—for instance, to Canada and Mexico.
York’s other major airport, LaGuardia, for the time slots Assume you are a consultant to Mr. Neeleman, who is
JetBlue was looking at. depending on your management expertise to navigate
Several years ago, Neeleman and his team were con- the launch and management of JetBlue. He wants you
sidering other airport alternatives. At Boston’s Logan Air- to complete the following tasks:
port, for instance, Neeleman says, “No one would give us 1. Accurately spell out what triggered the route-
gates.” In other words, there was so much competition decision problems stated in the case.
from American Airlines and US Airways that JetBlue
couldn’t get the gates it needed, even though, according 2. List at least four ways that Neeleman can identify
to Neeleman, the gates at Logan were underutilized. where JetBlue should fly next and then choose the
In terms of what he looks for in choosing routes, best alternative.
Neeleman says that one thing his company must watch 3. Propose at least five objectives for Neeleman, who
out for is spreading itself too thin. Spreading his flights must make the decision regarding routes and
among too many destinations runs the risk of lowering gateways.
the utilization rate of each plane—there would be too
4. Propose at least four alternatives to solve the situa-
much downtime, without enough passengers on each
tion. Develop a consequences matrix for the
route. As he says, “I just want passengers on the
situation.
planes.” Thus, the basic idea is to go into a few major
gateways, like JFK, and to use the traffic and population 5. Develop a decision matrix for the situation.
base around these gateways to fly into smaller cities Note: In May 2007, apparently facing intense pressure from
that are not adequately served by low-cost airlines. For investors and his board stemming from JetBlue’s managing of
example, he wants to fly passengers from JFK to Buffalo, the February 2007 storms that grounded its planes, David
New York, and Fort Lauderdale (instead of Miami). The Neeleman relinquished the CEO position to his No. 2, Dave
question is, Where should JetBlue fly next? Barger. Neeleman remains JetBlue’s chairman, however.
Chapter 6 Appendix ■ 171
CHAPTER 6 APPENDIX
Quantitative Decision-Making Aids
M anagers use quantitative analysis to make better decisions. For example, we
saw that Fortis Bank’s managers use quantitative modeling to express, in an
equation, some situation, such as identifying the customers most likely to accept
a new gold credit card according to demographic traits like age, address, and so
forth. Managers also use quantitative analysis on a more frequent basis. This ap-
pendix describes several of the more popular quantitative decision-making aids.
Breakeven Analysis
In financial analysis, the breakeven point is that volume of sales at which revenues
breakeven analysis: a just equals expenses, and you have neither a profit nor a loss. Breakeven analysis
financial analysis decision- is a decision-making aid that enables a manager to determine whether a particu-
making aid that enables a lar volume of sales will result in losses or profits.72
manager to determine whether a
particular volume of sales will
result in losses or profits ● Breakeven Charts Breakeven analysis makes use of four basic concepts:
fixed costs, variable costs, revenues, and profits. Fixed costs (such as for the plant
and machinery) are costs that basically do not change with changes in production.
In other words, you might use the same machine to produce 10 units, 50 units, or
200 units of a product. Variable costs (such as for raw material) rise in proportion
to volume. Revenue is the total income received from sales of the product. For
example, if you sell fifty dolls at $8 each, then your revenue is $8 ⫻ 50, or $400.
Profit is the money you have left after subtracting fixed and variable costs from
revenue.
A breakeven chart, like the one shown in Figure A6.1, is a graph that shows
whether a particular volume of sales will result in profits or losses. The fixed costs
$5,000 Profits
Total Costs
A Breakeven Chart Breakeven Point
$4,000
The breakeven point is the
Variable Costs
number of units sold at which
total revenues just equals total $3,000
costs. Losses
$2,000
Fixed Costs
$1,000
0
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000
Number of Units Produced or Sold
172 PART TWO CHAPTER 6 Decision Making Now
line is horizontal. Variable costs, however, increase in proportion to output and are
shown as an upward sloping line. The total costs line is then equal to variable costs
plus fixed costs at each level of output. The breakeven point is the point at which
the total revenue line crosses the total costs line. Beyond this point (note the
shaded area in Figure A6.1), total revenue exceeds total costs. In this example, an
output of about 4,000 units is the breakeven point. Above this point, the company
can expect to earn a profit. If sales are fewer than 4,000 units, the company can
expect a loss.
P(X ) ⫽ F ⫹ V (X )
where
F ⫽ fixed costs
V ⫽ variable costs per unit
X ⫽ volume of output (in units)
P ⫽ price per unit
We can rearrange this formula and calculate the breakeven point with F兾(P ⫺ V). In
other words, the breakeven point is the volume of sales where total costs just
equals total revenues. If, for example, you have a product in which
F ⫽ fixed costs ⫽ $1,000.00
V ⫽ variable costs per unit ⫽ $.75
P ⫽ price per unit ⫽ $1.00 per unit
then the breakeven point is $1,000兾($1.00 ⫺ $.75) ⫽ 4,000 units.
Linear Programming
Breakeven analysis is only one of many quantitative techniques. Decision sci-
ence or decision theory techniques are another category of programmed
linear programming: a decision-making aids. These tools all rely on mathematics. For example, linear
mathematical method used programming is a mathematical method used to solve resource allocation
to solve resource allocation problems that arise “whenever there are a number of activities to be performed,
problems [with] limitations on either the amount of resources or [on] the way they can be
spent.”73
You can use linear programming to determine the best way to:
◗ Select the product mix in a factory to make the best use of machine and labor
hours available while maximizing the firm’s profit.
◗ Route production to optimize the use of machinery.
Chapter 6 Appendix ■ 173
Waiting-Line/Queuing Techniques
waiting-line/queuing Waiting-line/queuing techniques are mathematical decision-making techniques
techniques: mathematical for solving waiting-line problems. For example, bank managers need to know how
techniques used to solve many tellers they should have. If they have too many, they are wasting money on
waiting-line problems so that
salaries; if they have too few, they may end up with many disgruntled customers.
the optimal balance of
employees available relative to Similar problems arise when selecting the optimal number of airline reservations
waiting customers is attained clerks, warehouse loading docks, highway tollbooths, supermarket checkout reg-
isters, and so forth.
the various outcomes. For example, a shopkeeper may have several new products
that could be stocked but not have any idea of the likelihood that one brand will be
successful or that another will fail. Conditions of complete uncertainty are also
relatively infrequent. Most management decisions are made under conditions of
risk: the chance that a risk. Under these conditions, a manager can at least assign probabilities to each
particular outcome will or outcome. In other words, the manager knows (either from past experience or by
will not occur making an educated guess) the chance that each possible outcome (such as prod-
uct A being successful or product B being successful) will occur.
decision tree: a technique for ● Decision Tree A decision tree is one technique for making a decision under
facilitating how decisions under conditions of risk. With a decision tree like the one shown in Figure A6.2, an ex-
conditions of risk are made, pected value can be calculated for each alternative. Expected value equals (1) the
whereby an expected value and
probability of the outcome multiplied by (2) the benefit or cost of that outcome.
gain or loss can be applied to
each alternative For example, in Figure A6.2, it pays our shopkeeper to stock brand B rather
than brand A. Stocking brand A allows a 70 percent chance of success for an $800
expected value: a calculated profit, so the shopkeeper has to balance this possible expected $560 profit against
value that equals the probability the possibility of the $90 loss (.30 ⫻ possible loss of $300). The expected value of
of the outcome multiplied by the stocking brand A is thus $470. By stocking brand B, though, the expected value is a
benefit or cost of that outcome
relatively high $588.
PLANNING AND STRATEGIC 7
MANAGEMENT
Oxford University Press CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Oxford
175
176 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
practicality and feasibility of each without actually having to commit the re-
sources to carry out each course of action. For example, developing a budget for
the year may show the business owner that the move to new, more expensive
offices would be unwise.
Planning also provides direction and a sense of purpose. For example, some-
one once said, in reference to career plans, “The world parts and makes a path for
the person who knows where he or she is going.” Many people find that this sense
of purpose—this “knowing where I am going”—pulls them like a magnet through
challenges and adversity until they reach their goals.
Planning also helps avoid piecemeal decision making—making decisions that
are not consistent with the goal or with each other. For example, R. R. Donnelley &
Sons Company prints books, magazines, and documents for customers such as
investment bankers.4 Donnelley’s planning led its managers to anticipate that, as
its customers conducted more business abroad, they would want Donnelley to
help service them globally. The company therefore invested in advanced technology
and a worldwide digital printing network. It didn’t waste money building conven-
tional printing plants in the United States. Now it prints documents simultane-
ously around the globe. It is also beginning to offer its customers a wider range
of services, such as digital content management.5 Management theorist Peter
Drucker says that planning also helps identify potential opportunities and threats
and reduce long-term risks.6 For example, R. R. Donnelley’s planning process
helped identify the opportunity for satellite-based global printing and for expan-
ding its product offerings.
Last but not least, planning facilitates control. Control means “ensuring that
activities conform to plan.” Thus, a company’s plan may specify that its profits will
double within five years. This goal becomes the standard against which to meas-
ure, compare, and control the manager’s performance. Planning and control are
the twins of the management process. You cannot control if you don’t know what
your standards are, and it’s futile to have a plan if you don’t control what you are
doing.
5. Implement and then evaluate the plan. Finally, choose the course(s) of action,
decide who should do what, and implement the plan. Then periodically check
to make sure that actual progress is consistent with the plan.
It hardly matters if you’re planning your career or a trip to France, or how
you’re going to cut costs or market your firm’s new product. The basic process
always involves setting objectives, forecasting, determining alternative courses of
action, evaluating those options, and then choosing and implementing your plan.
The process is the same when managers develop plans for their companies, with
two small complications.
First, there is usually a hierarchical aspect to managerial planning. Top manage-
ment approves a long-term or strategic plan. Then each department creates its own
budgets and other plans to fit and to contribute to the company’s long-term plan.
Second, the process involves much give-and-take among departments. Top
management formulates goals and plans partly based on upward feedback from
the departments. The departments in turn draw up plans that support top man-
agement’s plan.
F IGURE 7.1
Hierarchy of Goals
For example, “(1) sell (2) $2 million of product X (3) next year, with (4) the same size
sales force.”
5. Give feedback. The supervisor and subordinate meet periodically to review the
subordinate’s performance and to monitor and analyze progress toward his or
her goals.9
SOURCE: www.alightplanning.com (March 9, 2006). Copyright © 2005–2006 Alight LLC. All rights reserved.
Forecasting ■ 181
Forecasting
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Managing Now! LIVE M anagers build their plans on assumptions or premises about the future. Audi
expanded to China because it forecast a booming market for high-quality
cars in that country. Managers traditionally use several forecasting techniques
to produce the premises on which they build their plans. These include sales
forecasting, marketing research, and competitive intelligence.
● Managing Now Managers today therefore often use software systems to im-
prove their sales forecasting processes. For example, MTN is South Africa’s main
cellular network. In the past, the company based its forecasts for handsets on
salespeople’s estimates. Then the company tried a more sophisticated system, but
it was still a manual one. Employees manually extracted data on details like inven-
tories of handsets in stores and warehouses and on orders and current sales. That
proved to be very time-consuming and still did not provide accurate forecasts.12
Management’s solution was to turn to several software packages from SAS.
Now, MTN’s new data warehouse continuously receives information from a
variety of sources, including daily sales and handset production lead times. With
consultants from SAS, MTN created analytical software tools so its managers
could better utilize this information.
The new system enabled management to analyze information from the com-
pany’s data warehouse. For example, it helps management validate the sales
force’s forecasts and avoid both loss of sales and overstocking. Combined with
two other SAS packages—an Internet application, and a wireless Internet gateway
data warehouse: that part of service—the sales force can now use information technology (IT) to interact
the computer system that
collects and stores information directly with the data warehouse from anywhere. That gives them a better idea of
on details like sales, inventory, which handset models sell better, where, and why.
products in transit, and product The following Window on Managing Now and Practice IT features present
returns more illustrations of IT’s use in planning.
As most people know, Wal-Mart has many systems in items for individual stores and can also create seasonal
place whose purpose is to keep costs down. Some of profiles for each item. Armed with this information, man-
these systems—such as Wal-Mart’s policy of paying low agers can more accurately plan what items will be needed
wages and of strenuously resisting unions—have under- for each store and when.
standably elicited the concern and even the anger of many Wal-Mart took this a step further. It teamed with
critics. However, not all Wal-Mart’s cost-reducing systems suppliers like Warner-Lambert to create an Internet-
directly involve personnel issues. For example, the tech- based collaborative forecasting and replenishment system
nology the company uses to monitor and forecast cus- (Wal-Mart calls it CFAR). We saw that Wal-Mart collects
tomer preferences helps to keep costs down. data (on things like sales by product and by store, and
Wal-Mart’s forecasting is largely automated thanks to seasonal trends) for its sales of Warner-Lambert’s (and
technology. Here,Wal-Mart relies on its data warehouse. others’) products. Managers at Wal-Mart and Warner-
A data warehouse is that part of the computer system Lambert then collaborated to develop forecasts for sales
that collects and stores information on details like sales, by store for Warner-Lambert products, such as Listerine.
inventory, products in transit, and product returns, infor- Once Warner-Lambert and Wal-Mart planners decide on
mation it gathers from Wal-Mart’s computer terminals in mutually acceptable figures, a standard purchase plan is
3,000 stores. Software programs then help Wal-Mart’s finalized and sent to Warner-Lambert’s manufacturing
managers to use these data to analyze trends, understand planning system. The supplier then automatically replen-
customers, and more effectively manage inventory. As ishes items. So far, CFAR has helped cut the supply-cycle
one example, information in its data warehouse tracks the time for Listerine from twelve weeks to six. That means
sale by store of about 100,000 Wal-Mart products. Thus, less inventory, lower costs, and lower prices.13
Wal-Mart managers can examine the sales of individual
Forecasting ■ 183
Marketing Research
marketing research: the Marketing research refers to the procedures managers use to develop and analyze
procedures managers use to customer-related information that helps managers make decisions.14 Marketing
develop and analyze customer- researchers depend on two main types of information. One source is secondary
related information that helps
data, or information collected or published already. Good sources of secondary
managers make decisions
data include the Internet, libraries, trade associations, company files and sales
secondary data: information reports, and commercial data (for instance, from companies such as A. C. Nielsen,
collected or published already which tracks television-viewing habits). Primary data refer to information specif-
ically collected to solve a current problem. Primary data sources include mail and
primary data: information personal surveys, in-depth and focus-group interviews, and personal observation
specifically collected to solve (watching the reactions of customers who walk into a store).15
a current problem
Competitive Intelligence
Developing useful plans requires knowing as much as possible about what com-
petitors are doing or are planning to do. Competitive intelligence (CI) is a system-
atic way to obtain and analyze public information about competitors.
PRACTICE IT
Demand Forecasting and Planning at Oxford University Press
Faced with increasing pressure from giant competitors need, such as “how many copies of this book will likely be
like Pearson and McGraw-Hill, OUP’s managers needed a ordered next month?” E-mail or cell-phone text messag-
faster way to forecast and estimate textbook demand. Its ing triggers alerts if the system senses a wide discrepancy
education and children’s division managers wanted to in- between historical data for the book and the system’s
crease market share.To do so, they had to make sure the forecast. Stock managers then determine if there’s some
right quantities of books—not too many and not too new factor—such as a huge new adoption—affecting the
few—are in stock when customers need them.The man- forecast.
ual system involving sales force estimates and spread- The result has been a dramatic improvement in
sheets was not working.What would you suggest? Oxford University Press’s forecasts and plans. Stock man-
They installed a software package called SAP De- agers now have up-to-date information for making reprint
mand Planning.Working with the software supplier, OUP decisions. Demand Planning’s internal analytical tools do
employees input into this system details about each title, the sales-estimate computations. A graphical digital
including its international standard book number, the dashboard user interface (similar to Figure 7.2) makes it
most economical order quantities, reprint lead times, and easy for managers to see at a glance things like fore-
three years of historical sales. Each night, data (such as casted demand for a book versus historical demand. It
daily sales of each title, current inventory levels, and also enables them to analyze the most profitable titles,
numbers of books returned) from the education and identify why sales forecasts are falling short of target, and
children’s divisions’ back-office systems download auto- track the education and children’s divisions’ performance
matically into the new Demand Planning system. The against plan. The result is real-time, accurate sales fore-
Demand Planning system then automatically provides casts and plans, and the ability to make corrections
OUP’s managers with the planning information they quickly, if necessary.
184 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
F IGURE 7.2
Balanced Scorecard Digital Dashboard Example
Financial Perspective Marketing Perspective
12%
30
25
11% – 20% 20
15
10
>21% <16%
5
1 3.18
0
4.1
Companies increased their use of private intelligence services over the past
few years. Today, several competitive intelligence companies including Stratfor,
Marsh and McClellan’s Marsh Kroll subsidiary, and Jane’s Information Group also
help companies assess terrorism and related risks.16
Competitive intelligence practitioners use various tools to discover what their
clients’ competitors are doing. These tools include having specialists visit their
facilities, hiring their workers, and questioning their suppliers and customers. CI
firms also do extensive Internet searches to unearth information about competi-
tors, as well as searches like reading stock analysts’ reports on the competitors’
prospects. CI consulting firms use former prosecutors, business analysts, and
FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) employees to uncover the sorts of
Forecasting ■ 185
information you might want before entering into an alliance with another com-
pany, or before deciding to get into some business.17
Using the Internet is a gold mine for competitive intelligence investigations.
Amazon.com used this approach to analyze a competitor’s new business move.
Barnes & Noble had just listed three new-product category tabs on its homepage.
Amazon.com hired a competitive intelligence firm to analyze Barnes & Noble’s
Web activity. They found that only one of the new tabs was popular with shoppers.
Suggestions for unearthing competitors’ intelligence over the Web include:18
◗ Use a search engine to get a list of all the webpages your competitor has opened
on the Internet by typing in url://companyname.com
◗ Find all the websites linked to your competitor’s site by typing in link://www
.companyname.com
◗ Comb through your competitor’s website looking for information on things like
the firm’s business goals.
◗ If your competitor is publicly traded, carefully review its investor relations pages.
These pages contain public information like quarterly profits reports and
unusual expenses.
◗ On the website, review your competitor’s press releases; these may provide
insights into potential problems like those indicated by restructuring plans.
◗ Carefully review your competitor’s listed job openings. For example, is one of
its product lines listing many new job openings? That might signal a planned
expansion.
◗ Check out message boards and chatrooms dedicated to the company. These
often contain customer and/or employee complaints that provide insights into
the firm’s plans and or weaknesses. The Improving Your Forecasting Skills feature
presents additional recommendations.
I M P R OV I N G Y O U R F O R E C A S T I N G S K I L L S
Don’t Get Blind-Sided
Whichever forecasting methods they use, managers the manager doesn’t see coming.There are several ways
should make sure they’re not so preoccupied with their fa- to do this:
miliar competitors that they get blind-sided from an unex- ◗ Tell a department such as market research that they are
pected direction. For example, between 2001 and 2004, also in charge of watching out for unexpected events,
Mattel lost about 20 percent of its share of the fashion-doll not just the usual competitors.
Barbie-type market to smaller rivals. Mattel was so sure it
◗ Create a high-level lookout. For example, IBM has a
knew what its customers wanted that it didn’t notice a big
unit it calls Crow’s Nest. This team is responsible for
change: Barbie’s target market, girls ages three to eleven,
watching for new and unexpected opportunities and
had shrunk to girls ages three to five.19 Barbie’s customers
dangers.
were outgrowing Barbie at younger ages and turning to
◗ Start a new initiatives program. For example, Royal
dolls that looked like pop stars. Competitors picked up on
that trend much more quickly. They introduced dolls that Dutch Shell’s Game-Changer program encourages its
better appealed to girls ages five to eleven. managers to envision and test possibilities for new
The moral is that, in practice, the manager needs to opportunities beyond the company’s core products and
scan the periphery (in other words, watch what’s hap- services. The program quickly produced 400 ideas and
pening beyond your traditional competitors) when mak- led to creating thirty new technologies and three new
ing plans because the biggest threats often are the ones businesses.
Types of Plans
descriptive plans: plans that
state in words what is to be
achieved, by whom, when, and
M anagers express their plans in a variety of formats. For example, descriptive
plans, like a student’s program of studies, state in words what is to be
achieved, by whom, when, and at what cost. Budgets are plans stated in financial
at what cost terms. Graphic plans like those in Figure 7.3 show what is to be achieved, how,
budgets: plans stated in and when, in charts or in graphs.
financial terms Plans also differ in the time span they cover. Top management usually engages
in long-term (three- to five-year) business or strategic planning. Middle managers
graphic plans: plans that show focus on developing midterm tactical plans (of up to two to three years’ duration).
what is to be achieved, how, and Tactical plans (also sometimes called functional plans) pick up where strategic
when, in charts or in graphs plans leave off: these are your firm’s marketing, production, and personnel plans.
They show each department’s role in helping carry out the company’s overall
tactical plans: the
strategic plan. First-line managers focus on short-term operational plans. They
departmental plans for
supporting the business’s focus on detailed, day-to-day planning. The Gantt chart (Figure 7.3) is an opera-
companywide strategic plan; tional plan.
also known as functional plans Finally, some plans are made to be used once, and others, repeatedly. For
example, some plans are programs. Like a student’s program of studies, these
functional plans: (see tactical present in an orderly fashion all the steps in a major one-time project, used once.
plans)
operational plans: plans that ● Standing Plans In contrast, managers use standing plans repeatedly.20 Policies,
focus on detailed, day-to-day procedures, and rules are examples of standing plans. Policies are broad guide-
planning, such as how many lines. For example, it might be the policy at Saks Fifth Avenue that “we sell only
machines to use that day high-fashion apparel and top-of-the-line jewelry.” This is a plan because it shows
Types of Plans ■ 187
Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day
F IGURE 7.3 PROJECT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Gantt Scheduling Chart for A
Acme Strategic Report
Projects, January 1–15, 2007 B
The Gantt chart helps Acme’s
managers plan their consultants’ C
time and keep track of each
project’s progress. Similar Gantt
charts help managers in factories Gantt Scheduling Chart Symbols
plan machine usage for building Start of Project Scheduled Time Allowed
different products.
End of Project Actual Work Progress
programs: plans that present the firm’s apparel and jewelry buyers what general course of action they should
in an orderly fashion all the steps follow in choosing merchandise to buy for their stores. Procedures spell out what
in a major one-time project to do if a specific situation arises; for example, “Before refunding the customer’s
purchase price, the salesperson should carefully inspect the garment and then ob-
policies: broad guidelines
regarding the company’s tain approval for the refund from the floor manager.” Rules are specific guides to
approach to certain major action; for example, “Under no condition will we refund the purchase price after
decisions, such as what quality thirty days.” In standing plans, the goal or purpose is usually implied but clear.
merchandise to offer
projected demand for the technology to take orders for, build, and distribute its
PCs. The production or operations plan shows how the company will produce the
products it plans to sell.
● Managing Now The consulting firm Accenture helped Dell install an im-
proved Internet-based production-planning system. This system integrates Dell’s
entire sales to manufacturing to delivery supply chain. With it, Dell and its suppli-
ers automatically receive real-time updates on sales and production schedules.
Suppliers see what components Dell needs where and when. Truckers see what
components to pick up from suppliers and where to deliver them and what Dell
products to deliver and to whom.21 The system virtually automates the production-
planning process for Dell and its suppliers and truckers.
● The Financial Plan What’s the bottom line? is the first question many man-
agers and bankers ask. The question underscores a truism about business and
management. At the end of the day, most of a manager’s plans and goals and
accomplishments end up expressed in financial terms.
The financial plan is the vehicle for doing so. The financial plan translates the
manager’s sales, production, and personnel plans into financial terms. For exam-
ple, a projected (or pro forma or planned) profit and loss (P&L) statement shows
the revenue, cost, and profit (or loss) implications of a company’s marketing,
production, and personnel plans.
Strategic Planning
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Managing Now! LIVE A s explained earlier, the planning process usually starts with managers formu-
lating a special type of plan, a strategic plan. A strategic plan spells out (1) the
desired business or businesses the firm wants to be in, in terms of products,
geographic sales area, and competitive advantage, and (2) the major steps it will
take to get there, given (3) the company’s opportunities and threats and internal
strengths and weaknesses. A strategy is a course of action. It shows how the
enterprise will move from the business it is in now to the business it wants to be in.
Strategic planning is the process of identifying the firm’s business today, its
Strategic Planning ■ 189
strategic plan: a plan that desired future business, and the courses of action it should pursue to get there
spells out (1) the desired given its opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses.
business or businesses the firm As an example, the Ford Motor Company in 2006 was struggling to compete
wants to be in, in terms of
against stronger, more profitable competitors from abroad. In early 2006, it intro-
products, geographic sales area,
and competitive advantage, and duced a new strategic plan, which its managers dubbed Way Forward. It envi-
(2) the major steps it will take sioned moving Ford from a loss-making, relatively ponderous company to a
to get there, given (3) the leaner, more profitable one. Ford’s strategies for moving there include cutting
company’s opportunities and about 25 percent of its North American vehicle capacity and 10 percent of its
threats and internal strengths white-collar workforce and streamlining its purchasing process.22 (By mid-2006,
and weaknesses Ford, facing unexpectedly tough competition, revised its plan to strip even more
costs and to do so faster. It then replaced its CEO with a new one.)
strategy: a course of action
that shows how the enterprise
will move from the business it
is in now to the business it wants
The Strategic Management Process
to be in As you can see in Figure 7.4, strategic planning represents the first steps of the
strategic management process. The seven-step strategic management process in-
strategic planning: the cludes both strategic planning and strategy implementation and execution.
process of identifying the firm’s
business today, its desired future
business, and the courses of ● Step 1: Define the Current Business and Mission Every company must
action it should pursue to get choose the terrain on which it will compete—in particular, what products it will
there given its opportunities, sell, where it will sell them, and how its products or services will differ from its
threats, strengths, and competitors’. Rolex and Seiko are both in the watch business. But Rolex sells a
weaknesses limited product line of high-priced quality watches. Seiko sells a wide variety of
F IGURE 7.4
Strategic Management Process
Feedback
SOURCE: Adapted from Fred David, Strategic Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2005), p. 77.
190 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
relatively inexpensive but innovative specialty watches with features like com-
passes and altimeters.
Sometimes, managers use the words vision and mission to help clarify the busi-
nesses in which the company should compete. The manager’s vision for the com-
pany usually provides a broad overview of where the manager wants the company
heading. For example, Rupert Murdoch, chair of News Corporation (which owns
the Fox network and many newspapers and satellite TV operations), has a vision of
an integrated, global, satellite-based news-gathering, entertainment, and Internet
and multimedia firm. WebMD CEO Jeffrey Arnold saw WebMD supplying every-
thing a consumer might want to know about medical-related issues.
The firm’s mission statement is usually more specific. Visions show in very
broad terms what the business should be tomorrow. The mission describes what
it needs to accomplish today. For example, the mission of the California Energy
Commission is to “assess, advocate and act through public/private partnerships
to improve energy systems that promote a strong economy and a healthy
environment.”23
● Step 4: Translate the Mission into Goals Next, translate the new mission
into executable, measurable strategic goals. For example, what does the California
Energy Commission’s mission to “assess, advocate and act through public/private
partnerships to improve energy systems . . .” mean in terms of how many and what
specific types of partnerships to form, and when?
Human
Sales Manufacturing
Resources
strategic control: the process ● Step 7: Evaluate Performance Strategic control is the process of assessing
of assessing the company’s the company’s progress toward achieving its strategic goals and taking corrective
progress toward achieving its action as needed. Here, management monitors progress and asks why deviations
strategic goals and taking
exist. Management simultaneously reviews the firm’s strategic situation (competi-
corrective action as needed
tors, technical advances, customer demographics, and so on) to see if it should
make any strategic adjustments.
Strategic plans don’t always work out. When General Motors sold the last of its
Hughes Electronics assets, it was the end of a plan put in place years earlier. GM
had bought both Electronic Data Systems and Hughes Electronics to automate and
reinvigorate their automobile production and sales. Many believe that the acquisi-
tions were actually a distraction that helped push GM’s market share down.26
There are three main types of strategies, corresponding to the level in the
company for which you are planning: corporate-level, business-level/competi-
tive, and functional-level strategies. We summarize these strategies in Figure 7.5.
problem of having all its eggs in one basket by spreading risk among several prod-
ucts or markets. However, diversification also forces the company’s managers to
split their attention and resources among several products or markets. Thus,
diversification may undermine the firm’s ability to compete successfully in its
chosen markets.
Related diversification means diversifying into other industries so that a firm’s
lines of business still possess some kind of fit. For example, Ferrari could probably
sell more high-performance cars if it wanted to, but, preferring exclusivity, it limits
production. However, Ferrari capitalizes on its exclusive image by diversifying. For
example, the company licenses Ferrari designer logo apparel and sponsors week-
end trips for Ferrari owners to Napa Valley.27 In contrast, unrelated or conglomer-
ate diversification means diversifying into products or markets not related to the
firm’s present businesses or to one another. For example, Getty Oil diversified into
pay television.
Amazon.com pursued both related and unrelated diversification. It originally
specialized in selling books. It soon diversified into music and electronics. It then
formed partnerships with companies like Toys “R” Us to manage their Internet-
based sales.28
● Joint Ventures Joint ventures are companies that involve joint ownership and
operation by two or more companies of a business. For example, a small, Florida-
based company with a patented industrial pollution–control filter formed a joint
venture with a subsidiary of Shell Oil. Here, the joint venture was a separate cor-
poration based in Europe to which each partner contributed funds and other re-
sources. The oil firm got access to a product that could revolutionize its distilling
facilities. The filter company got access to the oil firm’s vast resources and Euro-
pean marketing network.
Joint ventures are one example of strategic alliances—agreements between ac-
tual or potential competitors to achieve some strategic aim. Managers should enter
such alliances with care. Several years ago, Bertelsmann’s BMG music subsidiary
decided to partner with the original Napster, the file-sharing service. Predictably,
the other major record labels were soon suing Napster for copyright infringement,
and Napster soon suspended its file-sharing service and went bankrupt. Its board
then ousted Bertelsmann’s CEO, who had masterminded the alliance.30
The virtual corporation is a modern version of the strategic alliance. It is “a tem-
porary network of independent companies—suppliers, customers, even erstwhile
Strategic Planning ■ 193
rivals—linked by information technology to share skills, costs, and access to one an-
other’s markets.”31 Successful virtual corporations rely on trust and on a sense of
codestiny: everyone in these alliances needs to recognize that the fate of each part-
ner and of the alliance as a whole depends on each partner doing its share.
Virtual corporations usually aren’t corporations at all in the traditional sense
of common ownership or a chain of command. Instead, they are networks of
companies. Each lends the virtual corporation/network its special expertise. In-
formation technology enables the virtual corporation’s far-flung constituents to
communicate and make their contributions.
● Cost Leadership Most firms try to hold down costs. A cost leadership com-
petitive strategy goes beyond this. A business that pursues this strategy aims to be
the low-cost leader in an industry. It usually does this
by minimizing costs across the board.
new system. That time savings helps the bank achieve its strategic goal of being
the low-cost leader in its markets.
● Focusers Differentiators (like Volvo) and low-cost leaders (like Dell) are gen-
eralists when it comes to the market. They aim to sell to all or most potential buy-
ers. Pursuing a focus competitive strategy means the company selects a narrow
market segment and then builds its business by serving the customers in that
niche better or more cheaply than do its generalist competitors. Here, the man-
ager must ask, “By focusing on a narrow niche market, can we provide our target
customers with a product or service better or more cheaply than could our gener-
alist competitors?” If the answer is yes (and if the market is big enough), it may pay
to focus. A Pea in the Pod, a chain of maternity stores, focuses on selling stylish
clothes to pregnant working women. By focusing, the company can provide a
wider range of such clothes to its target customers than can generalist competitors
like Macy’s or JCPenney.
Managers now often make IT-based systems the centerpiece of their compet-
itive strategies. The accompanying Window on Managing Now feature illustrates
this.
Functional Strategies
Finally, functional strategies flow from and depend on the business’s competitive
functional strategy: strategy. A functional strategy lays out a department’s basic operating policies.
a strategy that lays out a For example, Dell competes as the industry’s low-cost leader. To execute this com-
department’s basic operating petitive strategy, it formulated departmental functional strategies that support
policies, such as where to build Dell’s desired (low-cost leader) position. For example, the customer-service de-
plants and what sorts of
employees to hire
partment created a new system that enables Dell advisers to link to customers’
computers (with the customers’ permission) to efficiently and quickly analyze
technical problems. We saw the production department uses special supply chain
systems to automatically coordinate production and shipping. The sales depart-
ment relies almost exclusively on direct telephone or Internet sales to eliminate
the costs of intermediaries such as retail stores.
Pella Corporation manufactures and sells standard and their customers by offering better-designed products
custom windows and doors through a network of sales faster and with a minimum of hassle.
branches and sales associates throughout the United Working with consultants, Pella installed Oracle
States and the world. The company’s basic supply chain E-Business Suite. This enterprise software system included
starts with the customer sale.The chain of events then in- software packages such as Oracle Manufacturing and
cludes creating the actual order, designing the product, Oracle Procurement, Sales Online, Order Management,
scheduling production, acquiring the raw materials and and Marketing. The new system dramatically improved
components (such as locks and hinges), manufacturing it, Pella’s operations and competitiveness. For example, the
and delivering it to the customer. Oracle Procurement package helped reduce the number
Getting from the initial order to the final delivery is of calls between Pella’s purchasing department and suppli-
actually quite complex. Doing so involves hundreds of ers by as much as 95 percent because it processes most
not-so-obvious supporting tasks. These tasks include, for of these purchase transactions online automatically. That
example, creating invoices, computing sales commissions, saved Pella about 20 percent in unplanned overtime labor
sending delivery notices to contractors, and generating hours. Pella also now puts bar codes on all its products
accounts payable authorizations for paying suppliers. And and components, so it’s easier to track them by just scan-
because Pella produces custom products, there are liter- ning the item into Pella’s new Oracle system. This change
ally millions of possibilities when it comes to dimensions, led to about a 20 percent reduction in warehouse receiv-
window color, and composition. It’s also a very expensive ing labor costs, and means managers can keep closer tabs
process. It used to be filled with costs for manually com- on inventory.
pleting things like orders, production schedules, inventory This Oracle Web-based E-business Suite system pro-
lists, and delivery notices. vides Pella with a new competitive advantage—delivering
Strategically, Pella is a differentiator. It produces win- accurate orders more quickly and at lower cost. Cus-
dow and doors, with a strong brand image for quality and tomers can now get the products they ordered faster and
reliability, at competitive costs. The company’s managers at lower cost than they might otherwise. It thereby
believed it could strengthen its differentiation strategy by helped management strengthen Pella’s differentiation
automating and streamlining the steps in its supply chain strategy. The company can now deliver even more quality
process.They did not want just lower costs, although that and reliability to its customers by offering better-designed
was important. They wanted to deliver more value to products faster, at lower costs.37
make accommodations for threats and reduce (or avoid) strategies that might
depend on the firm’s weaknesses. Managers use SWOT analysis, environmental
scanning, portfolio analysis, and the BCG matrix as strategic analyis tools to
accomplish this balancing act.
● Portfolio Analysis We saw that diversified firms end up with several busi-
nesses in their portfolios. For example, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation owns
Strategic Planning ■ 197
F IGURE 7.7
BCG Matrix High STARS QUESTION MARKS
High Low
newspapers, television stations (Fox), and movie studios. How does the manager
decide which business to keep and which to sell? The BCG matrix is one tool.
● BCG Matrix The BCG matrix, developed by the Boston Consulting Group,
helps managers identify the relative attractiveness of each of a firm’s businesses.
It assumes that a particular business’s attractiveness depends on two things—the
growth rate of the business and the business’s market share. As you can see in
Figure 7.7, the manager plots each business on the matrix at the intersection of
the business’s estimated growth rate and relative competitive position (market
share).
This process identifies four types of businesses (see Figure 7.7). Stars are busi-
nesses in high-growth industries and in which the company has a high relative
market share. For example, Apple’s iPod business has a high growth rate and a very
high market share. Star businesses usually require large infusions of cash to sus-
tain growth. Their strong market positions help them generate the needed cash.
Question marks are businesses in high-growth industries, but the firm has low
market shares. The manager here faces a dilemma: the company must either di-
vert cash from its other businesses to boost the question mark’s market share or
get out of the business.
Cash cows are businesses in low-growth industries (such as cigarettes) that
enjoy high relative market shares. Being in a low-growth industry argues against
making large cash infusions into these businesses. However, their high market
share generally allows them to generate high sales and profits for years, even with-
out much new investment. Cash cows can therefore help drive a firm’s future suc-
cess. For example, Kodak’s consumer film unit is still a cash cow: the market is
shrinking fast, but Kodak has a big market share. In one recent year, Kodak was
able to generate over $1 billion in cash flow from its film business, which helped
nurture its digital photography growth business (a star business for Kodak).39
Finally, dogs are businesses with low market shares in low-growth industries.
The low market share puts the business in jeopardy relative to its larger competitors
(who can vastly outadvertise it, for instance). As a result, dogs can quickly become
198 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
■
*This executive assignment action plan shows the specific executive assignments required to achieve top management’s long-term objective:
“have a minimum of 55% of sales revenue from customized products by 2008.”
199
Source: Adapted from George Morrisey, A Guide to Long-Range Planning (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 1996), pp. 72–73.
200 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
aspect of the plan. As you can see, the table lists each manager’s assignment in
executing the company’s strategic plan. In this case, one long-term top-management
strategic goal is to “have a minimum of 55% of sales revenue from customized
products by 2008.” The executive assignment table then lists each department’s
goals and roles. For example, the vice president of marketing (supported by the
sales vice president) should “complete a market study of sales potential for
customized products” by the end of year 1.
In summary, managers need tools for communicating strategic goals to sub-
ordinates and for monitoring actual progress. Assigment tables provide managers
with specific, measurable objectives against which they can measure their perfor-
mance. However, tables like these are time-consuming to produce. Furthermore,
the typical annual or semiannual milestones at best permit periodic, rather than
real-time, performance assessments. MBO has much the same delay problem.
Managers today need real-time feedback on how they are doing.
Summary of Performance- A system that focuses employees on the goals and initiatives that they must execute for the
Management Process company to succeed, and that gives managers a timely way to monitor performance and
take corrective action.
strategy map: a graphical tool The strategy map is a graphical tool that summarizes the chain of activities
that summarizes the chain of that contributes to a company’s success. Thus, it shows the big picture of how each
activities that contributes to a department’s or team’s performance contributes to achieving the company’s over-
company’s success
all strategic goals.
Figure 7.9 presents a strategy map for Southwest Airlines. Southwest pursues
a low-cost leader competitive strategy. Therefore, it shapes all its activities to
F IGURE 7.9
Strategy Map for Southwest Airlines
Shareholder
Value
Financial Aims
Grow Fewer
Revenues Planes
Attract
Customer Aims and Keep
Customers
On-Time Low
Flights Prices
Committed
Employee Ground and
Considerations Flight Crews
delivering low-cost, convenient service. The strategy map for Southwest suc-
cinctly lays out the hierarchy of big activities required for Southwest Airlines to
succeed. At the top is achieving companywide, strategic financial goals. The strat-
egy map in Figure 7.9 shows the chain of activities that helps Southwest achieve
these goals. To boost revenues and profitability, Southwest needs to fly fewer
planes (to keep costs down), attract and keep customers, maintain low prices, and
maintain on-time flights. In turn (further down the strategy map), on-time flights
and low prices require fast turnaround. And fast turnaround requires motivated,
committed ground and flight crews.
The strategy map enables Southwest’s management to see in broad terms each
of the major activities that contribute to Southwest’s success. It also helps
employees understand their assignments and roles. For example, each ground-
crew employee can see that by working hard to turn planes around fast, he or she
is contributing to a chain of activities that helps make Southwest profitable.
F IGURE 7.10
Balanced Scorecard: Performance Measures, Performance Targets,
and Management Initiatives
Customer Satisfaction Timeliness 95% customer Analyze why January Janis Smith, March 31,
(Based on customer Extent of customer satisfaction 2007 boardings customer 2007
surveys) satisfaction with timeliness ratings satisfaction ratings service
of airline boardings, dropped to 85% manager
takeoffs, arrivals
*Note: Customer satisfaction is one measure of how Southwest Airlines is doing. A company like Southwest might have a table like this
addressing each activity in its strategy map, along with specific measurable targets, and (as required) management initiatives for
diagnosing and rectifying poor performance. The objectives and measures in this table become the basis for Southwest’s performance
management process. Specifically, it enables management to monitor how employees are doing with respect to the balanced set of
objectives in its strategy map, and thereby makes sure employees are doing what is necessary to achieve the objectives—like customer
satisfaction—that Southwest must achieve to be successful.
succeed, and that gives managers a timely way to monitor performance and take
corrective action. Four features characterize performance management:
1. The aim of any performance-management process is to align the employees’
efforts with the company’s strategic goals.
2. It provides each employee, from the top to the bottom of the chain of com-
mand, with an easy way to visualize and understand his or her role in achiev-
ing the company’s strategy.
3. Employees receive individual goals that make sense in terms of supporting
the company’s overall strategic goals.
4. It includes a process for continuously monitoring employees’ performance
and for taking timely corrective action, usually information technology–based.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Plans are methods for achieving a desired result. instance, for finding all the websites linked to the
Goals or objectives are specific results you want to competitor’s site and for carefully reviewing its
achieve. Planning is the process of establishing investor relations pages.
objectives and courses of action, prior to taking 7. The steps in the strategic-management process in-
action. clude define the business and its mission, perform
2. Planning lets you make your decisions ahead of external and internal audits, translate the mission
time, provides direction and a sense of purpose, into goals, formulate strategies to achieve the
provides a unifying framework, avoids piecemeal strategic goals, implement the strategy, and evalu-
decision making, helps managers identify potential ate performance via strategic control.
opportunities and threats, and facilitates control. 8. Examples of strategies include corporate-level
3. The management process consists of five steps: strategies (such as concentration and diversifica-
set the objective, develop forecast and planning tion), competitive strategies (such as low-cost, dif-
premises, determine what the alternatives are, ferentiator, and focuser), and functional strategies.
build alternatives, implement and then evaluate 9. A strategy map is a graphical tool that summarizes
the plan. the chain of activities that contributes to a com-
4. Goals are specific, measurable, attainable, rele- pany’s success and shows employees how their
vant, and timely (SMART). performance contributes to achieving the com-
pany’s overall strategic goals.
5. Forecasting is estimating or calculating in advance
or predicting. Basic forecasting techniques include 10. Performance management refers to any systems
time-series forecasting, causal forecasting, and that focus employees on the goals and initiatives
qualitative forecasting. Qualitative methods in- that they must execute for the company to suc-
clude jury of executive opinion and the sales force ceed, and that give managers a timely way to
estimation method. Managing now often involves monitor performance and take corrective action.
automating the forecasting process by using infor- Today, information technology supports the per-
mation technology systems to continuously moni- formance-management process, for instance, by
tor demand for the company’s product and to using the balanced-scorecard process to apply a
communicate this information to management. balanced set of financial and nonfinancial meas-
ures to the activities in the strategy map and then
6. Competitive intelligence is a systematic way to reporting actual performance in real time to man-
obtain and analyze public information about agement via desktop digital dashboards.
competitors. The Web is useful for this task, for
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are the advantages of planning? 5. What is competitive intelligence? Do you think that
it is an ethical process?
2. What are the basic steps in the planning process?
What are the “two small complications” that occur 6. What are the basic components of a business plan?
when managers apply that process in planning for
7. What is a strategic plan? What purpose does it
their firms?
serve?
3. In what ways are SMART goals smart?
8. What is performance management? What is its re-
4. What are some advantages and disadvantages of lationship to strategy maps, balanced scorecards,
making sales force estimates based on forecasts and digital dashboards?
collected from the sales force?
206 PART THREE CHAPTER 7 Planning and Strategic Management
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. It is probably safe to say that a person’s career plan including details such as mission and vision state-
is one of the most important plans he or she cre- ments; strategic goals; corporate, competitive, and
ates. Unfortunately, most people never write out functional strategies; and a summary of what busi-
such a plan, or they don’t realize they need one ness your college or university is in. In preparing
until it’s too late. Using the concepts and tech- your plan, make sure to conduct an environmental
niques in this chapter, develop an outline of a scan, collect competitive intelligence, and use a
career plan for yourself, one that is sufficiently de- SWOT chart. Draw a strategy map for the college or
tailed to provide direction for your career decisions university.
over the next five years. Make sure to include
3. Meet in groups of three or four students and clas-
measurable goals and milestones.
sify local businesses as to whether they appear to
2. With three to four other students in the class, form be pursuing differentiator, low-cost, or focuser
a strategic-management group for your college or strategies. Explain why you classified the busi-
university. Your assignment is to develop the out- nesses the way you did.
line of a strategic plan for your college or university,
CASE STUDY
The JetBlue Airways Strategy
n the hugely competitive airline industry, a company emergency medical evacuation from Europe to the
I needs the right strategy, or it may as well close its
doors. In the twenty or so years since the U.S. govern-
United States, focus on serving very specific niche
markets.
ment deregulated the airline industry, dozens of air- In terms of competitive strategy, JetBlue seems to
lines, from Pan Am to Eastern, have gone out of busi- be following a hybrid approach. It seeks to combine the
ness because they had the wrong strategy or because advantages of being a low-cost leader with the kind of
strategy execution was less than effective, or both. quality service you’d expect to find only on major dif-
Therefore, when David Neeleman said he was start- ferentiator airlines such as American. JetBlue keeps
ing a new airline, there was some skepticism. However, cost down by flying new, low-maintenance planes;
JetBlue has been successful and profitable since its in- eliminating meals; training teams of employees to turn
ception, so most of that skepticism has evaporated. aircraft around quickly; and flying only one type of air-
In terms of its corporate-level strategy, JetBlue’s craft so that all pilots and crew can easily switch from
plan wasn’t that different from the plan followed by plane to plane. At the same time, JetBlue aims to pro-
other industry start-ups. Its management started small, vide top-notch service. Passengers get leather seats,
with several flights from JFK to Fort Lauderdale and each with its own TV monitor. JetBlue’s Airbus seats are
from JFK to upper New York State. Gradually, it pursued about an inch wider than those on most Boeing econ-
geographic expansion, starting with a JFK to Long omy-class seats. Managers carefully select and train
Beach route. For now, contractors at some airports, employees to provide upbeat, courteous service. Pas-
such as JFK, handle JetBlue’s servicing. sengers get reserved seats. And while it doesn’t provide
JetBlue really distinguished itself with its competi- meals, JetBlue does provide unlimited snacks.
tive strategy. Most airlines are differentiator, low-cost The competitive strategy has worked until now, but
leader, or focuser. For example, until recently, American the competition is becoming much more fierce. When
Airlines distinguished itself as a differentiator, providing JetBlue was not on the radar screens of competitors like
its passengers with perks like Internet support and a American Airlines, it had the low-cost flights from
strong frequent-flier program. Southwest Airlines is a some airports, such as Fort Lauderdale, pretty much
low-cost leader. Other airlines, like those specializing in to itself. However, its own success has increased the
Case Study ■ 207
attention it gets from competitors. Most of them, like 2. On a single sheet of paper, write the outline of a
American, are using JetBlue’s playbook, for instance, by workable strategic plan for JetBlue.
cutting out meals to lower costs. Therefore, David
3. Based on newspaper reports and an Internet
Neeleman knows he must monitor events very care-
search, identify JetBlue’s current corporate strate-
fully to make sure that his quality-service/low-cost hy-
gies, and list its strategic options.
brid competitive strategy keeps JetBlue flying high. A
breakdown in JetBlue’s systems that left hundreds of 4. List the strategic planning tools you think JetBlue
passengers stranded on JetBlue planes during a snow- should use, and why.
storm in early 2007 made it clear that costs may have
5. Draw a strategy map for JetBlue, and give its man-
already been reduced too much.
agement team a brief, two-paragraph explanation
You and your team are consultants to Neeleman,
for why you think JetBlue should institute a digital
who is depending on your management expertise to
dashboard performance-management system.
help navigate the competitive pressures ahead. Here’s
what he wants to know from you now.
Note: In May 2007, apparently facing intense pressure from
investors and his board stemming from JetBlue’s managing
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS of the February 2007 storms that grounded its planes, David
1. Develop a vision and mission statement for Neeleman relinquished the CEO position to his No. 2, Dave
JetBlue. Barger. Neeleman remains JetBlue’s chairman, however.
8 CONTROLLING
Controlling the Cappuccino Makers at Starbucks
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Controlling
the Cappuccino Makers
at Starbucks
● The Fundamentals of
W ith 10,000 company-owned stores around the world doing 34 mil-
lion customer transactions per week, Starbucks knows that control-
ling what’s happening in those stores is very important.1 The question is,
Effective Control How do you control a store
The Basic Control Process
Three Types of Control Systems
that’s 12,000 miles away?
Personal, Traditional, and Commitment- Companies such as Subway
Based Control or McDonald’s don’t have Star-
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
Using Technology to Stay in Control bucks’ problem. They franchise
at UPS most of their stores, so their
● Traditional Controls top managers can be reasonably
The Basic Financial Management
sure that the local franchisee
Control System
Ratio Analysis and Return on will control what’s happening in
Investment his or her store. If there’s a
Financial Responsibility Centers
problem like stealing, the local
● Managing Now: IT-Enabled
Control Systems owner should be able to catch
Enterprise Resource Planning–Based it before it gets out of hand.
Control But Starbucks decided from Starbucks’ top managers need a way to
More Timely Accounting Reports
day one not to franchise. That control what’s happening in their stores,
Activity-Based Costing (ABC)
even half a world away, as here in China.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: means Starbucks needs a con-
Millipore Corp. Integrates Its Global
trol system that lets its Seattle-based managers control what’s happen-
Operations with ERP
Wireless-Assisted Control ing in each of those 10,000 stores, even if the store is far away. After
Electronic Performance Monitoring reading this chapter, you should be able to recommend a control
(EPM)
Digital Dashboards and Control
system for Starbucks. ■
● How Do People React
to Control? B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
Unintentional Tactics
● Commitment-Based Control
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
Systems
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by
Creating Belief Systems and Values
to Encourage Self-Control ➤ Describing each step in the basic control process.
Using Commitment-Building Methods ➤ Giving examples of steering, concurrent, and feedback controls.
to Foster Self-Control ➤ Briefly explaining personal, traditional, and commitment-based controls.
PRACTICE IT: Controlling the
➤ Listing the components of the basic financial management control system.
Cappuccino Makers at Starbucks
➤ Comparing activity-based and traditional accounting systems.
➤ Listing four unintended consequences of controls.
208
The Fundamentals of Effective Control ■ 209
● Step 1: Set a Standard, Target, or Goal This step shows what the results
ought to be. Managers express standards in terms of money, time, quantity, or
quality (or a combination of these). Thus, a salesperson might have a (money)
quota of $8,000 worth of products per month. The editor may give the reporter till
June 1 (time) to submit her column. Production supervisors are usually responsi-
ble for producing a specified number of units (quantity) of product per week.
Lexus speaks glowingly of its few defects per car (quality).
● Step 3: Take Corrective Action When the manager compares actual with
planned performance, he or she should check for any significant deviations. If
there are any, the manager takes corrective action.
● Managing Now Information technology (IT) and the Internet have improved
managers’ abilities to make timely midcourse corrections. Boeing’s use of the
Web is a good example. Boeing has an Internet-based network used by 1,000
other companies, including aluminum supplier Alcoa, Inc.4 To gain access to this
network, external users (including most of Boeing’s suppliers and customers)
receive digital certificates from Boeing, with passwords authorizing them to
access the network.
The network allows both Boeing and its suppliers to maintain better, more
timely control by, for example, reducing the number of misunderstandings with
The Fundamentals of Effective Control ■ 211
UPS is the world’s largest air and ground package- called UPSnet, UPS not only tracks its packages but elec-
distribution company. It delivers close to 3 billion parcels tronically transmits documentation on each shipment di-
and documents each year in the United States and more rectly to customs officials prior to arrival. Shipments are
than 185 other countries. Critical to its success has been therefore either cleared for shipment or flagged for in-
the $1.8 billion UPS invested in information technology. spection when they arrive.
Each UPS driver uses a handheld computer called a deliv- UPS uses the Internet to help it and its customers
ery information acquisition device (pictured on page 223). monitor and control the progress of all those billions of
This device captures customers’ signatures along with packages. For example, the UPS Internet-based tracking
pickup, delivery, and time-card information. Then it auto- system lets a customer store up to twenty-five tracking
matically transmits this information to headquarters via a numbers and then monitor the progress of each package.
cellular telephone network. The system not only lets the customer (and UPS) keep
Through TotalTrack, its automated package-tracking track of each package’s progress, it also serves as a value-
system, UPS can control packages throughout the delivery added feature for the customer. It can easily keep UPS
process. And with its own global communications network customers informed about the progress of every package.
traditional control: controls ● Traditional Control Traditional control uses external devices such as budg-
based on external devices such ets and computerized information systems to monitor performance and to report
as budgets and computerized on results. These methods are what usually spring to mind when most people
information systems to monitor
think of control. Thus, Jeffrey Immelt controls GE in part through a system of
performance and to report on
results (computerized) financial controls and budgets.
Personal-
Commitment-
Traditional Interactive
Based
Control Systems
Control
Systems (monitor
Systems
face-to-face)
Traditional Controls
traditional controls: formal,
preplanned, methodical systems
that help managers zero in on
T raditional controls are formal, preplanned, methodical systems that help
managers zero in on discrepancies. Also called diagnostic or budgetary con-
trols, they are the controls most people think of when they think of management
discrepancies
control. Budgets and production reports are two examples. These controls reduce
the need for managers to continually and personally monitor everything for which
Online Study Center they are responsible.9 Having previously set targets or goals, the manager can (at
ACE the Test least in theory) then leave the employees to pursue the goals. Ideally, the manager
Managing Now! LIVE
can be secure in the knowledge that if the goals aren’t met, the deviations will show
up as red flags in performance reports.
This last idea forms the heart of what managers call the principle of exception.
principle of exception: The principle of exception (or management by exception) holds that to conserve
(or management by exception) managers’ time, only significant deviations or exceptions from the standard, “both
holds that to conserve the especially good and bad exceptions,” should be brought to the manager’s
managers’ time, only significant attention.10
deviations or exceptions from
the standard should be brought
to the manager’s attention The Basic Financial Management Control System
Managers—including a student paper’s editor in chief—have many nonfinancial
details to control. For our editor, these include article deadlines, article length and
quality, and the format for each issue. Yet in reality, it’s usually the financial
aspects—the bottom line—that’s first among equals when it comes to control.
Financial controls thus form the heart of a company’s basic management control
system.
Financial controls begin with the firm’s planning process. Management for-
mulates an overall strategy and mission for the firm. This provides a framework
within which the rest of the planning process can take place. Next, management
formulates subsidiary, lower-level plans and a hierarchy of goals. At the top, the
president sets strategic goals (such as “have 55% of sales revenue from customized
products by 2008”). As we discussed in Chapter 7, each functional vice president,
and in turn each of their subordinates, then receives goals.
The result is a chain or hierarchy of departmental goals and short-term oper-
ational goals and plans. At each step in this hierarchical process, management
invariably translates the goals and plans into financial targets and embodies them
in budgets. The president’s goal might translate as “$2 million in revenues from the
Custom Products Division in 2008.” Financial statements and budgets thus be-
come the heart of the firm’s basic management control system. Let’s look more
budgets: formal financial closely at these statements and budgets.
expressions of a manager’s plans
sales budget: a budget that ● Budgets Budgets are formal financial expressions of a manager’s plans.
shows the planned sales activity They show targets for things like sales, cost of materials, production levels, and
for each period (usually in units profit, expressed in dollars. These planned targets are the standards against which
per month) and the revenue the manager compares and controls the unit’s actual performance. The first step
expected from the sales in budgeting is generally to develop a sales forecast and sales budget. The sales
budget shows the planned sales activity for each period (usually in units per
operating budgets: budgets
that show the expected sales month) and the revenue expected from the sales.
and/or expenses for each of the The manager can then produce various operating budgets. Operating
company’s departments for the budgets show the expected sales and/or expenses for each of the company’s de-
planning period in question partments for the planning period in question. For example, the production and
Traditional Controls ■ 215
Supplies $3,826
Repairs $ 402
materials budget (or plan) shows what the company plans to spend for materials,
labor, administration, and so forth to fulfill the requirements of the sales budget.
● Profit Planning The next step is to combine all these departmental budgets
income statement: the profit into a profit plan for the coming year. This profit plan is the budgeted income
plan that shows expected sales, statement or pro forma income statement. It shows expected sales, expected ex-
expected expenses, and penses, and expected income or profit for the year. In practice, cash from sales
expected income or profit for
usually doesn’t flow into the firm so that it coincides precisely with cash disburse-
the year
ments. (Some customers may take thirty-five days to pay their bills, for instance,
cash budget: a plan that but employees expect paychecks every week.) The cash budget or plan shows, for
shows, for each month, the each month, the amount of cash the company can expect to receive and the
amount of cash the company amount it can expect to disperse. The manager can use it to anticipate his or her
can expect to receive and the cash needs and to arrange for short-term loans, if need be.
amount it can expect to disperse The company also has a budgeted balance sheet. The budgeted balance
sheet shows managers, owners, and creditors what the company’s projected fi-
balance sheet: a statement nancial picture should be at the end of the year. It shows assets (such as cash and
that shows managers, owners,
and creditors what the
equipment), liabilities (such as long-term debt), and net worth (the excess of as-
company’s projected financial sets over other liabilities).
picture should be at the end of Budgets are the most widely used control device. Each manager, from first-
the year, in terms of assets, line supervisor to company president, usually has an operating budget to use as
liabilities, and net worth a standard of comparison. Remember, however, that creating the budget (as in
Figure 8.2) is just the standard-setting step in the three-step control process. You
must still compare the actual and the budgeted figures. And if necessary, you’ll
need to diagnose any problems and take corrective action.
The firm’s accountants compile the financial information and feed it back to
the appropriate managers. As in Figure 8.3, the performance report shows budg-
eted or planned targets. Next to these numbers, it shows the department’s actual
variances: the differences performance numbers. Variances are the differences between budgeted and ac-
between budgeted and actual tual amounts. The report may provide a space for the manager to explain any vari-
amounts (on performance ances. After reviewing the performance report, management can take corrective
reports)
action.
216 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
The firm’s accountants also periodically audit the firm’s financial statements.
audit: a systematic process that An audit is a systematic process that involves three steps: (1) objectively obtain
involves three steps: (1) and evaluate evidence regarding important aspects of the firm’s performance;
objectively obtain and evaluate (2) judge the accuracy and validity of the data; and (3) communicate the results to
evidence regarding important
interested users, such as the board of directors and the company’s banks.11 The
aspects of the firm’s
performance; (2) judge the purpose of the audit is to certify that the firm’s financial statements accurately re-
accuracy and validity of the flect its performance.
data; and (3) communicate the
results to interested users, such
as the board of directors and the Ratio Analysis and Return on Investment
company’s banks
Managers also use financial ratio analysis to monitor performance and maintain
financial ratios: ratios that control. Financial ratios compare one financial measure on a financial statement
compare one financial measure to another. The return on investment (ROI) is one such ratio. ROI equals net profit
on a financial statement to after taxes divided by total investment. Managers use it as a gauge of overall com-
another pany performance. Rather than measuring net profit as an absolute figure, it
shows profit in relation to the total investment in the business, which is often a
more informative figure. For example, a $1 million profit is more impressive with a
$10 million investment than it would be with a $100 million investment. Figure 8.4
lists some commonly used financial ratios.
Analyzing financial ratios helps managers analyze their firm’s performance. For
example (see Figure 8.5), suppose the firm didn’t meet its net income target. Ratio
analysis shows that low sales or high sales costs may account for this. Similarly,
earnings divided by sales (the profit margin) reflects management’s success or fail-
ure in maintaining satisfactory cost controls. As another example, too much invest-
ment may help account for a low ROI. In turn, too much investment might reflect
inadequate inventory control, too many accounts receivable, or too much cash.12
strategic ratio: a succinct
summary of the crucial
● Strategic Ratios In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins studied companies
measures that the firm must that went from good but average to great. He says that one distinguishing charac-
focus on to achieve its strategic teristic of companies that went from good to great was that they were able to
aims sum up in one simple ratio what their strategy was all about.13 A strategic ratio
Traditional Controls ■ 217
F IGURE 8.4
Widely Used Financial Ratios
INDUSTRY NORM
NAME OF RATIO FORMULA (AS ILLUSTRATION)
F IGURE 8.5
Ratio Analysis: Factors Affecting Return on Investment
The firm’s overall profitability—its return on total investments—can be better understood
by analyzing its components, including earnings as a percentage of sales and turnover.
Sales
Cost of
Sales
Administrative
and Other
Sales Expenses
Return on
Total Multiplied by
Investments Accounts
Receivable
Sales
Plus
Working
Inventories
Capital
Turnover
Divided by
Plus
Total Cash
Investment Plus
Long-Term
Investments
Total
Long-Term
Plus
Investment
Fixed,
Intangible, and
Other Assets
Managing Now: IT-Enabled Control Systems ■ 219
succinctly summarizes the crucial measures that the firm must focus on to
achieve its strategic aims. For example, Gillette bases its strategy in part on selling
multiple products repeatedly to customers. It therefore focuses on profit per cus-
tomer rather than profit per division, as other consumer companies do. Walgreen’s
wants to be “the place to shop,” and so it sells a variety of items. It therefore focuses
on profit per customer visit rather than profit per store. The grocery firm Kroger
wants to dominate in each local market. It therefore focuses on profit per local
population instead of profit per store.
modules for each of the company’s separate departments, such as sales, account-
ing, finance, warehousing, production, and human resources (HR). Each depart-
ment gets its own module or system. Often Internet-based, the ERP modules are
designed to communicate with each other and with the central system’s database.
That way, information from all the departments is readily shared by the ERP
system and is available to employees in all the other departments. Activities that
formerly required human intervention, such as production telling accounting that
it should bill a customer because an order just shipped, now occur automatically.
ERP strips away the barriers that typically exist among a company’s stand-alone
departmental computer systems. With an ERP installed and running, the manager
has a platform on which he or she can install IT-based accounting and other con-
trols such as those we discuss in the next sections. This produces better, faster
control systems.
Millipore Corp. develops and produces the technologies, The Web-enabled ERP suite of products helped
tools, and services pharmaceuticals companies use to Millipore to control its global operations more effectively.
produce new drugs.19 With about 4,500 employees in fa- For example, by not using separate financial packages in
cilities in thirty countries, managing and controlling global thirty countries, the standardized financial package means
operations is key to the firm’s success. Managers need to top management can get fast feedback on the firm’s
know the answers to questions such as, How many em- financial performance around the world. Similarly, as
ployees do we have in each facility? What is the status of noted above, Oracle Order Management integrates with
a particular order? and What are our sales this month in Millipore’s new Oracle financial, warehouse, and distribu-
the European Union? tion systems. Orders get processed automatically, and
Their previous systems did not let management an- management can track and control orders from entry
swer such questions in a timely manner. Most of Millipore’s through delivery.
facilities around the world each used different financial With operations around the world, Millipore also
management tools. Compiling information from facilities needed to “. . . get a handle on the number of staff we had
around the world was therefore a time-consuming at different geographies, what jobs they performed, and
process. To better manage its global operations, the com- what we were paying them.”20 Previously, headquarters
pany decided to install several integrated software prod- managers manually compiled employee spreadsheets each
ucts from Oracle Corp., including the ERP software pack- quarter based on data that facilities around the world
age components Oracle Financials, Oracle Human produced from their own systems.Today, Millipore’s facili-
Resources, Oracle Self-Service Human Resources, and ties all run the same Oracle Human Resource Manage-
Oracle Order Management. The components are inte- ment system. Thus, executives can now get an accurate
grated; for instance, inputting a new order into Order picture of how many people the firm employs around the
Management automatically informs Oracle Financials that world and an accurate idea of who reports to whom. It
the new order exists. Similarly, when an employee changes also lets managers control an array of new factors. For ex-
his or her pension plan using Self-Service Human Re- ample, they can easily analyze details like comparative
sources, the system automatically “tells” Oracle Financials staffing levels versus sales among global departments.
to deduct the new costs from the employee’s paycheck.
accounting system might show what the company pays out in claims, and perhaps
what it paid the salesperson as a commission for getting the client. It might even
show (as approximations) what share of the insurance firm’s overhead expenses,
for things like office lighting and heating, the accounting system is charging to this
particular contract.
What the insurance firm’s accounting system probably cannot show are all the
actual costs of serving this client that are scattered around the insurance com-
pany. For example, how much time do this client’s employees spend on the phone
with the insurance firm’s customer-service reps? How much time do the doctors
that serve this client’s employees spend getting approvals for medical procedures
from the insurance company’s gatekeepers?
The problem is that traditional accounting systems tend to isolate depart-
ments with separate, stand-alone accounting systems. The customer-service de-
partment knows what it’s spending overall for customer reps. The gatekeeper
department knows what it’s spending overall for gatekeepers. But the president
can’t access the insurance company’s various departments and determine what
each of them is spending on this particular client.
222 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
ERP changes that. All departments use compatible software modules. All de-
partments’ systems communicate with the central database. By linking together
the information from compatible accounting modules in different departments,
activity-based costing ERP enables managers to use activity-based costing. Activity-based costing
(ABC): a system for allocating (ABC) is a system for allocating costs to products or services that takes all the
costs to products or services that product’s or service’s costs into account (including production, marketing, distri-
takes all the product’s or
bution, and sales and follow-up activities) in calculating the actual cost of each
service’s costs into account
(including production, product or service.
marketing, distribution, and Activity-based costing is a powerful control tool. With ABC, the manager can
sales and follow-up activities) in access all departments and monitor the costs associated with any activity he or
calculating the actual cost of she wants to control. For example, the manager can calculate costs by order,
each product or service client, project, contract, or business process, rather than by just department or
cost center. ERP makes doing so possible.
● Managing Now For example, Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield installed an
activity-based management system from SAS. Previously, the company’s finance
managers controlled costs the traditional way: by computing basic budget vari-
ances for the company as a whole and for each department. The new ABC system
enabled them to also break out costs by insurance product, and even by individual
lines of business and contracts.
For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield knew it was losing money on one contract
with a large client. However, its managers had not been able to track and evaluate
all the costs associated with this particular program. With the new SAS ABC sys-
tem, “We’ve been able to re-examine the contract and get a good grip on the costs
that we’re incurring.” Then Blue Cross Blue Shield managers took the steps neces-
sary to address the problem costs and began making the contract profitable.21
As another example, the check-printing company Deluxe Paper Payment Sys-
tems used its ABC system to “get a clearer picture of which of its customers were
profitable and which were not.”22 For example, the system helped it discover that
orders for checks from banks were much more profitable when they arrived via
electronic ordering. Deluxe then launched a campaign to increase electronic
ordering—particularly by its 18,000 bank and small-business customers. The
number of checks ordered electronically quickly jumped from 48 percent to
62 percent, which dramatically improved profits.
Wireless-Assisted Control
The UPS deliveryperson (see the Window on Managing Now feature on page 212)
picks up a package and then uses a delivery information acquisition device to
wirelessly communicate the package’s whereabouts to UPS’s home-base ERP
system. The sender of the package, using her laptop to go online wirelessly via a
Wi-Fi–enabled hot spot at an airport club before her flight, checks the UPS system.
She then uses her cell phone to tell her client that the shipment is on its way.
Control is going wireless. Wireless-assisted control often involves the com-
pany’s supply chain activities (defined in Chapters 1 and 5). For example, UPS’s
handheld acquisition devices are part of the firm’s supply chain management
system. They help UPS control, in real time, the whereabouts of packages in its
system. UPS’s TotalTrack system (see the Window on Managing Now feature) then
enables customers—senders and recipients—to communicate directly with the
system to check delivery status. The UPS system, while wireless, depends on em-
ployees to use handheld wireless devices to input the data. We’ll see next that the
trend now is to make the tracking process automatic.
Managing Now: IT-Enabled Control Systems ■ 223
● Managing Now EPM is not just for monitoring subordinates. It is used for
monitoring bosses, too. For example, the Japanese company that controls 7-Eleven
is imposing an EPM system on its store managers in Japan and in the United
States. Like all 7-Eleven stores, the ones belonging to store manager Michiharu
Endo use a point-of-sale computer to let headquarters know each time he makes
a sale. With 7-Eleven’s new system, headquarters monitors how much time Endo
spends using the analytical tools built into the computerized cash register to track
product sales and how effective he is at weaning out poor sellers. Headquarters
then ranks stores by how often their operators use the computer as a measure of
their efficiency. The system has run into particular resistance in the United States.
Many 7-Eleven managers thought they escaped the bureaucratic rat race by taking
over their own stores. Some are surprised at the degree of control this new EPM
system has exposed them to.26
224 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
● Operating Delays Some control processes trigger operating delays and thus
unnecessarily slow things down. For example, General Electric’s (GE’s) former
CEO Jack Welch found that it sometimes took a year or more for division managers
to get approval to introduce new products. The problem was the long list of yes/no
approvals required by GE’s control system. Streamlining the approval process
solved this problem.
Unintentional Tactics
Sometimes, the behavioral problem is unconscious rather than intentional. For
example, as we saw in Chapter 2, corrupt people often have a knack for convincing
themselves that the stealing or misreporting that they’re engaged in is really okay.
This can happen even when the facts seem to be quite clear. For example, most
people assume that accounting rules are fairly rigid and that auditors therefore
don’t have too much leeway in interpreting results. In fact, there’s actually much
ambiguity. Even apparently obvious questions like What is an expense? and What
is an investment? are open to interpretation. For example, asked by Money maga-
zine to estimate what a fictitious family owed in income taxes, the accountants’
answers ranged from about $37,000 to $68,000!33
That range means that auditors’ biases can distort the results. Most auditors
who review companies’ financial statements are honest. However, they are as sus-
ceptible to unconscious bias as other people. For example, the clients themselves
hire and fire auditors. So there can be an unconscious bias toward not overturning
the client’s financial decision, even if that decision is questionable.
Second, controlling the self-managing teams that most companies now rely on
can be counterproductive if doing so undermines the employees’ sense of empow-
erment. And for some activities—such as building high-quality cars—you need the
employees to want to do an excellent job because you can’t force them to do it.
The bottom line is that managers have therefore always endeavored to sup-
plement controls like those in this chapter with efforts to encourage employees to
control themselves. Managers use three tools to accomplish this. First, motivated
employees are more likely to exercise self-control. We will discuss motivation in
Chapter 14. We devote the remainder of this chapter to discussing two other tools
for encouraging employee self-control: creating belief systems and encouraging
employee commitment.35
F IGURE 8.6
Johnson & Johnson Credo Our Credo
We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients,
to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services.
In meeting their needs, everything we do must be of high quality.
We must constantly strive to reduce our costs
in order to maintain reasonable prices.
Customers’ orders must be serviced promptly and accurately.
Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity
to make a fair profit.
We are responsible to our employees,
the men and women who work with us throughout the world.
Everyone must be considered as an individual.
We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit.
They must have a sense of security in their jobs.
Compensation must be fair and adequate
and working conditions clean, orderly and safe.
We must be mindful of ways to help our employees fulfill
their family responsibilities.
Employees must feel free to make suggestions and complaints.
There must be equal opportunity for employment, development
and advancement for those qualified.
We must provide competent management,
and their actions must be just and ethical.
We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work
and to the world community as well.
We must be good citizens—support good works and charities
and bear our fair share of taxes.
We must encourage civic improvements and better health and education.
We must maintain in good order
the property we are privileged to use,
protecting the environment and natural resources.
Our final responsibility is to our stockholders.
Business must make a sound profit.
We must experiment with new ideas.
Research must be carried on, innovative programs developed
and mistakes paid for.
New equipment must be purchased, new facilities provided
and new products launched.
Reserves must be created to provide for adverse times.
When we operate according to these principles,
the stockholders should realize a fair return.
from one survey showed that some National Weather Service offices were much
more successful than others at predicting potentially destructive storms. Morale
and commitment factors seemed to explain much of the difference.38
Several years ago, Viacom agreed to sell its publishing operations for about
$4.6 billion. In announcing the sale, the publisher’s president thanked its employ-
ees for their “past hard work and dedication.” And he reminded them that during
the transition, “[I]t’s more important than ever to focus on our individual respon-
sibilities to ensure that our company performs at the highest levels.”39
228 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
in firms like Starbucks, Saturn, and FedEx institute programs that guarantee man-
agers treat employees fairly. For example, they have guaranteed-fair-treatment
grievance programs for filing grievances, speak-up programs for voicing concerns,
periodic surveys for expressing opinions, and top-down programs for keeping em-
ployees informed.47
● Use Financial Rewards and Profit Sharing Although there is more to build-
ing commitment than financial rewards, high-commitment firms generally offer
above-average pay and incentives. FedEx, for instance, provides a half-dozen
types of incentive awards, including a Bravo-Zulu award that a manager can give
on the spot.
230 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
PRACTICE IT
Controlling the Cappuccino Makers at Starbucks
With about 10,000 stores and 34 million transactions a with the information; some confessed to stealing as much
week, Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Company’s man- as $42,000.With much smaller exceptions, the employee
agers must make sure they stay in control of what’s hap- gets a letter asking them to explain what’s happening.The
pening at each store. Starbucks’ solution combines IT behavior usually stops after that.
with fostering employee commitment. First (in addition to Starbucks does not rely on just external controls. It
standard traditional control devices such as budgets), also works hard to encourage self-control by winning the
Starbucks relies on a global information technology sys- commitment of its employees. For example, all employees
tem to monitor transactions in each of its stores. Its XPR who work at least twenty hours a week receive a full
system remotely monitors an assortment of metrics at complement of health and other benefits, and they are
each store. XPR then uses the principle of exception to eligible for the company’s stock-option plan. Employees
trigger reports when any of the metrics for a store seems also receive free drinks while on duty. And they get the
to be moving in unusual ways.56 For example, the system considerable benefit of working in an environment that
monitors point-of-sale activities and then triggers reports some liken to a collegial living room. As a result, commit-
if a particular register seems to be recording too many free ted, engaged Starbucks employees help make sure that
refills. Some employees confess after being confronted things stay under control.
Experiential Exercises ■ 231
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Control is the task of ensuring that activities are being achieved and that variances, if any, are ex-
providing the desired results. The control process plained. Commitment-based control includes using
consists of three steps: set goals, measure perfor- motivation techniques, building value systems, and
mance, and take corrective action. Managers obtaining employees’ commitment.
distinguish among steering controls, yes/no con-
4. Managers now use IT-based controls, usually
trols, and postaction controls.
based on ERP systems. These include more timely
2. Budgets and ratio analysis are among the most accounting reports, ABC, wireless-based control,
widely used diagnostic control tools. Budgets are electronic performance monitoring, and digital
formal financial expressions of a manager’s plan dashboards.
and show targets for yardsticks such as revenues,
5. A problem with relying on traditional controls is that
cost of materials, and profits, usually expressed as
they can lead to unintended, undesirable, and often
dollar amounts. Most managers also achieve con-
harmful employee reactions, such as behavioral dis-
trol by monitoring various financial ratios.
placement, gamesmanship, operating delays, nega-
3. The chapter presented three classes of control tive attitudes, and reduced empowerment.
methods. Personal, interactive control systems are
6. Steps for improving employee commitment in-
real-time, usually face-to-face methods of monitor-
clude the following: foster people-first values,
ing both a plan’s effectiveness and the underlying
guarantee fair treatment, create a shared fate, use
assumptions on which the plan was built. Tradi-
values-based hiring, communicate the vision, use
tional control systems like budgets and perfor-
rewards, and encourage self-actualization.
mance reports are intended to ensure that goals are
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are the basic steps in the control process? impractical without enterprise resource planning
systems.
2. Give examples of steering, concurrent, and feed-
back controls that your professor uses in this class. 6. Give examples of the unintended behavioral con-
sequences of controls that the dean of your college
3. Give examples of personal, traditional, and com- might encounter if he or she passed the rule that
mitment-based controls that family members use professors’ raises would be based on student rat-
at home. ings only.
4. How is activity-based costing different from tradi- 7. What do we mean by belief systems and values that
tional cost accounting? encourage self-control?
5. Discuss why IT-based controls such as ABC, wire- 8. Explain why having committed employees is espe-
less controls, and digital dashboards would be cially important in today’s industrial environment.
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. You are one of the founding engineers in your six- five students. Each team should answer the follow-
month-old firm, and you brought to the firm the ing question: What type of control system would
values of hard work, quality, teamwork, and excell- you develop to ensure that your values are adhered
lence. These values have united the original mem- to, based on the concepts in this chapter?
bers, but you are concerned that they might change
with the addition of fifty new people needed by 2. College students deal with professors all the time,
your fast-growing company. Form teams of four to but they may not realize how difficult it is for the
232 PART THREE CHAPTER 8 Controlling
college’s administrators to control what their fac- detail. Form teams of four to five students. Each
ulty members are doing. The typical professor has team should develop a package for the dean.
a number of responsibilities, including teaching
3. There is nothing quite like eating in a restaurant
classes, writing research articles, and attending
where details—from customer service to hygiene—
curriculum-development committee meetings.
are out of control. Before coming to class, visit one
The dean also wants to make sure faculty members
or two local restaurants, and list everything you see
are conducting themselves professionally, for
that might suggest that (at least in specific areas)
instance, in terms of how they interact with their
details are a bit out of control. Then meet in teams
students. Knowing that you are a management stu-
of four to five students, compare notes, and create
dent, the dean has asked you to develop a control
a checklist for assessing the adequacy of a restau-
package for the college’s business professors. The
rant’s control mechanisms. If time permits and
package is to include, at a minimum, a list of the
if there is an on-campus cafeteria, evaluate the
details that you want to control and a correspond-
school cafeteria’s controls.
ing list showing how you plan to control each
CASE STUDY
Controlling Ritz-Carlton
any consider business hotels as offering a generic firms, Ritz-Carlton then certifies employees. It reinforces
M service—a safe, clean, comfortable room in a city
away from home. Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company viewed
its corporate values continuously by daily lineups; fre-
quent recognition for extraordinary achievement; and a
its business differently. Targeting industry executives, performance appraisal based on expectations explained
meeting and corporate travel planners, and affluent during the orientation, training, and certification
travelers, the Atlanta-based company manages twenty- processes.
five luxury hotels that pursue the goal of being the very All workers must act at the first sign of a problem,
best in each market. Ritz-Carlton succeeded with more regardless of the type of problem or customer com-
than just its guests. For example, three times it received plaint. Employees are empowered to do whatever it
the U.S. government’s Malcom Baldrige National Qual- takes to provide what Ritz-Carlton calls instant pacifi-
ity Award. Given its mission of true excellence in ser- cation. Other employees must assist if a coworker re-
vice, what types of control systems did Ritz-Carlton quests aid in responding to a guest’s complaint or wish.
need to achieve its goals? There is never an excuse for not solving a customer
In the presentation of the Baldrige award, the com- problem.
mittee commended Ritz-Carlton for a management Responsibility for ensuring high-quality guest
program that included participatory leadership, thor- services and accommodations rests largely with em-
ough information gathering, coordinated planning and ployees. The company surveys all employees annually
execution, and a trained workforce empowered “to to determine their understanding of quality stan-
move heaven and earth” to satisfy customers. Of all the dards and their personal satisfaction as a Ritz-Carlton
elements in its system, Ritz-Carlton felt the most im- employee. In one case, 96 percent of all employees
portant control mechanism was committed employees. surveyed named excellence in guest services as the
The firm trains all employees in the company’s key priority.
Gold Standards, which set out Ritz-Carlton’s service
credo and the basics of premium service. The company
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
has translated these basics into twenty Ritz-Carlton
Basics. Each employee is to understand and adhere to 1. What actions does Ritz-Carlton take to control the
these standards, which describe processes for solving quality of its service?
any problem guests may have.
2. What does Ritz-Carlton do to foster its employees’
The corporate motto is “ladies and gentlemen
high level of commitment?
serving ladies and gentlemen.” Like many companies,
Ritz-Carlton gives new employees an orientation 3. How does the company’s value system foster em-
followed by on-the-job training. Unlike other hotel ployee self-control?
MANAGING OPERATIONS 9
AND SUPPLY CHAINS
Will Whirlpool Deliver? CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Will
233
234 PART THREE CHAPTER 9 Managing Operations and Supply Chains
➤ Reading the end-of-chapter exercise and creating a Gantt chart for a project.
➤ Reading the end-of-chapter exercise and computing the economic order quantity
(EOQ) for an item.
F IGURE 9.1
The Basic Production System
The heart of every production system is a conversion process or system, which takes various
inputs and converts them into outputs such as products or services.
■
Raw Materials ■ Transportation Direct Outputs
■
Purchased Parts ■
Warehousing ■
Products
■
Personnel ■
Manufacturing System ■
Services
■
Competitive Information and Machinery
■
Demographic Information ■
Technology
■
Product Information ■
Policies and Procedures
■
Customer Needs ■
Logistics
■
Stockholder Needs ■
Wholesaling/Retailing Indirect Outputs
■
Capital System ■
Wages and Salaries
■
Machinery ■
Physical Layout ■
Environmental Impact
■
Utilities ■
Production Process ■
Community Impact
purchased parts, personnel, and capital. Other inputs include data on the compe-
tition, the product, and the customer.
Any production system takes inputs and converts them into products or ser-
conversion system: any vices (outputs). The conversion system (also called the production process or
production system that converts technology) has several components, including the production machinery and its
inputs (material and human physical layout, the transport services that bring in the inputs and deliver the final
resources) into outputs products to customers, and warehousing services for goods awaiting shipment.
(products or services);
sometimes called the
The production system’s outputs include direct outputs (the actual products or
production process or services) and indirect outputs (such as wages and salaries).
technology The same production system sequence applies to a service business (see
Table 9.1).6 For example, a college’s inputs include students, books, professors,
output: a direct outcome and buildings. Its conversion system consists of the lectures, exams, computerized
(actual product or service) or instruction, and so forth. The outputs are educated persons.
indirect outcome (taxes, wages,
Whether you are producing goods or services, designing a production system
salaries) of a production system
requires four basic decisions: Where will we locate the facility? What type of pro-
duction process will we use? What will be the layout of the overall plant or facility?
And what will be the layout of the production system itself? We’ll look at each.
T ABLE 9.1
Components of Typical Production Systems
Production System Main Inputs What Conversion System Does Main Outputs
1. Cereal factory Grain, water, sugar, personnel, Converts raw materials Breakfast cereals
tools, machines, paper for into finished goods
cartons, buildings, utilities
2. Law firm Legal supplies, personnel, Attracts clients, compiles and Legal advice, client
information, computers, researches legal data, advises defenses
buildings, office furniture, clients, manages billing, etc.
utilities
3. College Students, books, supplies, Teaching facts, skills, attitudes, Educated persons
personnel, buildings, values through various pedagog-
utilities ical devices, including lectures,
online learning, and exams,
and providing associated
counseling and related services
offer made-to-order products. They usually deal with relatively low product volumes
and frequent schedule changes and tend to use general-purpose equipment that
can make a variety of models or products.
Mass production is a special type of intermittent production process. Here,
standardized methods and single-use machines produce long runs of standard-
ized items. Most mass production processes use assembly lines. An assembly line
is a fixed sequence of specialized (single-use) machines. In a typical assembly line,
the product moves from station to station, where one or more employees and/or
specialized machines perform tasks such as inserting bumpers or screwing on
doors.
Mass customization is a popular hybrid production process, somewhere be-
tween the intermittent and continuous production (discussed below) processes.
mass customization: Mass customization means designing, producing, and delivering products so
designing, producing, and that customers get customized products for at or near the cost and convenience of
delivering products so that mass-produced items.10 Dell’s production process exemplifies this approach. Dell
customers get customized
customers get customized PCs (they advertise today, “Dell—Purely You”) at a price
products for at or near the cost
and convenience of mass- at or below that of mass-produced, standardized machines. Mass customization
produced items depends on three factors:11
1. Modular product design. Products like Dell’s consist of separate modules
(each consisting of one or more prewired components) such as modems, DVD
drives, and processing chips. Employees can easily assemble these into differ-
ent forms of the product. Hewlett-Packard (HP) designs its printers to have a
separate power supply inserted later. Customers around the globe can get the
power supply they need.
2. Modular process design. Similarly, the firm designs its production process so
that workers can perform different steps in different places. A Dell repairper-
son may come to your office, just pull out the defective modular component,
and replace it.
3. Agile supply networks. Mass customization firms design the whole supply
chain (from vendors to production to distribution) to be adept at providing a
variety of services. For example, IBM designs its products around modules.
Vendors supply components and may do some preliminary assembly. IBM
factories then assemble these components into modules. IBM distributors
then assemble the modules into complete products based on what their cus-
tomers want.
Mass customization is unique among production processes. Managers in typ-
ical intermittent production firms must choose between high-volume mass pro-
duction and product variety. Mass customization weds high production volume
with high product variety.
F IGURE 9.2
Product Layout
A car wash is an example of an assembly-line product layout. Each special-purpose machine
performs its function as the product moves from station to station.
Enter
Clean Hot water Top wash Side wash Final rinse Hot Hand wipe
out spray and brush and brush spray blower and cleanup
Exit
SOURCE: Adapted from Everett Adam, Jr. and Ronald Ebert, Production and Operations Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.:
Prentice Hall, 1992), p. 254.
Pharmacy
Patient Patient
Exits Enters
Clinic Clinic
(A) (B)
F IGURE 9.4
Improving Layouts by Moving Material
to the Cellular Manufacturing
Concept
Note in both (A) and (B) that
U-shaped work cells can reduce Current layout—workers in small Current layout—straight
material and employee movement. closed areas. Cannot increase lines are hard to balance.
output without a third worker.
JANUARY
F IGURE 9.5 ORDER
Time
NUMBER
A Gantt Chart 1 5 10 15 20 25 30
This Gantt chart shows the steps Manufacture Assemble Paint Paint Second Coat
027
and timing of each step for each
order.
035 Assemble Test Paint
F IGURE 9.6
PERT Chart for Building a House
In a PERT chart like this one, each event is shown in its proper relationship to the other events.
The tan circles show the critical—or most time-consuming—path.
Install 3 Paint
Fixtures days House
days
7
Put in
Put in Interior
Outside
2
s
Wiring
day
Wiring
days
days
5
8
2
day
s
2
day
s
Put Up
Lay Put Up
8 Buy 1 Level 5 15 Interior Put in 1 House
Start Founda- Outside
days Materials day Ground days tion Walls days Walls and Rugs day Complete
Doors
3 s
3
6
day
day
day
8
7
s
s
y
da
day
day
s
s
Run Put in Put in
Hire
day
9
Plumbing
days
8
Get
Building
Permits
PERT and CPM charts are the two most popular network planning and control
methods. PERT (program evaluation review technique) and CPM (critical path
method) were invented at about the same time and are similar, although several
details (for instance, CPM shows the cost of each step) set PERT apart from CPM.
Events and activities are the two major components of PERT charts. As
events: the specific Figure 9.6 shows, events, depicted by circles, represent specific accomplishments,
accomplishments in a project, such as “lay foundation.” Arrows represent activities, which are the time-consuming
represented by circles in a PERT aspects of the project (like laying the foundation). By studying the PERT chart, the
chart scheduler can determine the critical path, the sequence of critical events that, in
activities: the time-consuming total, requires the most time to complete.
aspects of a project, represented
by arrows in a PERT chart ● Managing Now In practice, managers generally use manual project planning
versions of tools like Gantt and PERT for simpler projects. They use computerized
critical path: the sequence of versions for more complex projects. Figure 9.7 illustrates a few of such software’s
events in a project that, in total, benefits. In addition to laying out the network’s events and relationships, this
requires the most time to software provides pop-up calendars, automatically produces status reports, and
complete makes it easy to link up and communicate project status via the Web. It also helps
the manager define project tasks, anticipate obstacles, and print reports.
242 PART THREE CHAPTER 9 Managing Operations and Supply Chains
F IGURE 9.7
Example of a Computerized
Project Planning Report
Purchasing
Purchasing departments buy all the materials and parts the firm needs to conduct
its business, including the raw materials that go into the firm’s products as well as
machinery, tools, purchased components, and office supplies.
Purchasing is a more important function than many managers realize.
Sometimes 60 percent or more of a manufacturer’s sales dollars are paid to sup-
pliers for purchased materials.15 As a rough approximation, a manager might
have to boost sales by $3 to $4 to produce the same increase in profits that
cutting purchasing costs by $1 would produce. Furthermore, manufacturers
striving to maintain quality levels know that the quality of a finished product like
a PC can’t be any better than the quality of components such as hard drives.
Purchasing departments thus affect a firm’s cost-effectiveness as well as its rep-
utation. Many firms work closely with suppliers to create better-quality parts.
Many firms, such as Ford, send engineers to help suppliers boost their quality
management systems.
Purchasing managers traditionally engage in several activities.16 Of course,
they try to minimize the costs of materials and supplies. However, this is usually
not their only (or even their main) concern.17 For many firms, high-quality, reli-
able, on-time deliveries outweigh costs. Companies like Toyota spend years devel-
oping close relationships with favored suppliers, even helping them to improve
their own operations.
As we’ll see later in this chapter, firms are increasingly automating their pur-
chasing. Suppliers bid for and fulfill their business via the Internet.
Operations and Inventory Planning and Control ■ 243
● ABC Inventory Management Most firms find that a small proportion (25 per-
cent to 30 percent) of the parts in their inventory accounts for a large proportion
244 PART THREE CHAPTER 9 Managing Operations and Supply Chains
(70 percent or 80 percent) of their annual dollar volume of inventory use. (Com-
pute a part’s annual dollar volume by multiplying its cost per part by the number
of parts used in a year.)
When using the ABC system, the manager divides the inventory into three
dollar-volume categories—A, B, and C. The A category parts—maybe 5 percent of the
total—are the most active. They account for perhaps 40 percent of the annual dollar
value of all parts used. The manager concentrates most of his or her surveillance on
the A parts. For example, he or she orders them most often but in smaller quantities.
In that way, their total number in inventory at any one time is minimized.
At the other extreme, the inventory manager might find that perhaps 50 per-
cent of the parts (the C category parts) in inventory account for, say, 15 percent of
all the parts used each year. Why spend as much time closely monitoring all those
parts when, in total, they account for only 15 percent of the firm’s annual dollar
volume of inventory use? They don’t tie up that much capital. The idea of ABC is to
focus most on the high-annual-dollar-volume A inventory items, to a lesser extent
on the B items, and even less on the C items.
Q⫽ 冑——
苶苶
2US
H
where Q is the economic order quantity (the most economical quantity to order), U
is the annual use of the item, S is the restocking or ordering costs, and H is the an-
nual holding cost per unit per year. Suppose a car factory uses 10,000 door handles
per year to build its cars; then U for the handles is 10,000. S may refer to either
restocking or ordering costs, depending on whether the firm makes or buys the
handles. If the car factory orders the handles from a supplier and it costs the factory
$200 per order (for forms, clerical support, and so forth) to place the order, then
S is $200. Holding (or carrying) costs per unit (H) (in this case, $1.00 per unit) in-
cludes such things as pilferage, borrowing costs associated with holding the items
in stock, and the costs of the space in which the inventory is held. EOQ would thus
be 2000 units.
This EOQ makes some simplifications. For example, it assumes that the same
number of units is taken from inventory periodically, such as ten units per day.
More sophisticated EOQ versions handle these and other complications.20
improving all aspects of one’s operations.22 Companies like GE that pursue TQM
typically train selected employees to become experts in applying TQM principles
(GE calls its employee-experts black belts). One team at GE Appliances analyzed
the inspection process on one refrigerator line and devised a better system that
did not require pulling refrigerators off the line to inspect them. By continually
making changes like these in how the company designs, manufactures, and dis-
tributes its products, total quality rises, and the savings (for instance, of not having
to throw out defective items) boosts profits.
TQM programs go by many names. Sometimes managers call them continuous
six-sigma: a total quality improvement, zero defects, six-sigma, or (in Japan) Kaizen programs.23 Six-sigma
management program, the aim programs are perhaps the best known. Statisticians use the Greek letter sigma to
of which is to reduce errors to represent standard deviation. Standard deviation is basically a measure of varia-
about 3.5 defects per million
tion. Suppose we can plot the number of defects our company gets with a normal,
items produced
or bell-shaped, curve. Then there is a very high probability we will get an average
number of defects (say, 10,000 per day), as indicated by the midpoint of the curve.
There is less probability we will get more (11,000) or fewer (9,000) defects per day.
About two-thirds of all likely defects will be between ⫾ one standard deviation
from the average (mean). In the six-sigma system, if a company achieves only one
sigma, it’s very likely they will get lots of defects. If a company achieves six-sigma, it
means it gets very few defects—about 3.5 defects per million items they produce.
Most regard W. Edwards Deming as the intellectual father of TQM. He based
his concept of total quality on a fourteen-point system, which he says must be im-
plemented at all organizational levels. To get an idea of his TQM philosophy, we
can summarize his points as follows:
16
F IGURE 9.9 15
14
Example of a Quality 13
WEIGHT IN POUNDS
Control Chart 12
11 Upper
The idea behind any control chart 10 Control
is to track quality trends to 9 Limit
ensure that they don’t go out of 8
7
control.
6
5
4 Lower
3 Control
2 Limit
1
8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00
Time
In the United States, the Department of Commerce created the Malcolm Baldrige
Award to recognize firms that adhere to Deming-type quality principles. (Baldrige
was secretary of commerce around that time.) Most U.S. firms can apply for the
award.25
F IGURE 9.10
Commonly Used Tools for Problem Solving and Continuous Improvement
Process Flowchart Pareto Analysis Run Chart
Frequency Percentage
5 100%
?
4
3
50%
2
1
0 0%
A B C D E F G Time
A chart that describes the main steps, A plot of the frequencies of important A chart showing plotted values of
branches, and eventual outputs of error sources. 80/20 rule: 80 percent a characteristic over time.
a process. of problems are due to 20 percent of
causes (A, B, etc., are error sources).
Machine Human
Frequency
Environment
Effect
Method Material
Items
A distribution showing the frequency of Also known as a correlation chart. A tool that uses a graphical description
occurrences between the high and low A graph of the value of one characteristic to list and analyze potential sources of
range of data. versus another characteristic. process variation, classified by machine,
human, method, and material.
SOURCE: Adapted from Richard Chase and Nicholas Aquilero, Production and Operations Management, 6th ed.
(Homewood, Ill.: Irwin, 1992), p. 197.
cause-and-effect, or fishbone, diagram (see Figure 9.11) outlines the four main
causes of problems—machines, labor/people, methods, and materials. This kind
of diagram gives employees a useful structure they can use to systematically ana-
lyze the cause of quality problems.
Material Machinery
F IGURE 9.11
Insufficient
Clean
Deicing Equipment
Pillows and
Not Available
Blankets Onboard
Cause-and-Effect, or
Fishbone, Diagram for
Problems with Airline Inadequate Mechanical
Customer Service Supply of Magazines Delay on Plane
Dissatisfied
Airline
Customer
Overbooking Understaffed
Policies Crew
Poorly Trained
Attendants
Policies Mistagged Bags Ticket Counters
Methods Labor/People
(and headlights, tail lights, and so on) are designed to come to the factory as
preassembled modules. This makes assembling the final, high-quality car much
concurrent engineering: simpler.
designing products in
multidisciplinary teams so that
Designing for manufacturability often means designing products using multi-
all departments involved in the disciplinary teams. Operations managers call this simultaneous design or concur-
product’s success contribute to rent engineering. It ensures that all departments involved in the product’s
its design success contribute to its design.31
● The Seven Wastes Reducing seven main wastes is at the heart of the JIT
philosophy.33 The seven wastes (and examples of how to reduce them) are over-
production (reduce by producing only what is needed, as it is needed), waiting
(synchronize the workflow), transportation (minimize transport with better lay-
outs), processing (ask, “Why do we need this process at all?”), stock (reduce inven-
tories), motion (reduce wasted employee motions), and defective products (im-
prove quality to reduce rework).
As an example, most firms waste enormous resources waiting—to inspect in-
coming items, for storing raw materials or work in process, or for moving work in
process from one step of the process to another. JIT aims to reduce wastes like
lean or value-added these. JIT is also sometimes called lean or value-added manufacturing (reflect-
manufacturing: a ing the fact that any manufacturing activity that does not add value to the product
management philosophy that for the customer is wasteful).34
assumes that any manufacturing JIT has its weaknesses. Having minimal inventory and getting parts just in
process that does not add value
time works great when all is normal. Plants near New Orleans found themselves
to the product for the customer
is wasteful out of their parts inventory (and out of luck) when Hurricane Katrina shut down
UPS and FedEx shipments in 2005.
boost motivation. However, one recent study shows how one company may have
done things wrong. In this study, workers who used to control the pace of their
work suddenly found themselves working on an assembly line. Basically, the work-
ers felt that the quality of their jobs had declined and that they were working
harder and with less control over what they did than they had previously. The
researcher concluded that in this case, lean production “can be damaging to
employees.”37 Such a situation is probably the opposite of what Deming had in
mind. Deming’s principles call for a quality system in which employees take own-
ership for and pride in their work. Managers instituting quality programs ignore
that to their peril.
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Many firms integrate automation, JIT, flexible manufacturing, and CAD/CAM into
computer-integrated one self-regulating production system. Computer-integrated manufacturing
manufacturing (CIM): (CIM) is defined as the total integration of all production-related business activi-
the total integration of all ties through the use of computer systems.44 It gives the firm a competitive advan-
production-related business tage based on speed, flexibility, quality, and low cost. Figure 9.12 summarizes this
activities through the use of
computer systems
integrative process.
CIM’s advantages usually exceed those of its component parts. For example,
CAD reinforces CAM by feeding design changes directly to the machinery tools.
Computer-integrated automated guided vehicles facilitate JIT systems by reduc-
ing human variability and waiting time in the system.45 We’ve also seen that many
companies are using the Web to streamline their operations. For example, Boeing’s
electronic commerce website eliminates the barriers that traditionally separated
the company from suppliers and customers. Customers can keep track of their or-
ders. Suppliers can see when Boeing needs their parts. Boeing can see where their
parts are. Manufacturing systems are increasingly integrated with customers’ and
suppliers’ systems.46
Integration is important. As one Japanese executive put it, “In the past, manu-
facturing was characterized by large [production run] quantities, with few varieties.
World-Class Operations Management Methods ■ 253
F IGURE 9.12
The Elements of CIM
Computer-Aided Manufacturing
(CAM) takes the CAD design and
guides machines to automatically
fabricate product. Robots assemble and
test the products.
Computers and
Computer Systems
Today’s customers are asking for small quantities in very many varieties. CIM adds
flexibility to help make those very short production runs economical.”47
Its solution was to switch to being a custom manufacturer, one that not only
made the products but helped customers design them. A new CIM system enables
Cook to do this. By linking its own computerized manufacturing system with cus-
tomers’ CAD systems, Cook and its customers can now swap drawings and send
instructions for final designs directly to Cook’s computer-automated machines for
manufacture. Cook has a highly integrated system that gives customers a value-
added benefit and gives Cook a competitive edge.
● CIM and Employees Some companies spend millions installing CIM sys-
tems but find that their plants are no more productive or flexible than before. A
study sheds some light on why. Harvard Professor David Upton found that:
The flexibility of the plants depended much more on people than on any tech-
nical factor. Although high levels of computer integration can provide criti-
cally needed advantages in quality and cost competitiveness, all the data in
my study point to one conclusion: operational flexibility is determined pri-
marily by a plant’s operators and the extent to which managers cultivate,
measure, and communicate with them. Equipment and computer integration
are secondary.49
The successful computerization of paper manufacturer Mead Corporation’s mill
in Escanaba, Michigan, is an example.50 Because some of its machines were already
computer integrated, Mead managers knew computerization itself was no panacea.
They decided to make the workers part of the plant improvement process:
◗ They replaced their existing computer systems with a new system called Quality
and Information for Decisions.51 The system (nicknamed QUID) was custom-
designed to make things easier for the operators who actually ran the machines.
◗ From the outset, the plant’s managers insisted that operators be involved in the
system’s design and development.
◗ The plant managers saw to it that the computer system was designed mostly in-
supply chain: includes all the
interactions between suppliers, house. The employees at each work function in the plant designed their own
manufacturers, distributors, and computer interface to ensure that they got the information they needed to do
customers, including specifically their jobs.
transportation, scheduling
information, cash and credit The new people-friendly program was quite successful. The plant’s responsive-
transfers, as well as ideas, ness and customer satisfaction measures rose dramatically. Escanaba became the
designs, and material transfers most productive mill in Mead’s fine-paper group. Recently, thanks in part to Esca-
naba’s success, Mead sold its entire paper operations to a company called Cerberus.
F IGURE 9.13
The Supply Chain
The supply chain includes all interactions among suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and
customers.The chain involves transportation, scheduling information, cash and credit transfers,
as well as ideas, designs, and material transfers.
Manufacturer
Inventory Inventory
Inventory
SOURCE: Adapted from Jay Heizer and Barry Render, Operations Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001),
p. 434.
chain of suppliers who together focus both on reducing waste and on getting the
desired products to the customers as expeditiously as possible.54 Figure 9.13
summarizes this.
bring in supply chain partners such as distributors, truckers, and suppliers. Now,
information from outside the company—say, from and to suppliers and truckers—
can also flow from and to the company’s inside departments, like production and
finance.
For example, what happens when someone places an order for a new Dell PC?
Dell’s ERP software posts the order and signals manufacturing to plan to produce
the PC. It hands off information on the order to Dell’s supply chain management
system. This signals suppliers (such as the one producing the monitor you want) to
prepare to have one picked up. It also notifies UPS to pick up your PC from Dell
(and the monitor from the supplier) on a particular day and to deliver it all to you,
as ordered. At the same time, Dell’s ERP notifies the accounting department to send
you a bill, and it lists your PC’s specifications on the Dell customer-service system
in case you call or link in with a question. And, all this happens automatically.
PRACTICE IT
Whirlpool Delivers
With Whirlpool’s sales force referring to its supply chain appliances. Sears can keep track of when its Whirlpool
as a sales disabler, new supply chain head Reuben Slone appliance order will arrive.
took action. Slone and his team began by instituting a new Whirlpool’s supply chain management team supple-
forecasting system called CPFR, which stands for “collab- mented this system with new Web-based supply chain man-
orative planning, forecasting, and replenishment.” The agement tools. For example, they installed a new Web-based
basic idea of CPFR is to let all the partners in Whirlpool’s tool that lets Whirlpool’s system communicate directly with
supply chain—retailers, truckers, and manufacturing a customer’s system for details like transmitting orders, ex-
plants, for instance—share information, like how many ap- changing sales data, and submitting and paying invoices.57
pliances Whirlpool expects to sell to each retailer (such This cuts the time and costs associated with these transac-
as Sears).This information enables each supply chain part- tions. Product availability rose from about 88 percent in
ner to develop its own forecasts and to better prepare for 2003 to more than 95 percent today. The number of days
fulfilling their roles in Whirlpool’s supply chain. UPS can the company had to hold finished goods in inventory
see when it will have to send trucks to pick up finished dropped from about thirty-three days to about twenty-six.
Supply Chain Management ■ 257
Most supply chain software applications from companies like SAP, SAS, and
transparency: giving supply Oracle facilitate transparency. Transparency basically means giving supply chain
chain partners easy access to partners easy access to information about details like demand, inventory levels,
information about details like and status of inbound and outbound shipments, usually through a Web-based
demand, inventory levels, and
portal. This information lets supply chain partners (like suppliers and truckers)
status of inbound and outbound
shipments, usually through a accurately predict the customer’s needs. Transparency requires trust and collabo-
Web-based portal ration. Thus, Dell needs to trust their suppliers to keep proprietary information
about Dell’s daily sales private. (We address trust and collaboration in Chapter 17).
As we said earlier, radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor tags support trans-
parency. Big retailers use these tags to help keep track of inventory as it moves
from manufacturer to warehouse to stores.60
● Managing Now The Safeway supermarket chain in the United Kingdom im-
plemented a supply chain management system that illustrates supplier partnering
and transparency. Aiming to improve its service, Safeway did a market research
study to find out what customers most disliked about shopping in their stores.
“Waiting on line at the checkout counter” topped the list. Safeway responded by
installing special scanners; customers can now scan and bag their own items if
they choose to. Number 2 on their customers’ list was “not being able to buy out of
stock items.” Safeway therefore reorganized its supply chain. It had been reluctant
to share information with suppliers for fear of divulging competitive information.
With new point-of-sale computerized registers, Safeway started sharing its real-
time sales with its suppliers.61 In doing so, Safeway turned their suppliers into
partners. Their suppliers now get real-time information regarding sales of their
products. That gives them the real-time information they need to replenish
Safeway’s shelves just in time.
Internet-based purchasing is a third building block of supply chain manage-
ment. For example, companies are creating what amounts to their own eBay-
type purchasing websites. They use these sites to enable potential vendors to bid
for their business. America’s big three automakers—General Motors (GM), Ford,
and DaimlerChrysler—created a Web-based purchasing exchange. Every year,
these firms make about $250 billion worth of purchases via this exchange.62
Internet-based purchasing: However, Internet-based purchasing (also called e-procurement) usually
making purchasing needs means more than just getting orders via the Web. In today’s supply chains, supplier
known via the Web, as well as partnering and transparency usually mean that favored suppliers (like Levi’s) can
getting orders via the Web and
monitor the real-time sales of customers (like Wal-Mart) and automatically create
automatically generating and
sending the necessary shipping orders to fulfill the customer’s needs. Therefore, Internet-based purchasing also
documents and bills usually means having the system automatically generate the necessary shipping
electronically; also called documents and bills.
e-procurement
● Managing Now The thousands of orders Dell fills each week translate into
millions of component requirements. Dell makes more than 90 percent of its com-
ponent purchases online.63 Here’s how the system works. Dell’s suppliers use the
company’s special supply chain Internet portal to view Dell’s estimated parts
requirements and Dell’s actual orders and to confirm that they can meet Dell’s
delivery requirements. Then, as Dell actually receives orders, the online system
sends a pull signal to each supplier. This signal triggers the shipment of the parts
Dell needs to build current orders. As the head of Dell’s supply chain management
system says, “[W]e now schedule every line in every factory around the world
every two hours, and we only bring into the factory two hours worth of materi-
als.” 64 That keeps Dell’s inventory to a minimum and helps to explain why its costs
are lower than its competitors’.
Supply Chain Management ■ 259
Today, the Spanish retailer Zara has more than 650 stores
in fifty countries and sales of over $6.5 billion.65 But the
company’s founder, Amancio Ortega, still remembers the
day, many years ago, when his present company started. A
German wholesaler had just canceled a big order, and
Ortega thought his clothing company could go bankrupt.
He had tied up all his money in the order. How would he
get rid of all that merchandise? He opened a shop near his
factory in the northwest corner of Spain and sold the
goods himself. It was the first Zara shop.66
The cancellation of that order taught Ortega a big
lesson. As he puts it, to be successful, “You need to have
five fingers touching the factory and five touching the cus- Zara’s state-of-the-art factory in Spain helps ensure that
tomer.”67 In other words, control everything that happens popular items reach Zara’s stores in just a few days.
to your product until the customer buys it.That philoso-
phy has driven Ortega to create one of retailing’s most production staff in Spain. Zara uses information technol-
efficient supply chains. ogy to support its communications. For example, store
Zara runs a very close-knit, mostly company-owned managers use handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs)
supply chain. Because Ortega still likes to “keep five fin- to transfer data that augments regular phone conversa-
gers on the factory and five on the customer,” Zara does tions between them and Zara’s market specialists. In
about half its production in-house. Its communication sys- Spain, Zara designers work closely with product and tex-
tem quickly transfers both hard data (such as sales from tile engineers to create about 40,000 new designs per
stores’ point-of-purchase registers) and anecdotal infor- year, of which the company selects about 10,000 for pro-
mation from store managers back to designers and duction. Keeping design and manufacturing in one place
260 PART THREE CHAPTER 9 Managing Operations and Supply Chains
like this makes the whole process run more smoothly and the design proved quite popular, Zara designed, produced,
quickly. Once Zara’s designers choose a design, its com- and delivered new variations of that jacket and put them
puterized design system translates that design to a final on display in stores worldwide in just fifteen days. Other
product via computer-aided manufacturing. companies might take months to perfect designs and get
Zara store managers throughout most of the world them to the stores. By then, the trend may be long gone.
place their orders by 3 P.M. Tuesday and 6 P.M. Friday.The As another example, Zara’s sends new products to its
orders then generally ship from Zara’s factory within stores every week, but always in short supply. If a cus-
forty-eight hours. Zara tags the items before they reach tomer finds something that strikes his or her fancy, that
the stores and ships them hung on special racks. When customer is inclined to think, “I should buy this now be-
they arrive, they are ready for display. cause it’s the last one left.” Executing that kind of limited
Zara’s superresponsive supply chain helps to explain supply system means Zara’s supply chain must be able to
the company’s success. For example, Zara recently intro- create and quickly replenish small batches of new goods,
duced a version of a short, classic women’s jacket.When and fast.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Operations management is the process of managing 2. Any production system consists of inputs, a con-
the resources required to produce an organization’s version system, and outputs. Inputs are the pri-
goods and services. The direct production resources mary resources used in the direct manufacture of
of a firm are often called the five P’s of operations the product or service. The conversion system con-
and production management: people, plants, parts, verts those inputs into useful products or services
processes, and planning and control systems. called outputs.
Experiential Exercises ■ 261
3. The production system is at the heart of the opera- 7. Quality reflects how well a product or service meets
tion. Four production design system decisions in- customer needs. Many firms use a process called de-
clude the facility or plant location, the type of pro- signing for manufacturability to improve quality.
duction processes that will be used, the layout of Quality control involves a total, companywide effort.
the plant or facility, and the layout of the produc- A number of quality control techniques are used to
tion system itself. monitor and control product quality, including in-
spection procedures and acceptance sampling.
4. Production planning is the process of deciding
what products to produce, and where, when, and 8. World-class companies compete based on quality,
how to produce them. Production control is the productivity, and responsiveness in an intensely
process of ensuring that the specified production competitive global environment. World-class
plans or schedules are being met. manufacturers use modern production techniques
and progressive management systems to boost
5. The production schedule is often presented on a
manufacturing productivity, quality, and flexibility.
chart that shows what operations are to be carried
These production techniques and management
out and when. Network planning and control
systems include TQM, JIT, CAD and CAM, FMS,
methods are used to plan and control complex
CIM, and mass customization.
projects. Purchasing departments buy the materials
and parts the firm needs to conduct its business. 9. Supply chain management helps the firm achieve
more efficient, integrated operations. Supplier
6. Inventory management ensures that the firm has
partnering involves choosing a limited number of
adequate inventories of all needed parts and sup-
partners with whom the firm develops closer rela-
plies within the constraint of minimizing total
tionships. Channel assembly means having part-
inventory costs. Many quantitative and nonquanti-
ners in the supply chain assemble modules to suit
tative systems are available for managing inventory;
their customers’ needs.
ABC and EOQ systems are two of the most popular.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Describe the production system in a dry-cleaning 5. What does world-class manufacturing mean to
store. you?
2. What are the basic types of production processes? 6. What makes a flexible manufacturing system
Which category would a college fit into? flexible?
3. What is a PERT chart? What (in outline form) would 7. What is a supply chain?
one look like for buying a car?
8. List four types of supply chain partners for your
4. How could you use ABC inventory control in your school cafeteria.
pantry?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. The people managing your school cafeteria (or 2. You probably will not want to attempt Experiential
franchised fast-food restaurant, etc.) have discov- Exercise 1 (evaluating your school cafeteria) until
ered that you know all about laying out a facility to you’ve laid out the schedule for your project. In
make it more efficient, and they want to use your teams of four or five students, create a Gantt chart
services. In teams of four or five students, visit your for the cafeteria-evaluation project.
school cafeteria or other restaurant. What type of
3. After you have evaluated the school cafeteria in
layout does it use now? Explain how you would
Experiential Exercise 1, you’ll probably identify
change it, and why. Then briefly present your find-
problems that you want management to address.
ings to the class.
262 PART THREE CHAPTER 9 Managing Operations and Supply Chains
Use a fishbone/cause-and-effect diagram to ana- obtain per order. Its annual demand for paper
lyze the problems. plates is 50,000. The ordering cost is $10 per order.
The holding cost per plate per year is $0.05. Using
4. Your college cafeteria wants to reduce what it
the EOQ model, how many plates should the cafe-
spends on its inventory of paper goods by deter-
teria manager order each time?
mining the optimal number of paper plates to
CASE STUDY
The Production Process at Wheeled Coach
heeled Coach, based in Winter Park, Florida, is the Ford truck, moves to a station where the aluminum
W world’s largest manufacturer of ambulances; they
make about one of every three ambulances you see on
body is mounted. Then the vehicle is moved to paint-
ing. Following a custom paint job (usually involving
the road.69 Working four ten-hour days, 350 employees three applications), it is moved to the assembly line,
make only custom-made ambulances for hospitals, where it will spend seven days. During each of the
emergency medical teams (EMT), and fire depart- seven workdays, each workcell delivers its respective
ments. Although they make a full line of vehicles, from module to the appropriate position on the assembly
small to large, nearly every one is different—one, for in- line. During the first day, electrical wiring is installed.
stance has a special set of devices to make children On the second day, the unit moves forward to the sta-
more comfortable in it, and most need special com- tion where cabinetry is delivered and installed. From
partments in various places for the emergency medical there, the unit goes to a window and lighting station, on
team’s equipment. Continuing growth requires large to upholstery, to fit and finish, to further customizing,
capacity. The LA fire department alone orders about and finally to inspection and road testing.
150 ambulances per year. The firm has two identical
factories, one in Kansas, the other in Florida. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Wheeled Coach builds only ambulances and does
1. Why do you think major auto manufacturers do
much of its own fabricating in-house. For example, it
not build ambulances?
builds its own electrical assemblies and seat cushions.
Within the factory, computer-assisted machines cut the 2. What is a possible alternative production process
aluminum for the vehicle’s body, and special robotic to the assembly line that Wheeled Coach currently
welders assemble the custom-made doors and weld uses? Why?
them to the body. As a focused factory, Wheeled Coach
3. Why is it more efficient for the workcells to prepare
established workcells for every major module (body,
modules and deliver them to the assembly line
doors, and so on). These workcells feed an assembly
than it would be to produce the components (such
line, where workers assemble the bodies, electrical-
as the dashboard) as part of the line or have them
wiring harnesses, interior cabinets, windows, painting,
delivered complete by outside suppliers?
and upholstery into finished vehicles.
Every workcell feeds the assembly line on schedule, 4. What arguments would you make for why Wheeled
just in time for installation. The chassis, usually that of a Coach is a world-class manufacturer?
ORGANIZING 10
Staying in Touch at Millipore CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Staying in
263
CHAPTER OUTLINE (Continued)
● Organizing to Manage
Change Show that you can practice what you’ve learned here by
Organization and Environment: ➤ Reading the chapter-opening vignette and explaining how this company can improve its
The Burns and Stalker Studies interdepartmental coordination.
Organization and Technology: The ➤ Reading the chapter case study and developing an organization chart for a company.
Woodward Studies
A Contingency Approach to Organizing Show that you can apply what you’ve learned here by
How Managers Streamline Their ➤ Watching the simulation video scenario and determining
Companies Online Study Center
ways the company organized its activities to support ACE the Test
● Modern Organizations its overall goals. Managing Now! LIVE
Building Team-Based Organizations
IMPROVING YOUR BOUNDARY-
MANAGING SKILLS
A few years ago, General Motors ran ads in Miami showing people driving Cadil-
Network-Based Organizations
The Horizontal Organization lacs through snow. GM’s marketing department in Detroit thought the ads would
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: help sell cars, but with temperatures around 80 degrees, the ads were just incon-
Brady Corp. gruous. Why run snow ads in Miami? Because, to paraphrase the Wall Street
Federal Organizations Journal, “GM’s cumbersome bureaucracy” was so many layers removed from the
Managing Now: Virtual Organizations buyers in Miami that it just lost touch with the market.2 GM already has many
Learning Organizations problems (including huge pension obligations). Many people thought that it was
PRACTICE IT: Millipore bizarre to add a bureaucratic organization structure to its list of ills.
The plans the manager sets need to be transformed into action. The first step
in doing so is usually to decide who is responsible for what and for organizing the
organizing: arranging the work—to arrange the activities of the enterprise so that they systematically con-
activities of the enterprise so that tribute to achieving the enterprise’s goals. Organizing may seem to be just com-
they systematically contribute to
mon sense, but even some giant companies like GM find it’s not so simple.
the enterprise’s goals
We saw in Chapter 1 that all enterprises—GM, Avon, and dry-cleaning stores,
organization: an entity that for instance—are organizations. An organization consists of people with formally
consists of people with formally assigned roles who work together to achieve stated goals. Organizations need not
assigned roles who work be just business firms. The word applies equally well to colleges, local govern-
together to achieve stated goals ments, and nonprofits like the Red Cross. In any case, they all must come up
with an organization structure such that its people work in unison to achieve the
organization’s goals.
FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
F IGURE 10.1
Functional ABC Car Company
Departmentalization
This chart shows a functional President
organization, with departments
for basic functions like finance,
sales, and production.
Sales Finance Production
Director Director Director
2. It may reduce the firm’s sensitivity to and service to the customer. For example,
if JCPenney’s management decided to organize nationally around the func-
tions of merchandising, purchasing, and personnel, all of its U.S. stores might
tend to get the same products to sell, even if customers’ tastes in Chicago are
different from those in El Paso.
F IGURE 10.2
Divisional Organization for a Pharmaceuticals Company
CEO
F IGURE 10.3
Divisional Organizations Facilitate Coordination
The top level shows geographic departmentalization. Unless the presidents of the International
and North America divisions reorganize by setting up separate divisions for skin care, vitamins,
and drugs, they will have to personally coordinate sales, production, and personnel for all three
sets of products.
CEO
Chief Financial
Officer
VP VP VP VP VP VP
Sales Production Personnel Sales Production Personnel
Skin Care Drugs Skin Care Drugs Skin Care Drugs Skin Care Drugs Skin Care Drugs Skin Care Drugs
● Advantages and Disadvantages With one management team and unit fo-
cused on each customer, customers can expect faster, better service than with
functional arrangements, particularly when customers’ needs are very different.
However, the company may have several production plants instead of one and
several sales managers, each serving the needs of his or her own customers, in-
stead of one.
Advertising
Advertising
Advertising Manager
Grocery
Drugstores Department
Stores
Stores
Putting a manager and department in charge of each channel helps ensure that
Revlon meets these diverse needs quickly and effectively. As in product and
customer departmentalization, the resulting duplication—in this case, of sales
forces—is the main disadvantage.
e-mail, fax, and enterprise systems makes it easier for an executive in one region to
monitor operations around the world.
Second, global competition is so intense that managers can’t risk slowing the
spread of innovations from one region to another. For example, Heinz’s CEO said
that he was ending the company’s system of managing by country or region.5 In-
stead, Heinz will organize globally by products or categories. Managers in the
United States will then work with those in Europe, Asia, and other regions to apply
the best ideas from one region to another. Similarly, Procter & Gamble’s new or-
ganization eliminates its four regional business units. Now seven new executives
each manage product groups like baby care, beauty, and fabric and home care for
all regions. The company believes the reorganization will speed decision making
and send products to market faster.6
F IGURE 10.6
Matrix Organization Departmentalization
With a matrix organization, a self-contained project structure is often superimposed over a
functional organization.
President
Universal Products
Company
Departmentalization in Practice
All but the smallest firms contain both functional and self-contained depart-
ments. Figure 10.7 illustrates this. Within the United States, there are separate
product departments for business systems, programming systems, and so forth.
Globally, this firm uses territorial departmentalization, with separate officers for
the United States, the Americas, Asia/Pacific, and Europe/Middle East/Africa.
274 PART FOUR CHAPTER 10 Organizing
F IGURE 10.7
A Hybrid Organization
Particularly in large organizations, several types of departmentalization are typically combined,
in this case, fucntional, product, and geographic.
Board of
President
Directors
Senior Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President Vice President
Vice President and General and General and General and General and General
and General Manager, Manager, Manager, Manager, Manager,
Manager, Application Programming Enterprise Technology Communication
Personal Systems Business Systems Systems Systems Products Systems
■
Entry Data
■ ■
General ■
Communication
Systems Systems Technology Products
Division Division Division Division
■
Information General
■ ■
Systems
Products Products Technology
Division Division Division
System
■
Products
Division
Vice President
and Group
Executive,
U.S. Marketing
and Service
Vice President ■
National
and Distribution
General Division
Manager ■
National
Applications Service
Solutions Division
■
Application ■
North-Central
Systems Marketing
Division Division
■
Systems ■
South-West
Integration Marketing
Division Division
● Common Sense As these examples illustrate, the third reason to mix depart-
ments is common sense. Numerous hard-to-measure factors—including what
management plans to achieve and the unique needs of the firm’s customers, terri-
tories, and products—all influence the departmentalization decision.
Rosenbluth International, a 1,000-office global travel agency, provides an ex-
ample. CEO Hal Rosenbluth organized it like a farm. “The family farm is the most
efficient type of unit I’ve ever run across, because everybody on the farm has to be
fully functional and multifaceted.” So Rosenbluth broke his company into more than
100 geographic units, each functioning like a farm. Multitalented agents serve spe-
cific regions and clients. Corporate headquarters became what Rosenbluth calls
“farm towns.” Here, central “stores” like human resources (HR) are available for all
the “farms” to use. The firm’s computerized Global Distribution Network links
each of its travel agents to the company’s PCs in Philadelphia. There, centralized
data on clients help ensure that the work of all offices is coordinated to serve the
clients’ needs. The organization seems to have worked. He recently sold Rosen-
bluth Travel to giant Amex, creating the world’s largest travel company.12
Achieving Coordination
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE I t is pointless for a manager to divide work among, say, production, sales, and
finance departments and then not provide the means to coordinate these de-
partments’ efforts. Coordination is the process of achieving unity of action among
Achieving Coordination ■ 277
coordination: the process of interdependent activities. It is required whenever two or more interdependent indi-
achieving unity of action among viduals, groups, or departments must work together to achieve a common goal.
interdependent activities The more interdependent are the departments, the more coordination they
require. Someone must coordinate the work of functional departments, or how
can one be sure that the products sold by sales will be produced and financed in
sufficient quantities? At the other extreme, the work of semiautonomous product
divisions such as GM’s Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac product divisions require
less coordination by the CEO.
Professors Jay Galbraith and Henry Mintzberg, working independently, de-
scribed the techniques managers use to achieve coordination.13 We summarize
these and other techniques next.
LG Electronics is one of the world’s largest consumer- the central system, ensuring all subsidiaries work to-
electronics companies, with 66,000 employees in thirty- gether to achieve company-wide business goals.”16
nine countries. LG produces products ranging from air
conditioners to laptops and mobile phones. Several years
ago, its sixty-five worldwide offices all used different soft-
ware systems. Therefore, management had to deal with
data and documents on matters such as sales, purchasing,
inventory, and finance that were in different formats.The
only way top managers could get a unified, coordinated
view of what was happening throughout the company was
to have employees in the head office merge the informa-
tion from subsidiaries, often by hand.
Moving to an enterprise system, in this case, from
Oracle Corporation, enabled LG to institute standardized
information systems across all its global offices. Now they
all use compatible software systems.As a result,“commu-
nication and cooperation between subsidiaries is ex-
pected to improve significantly, enabling different offices Moving to an enterprise system enabled LG to institute
to exchange information and resources more easily. standardized information systems across all its
Directives from [the] head office can be disseminated via global offices.
Divisionalize
As a rule, functional departmentalization creates heavy coordination demands on
the CEO because the work of the functional departments (like sales and produc-
tion) is both specialized and interdependent. (Thus, someone must coordinate the
sales, production, and finance departments.) Organizing by product, customer, or
geographic divisions reduces interdependence and reduces the coordination bur-
den. The CEO puts each lieutenant in charge of a self-contained operation. The
lieutenants coordinate their own operations. The divisions are relatively indepen-
dent. As noted, the CEO can then coordinate less and strategize more.
Appoint Liaisons
When the volume of contacts between two departments grows, some managers
use special liaisons to facilitate coordination. For example, the sales department
manager might appoint a salesperson to be his or her liaison with the production
department. This liaison stays in the sales department but travels frequently to the
factory. When a new order arrives in sales, the sales manager can quickly deter-
mine from this liaison what the production schedules are and if the company can
deliver the order as promised.
Appoint Committees
Many firms achieve coordination by appointing interdepartmental committees,
task forces, or teams composed of representatives of the interdependent depart-
ments. They meet periodically to discuss common problems and ensure interde-
partmental coordination.
the departments they coordinate. They report to the manager who oversees both
those departments.
Professors Paul Lawrence and Jay Lorsch studied such departments.22 In the
plastics industry, for instance, developing a new product requires close coordination
among the research, engineering, sales, and production departments in a situation
where competitors are always introducing new and innovative products. Some firms
in the plastics industry thus established new-product development departments.
Their role is to coordinate (or integrate) the research, marketing analysis, sales, and
production activities needed for developing and introducing a new product. The
Window on Managing Now feature shows how managers use information technol-
ogy (IT) to create such departments.
France-based Thales, an electronics and defense supplier, called Thales Research & Technology.24 To support this de-
has three business units: defense, aerospace, and informa- partment’s efforts, Thales and its consultants created what
tion technology. Each business unit is fairly autonomous.23 they called a knowledge management portal.Thales’s busi-
Top management wanted to make sure that the research ness unit engineers and scientists use laptops,PCs,personal
scientists, engineers, and project managers in each of these digital assistants (PDAs), and the portal to post papers, ask
three divisions were familiar with each other’s projects questions, and make suggestions. In this way, each business
and that they did not duplicate each other’s efforts.Work- unit continues to benefit from its own research and engi-
ing with consultants from Accenture, Thales created a neering teams, but they can also capitalize on each other’s
new,IT-supported independent-integrator-type department knowledge and minimize duplication of effort.
Authority and the Chain of Command ■ 281
Sources of Authority
One’s authority—and the willingness of employees to follow the manager’s
orders—derives from several sources. First, authority derives in part from a per-
son’s rank or position. We saw that in corporations, the owner-stockholders dele-
gate authority first to the board of directors, who then delegate to the CEO. The
CEO of software manufacturer Intuit has more authority based on rank than does
one of his senior vice presidents.
However, position authority is rarely enough to explain why people follow or-
ders. Some managers have authority because of personal traits, such as intelli-
gence or charisma. People follow their instructions because of the power of their
personalities. Others have authority because they are experts in an area or have
knowledge that requires others to depend on them.
Some astute management writers argue that, regardless of source, authority
always depends on subordinates’ acceptance of supervisors’ orders. Management
guru Chester Barnard was an early proponent of this view. He argued that for or-
ders to be carried out, they must lie within a subordinate’s “zone of acceptance”—
in other words, they must be viewed as acceptable. Experts often argue that getting
employees’ acceptance is increasingly important today, given the emphasis on
empowered workers and team-based organizations.
282 PART FOUR CHAPTER 10 Organizing
Delegating Authority
delegation: the act of passing Organizing would be impossible without delegation, which is the passing down
down authority from supervisor of authority from supervisor to subordinate. The assignment of responsibility for
to subordinate some department or job traditionally goes hand in hand with the delegation of
authority to get the job done.
A well-known management saying is, “You can delegate authority, but you
cannot delegate responsibility.” The CEO (or other manager) is ultimately respon-
sible for whatever occurs on his or her watch. Because the person doing the dele-
gating always retains the ultimate responsibility, delegation always entails the
creation of accountability. Subordinates become accountable—or answerable—to
the supervisor for the performance of the tasks assigned to them. The boss may
fire or discipline the subordinate who fails to do the job. However, the boss is still
responsible for all that goes wrong (or right).
Managers are people who get things done through others, and so knowing
how to delegate is a crucial management skill. The Improving Your Delegating
Skills feature illustrates how to do this.25
How to Decentralize
decentralized A decentralized organization is one in which (1) authority for most departmen-
organization: an organization tal decisions is delegated to the department heads, while (2) control for major
in which (1) authority for most companywide decisions is maintained at headquarters. Decentralizing should
departmental decisions is always represent a shrewd balance between delegated authority and top manage-
delegated to the department
heads, while (2) control for
ment’s centralized control of essential functions. On the one hand, division man-
major companywide decisions is agers get the autonomy and resources they need to service their customers. On the
maintained at headquarters other hand, headquarters maintains essential control by centralizing major deci-
sions regarding things like capital appropriations. Achieving this balance is an art.
Here is how two famous management writers put this a number of years ago:
[D]ecentralization cannot mean autonomy; in that it implies establishment of
policies to guide decision-making along the desired courses, and in that . . . not
being all abdication of responsibility, it must be accompanied by controls de-
signed to ensure that delegated authority is used to further goals and plans.
Although the art of authority delegation lies at the base of proper decentral-
ization . . . it is apparent that the mere act of delegation is not enough to
ensure decentralization.26
I M P R OV I N G Y O U R D E L E G A T I N G S K I L L S
Suggestions for improving your delegating skills include: actions can have adverse effects outside the areas for
which the manager has made the person responsible
Clarify the Assignment (such as bankrupting the company). Second, the subordi-
Make it clear what you want the subordinate to accom- nate should know when to check with the manager. One
plish, what results are expected, and when you want those typical set of options the manager can apply is: (1) wait to
results. be told what to do; (2) ask what to do; (3) act, then report
results immediately; and (4) take action, and report
Delegate, Don’t Abdicate periodically.
Shortly after assuming the CEO position at Motorola,
Authority Should Equal Responsibility
(former) CEO Chris Galvin sat in on several meetings
with the company’s Europe mobile phone group. Galvin A basic principle of management is that authority should
knew that Europeans preferred light, inexpensive phones, equal responsibility. The person should have enough au-
so he asked if the market data supported the idea that the thority to accomplish the task.
relatively heavy phone they were working on would ap-
peal to customers. The manager said yes, and that’s re- Make the Person Accountable for Results
portedly where Galvin left it. The product subsequently
There must be predictable and acceptable measures of
failed.27 The moral is this: Giving a person a job to do and
results.
not following up is abdication, not delegation.
Larry Bossidy, the executive who turned AlliedSignal A famous Harvard Business Review article entitled “Who’s
around and helped it merge with Honeywell, says there is Got the Monkey?” explains what happens to an unsuspect-
“one job no CEO should delegate—finding and developing ing manager whose subordinate comes into his office to
great leaders.”28 In Bossidy’s case, finding and developing discuss a problem. The subordinate says,“I have a problem
great leaders was the “one job no CEO should delegate.” with the job you gave me to do.”After a few minutes of dis-
For a manager in a different company and at a different cussion, the manager, pressed for time, says,“I’ll handle it.”
level, there will be other tasks that he or she cannot (or Like a monkey, the job has jumped from the subordinate’s
should not) delegate to a subordinate. to the unsuspecting manager’s shoulders.The point is, be-
ware of backward delegation.When your subordinate says
Specify the Subordinate’s Range of Discretion the task isn’t working out as planned, suggest some solu-
The manager can use two guidelines here. First, the man- tions or insist that your subordinate take the initiative in
ager should give the subordinate enough authority to do solving the problem.
the task successfully, but not so much that the person’s
the transaction anyway, with disastrous results for Andersen Worldwide. Managers
at Andersen Worldwide had delegated most decisions to its branches, with the un-
derstanding that the branches would abide by the PSG’s centralized oversight and
control. In this case, those controls broke down. Local managers overrode the
PSG’s decision. Andersen was out of business within two years.
lines for these firms. This meant that GE’s top managers had to manage an in-
creasingly diverse range of products and an increasingly diverse range of cus-
tomers. Having to deal with so many products and customers made the firm’s
original functional structures obsolete. At Westinghouse:
All of the activities of the company were [originally] divided into production,
engineering, and sales, each of which was the responsibility of a vice presi-
dent. The domain of each vice president covered the whole diversified and far-
flung operations of the corporation. Such an organization of the corporation’s
management lacks responsiveness. There was too much delay in the recogni-
tion of problems and in the solution of problems after they were recognized.29
Chandler found that these companies therefore decentralized. After diversify-
ing, they established product divisions for different product lines like light bulbs,
engines, and power plants. The managers of these units then got the authority to
run them as self-contained, relatively autonomous units. In practice, most man-
agers decentralize because they want faster decisions.30
to three.33 China Unicom, the second largest mobile operator in China, recently
centralized the management of its international businesses.34
By the way, don’t let the Home Depot example fool you into thinking that the
only way to centralize is to bring far-flung units back to headquarters. Decentral-
ization and centralization are mainly about authority—about where decsions get
made. Lots of geographically disbursed companies, like BP and some other giant
oil firms, are actually quite centralized. Although they have geographic units
spread around the world, their big decisions are made back at headquarters.
Managers often call the centralized departments they create shared-services
departments. For example, Warner Music might establish several freestanding
music labels, but a single, centralized, shared-services legal affairs department
will do all the labels’ contracts.
F IGURE 10.8
Spans of Control in Country-Based Organization
In this chart, the span of control of the general manager is thirteen—six business managers, five
directors, one innovation manager, and one manufacturing manager.
Country
General Manager
Office of Director
Innovation Manager Quality Program
There are other arguments, pro and con. A tall chain of command may also
slow decisions by forcing each decision to pass through more people at more
levels. Several weeks after the United States began bombing Afghanistan in 2001,
reporters asked then-Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld if having several layers of
officers making tactical decisions about the ground attacks was slowing the
ground forces’ responsiveness. (His answer was no.)
The consensus today seems to be that flat is better.36 For one thing, flattening
cuts out levels and managers, and to that extent, it may save the company money
and reduce the number of approvals required to make a decision. There is also the
belief that eliminating layers pushes the point at which decisions are made closer
to the customer because there’s less reason to check first with the boss. Having
wider spans also implies that the supervisor monitors his or her subordinates less,
which makes particular sense today, with the trend toward highly trained and em-
powered employees.
The classic flattening example occurred some years ago. GE’s CEO at the time,
Jack Welch, had climbed the ranks and believed GE’s chain of command was
draining the firm of creativity and responsiveness. Business heads needed ap-
proval from the headquarters staff for almost every big decision they made. In one
case, the light bulb business managers spent $30,000 producing a video to demon-
strate the need for some production equipment they wanted to buy.
First, Welch eliminated redundant organizational levels. Before he took over,
“GE’s business heads reported to a group head, who reported to a sector head, who
Organizing to Manage Change ■ 287
reported to the CEO. Each level had its own staff in finance, marketing, and plan-
ning, checking and double-checking each business.”37 Welch disbanded the group
and the sector levels, thus dramatically flattening the organizational chain of com-
mand. When Welch was done, no one stood between the business heads and the
CEO’s office. He created a leaner, more responsive organization.
individual tasks.”44 Each worker’s job might change daily as employees rushed to
respond to the problem of the day. Most important, all employees shared common
beliefs and goals, and these common goals (such as “let’s make sure we produce
only first-rate products”) helped ensure they all could work together with little or
no guidance. When a problem arose, employees took the initiative to solve it. This
often meant bypassing the formal chain of command.
T ABLE 10.1
Burns and Stalker’s Approach to Organizing
Mechanistic Type Organic Type of
Characteristic of Organization Organization
Type of environment Stable Rapid change
Comparable to . . . Classical Behavioral organization:
organization emphasis on self-control
Adherence to chain of Firm Flexible—chain of command
command often bypassed
Type of Functional Divisional
departmentalization
How specialized Specialized Jobs change daily, with
are jobs? situation
Degree of Decision making Decision making
decentralization centralized decentralized
Span of control Narrow Wide
Type of coordination Rules; chain of Committees, liaisons, and
and communication command special integrators;
networking
T ABLE 10.2
Summary of Woodward’s Research Findings*
Unit and Small-Batch Large-Batch and Mass
Firms (Example: Production (Example: Process Production
Organizational Feature Custom-Built Cars) Mass-Produced Cars) (Example: Oil Refinery)
Chain of command Not clear Clear Not clear
Span of control Narrow Wide Narrow
Departmentalization Product Function Product
Overall organization Organic Mechanistic Organic
Specialization of jobs Low High Low
recently reduced its layers of management from eleven to “no more than eight,” in
order to create what its CEO called a more responsive, streamlined company.46
● Reassign Support Staff Many firms also moved headquarters staff (such as
industrial engineers) out of headquarters and reassigned them to their business
units. For example, candy maker Mars Inc. is a $7 billion company with only a
three-person headquarters staff. Mars does have staff employees, but the staff em-
ployees are assigned directly to the individual business units. Here, they can help
their business units address customer needs rather than act as gatekeepers to
check and reject divisional managers’ plans.
Modern Organizations
A s we saw in Chapter 1, things change fast in business today. After about one
year in business, Friendster.com, the social networking site, had about one
million unique visitors per month. Introduced a year later, myspace.com went
from nothing to fourteen million visitors per month. Amazon (fearing Google’s
new Froogle shopping site) introduced a new search engine. Then Google intro-
duced Gmail to lure surfers from Yahoo and Microsoft and bought YouTube.
Increasingly today, steps such as downsizing, widening spans of control, or
establishing mini-units are not enough. Things are changing too fast, and compa-
nies have to be too entrepreneurial. Managers are therefore organizing around
teams, networks, and horizontal and federal-type structures to better respond to
and manage change. We’ll discuss each of these four new structures in this final
section. The Improving Your Boundary-Managing Skills feature explains one skill
managers need when managing these new kinds of organizations.
Finding ways to cut across traditional departmental wanting to boost efficiency, resists last-minute orders,
boundaries is at the heart of the team, network, and fed- while sales wants to accept them.
eral organizations we discuss in this section. For example, These boundaries inhibit communication and deci-
if employees are unwilling or afraid to speak their minds, sions and make modern, team-based, networked organi-
the open communication that teamwork requires is im- zations impossible. A boundaryless organization is
possible to obtain. one in which the widespread use of teams, networks, and
Traditional departmentalized organizations have four similar structures requires that the boundaries that typi-
main “boundaries.” First, vertically, the chain of command cally separate organizational functions and hierarchical
creates authority boundaries. The president supervises the levels be reduced.50
vice president, who supervises the managers, and so on. Other than being aware of the boundaries, there are
Subordinates are often reluctant to pass bad news on to no magic bullets for solving them. Reducing authority
their bosses. Second are departmental boundaries. Each boundaries requires that managers encourage and wel-
department has its own specialized responsibilities. There come honest advice and feedback from subordinates. Re-
is often minimal interdepartmental communication, as if ducing departmental and political boundaries requires
employees work in what amount to separate “silos.” 48 training and then rewarding employees for putting the
Third, each employee tends to focus on doing his or her company’s needs first. Reducing the task (“It’s not my job”)
own narrow job, which creates what some experts call a mentality requires clamping down at the first signs of such
task boundary. An employee might say, “No, that’s not my behavior and rewarding publicly those who willingly as-
job,” for instance.49 Finally, each department also typically sume additional responsibilities.
has its own political agenda. For example, manufacturing,
teams. Its organization chart would show primarily teams, rather than depart-
ments. Some of the teams are responsible for maintaining the firm’s packaging
equipment, for instance. These self-managing teams are empowered. The em-
ployees manage themselves and make fast, on-the-spot decisions. For example,
duties of a typical Johnsonville team include:
◗ Recruit, hire, evaluate, and fire (as necessary)
Designing Organizations
to Manage Teams
Basis for Teamwork to Flourish
team approach. For example, managers often pay financial incentives to the team as
a whole rather than to individual employees, to encourage team solidarity.
Network-Based Organizations
Many firms today superimpose organizational networks over their existing struc-
organizational network: tures. An organizational network is a system of interconnected or cooperating
a system of interconnected individuals. Networks enhance the likelihood that the work of even remote units
or cooperating individuals will be carried out promptly and in a coordinated way if quick decisions on some
matters must be made.
To put networking’s benefits into perspective, consider downloading a song.
One option is to methodically check one’s friends. Going one by one, we might find
our song after seventeen calls. Our other option is to enter one of the new legal
variants of the Napster-type online networks. Here, with everyone’s record files
shared, we instantly find our song. Putting everyone in contact with everyone else
expedites solutions.
Whether formal or informal, organizational networks share the same basic idea:
to link selected employees from various departments, levels, and geographic areas
so that they can communicate quickly and without barriers across normal organiza-
tional boundaries. We describe three types of networks: formal organizational net-
works, informal organizational networks, and electronic information networks.
F IGURE 10.10
How Networks Reshape
Organizations
The members of a formal
network may be selected from
various departments and
organizational levels.
F IGURE 10.11
The Horizontal Corporation
In the horizontal organization, the work is organized around the cross-functional processes,
with multifunction teams carrying out the tasks needed to service the customer. Thus, the
sales fulfillment team carries out all the tasks required for billing an order.
Brady Corp., which manufactures identification and safety them online directly to manufacturing. In manufacturing,
products, allocated about $50 million to install a new sys- Brady will have a horizontal process. One factory-floor
tem that will link Brady’s suppliers, customers, and distrib- person will oversee the entire production and shipping
utors over the Internet. However, only about one-third of process for each order. Management expects the new
that money was for the technology. Top management horizontal organization to cut about five steps out of the
spent the rest on reengineering the firm’s organization and current fifteen-step sale-manufacturing-shipping process.
processes around team-based horizontal processes. Brady’s new horizontal organization will help it capitalize
For example, Brady customer-service employees on its new online, direct customer-to-company informa-
used to get the orders and pass them on to the firm’s pro- tion technology system. Without reengineering, Brady
duction department. The physical orders would then would have had its new online ordering system, but the
move on to shipping. It was like a relay race.With Brady’s orders would still have been done the old, time-consuming
new organization, customers with simple orders will send way, from department to department.
Federal Organizations
federal organization: an In a federal organization, highly autonomous but still company-owned units de-
organization in which power is velop their own products and have the option of collaborating with sister companies
distributed between a central under the very loose direction and control of the parent firm’s central manage-
unit and a number of
ment.65 The federal approach lets the parent company tap and hopefully capital-
constituents, but the central
unit’s authority is intentionally ize on the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of its small, self-managed units.
limited Some big record labels are run as federal organizations. The parent label, like
Sony-EMI, finances people who have successful track records in music to set up
their own music labels, and these entrepreneurs then run their firms under the
parent firm’s umbrella. The parent firm then provides services (such as HR and
legal support). The labels are free to work with other labels within Sony-EMI, while
the parent firm provides minimal oversight. Virtual organizations, as we describe
next, are one modern federal-type example.
SOURCE: http://www.indigohq.com
begun about ten years ago by Jennifer Overholt, Anne Murguia, and A. C. Ross, is an
informal support group for marketing consultants. Indigo’s projects range from mar-
ket analyses for Fortune 500 companies to revising business plans for start-ups.68
Indigo Partners is a virtual company. It has no headquarters office. The firm’s six
partners work on projects individually or in small teams. For large projects, they tap
online into a pool of specialized freelancers. Thanks to Indigo, these freelancers bid
on big jobs, knowing they can tap the sum total of all the other Indigo freelancers’
knowledge and expertise. At the same time, the virtual-organization arrangement
frees them from having to manage bricks-and-mortar assets like an office.
Learning Organizations
One reason companies downsize, network, and reengineer is so that they can be-
come better at learning what new products competitors are introducing, what
new services customers want, and what new technologies may render their own
learning organizations: services obsolete.69 Learning organizations are any organizations that have “the
organizations that have the capacity to adapt to unforeseen situations, to learn from their own experiences, to
capacity to adapt to unforeseen shift their shared mindsets, and to change more quickly, broadly, and deeply than
situations, to learn from their
ever before.”70 When Microsoft reorganized into three core divisions and elimi-
own experiences, to shift their
shared mindsets, and to change nated management levels, it did so in part to make sure it remained a learning
more quickly organization.
If you looked at their organization charts and how they did things, learning or-
ganizations generally share the characteristics that we described in the last few
pages. To speed up decision making, management starts by downsizing, reducing
management layers, and empowering employees. It then creates networks and
encourages employees to think outside the boundaries of their own jobs.
However, organizing is not enough to make a company a learning organiza-
tion. Two more things are required. First, the company provides special knowledge-
Modern Organizations ■ 299
management tools. For example, Xerox gives its repair personnel laptop comput-
ers and encourages them to digitize and share knowledge and ideas for solving
repair problems.
Second, management cultivates its employees’ “personal mastery.” This
means management ensures that employees have both the capacity and willing-
ness to learn and to share ideas. Steps here include:
◗ Provide continuous learning opportunities. Learning organizations offer exten-
sive opportunities for on- and off-the-job training to increase personal mastery.
◗ Foster inquiry and dialogue. Learning organizations make sure that all of the
company’s systems and procedures, as well as all the signals that managers send,
encourage open inquiry and dialogue.
◗ Establish mechanisms to ensure that the organization is continuously aware of
and can interact with its environment. For example, learning organizations en-
courage formal and informal environmental scanning activities by employees, to
quickly identify opportunities and threats.
● Managing Now Companies rely on special software to ensure that their learn-
ing management programs stay on track. For example, Aventis Pharmaceuticals
recently installed a special learning management system from Saba Software.71
Programs like these do several things. Most important, they enable Aventis’s re-
search scientists to easily access and participate in online training and develop-
ment courses. In addition, it enables them to register for instructor-led training
and lets the company automate the course registration process, deliver tests, track
and report student participation, and generate certificates.
PRACTICE IT
Millipore
With subsidiaries in over thirty countries, all operating accounting statements. It also reduced the number of em-
with different software packages, managers at Millipore’s ployees required for this task and “gave executives better
headquarters couldn’t effectively coordinate worldwide visibility into financial performance across the globe.”72
operations. They had to wait for employees at headquar- Installing this suite of software produced several
ters to compile and consolidate the information coming organizational benefits for Millipore. It improved interde-
in from subsidiaries. The lack of timely information made partmental coordination by providing Millipore man-
it difficult for Millipore’s top managers to coordinate the agers with standardized information, which they used to
subsidiaries’ activities. compare operations and monitor results. It also elimi-
The company’s solution was to install,in phases,a suite nated numerous compilation and consolidation activities,
of separate but compatible enterprise software packages thus allowing Millipore to reduce its employee head count.
from Oracle Corporation.Each subsidiary and department Third, it enabled Millipore to centralize certain shared-
got new software such as Oracle Financials, Oracle Self services functions, such as human resource management.
Service Human Resources, and Oracle Purchasing. So, for For example, Oracle HR Self Service reduced the need
example,once all the subsidiaries were using the same ver- for local HR staff by enabling employees and supervisors
sion of Oracle Financials, coordinating the company’s to self-service, via the Web, various activities such as
financial operations became relatively simple. It cut in half updating personnel forms and completing perfor-
the time it took to finalize the company’s monthly mance appraisals.
300 PART FOUR CHAPTER 10 Organizing
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Organizing means arranging an enterprise’s activi- authority equal responsibility; making the person
ties so that they systematically contribute to the accountable for results; and avoiding backward
enterprise’s goals. An organization consists of peo- delegation.
ple whose specialized tasks are coordinated to
7. In practice, a decentralized organization is one in
contribute to the organization’s goals.
which (1) authority for most departmental deci-
2. Departmentalization is the process through which sions is delegated to the department heads, while
management groups an enterprise’s activities to- (2) control for major companywide decisions is
gether and assigns them to managers. Managers maintained at the headquarters office. Managers
generally group activities by functions, products, usually use the term decentralized in conjunction
customer groups, marketing channels, or geo- with product divisions.
graphic areas.
8. Burns and Stalker’s findings, as well as Wood-
3. Coordination is the process of achieving unity of ward’s, show that different organizational struc-
action among interdependent activities. Tech- tures are appropriate for—and contingent on—
niques for achieving coordination include mutual different tasks. At one extreme are mechanistic
adjustment; the use of rules; the standardization of organizations for dealing with predictable, routine
targets, skills, values, or processes; direct supervi- tasks. At the other extreme, organic organizations
sion; coordination software; divisionalizing; and enable companies to respond faster.
the use of a staff assistant, liaison, committee,
9. Managers can institute a number of basic struc-
and/or independent integrators.
tural changes to make their organizations operate
4. Many companies are adopting flatter structures in more responsively. Examples of simplifying or re-
an effort to eliminate duplication of effort, inspire ducing structure are reducing layers of manage-
creativity, and increase responsiveness. The span ment, creating mini-units, reassigning support
of control in a company is the number of subordi- staff, and widening spans of control.
nates reporting directly to a supervisor.
10. Many firms superimpose organizational networks
5. Authority is the right to take action, make deci- over existing structures. A network is a system of
sions, and direct the work of others. Managers usu- interconnected or cooperating individuals. It can
ally distinguish between line and staff authority. be formal or informal, or IT-based. Team-based or-
ganizations, federal organizations, virtual organi-
6. Principles of delegation include delegating author-
zations, and horizontal organizations are other
ity, not responsibility; clarifying the assignment;
modern organizations.
delegating, not abdicating; knowing what to dele-
gate; specifying the range of discretion; having
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why do we refer to departmentalization as the 5. What are the pros and cons of matrix management?
organizational division of work?
6. Do you think a company can flatten its hierarchy
2. What is the connection among decentralized, divi- without taking steps to prepare its employees for
sionalized, and product departmentalization? their new roles? Why or why not? What steps would
you recommend?
3. How does interdependence influence how a com-
pany coordinates its operations? 7. How would you use IT to improve coordination?
4. Why is decentralization not the same as delegation?
Case Study ■ 301
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Colleges are interesting from an organizational colleges tend to be decentralized, they are still the
viewpoint because the employees (the faculty) most bureaucratic organizations they’ve ever
tend to make so many of a college’s decisions and dealt with. To what extent and in what way is your
run so many of its projects. It’s not unusual, for in- college decentralized? Do you consider it bureau-
stance, to have the faculty elect a faculty senate, cratic, and, if so, what explains why a decentral-
which in turn appoints committees for things like ized organization produces such bureaucracy?
faculty promotions and curricula; the committees c. How would you reorganize the college if stream-
then often have a major say in who gets promoted, lining and more efficiency were your goals?
what programs the college offers, and so on. Simi-
2. In teams of four to five students, spend some time
larly, the students elect their own student govern-
on the Internet or in the library obtaining the
ments, which in turn decide how the students’ fees
organization charts for two companies. Then to-
are spent.
gether answer these questions: What forms of de-
Some critics say that all of this is a little like
partmentalization can you identify in each chart?
“letting the inmates run the asylum.” And the pace
Which company would you say is more decentral-
of criticism has picked up in the past few years.
ized? Why do you believe each company organized
With more colleges and universities going online,
the way that it did?
students have more educational choices. As a
result, tuition fees are under pressure, and univer- 3. Because you are in college to learn, it is reasonable
sities are scrambling to cut costs and be more effi- to assume that your college (in general) and this
cient. Boards of trustees are reviewing everything management class (in particular) are learning or-
about how their colleges do things—from how ganizations. (After all, your class does have an or-
many courses faculty members teach to how pro- ganizational structure in terms of who does what,
fessors are appraised to how to decide which whether authority is centralized or dispersed, and
programs to offer or drop. Form teams of four to so on.) In teams of four to five students, answer
five students, and answer the following questions: these questions: If you were the “manager” taking
over this class, what would you say are the main
a. Draw an organization chart for your college or
goals you want this class to achieve? Based on
university. What type(s) of departmentalization
these goals, what are the main tasks the class’s or-
does it use? How would you show, on the chart,
ganization must perform? Draw the organization
the authority exercised by the faculty and fac-
chart of this class as it is now. Then list five specific
ulty committees (teams)?
things you would do to reorganize this class as a
b. Decentralized structures tend to speed decisions.
learning organization.
However, some people think that even though
CASE STUDY
Organizing Greenley Communications
ouis Greenley has to make a difficult decision. television production division. Each division had its
L Greenley Communications was a diversified com-
munications company that operated primarily in the
own bookkeeping, sales, marketing, operations, and
service divisions. Accounting and financial manage-
western United States. The firm owned and operated ment were handled at the corporate level.
newspapers and radio and television stations. For In the newspaper division, a clear distinction ex-
years, there had been an “invisible wall” between the isted between the news and the sales/financial sides
print operations and radio and television. of the business. Coming from a family of journalists,
Greenley’s existing structure was organized by in- Greenley was always concerned that the sale of advertis-
dustry: a newspaper division, a radio division, and a ing to local clients would influence the paper’s coverage
302 PART FOUR CHAPTER 10 Organizing
it this way: “e or be eaten”: either get your business on the Web or watch your
competitors take your customers.3
The problem is that blending old business and e-business is not just about
installing new technology.4 For example, one of the things that torpedoed the
AOL-Time Warner merger a few years ago was the fact that their cultures and ways
of doing things were so different. Time Warner’s more conservative culture clashed
with AOL’s laid-back entrepreneurial way of doing things.5
The chief strategist for one e-business says, “Entering the e-commerce realm is
like managing at 90 mph. e-business affects finance, human resources, training,
supply-chain management, customer-resource management, and just about every
other corporate function.”6 For example, suppose a chain of florist shops decides
to expand its sales online. Should they organize the online operation as a separate
business unit? Or should they keep the current functional organization (sales, pur-
chasing, marketing, accounting, and human resources) and let each of those
department heads also run their parts of the new e-business? It’s a dilemma.7
Greg Rogers, head of Whirlpool Corporation’s e-commerce business, says a
new e-business’s strategy will have to change too.8 The company’s new strategy
will have to reflect the fact that e-commerce is now a big part of the company’s
plans. Becoming an e-business illustrates a change that requires altering just about
everything the company does—its strategy, technology, structure, and people and
culture.
● What’s to Come In the remainder of this first section, we’ll look briefly at
three types of organizational change (strategy, technology, and culture/people).
We’ll then look at the fourth type of change, structural change, in the next section
of this chapter. Then, in the final two sections of this chapter, we’ll turn to the
methods that managers use to make their change efforts more successful.
Strategic Change
Many managers face the need to change their companies’ strategies. For example,
faced with declining profits, Aetna Insurance pulled back from its high-growth
strategy. The firm had emphasized adding more policyholders. Its new strategy is
to emphasize fewer but more profitable ones. Management reduced policyholders
from 22 million to 14.4 million. By focusing on more profitable policyholders,
Aetna boosted profits by ten times, to $108 million in one quarter. Andrea Jung de-
cided to change Avon’s strategy so that retail stores could also sell Avon products.
strategic change: a change Managers often try to avoid making big strategic changes because strategic
in a firm’s corporate and/or changes are fraught with peril; it’s hard to predict exactly what will happen.
competitive strategies This is especially true when the firm faces “discontinuous change”: an unex-
pected change that triggers a crisis, as when digital photography began crowding
Kodak’s film off the shelves. Changes like these are usually prompted by things out-
side of the manager’s control.9 The manager will also probably have to make his or
her changes under short time constraints. Strategic changes also tend to have com-
panywide impact. As at Aetna, it’s rarely possible to change the firm’s strategy with-
out also changing in some way the firm’s structure, technology, and people.
Research findings suggest that managers facing strategic changes should
keep the following three things in mind:
1. Strategic changes are usually triggered by factors outside the company. External
threats or challenges, such as deregulation, global competition, and dramatic
technological innovations, are usually what prompt managers to embark on
companywide, strategic changes.10
306 PART FOUR CHAPTER 11 Designing and Changing Organizations
2. Strategic changes are often required for survival. Researchers found that while
making a strategic change did not guarantee success, firms that did not
change when they should have did not survive. This was especially true when
some major change required quick and effective strategic change, but the
manager failed to respond. Many neighborhood businesses close if they can’t
change to compete with a new Wal-Mart.
3. Strategic changes implemented under crisis conditions are highly risky. Strate-
gic changes made under crisis conditions and with short time constraints
were the riskiest and most prone to fail. Changes like these eventually trigger
changes companywide—changes to the firm’s structure, technologies, people,
and culture and core values. Core values (such as “don’t make any risky
moves”) are especially hard to change.
Technological Change
We’ve seen in this book that many managers increasingly have to implement tech-
technological change: nological changes. Technological change means changing the way the company
a change in the way the company creates or markets its products or services, or the way it uses technology to man-
creates and markets its products age its systems and operations. For example, the manager might want to improve
or services or in the way it uses
operations by installing a new supply chain management system or by changing
technology to manage its
systems and operations the interface through which the employees (such as UPS delivery people) commu-
nicate with their home base. (The Window on Managing Now feature presents one
such example.)
Whatever the technological change, managers like Bill Zollars know they must
get their employees to accept the change if the change is to be successful. Many of
the examples you’ve read in this book—such as Brady Company installing its new
supply chain system—illustrate this. It would make no sense for Brady to have the
customers send their orders directly online to the plant floor if the employees
there resented having to do the extra work.
The law firm Baker & McKenzie has seventy offices in like these can be time-consuming if done manually. Baker
thirty-eight countries. Many of its clients do business & McKenzie installed new business intake, conflicts
globally. Before accepting a new client, it must ensure management, and regulatory software systems. These
that it is not inadvertently creating a conflict, for in- technologies streamlined the firm’s former intake and
stance, by agreeing to represent a client that another of regulatory processes. They enable the firm’s lawyers to
its clients is suing. It also needs a process for ensuring avoid inadvertently accepting clients that might pose a
that the advice it gives a multinational client complies conflict, and they ensure that all relevant local laws and
with laws and regulations (like the U.S.A. Patriot Act) in regulations are being met.
all the countries in which it does business.11 Processes
Types of Organizational Change ■ 307
● How to Create and Sustain the Right Corporate Culture Alan Mulally,
Ford’s new CEO, took over late in 2006. Many believe Ford suffered to some extent
from a culture of backbiting, bureaucratic behavior, and disdain (while Ford was
cutting 30,000 employees, the top executives suppos-
edly still used a fancy executive restaurant at Detroit
headquarters). Mulally knew he had to make many
changes at Ford to make that company succeed. He
could not do that in the face of such a culture.
What steps can a manager like Mulally take to
change the company’s culture? If, like Mr. Mulally, you
wanted to encourage Ford managers to work more like
a team, and employees to be more flexible about their
pay demands, what would you do? Perhaps close the
executive restaurant? Tell managers that from this
point on, you will appraise each one on the extent to
which he or she was a team player that year?
The essential thing to keep in mind is that it is the
manager’s behavior, not just what he or she says, that
molds what employees come to see as the firm’s real
Alan Mulally, Ford’s new CEO, had to change the company’s culture and values. Experts suggest doing the following
culture. to change organizational culture:13
1. Make it clear to your employees what you pay attention to, measure, and con-
trol. For example, at Toyota, quality and teamwork are desirable values.
Toyota’s selection and training processes therefore focus on the candidate’s
orientation toward quality and teamwork.
2. React appropriately to critical incidents and organizational crises. For exam-
ple, if you want to emphasize the value that “we’re all in this together,” don’t
react to declining profits by saying, “You’re all fired.”
308 PART FOUR CHAPTER 11 Designing and Changing Organizations
3. Use signs, symbols, stories, rites, and ceremonies to signal your values. JCPenney
prides itself on loyalty and tradition. To support this, the firm inducts new
management employees into the Penney Partnership. At special conferences
they commit to Penney’s values of honor, confidence, service, and cooperation.
4. Deliberately role-model, teach, and coach the values you want to emphasize.
For example, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton lived the values of hard work,
honesty, neighborliness, and thrift. He explained driving a pickup truck by
saying, “If I drove a Rolls-Royce, what would I do with my dog?”
5. Communicate your priorities by how you appraise employees and allocate re-
wards. For example, General Foods reoriented its strategy from cost control to
diversification and sales growth. It supported these new priorities by linking
bonuses to sales volume and new-product development, rather than to just
increased earnings.
Lawrence Weinbach, chair and CEO of Unisys, took many steps to change his
firm’s culture. His basic aim was to focus employees on performance and execu-
tion. To do this, he instituted systems that sent the right signals. As he said, “We’ve
moved to a pay-for-performance approach, to make sure that we’re properly rec-
ognizing the people who are doing things right. . . . [I]n some cases, we’ve needed
to tell people to seek opportunities elsewhere . . . we’ve invested in training and
education and created Unisys University, where employees can find courses and
programs on a range of . . . business related topics. We’ve also spent a lot of time
communicating and educating people about the importance of execution.”14
Reorganizing
reorganizing or structural Reorganizing or structural change means changing the company’s organiza-
change: changing one or more tional structure.
aspects of the company’s Managers reorganize all the time. GE’s CEO Jeffrey Immelt reorganized his
organizational structure
firm’s huge GE Capital division. He broke it into four divisions, with their four
managers now reporting directly to him rather than to the former GE Capital
head. DaimlerChrysler’s U.S. truck maker used to be one part of DaimlerChrysler’s
commercial vehicles division. DaimlerChrysler recently reorganized its commer-
cial vehicles division. Daimler split it into a new, separate truck group, and into
divisions for vans and buses.15 According to a Daimler spokesperson, having all
commercial vehicles in one division created “an artificial layer of administration
Managing Now: Reorganizing, Reengineering, and Business Process Management ■ 309
2. The parenting advantage test. Does your current structure help the corporate
parent add value to the departments and subsidiaries? For example, investors
periodically ask, Would it not be more efficient for each of GE’s separate divi-
sions to spin off and run themselves rather than to remain part of GE’s overall
structure? GE says no. For example, the current GE structure helps ensure that
modern management techniques devised in one unit quickly spread to the
others.
3. The people test. Does your design reflect the strengths, weaknesses, and moti-
vations of your people?22 For example, after PepsiCo purchased Quaker Oats
Co., PepsiCo reorganized its business units partly because of the strengths of
some executives it inherited with the Quaker purchase. Robert Morrison,
Quaker’s CEO, quickly assumed responsibility for PepsiCo’s Tropicana juice
unit, while continuing to oversee Quaker.
4. The feasibility test. The basic question here is, What could stand in the way of
successfully implementing a new organizational structure? For example, 3M
Company’s new CEO considered not changing that company’s structure. He
was afraid that 3M was so collegial that making the tough choices required by
a reorganization would trigger too much resistance.23 He decided that the
risks of staying with the old structure were too great. He anticipated the
potential constraints and dealt with them.
5. The specialist culture test. Does your design protect departments that need
distinct cultures? For example, 3M is known for the number of new products
its engineers produce (including Post-it Notes). Its organizational structure
needs to support that innovative engineering spirit.24
6. The difficult-links test. Does your structure address the hard-to-coordinate
relationships? For example, in Chapter 10, we saw that the product develop-
ment process in some high-tech firms requires coordination by special
new-product development departments. These departments coordinate the
research and development (R&D), sales, and manufacturing departments.
7. The redundant-hierarchy test. Does your organizational structure have too
many levels and units? For example, Microsoft recently eliminated several
management layers to make sure customers get quicker answers to their
inquiries.
8. The accountability test. Is it clear who is responsible for what? For example, if
a problem arose (such as a dramatic sales decline) for a particular product
line, could you quickly identify the manager who is responsible? Daimler re-
organized its truck division in part to ensure that managers were solely and
clearly responsible for truck performance.
9. The flexibility test. Does your organizational structure foster innovation and
responsiveness, or does it stifle it?25 This is one reason Intuit’s CEO breaks his
new ventures off into small, self-contained units. Such an approach ensures
that their managers can develop their businesses without being stifled waiting
for answers from the parent company.
F IGURE 11.1 When you identify a problem with your design, first look for ways to fix it without
substantially altering it. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to make fundamental
Is a New Structure Really changes. Here’s a step-by-step process for resolving problems:
Required?
Steps Not Involving Major Design Change
NOTE : It may be possible to fix the organizational design without major changes. The first (top) section of this figure shows
how the manager can fine-tune the organization and accomplish what needs to be done without making big changes. If these
SOURCE: Adapted from Michael Goold and won’t work, the manager may have to make the sorts of major changes listed in the figure’s second (bottom) section.
Andrew Campbell,“Do You Have a Well- If the company does require a major reorganization, the guidelines in Chapter 10 apply, for example, regarding the pros and
Designed Organization?” Harvard Business cons of product versus functional structures and delegating authority. After designing a possible new structure, the manager can
Review, March 2002, p. 124. then again apply the nine tests described on pages 309–310 to test it and to ensure the new design passes muster.
the current structure. For example, it might be sufficient to just clarify employees’
responsibilities or reporting relationships rather than reorganize the whole com-
pany. On the other hand, the situation may require a more dramatic change. At
Microsoft, the CEO decided he had to reorganize the entire structure around three
core divisions. The checklist in Figure 11.1 helps the manager decide if fine-tuning
or a major change is required.
312 PART FOUR CHAPTER 11 Designing and Changing Organizations
Here is how one bank reengineered its mortgage- (either in the same physical cell or space, or connected via
approval process.26 Previously, a mortgage applicant com- information technology) to complete a task that the firm
pleted a paper loan application that a bank employee then formerly did sequentially. This bank reengineered the
entered into the bank’s computer system. The application mortgage-application process by replacing the sequential
then moved through six different departments, where operation with a cell or multifunction mortgage-approval
employees such as credit analysts and underwriters per- team. Loan originators in the field now enter the mortgage
formed their tasks. This was too time-consuming for the application directly into wireless laptop computers, where
bank to be competitive. Borrowers wanted quick an- software checks it for completeness. The information then
swers. Squeezing several steps out of a loan-approval goes electronically to regional production centers. Here,
process may also save a bank $1,000 or more per loan. specialists (like credit analysts and loan underwriters)
The bank reengineered its mortgage-application process convene electronically, working as a team to review the
so that it required fewer steps and reduced processing mortgage together—at once. After they formally close
time from seventeen days to two.We illustrate the change the loan, another team of specialists takes on the task of
in Figure 11.2. servicing the loan.
As in this example, reengineering often entails having As at this bank, reengineering usually triggers many
a small team of specially trained employees work together organizational changes. For example, after creating several
Managing Now: Reorganizing, Reengineering, and Business Process Management ■ 313
loan-approval teams, the bank could eliminate the sepa- The employees also needed additional training to use the
rate credit-checking, loan-approval, and home-inspecting new system. This all could have, but did not, trigger em-
departments from its organization chart. Reengineering ployee resistance.The bank headed that resistance off by
here also required reorganizing some departments and dealing with employees’ concerns before implementing
delegating more authority to the loan-approval teams, the change.
who now did their jobs with less supervisory oversight.
F IGURE 11.2
Redesigning the Mortgage-Application Process
By reengineering the mortgage-application process, the bank will be able to handle increased
paperwork much more quickly.
BEFORE
Prior to reengineering, the paper loan
application went from department Bank President
to department like a relay race.
AFTER
After reengineering, the field loan originators took the applications on their laptops, and then
electronically transmitted the loans to the loan-processing teams, which met electronically.
Multifunction
Loan-Processing
Teams
Billing and
Loan-Closing
Accounting
Credit Department
Department
Analyst
Loan-Approval Property
Communications Inspector
314 PART FOUR CHAPTER 11 Designing and Changing Organizations
Activity C
SOURCE: Copyright Tibco Software Inc.All NOTE: Systems such as TIBCO’s process suite help the manager “flowchart” the business
rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. process activities and improve the overall process.
monitor the process and improve it.33 TIBCO’s business process management
suite also enables the manager to model and simulate changes to the business
process, to study what effects a change might have on efficiency.34
There is something to say about doing things incrementally. Whereas the
results of many large reengineering projects are less than satisfactory, the more
incremental BPM seems to raise productivity and lower costs more consistently.35
Perhaps this is true in part because the incremental approach tends to be less
threatening and thus incurs less employee resistance.
In his book Beyond the Wall of Resistance, consultant Rick Maurer says that
Level 1 resistance stems from lack of information or honest disagreement over the
facts. With Level 2 resistance, people are afraid—that the change may cost them
their jobs, or that they will lose face, for instance. He says treating all resistance as
if it were Level 1 (based on a lack of understanding) can undermine the manager’s
change efforts. For example, don’t use “slick visual presentations to explain change
with nice neat facts, charts, and time lines, when what people really want to hear
is: What does this mean to them?”38
Lewin knew the manager had to reinforce the change. Lewin called this reinforce-
refreezing: a step in ment refreezing, which means instituting new systems, procedures, and incen-
psychologist Kurt Lewin’s model tives to maintain the changes that were made.
of change aimed at preventing a
return to old ways of doing things
by instituting new systems and Choosing the Right Method for
procedures that reinforce the
new organizational changes Overcoming Resistance
Table 11.1 summarizes some methods that managers use to overcome resistance—
and when to use them. For example, use education and communication when
inaccurate or missing information is contributing to employee resistance.
Coercion—forcing through the change—can be a fast way of pushing through a
change, particularly when speed is essential. This can work when the manager has
the power to force the change. However, it can be risky if it leaves influential em-
ployees with the will and ability to undermine the change. The Practice IT feature
shows how Bill Zollars overcame resistance at Yellow Transportation.
T ABLE 11.1
Six Methods for Dealing with Resistance to Change
Method for Dealing
with Resistance Commonly Used When . . . Advantages Drawbacks
Education and There is a lack of information Once persuaded, Can be time-consuming.
communication or there is inaccurate people will often help with
information. implementing the change.
Participation and The managers leading the People who participate Can be time-consuming,
involvement change do not have all will be committed to and can backfire if
the information they need implementing change. recommendations not
to design the change, or when accepted.
others have power to resist.
Facilitation and People are resisting because No other approach Can be time-consuming
support of fear and anxiety. works as well when fear and expensive, yet
is the problem. still fail.
Negotiation and Someone or some group Can be a relatively easy Can be too expensive
agreement will clearly lose out in a way to avoid major if it prompts other
change, and that group has resistance. groups to negotiate,
power to resist. too.
Manipulation and Other tactics won’t work Can be relatively quick Can lead to future
co-optation or are too time-consuming. and inexpensive. problems if people
feel tricked or
manipulated.
Coercion Speed is essential, and the It is speedy and can Risky if it leaves people
change initiators possess overcome any kind angry at the initiators.
power. of resistance.
Source: Adapted and reprinted by permission of Harvard Business School Publishing. “Six Methods for Dealing
with Change,” from “Choosing Strategies for Change,” by John P. Kotter and Leonard A. Schlesinger, Harvard
Business Review, March–April 1979. Copyright © 1979 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College; all
rights reserved.
PRACTICE IT
Bill Zollars
To turn Yellow Transportation around, Bill Zollars knew he The change Zollars led was successful. For example,
had to provide the company and its workers with state- his team equipped each dockworker with a wireless mo-
of-the-art technology. He also knew this technology bile data terminal. Now, even before the truck arrives, the
would dramatically change how his employees did things, worker can see what’s on board and when the truck is
and that getting their acceptance was therefore vital.The pulling into the dock.42 Managers back at headquarters
new technology gives the employees the information can monitor progress and send additional employees if
they need to solve problems for customers quickly. But help is required.
this also meant that the employees needed additional Soon, Zollars’ changes had turned the company
decision-making authority, as well as training to use the around. In 2002 Yellow Freight System Inc. changed its
new equipment. name to Yellow Transportation Inc. to reflect the com-
With 25,000 people in hundreds of locations around pany’s transformation to a full-service global transporta-
the country, Zollars spent over a year going from termi- tion provider. In 2003 Yellow acquired Roadway Corp. to
nal to terminal, standing on loading docks and explaining become Yellow Roadway Corp. In 2006 Yellow Roadway
the changes. Linking employees with the new technology Corp. changed its name to YRC Worldwide Inc. to better
and giving them the authority to make fast, on-the-spot reflect its capabilities today as a global entity. Bill Zollars is
decisions (empowering them) helped to win their com- now Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of YRC
mitment and dedication to getting the job done fast. Worldwide Inc.
CEO Lawrence Bossidy had to create a leaner, more efficient company. He began
by putting all of his 80,000 people through quality training. They could then apply
this new knowledge to helping Allied improve its quality.49
Source: Adapted from Carlos Ghosn, “Saving the Business Without Losing the Company,” Harvard Business Review, January 2002, pp. 40–41.
Organizational Development and Conflict Management ■ 323
T ABLE 11.3
Examples of OD Interventions and the Organizational Levels They Affect
Primary Organizational Level Affected
Interventions Individual Group Organization
Human Process
T-groups ⫻ ⫻
Process consultation ⫻
Third-party intervention ⫻ ⫻
Team building ⫻
Organizational confrontation meeting ⫻ ⫻
Intergroup relations ⫻ ⫻
Technostructural
Formal structural change ⫻
Differentiation and integration ⫻
Cooperative union-management projects ⫻ ⫻ ⫻
Quality circles ⫻ ⫻
Total quality management ⫻ ⫻
Work design ⫻ ⫻
Human Resource Management
Goal setting ⫻ ⫻
Performance appraisal ⫻ ⫻
Reward systems ⫻ ⫻ ⫻
Career planning and development ⫻
Managing workforce diversity ⫻
Employee wellness ⫻
Strategic
Integrated strategic management ⫻
Culture change ⫻
Strategic change ⫻
Self-designing organizations ⫻ ⫻
their own and others’ behavior more effectively. With this new insight, they should
be able to solve interpersonal and intergroup problems more intelligently. Sensi-
tivity training, team building, and survey research are three classic techniques
used in these applications.
Organizational Development and Conflict Management ■ 325
strategic intervention: an 2. Choose a desired strategy and organizational design. Based on the analysis,
organizational development senior management formulates a strategic vision, objectives, and plan, and an
application aimed at effecting a organizational structure for implementing them.
suitable fit among a firm’s
strategy, structure, culture, and 3. Design a strategic change plan. The group designs a strategic change plan: “an
external environments action plan for moving the organization from its current strategy and organi-
zational design to the desired future strategy and design.”58 It lays out how
integrated strategic management will implement the strategic change, including budgets.
management:
an organizational development
4. Implement the strategic change plan. The final step is to implement the strate-
program to create or change a
company’s strategy by analyzing gic change plan and then measure and review the results.59
the current strategy, choosing a
desired strategy, designing a ● The Global Manager OD practices such as sensitivity training that may be
strategic change plan, and acceptable in one context may be frowned upon in another. Managers thinking of
implementing the new plan
using OD interventions abroad, therefore, need to consider the cultural context. A
study of OD usage by U.S., Japanese, and European multinational corporations
and local Chinese firms in Hong Kong illustrates this.
There were distinct differences in OD usage between Western and Asian
firms. Chinese and Japanese firms generally used OD interventions less fre-
quently than did Western firms. In this study, the researchers also found that the
human process types of interventions (like sensitivity training) were least used,
even for the American firms, and that the Chinese firms were even less open to
individual and personal-level interventions than were European and U.S. firms.
The researchers concluded that the Chinese tended to be more skeptical of per-
sonal and confrontation-type interventions. On the other hand, local Chinese
firms did use HR-type interventions, for instance, to strengthen their reward
systems.60
T ABLE 11.4
Conflict-Resolution Modes
Component Definition
Forcing Contending that the adversary do what you say in a
direct way
Confronting Demanding attention to the conflict issue
Process controlling Dominating the conflict-resolution process to one’s
own advantage
Problem solving Reconciling the parties’ basic interests
Compromising Settling through mutual concessions
Accommodating Giving in to the opponent
Avoiding Moving away from the conflict issue
Source: Evert Van De Vliert, Martin C. Euwema, and Sipke E. Huismans, “Managing Conflict with a Subordinate
or a Superior: Effectiveness of Conglomerated Behavior,” Journal of Applied Psychology, April 1995, pp. 271–281.
Copyright © 1995 by the American Psychological Association. Reprinted by permission.
Indicate how often you do the following when you differ with someone.
4. Rather than let the other person make a decision without my input, I make sure that
I am heard and that I hear the other out.
5. I agree to a middle ground rather than look for a completely satisfying solution.
12. I give in as soon as the other party gets emotional about an issue.
Everyone has a basic or underlying conflict-handling style. Your scores on this exercise indicate the strategies you rely on most.
SOURCE: Adapted from Thomas J.Von de Embse, Supervision: Managerial Skills for a New Era (New York: Macmillian Publishing
Company, 1987), in Stephen Robbins and Philip Hunsaker, Training in Interpersonal Skills (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice
Hall, 1996), pp. 217–219.
Experiential Exercises ■ 329
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. The manager’s change program can aim to alter 5. Methods of dealing with resistance include educa-
one of four basic things: The firm’s strategy, tech- tion and communication, facilitation and support,
nology, structure, and people/behavior/culture. In participation and involvement, negotiation and
practice, such changes are rarely compartmental- agreement, manipulation and co-optation, and
ized. Instead, the manager needs to take a systems coercion. Lewin suggests unfreezing the situation,
view of the change and its implications. perhaps by using a dramatic event to get people to
recognize the need for change.
2. Today, reorganizing a company by changing de-
partments and reporting relationships is only part 6. A ten-step process for actually leading organiza-
of the manager’s organizing responsibilities. Every tional change includes creating a sense of urgency,
business consists of various business processes. In deciding what to change, creating a guiding
a highly competitive global environment, man- coalition and mobilizing commitment to change
agers can gain a competitive advantage by using through a joint diagnosis of business problems, de-
information technology to make their processes as veloping and then communicating a shared vision,
efficient and agile as possible. removing barriers to the change and empowering
employees, implementing the change, generating
3. Business process reengineering projects tend to be
short-term wins, consolidating gains and produc-
one-time efforts that aim to produce dramatic re-
ing more change, anchoring the new ways of doing
organizations of the handful of major business
things in the company’s culture, and monitoring
processes that management believes are keeping
progress and adjusting the vision as required.
the company from becoming world-class. Busi-
ness process management is usually an ongoing 7. Organizational development (OD) is a special ap-
process aimed at making incremental improve- proach to organizational change that basically in-
ments in processes, continuously, over time. volves letting the employees themselves formulate
and implement the change that’s required, often
4. The hardest part of leading a change is overcoming
with the assistance of a trained consultant. Types
resistance. Resistance stems from several sources:
of OD applications include human process appli-
habit, resource limitations, threats to power and
cations, technostructuraI interventions, HR man-
influence, fear of the unknown, and altering em-
agement applications, and strategic applications.
ployees’ personal compacts.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why do we say that no organizational change is 4. What are the ten steps in the organizational
ever compartmentalized? change process? Provide examples of each step.
2. List and give examples of the four main things a 5. What aspects of the change process did Carlos
manager can try to change in his or her organization. Ghosn apply at Nissan?
3. How exactly would you go about unfreezing a situ- 6. Briefly describe the conditions under which you
ation at work? would use education, participation, and coercion
to overcome resistance.
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. In teams of four to five students, use what you 2. Assume that you are the professor in a manage-
learned about organizational culture in this chap- ment class and you have a problem. Classes started
ter to describe the organizational culture in this last week, and the class did not get off to a good
class. List the specific things that you believe con- start. You arrived late, were snappy with the stu-
tributed to creating that culture and what specifi- dents, and gave them the impression that you’d
cally you would do to fine-tune the culture. be running a tough, dictatorial classroom. Several
330 PART FOUR CHAPTER 11 Designing and Changing Organizations
students dropped the course, and most of the oth- average instead of the required 92, and you want
ers probably stayed only because the other sec- the grade changed to an A. (c) You want to go to
tions were full. You don’t want to have a miserable France on vacation this year, but your significant
semester. Form teams of four or five students, and other is concerned with the risks of flying and of
write out an outline, using the ten-step change being out of the United States. How can you get
process from page 318, that shows what exactly your significant other to change his or her mind?
you would change in your class (if you were the (d) You just applied for a job as marketing manager
professor) and how you would change it to have a for a local department store. The head of HR says
more pleasant and productive class. that you seem like a very good candidate but that
you don’t have quite enough experience. How
3. Working in teams of four to five students, explain
would you overcome his or her resistance?
specifically how you would apply each of the three
steps in Lewin’s change process to overcome resis- 4. Your college bookstore has a process for returning
tance to change in the following situations: (a) Your and getting credit for used textbooks. In teams of
brother is 100 pounds overweight. How would you four to five students, visit the bookstore; analyze
get him to go on a diet? (b) Your professor gave you that process; and explain, complete with a flow-
an A– instead of an A because you compiled a 91.9 chart, how you would reengineer the process.
CASE STUDY
Immelt Splits GE Capital
n his first major reorganization since taking over as nesses and the number of people reporting to Immelt
I CEO of General Electric (GE), Jeffrey Immelt said that
he was splitting GE’s huge GE capital finance division
are already quite large, and the new organization means
he’ll have three additional people reporting directly to
into four major parts. GE Capital produces about 40 per- him. Furthermore, there are some obvious synergies
cent of all of GE’s earnings, and the heads of its individ- among the four separate GE Capital divisions; there-
ual insurance, consumer finance, commercial finance, fore, it’s now going to be up to Immelt to ensure that he
and equipment units formerly reported to GE Capital provides the required coordination so that those syner-
chief executive Denis Nayden. He, in turn, reported to gies take place. Others point out that the sorts of im-
Jeffrey Immelt, along with the heads of GE’s various provements that Immelt says he wants—such as giving
other businesses, including NBC, appliances, and med- him a clearer idea of what each of the four divisions
ical equipment. Under the new organization, Immelt is doing—could have been accomplished without a
eliminated the position of GE Capital chief executive, major reorganization. In the past, for instance, GE’s for-
and the heads of GE Capital’s four main insurance, con- mer CEO, Jack Welch, personally reviewed major GE
sumer finance, commercial finance, and equipment Capital transactions. Another analyst pointed out that
units will now report directly to Immelt. “. . . [w]henever a high-level executive [such as Nayden]
In making the change, Immelt basically said that he departs, you have to be a little bit skeptical, and it raises
wanted more direct day-to-day control over GE Capital’s a red flag that perhaps there may be another shoe.”64
huge financial services businesses. He said, “This will
create a clearer line of sight on how our financial services
businesses operate and enhance growth.” The reorgani- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
zation will, therefore, give him the same direct control
1. Use Figure 11.1 to answer this question: Was this
over each of the GE Capital divisions that he now has
reorganization really necessary? What other knowl-
with respect to GE’s other businesses, such as appliances
edge that you have about how to reorganize would
and jet engines. Another benefit of the change, accord-
you apply to answering this question, and what
ing to GE, is that its “external reporting will mirror this
conclusions do you draw?
organizational structure, providing greater clarity for
investors.” In other words, investors will now receive 2. Use the nine test questions (such as the market
financial reports on each of the four GE Capital busi- advantage test) in this chapter both to analyze the
nesses rather than on just GE Capital as a whole. organization that Immelt decided upon and to
While the reorganization seems to make sense, answer this question: How would you have reorga-
several observers have criticized it. The range of busi- nized GE Capital?
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 12
Sutter Health CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Sutter
331
CHAPTER OUTLINE (Continued)
● Appraising and Maintaining
Employees Show that you can apply what you’ve learned here by
Employee Appraisal ➤ Watching the video scenario and explaining how you
Compensation would set up the testing and selection process.
Discipline and Grievances ➤ Watching the simulation video and identifying human
Managing Now: Appraising and Online Study Center
resource strategies used by the company to attract ACE the Test
Maintaining Employees and maintain key employees. Managing Now! LIVE
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
GM and NCR
● Understanding HR’s Legal After designing the organization chart, managers turn to staffing their organiza-
Framework tions. Staffing, personnel, or (as it is known today) human resource (HR) man-
Equal-Employment Laws and agement is the management function devoted to acquiring, training, appraising,
Affirmative Action paying, and ensuring fairness and safety for the organization’s employees. We can
Occupational Safety and Health view human resource management as a series of steps, starting with identifying
Labor-Management Relations the job’s requirements, and then recruiting, selecting, training, appraising, and
Managing Now: Integrating the compensating employees while continually attending to the important issues of
Company’s Global HR Information employee fairness and safety (see Figure 12.1).
Systems Why study human resource management? Most firms have human resource
(HR) departments, so you may reasonably ask, why study human resource
management as part of a basic management course?
human resource (HR) The answer is that every manager, not just human resource managers, spend
management: the much of their day doing HR-type tasks, such as interviewing, appraising, and
management function devoted disciplining employees. Hiring the right people is a prerequisite for managerial
to acquiring, training, success. Hiring dysfunctional employees, experiencing high turnover, not attract-
appraising, paying, and ensuring ing the best candidates, and triggering discrimination charges are some of the
fairness and safety for the human resource management blunders that can torpedo any manager’s career.
organization’s employees
The main purpose of this chapter is to familiarize you with basic staffing skills. The
main topics we cover include writing job descriptions, interviewing and selecting
employees, and training and appraising the firm’s new workers.
Conform to EEOC
and
other HR-related laws
Human Resource Management’s Strategic Role ■ 333
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Signicast
At Signicast, HR’s involvement began at the plant design a high school diploma and a good work ethic. The new
stage. The human resource management group invited plant’s employees would require the same high school de-
current employees to participate in planning and design- gree and work ethic, plus team orientation, good trainabil-
ing the new plant: “Employees would come up with sug- ity, good communication skills, and a willingness to do
gestions; we’d implement them, and bring them back to varied jobs over a twelve-hour shift. Human resources also
[employees] for confirmation.” created a cross-training program so that employees could
HR helped the company execute its new plant expan- do each other’s jobs and ensure the company’s workforce
sion strategy in other ways. For example, the new plant was as flexible as it could be. And a new compensation
would produce parts almost five times faster than the old plan paid workers to learn more about the technical as-
plant. The employees would therefore need more respon- pects of the plant (such as how to use the new comput-
sibility and self-control. Selection standards were thus ers). At Signicast, human resources played a strategic role
tighter. At the old plant, the only hiring requirements were in executing the company’s new high-tech plant strategy.
and computer skills the new plant would require.2 Mr. Lutz’s whole strategy for
growing his company hinged on finding, attracting, and then hiring and training
those new employees, in other words, on human resource management.
● Trends in the Nature of Work Technology has had a huge impact on how
people work and on the skills and training today’s workers need. More and more
traditional factory jobs are going high-tech. To paraphrase the U.S. government’s
Occupational Outlook Quarterly, knowledge-intensive high-tech manufacturing
in industries like aerospace and telecommunications are replacing factory jobs in
industries like steel and textiles. For managers, this means a growing emphasis
on knowledge-based work, and therefore on human capital. Human capital refers
to the knowledge, education, training, skills, and expertise of a firm’s workers.
● Labor Force Trends At the same time, workforce demographic trends are
making finding and hiring good employees more challenging. Labor force growth
is not expected to keep pace with job growth, with an estimated shortfall of about
14 million college-educated workers by 2020.3 Most notably, the labor force is get-
ting older. As the baby boomers born between 1946 and 1960 start leaving the
labor force in the next few years, employers will face a labor shortage.
Trends like the above have had two implications for the human resource man-
ager’s job. First, it has become broader and more strategic over time, as it did at
Signicast. Second, it now focuses more on productivity and performance.
More firms are installing Internet and computer-based systems for improv-
ing the operational efficiency of their human resources operations. International
Paper Corp.’s “Viking” human resources information system is one example. The
goal was to achieve a human resources staff to employee ratio of 1 to 150 (com-
pared with 1 to 100), and a cost per employee of $800 for delivering human
resources services.6 Among other things, Viking includes an intranet employee
portal that employees use to self-service certain human resources–related needs
(such as updating their personal information).
Finally, technology makes it easier to outsource human resources activities to
specialist service providers. It does this by enabling outside employee-benefits
providers to have real-time Internet-based access to the employer’s human re-
sources database. Outsourcing is increasingly popular. About 84 percent of the
human resources professionals responding said that their firms outsource the
administration of their companies’ 401(k) pension plans, and about 68 percent
of employers outsource background checks to specialist firms.
In creating a modern human resources system, a logical place to start is by writ-
ing job descriptions and instituting an effective recruitment function, topics to which
we now turn.
Use Supervisors
selection and others
Applicants
tools like interview
complete
tests to final
application
screen out candidates
forms
most to make
applicants final choice
336 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
F IGURE 12.3
Sample Job Description
OLEC CORP.
Job Description
SUMMARY
Plans, directs, and coordinates the marketing of the organization’s products and/or services by performing the following duties
personally or through subordinate supervisors.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
■Establishes marketing goals to ensure share of market and profitability of products and/or services.
■Develops and executes marketing plans and programs, both short and long range, to ensure the profit growth and expansion of
company products and/or services.
■Researches, analyzes, and monitors financial, technological, and demographic factors so that market opportunities may be
capitalized on and the effects of competitive activity may be minimized.
■Plans and oversees the organization’s advertising and promotion activities including print, electronic, and direct mail outlets.
■Communicates with outside advertising agencies on ongoing campaigns.
■Works with writers and artists and oversees copywriting, design, layout, pasteup, and production of promotional materials.
■Develops and recommends pricing strategy for the organization, which will result in the greatest share of the market over the
long run.
■Achieves satisfactory profit/loss ratio and share of market performance in relation to preset standards and to general and specific
trends within the industry and the economy.
■Ensures effective control of marketing results and that corrective action takes place to be certain that the achievement of
marketing objectives are within designated budgets.
■Evaluates market reactions to advertising programs, merchandising policy, and product packaging and formulation to ensure the
timely adjustment of marketing strategy and plans to meet changing market and competitive conditions.
■Recommends changes in basic structure and organization of marketing group to ensure the effective fulfillment of objectives
assigned to it and to provide the flexibility to move swiftly in relation to marketing problems and opportunities.
■Conducts marketing surveys on current and new product concepts.
■Prepares marketing activity reports.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manages three subordinate supervisors who supervise a total of five employees in the Marketing Department. Is responsible for the
overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of this unit. Also directly supervises two non-supervisory employees. Carries out
supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing,
hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining
employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Writing Job Descriptions and Recruiting Employees ■ 337
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed
below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to
respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability
to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information
to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic equations, and permutations. Ability to
apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of
variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of
technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.
people (in terms of skills and experience) to hire for them.7 Managers then use this
job description: a list of information to develop a job description (a list of duties showing what each job
duties showing what each job entails) and a job specification (a list of the skills and aptitudes sought in people
entails hired for the job).
The job description, like the one in Figure 12.3, identifies the job, provides a
job specification: a list of the
skills and aptitudes sought in brief job summary, and then lists specific responsibilities and duties. Most descrip-
people hired for a job tions contain sections that cover job identification, job summary, responsibilities
and duties, authority of incumbent, working conditions, and job specifications
(the human requirements of the job, such as education required).
job analysis questionnaire: Managers can use a job analysis questionnaire (see Figure 12.4) to ascertain
a questionnaire used to a job’s duties and responsibilities. Employees provide detailed information on
ascertain a job’s duties and what they do. They briefly state their main duties, describe the conditions under
responsibilities
which they work, and list any permits or licenses required to their perform duties.
Supervisors and/or human resources specialists then review this information.
personnel planning: the Job analysis is part of personnel planning. Personnel planning is the process
process of determining the of determining the organization’s future personnel needs, as well as the methods
organization’s future personnel to be used to fill those needs. Here, the manager estimates the company’s future
needs, as well as the methods to personnel needs, for instance, in terms of projected revenues and installing
be used to fill those needs
new plants or facilities. Personnel planning also involves deciding ahead of time
(planning) where the requisite employees will come from (within or outside the
company’s employee pool) and how to train them.
338 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
F IGURE 12.4 Instructions: Distribute copies of this questionnaire to supervisors, managers, personnel
staff members, job analysts, and others who may be involved in writing job descriptions.
Preliminary Job Description Ask them to record their answers to these questions in writing.
Questionnaire
Use a questionnaire like this one
to interview job incumbents, or 1. What is the job title?
have them fill it out. 2. Summarize the job’s more important, regularly performed/duties in a Job Summary.
3. In what department is the job located?
4. What is the title of the supervisor or manager to whom the jobholder must report?
5. Does the jobholder supervise other employees? If so, give their job titles and a brief
description of their responsibilities.
7. Does the jobholder perform other duties periodically? Infrequently? If so, please
list, indicating frequency.
8. What are the working conditions? List such items as noise, heat, outside work,
and exposure to bad weather.
9. How much authority does the jobholder have in such matters as training or guiding
other people?
10. How much education, experience, and skill are required for satisfactory job performance?
11. At what stage is the jobholder’s work reviewed by the supervisor?
12. What machines or equipment is the jobholder responsible for operating?
13. If the jobholder makes a serious mistake or error in performing required duties, what
SOURCE: www.HR.BLR.com © 2004
would be the cost to management?
Business and Legal Reports, Inc.
Reprinted by permission.
personnel replacement Many employers use personnel replacement charts (see Figure 12.5) to
charts: charts that show the keep track of inside candidates for important positions. These charts show the
present performance and the present performance and the likelihood of promotion for each potential replace-
likelihood of promotion for each
ment. Many firms maintain computerized databanks containing information on
potential replacement
hundreds of traits (like special skills, product knowledge, work experience, train-
ing courses, relocation limitations, and career interests) for each employee.
Writing Job Descriptions and Recruiting Employees ■ 339
F IGURE 12.5
Management Personnel Replacement Chart
President
PRESENT
Manager, Personnel Manager, Accounting Manager, Personnel Manager, Accounting PERFORMANCE
C. Huser 47 C. Hood 46 S. French 45 M. Piper 50 Outstanding
A. Kyle 36 W. Wicks 40 T. Smith 38 Satisfactory
H. Ross 33 J. Jones 35 Needs
improvement
PROMOTION
POTENTIAL
Manager, Production Manager, Sales Manager, Production Manager, Sales
Ready now
J. James 48 M. Murray 47 R. Jarvis 47 F. Goland 42
Needs further
W. Long 37 E. Renfrew 39 C. Pitts 40 S. Ramos 38 training
G. Fritz 37 B. Storey 36 C. Combs 38
Questionable
Employee Recruiting
recruiting: attracting a pool of Once the manager knows the specifics of the jobs to fill, recruiting—attracting a
viable job applicants pool of viable job applicants—becomes important. Only with a sufficient number
of applicants can the manager use techniques like interviews and tests to select
the best.
Several things affect a firm’s ability to attract candidates. Economic conditions
are one: high unemployment tends to make recruiting easier, for instance. The
employer’s compensation and other personnel policies are also important. For ex-
ample, hospitals that pay higher salaries find it easier to recruit nurses. The com-
pany’s reputation is very important. For example, some firms are known for great
training programs and for being excellent places to work, for instance, in terms
of child-care benefits. Indeed, BusinessWeek magazine ran a story on the best
340 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
places for recent graduates to work, listing firms like Disney, Lockheed Martin, and
Goldman Sachs. Some applicants also gravitate toward companies with better
growth prospects (perhaps choosing, for instance, Google over a steel company if
a choice must be made).
The manager can draw applicants either from within the firm’s current work-
force (internal recruiting) or from outside the firm (external recruiting)—for in-
stance, through help-wanted ads.
the applicant pool to an acceptable few. The harried small-business owner may
have little choice but to retain one. Points to keep in mind when dealing with em-
ployment agencies include:
◗ Give the agency an accurate and complete job description.
◗ Make sure that tests, application blanks, and interviews are part of the agency’s
selection process.
◗ Periodically review data on candidates accepted or rejected by your firm and by
the agency.
◗ Develop a long-term relationship with one or two agencies.
◗ Screen the agency: what is its reputation in the community and with the Better
Business Bureau?10
Contingent Workers and Temporary Help Agencies Employers often supple-
ment their permanent workforce by hiring contingent or temporary workers,
often through temporary help employment agencies. Also known as part-time or
just-in-time workers, they are defined as workers who don’t have permanent
jobs.11 It is estimated that 60 percent of the total U.S. temporary payroll is noncler-
ical and includes “CEOs, human resources directors, computer systems analysts,
accountants, doctors, and nurses.”12 When Foster Farms in California found itself
falling behind in solving its information technology (IT) problems, it hired an ex-
perienced interim chief information officer (CIO).13
executive recruiters: Executive Recruiters Executive recruiters (also called headhunters) are
agencies retained by employers agencies retained by employers to look for top management talent, usually in the
to look for top management $70,000 and up category. They have extensive contacts and files of potential re-
talent, usually in the $70,000 and
cruits, and they are adept at contacting qualified employed candidates who aren’t
up category; also called
headhunters looking to change jobs. The recruiter saves employers time by advertising the
position and screening what could turn out to be hundreds of applicants. Their
ability to research who might be viable and to reach out to them is something of an
art that few employers can do themselves.
F IGURE 12.6
Campus Applicant Interview Report
Above Below
EVALUATION Outstanding Average Average Average
Education: Courses relevant to job? Does
performance in class indicate good
potential for work?
Appearance: Was applicant neat and
dressed appropriately?
Communication Skills: Was applicant mentally
alert? Did he or she express ideas clearly?
Motivation: Does applicant have high energy
level? Are his or her interests compatible
with job?
Attitude: Did applicant appear to be pleasant,
people-oriented?
SOURCE: Adapted and updated from Joseph J. Famularo, Handbook of Personnel Forms, Records, and Reports
(New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982), p. 70.
Many employers, including Cisco Systems, use information candidate calls in and links to the Cisco recruiter via the
technology like PC-based video cameras and the Internet Web. The process doesn’t eliminate face-to-face inter-
to conduct initial screening interviews. Cisco equips its views. However, using it for the initial screening interview
recruiters with PC-based video cameras. The recruiter reduces travel and recruiting expenses and make things
instructs the applicant to use his or her own PC camera easier for candidates.19
or one at a local FedEx Kinko’s. At the appointed time, the
Job hunters should know, by the way, that employers are checking candidates’
social networking sites’ postings. One employer went to Facebook.com and found
that a top candidate described his interests as smoking marijuana and shooting
people. The student may have been kidding, but he did not get the offer.20
The Window on Managing Now feature provides an illustration of how Cisco
uses information technology to recruit candidates.
In general, the Web is a relatively cost-effective way to publicize openings. For
example, Marsha Wheatley, HR director for the Washington, D.C.–based American
Crop Protection Association, no longer runs $400 ads in the Washington Post
when looking for agricultural engineers. Instead, ads on WashingtonPost.com cost
only $200. And “instead of a tiny ad that says, ‘ACPA needs an accountant,’ I get a
applicant tracking whole page to describe the job. . . .”21
services: services that compile
the employer’s online ● Managing Now: Applicant Tracking Services Managers increase the effi-
applications, screen the ciency and effectiveness of their online recruiting efforts by contracting with
incoming résumés using the
applicant tracking services. These services receive and compile the employer’s
employer’s standards, and then
assist the employer in
online applications, automatically screen the incoming résumés using the em-
automatically scheduling ployer’s standards, and then assist the employer in automatically scheduling
interviews for high-potential interviews for high-potential applicants. The Practice IT feature shows how Sutter
applicants Health uses this tool.
PRACTICE IT
Sutter Health
With over 300,000 applications per year, online job post- The applicant tracking system first rejects applicants
ings proved to be too much of a good thing for Sutter who do not meet the firm’s minimum requirements (like
Health. Project manager Keith Vencel knew he needed a willingness to submit to drug tests). Then it scores the
better solution.22 His solution was to contract with an applicants’ online tests, such as a Web-based skills test in ac-
online applications service provider (ASP) company that counting. The applicant tracking system also automatically
supplies an applicant tracking system. Sutter’s applicants keeps track of each applicant. For example, it searches for
apply for jobs on what appears to be a Sutter website, but keywords like “MBA” and brings résumés to a hiring man-
it is really one that the ASP is managing. Applicants fill out ager’s attention. It also schedules interviews and reminds
applications and answer online questions. supervisors when an applicant is due for an interview.
Interviewing and Selecting Employees ■ 345
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
City Garage
Establishing the right screening process can have a decisive pretty much anybody who had experience,” said training di-
effect on a firm’s success. For example, City Garage, a 200- rector Rusty Reinhold. City’s solution was to purchase the
employee chain of twenty-five auto-service and -repair Personality Profile Analysis (PPA) online test from Thomp-
shops in Dallas–Fort Worth,Texas, had expanded rapidly. son International USA. Now, after a quick application and
However, its growth was hampered by the problems it background check, candidates take the ten-minute, twenty-
was having hiring good managers and employees.23 four-question PPA. City Garage staff enter the answers into
City Garage’s original hiring process consisted of a the PPA software system, and employee suitability test re-
paper-and-pencil application and one interview, immedi- sults are available in two minutes. As Reinhold says,“[A]t a
ately followed by a hire–don’t hire decision. Local shop minimum, we feel like we’ll be able to put $500,000 on the
managers didn’t have the time to evaluate every applicant: bottom line each year, if [the PPA] does what we expect it
“If they had been shorthanded too long, we would hire to in terms of retention and right hiring.”
Application Forms
application form: form used For most employers, the application form is the first step in the selection process.
in selection; usually includes (Some firms first require a brief prescreening interview.) As you can see in Fig-
information about areas such as ure 12.7, it usually includes information about areas such as education, prior work
education, prior work history,
history, and hobbies.
and hobbies
F IGURE 12.7
Employment Application
Interviewing and Selecting Employees ■ 347
Analysis: According to John Kamp, an industrial psychologist, applicants who answered no, yes,
yes, no, no to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are statistically likely to be absent less often, to have
fewer on-the-job injuries, and, if the job involves driving, to have fewer on-the-job driving
accidents. Actual scores on the test are based on answers to 130 questions.
● Test Reliability and Validity It is useless (and often illegal) to use a test
that lacks validity or reliability. Reliability is a test’s consistency. Thus, if someone
scores 90 on an intelligence test on Monday and 130 on Tuesday, you probably
would question the test’s reliability. Test validity answers the question, Does this
test measure what it is supposed to measure? In practical terms, this usually means,
Does performance on the test predict subsequent performance on the job? A test
that does not meet that standard is useless. If it also disproportionately screens
out minority or female candidates, it might also violate equal-employment laws.
● Types of Tests Many types of tests are available. Employers use intelligence
(IQ) tests like the Stanford-Binet or the Wechsler or Wonderlic to measure general
intellectual abilities. For some jobs, managers are also interested in testing other
abilities. For example, the Bennett Test of Mechanical Comprehension (see Fig-
ure 12.9) helps assess an applicant’s understanding of basic mechanical principles;
it would be useful for predicting success on a job such as machinist or engineer.
Other tests measure personality and interests. For example, you probably wouldn’t
hire someone for an entry-level job as an accounting clerk if he or she had no meas-
urable interest in working with numbers!26 Most of us have had some experience
dealing with service people who are obviously not psychologically suited for such
jobs. A personality test might have screened them out. Some employers need to
348 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
F IGURE 12.9 Look at Sample X on this page. It shows two men carrying a weighted object on a plank,
and it asks, Which man carries more weight? Because the object is closer to man B than to
An Example of the Bennett man A, man B is shouldering more weight; so blacken the circle under B on your answer
Test of Mechanical sheet. Now look at Sample Y and answer it yourself. Fill in the circle under the correct
Comprehension answer on your answer sheet.
Human resources managers often
use personnel tests, like this one,
to measure a candidate’s skills and X
aptitudes. Which man carries more weight?
(If equal, mark C.)
Examples
A B C
X
A B C
Y
SOURCE: Bennett Mechanical
Comprehension Test. Copyright © 1942,
1967–1970, 1980 by Harcourt Assessment,
Inc. Reproduced with permission. All Y
rights reserved.“Bennett Mechanical Municipal Busline
Which letter shows the seat where a
Comprehension Test” and “BMCT” are
passenger will get the smoothest ride?
trademarks of Harcourt Assessment, Inc.
registered in the United States of America
and/or other jurisdictions.
management assessment test candidates’ physical abilities. For example, Dell would want to make sure its
center: testing technique in assemblers have the finger dexterity to work with tiny objects.
which about a dozen candidates A management assessment center is another testing technique. In such
spend two or three days
centers, about a dozen candidates spend two or three days performing realistic
performing realistic
management tasks while expert management tasks while expert appraisers observe them. They assess each candi-
appraisers observe them date’s potential.27 The center’s activities might include individual presentations,
objective tests, interviews, and participation in manage-
ment games. Participants engage in realistic problem
solving, usually as members of two or three simulated
companies.
Interviews
The interview is the most widely used selection device, and it would be very unusual
for a manager to hire a subordinate without at least a brief personal interview.
The problem is that while almost everyone gets a job interview, most inter-
views don’t produce very reliable information. The reasons for this predicament
are many. For one thing, research shows that interviewers rather constantly com-
mit blunders such as leaping to conclusions during the first few minutes of the
interview or asking for information (like “tell me your main weaknesses”) that
doesn’t really shed much light on what the applicant will actually do on the job.
Others are simply uncomfortable asking questions or don’t know what to ask.
The manager can boost the usefulness of selection interviews by following
procedures such as planning and structuring the interview, establishing rapport,
asking questions, delaying the decision, and closing the interview.29 We review
each of these steps next.
● Structure the Interview Most interviews are too informal.30 The inter-
viewer asks general questions like, “What are your weaknesses?” The preferred ap-
proach is to structure the interview by asking questions that relate to performance
on the job. Experts call this a behavioral interview. For example, ask the candidate
to explain how he or she would handle a hypothetical situation, such as, “If you
were a supervisor here, what would you do if one of your subordinates came in
consistently late?” If the job calls for making cold calls, ask, “Tell me about a time
when you had to make an unsolicited sales call. How did you do it? What was the
result?” Interviews based on a structured guide, like the one shown in Figure 12.10
on page 350, usually give better results. Structured interviews are more valid in
part because they are more reliable—for example, the same interviewer adminis-
ters the interview more consistently from candidate to candidate.
F IGURE 12.10
Structured Interview Form for College Applicants
CANDIDATE NUMBER NAME (LAST NAME FIRST) COLLEGE NAME COLLEGE CODE
U 921
I
(1–7) (8–27) (28–30)
INTERVIEWER NUMBER
0 SOURCE (41) RACE (42) SEX (43) DEGREE (53) AVERAGE CLASS STANDING
Campus C White W Male M Bachelors B (A = 4.0) (59–59)
(33–40) Walk-in W Black B Female F Masters M Overall Top 10% 10
INTERVIEWER NAME Intern I Asian A Init. Law L (54–55) Top 25% 25
Agency A Hispanic H Cont. Majors Acctg. Top Half 50
Native Am. NA Date (56–57) Bottom Half 75
CAMPUS INTERVIEW EVALUATIONS
ATTITUDE – MOTIVATION – GOALS
POOR AVERAGE GOOD OUTSTANDING
(POSITIVE, COOPERATIVE, ENERGETIC, MOTIVATED, SUCCESSFUL, GOAL-ORIENTED)
COMMENTS:
INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES
POOR AVERAGE GOOD OUTSTANDING
(INSIGHTFUL, CREATIVE, CURIOUS, IMAGINATIVE, UNDERSTANDS, REASONS, INTELLIGENT, SCHOLARLY)
COMMENTS:
LEADERSHIP
POOR AVERAGE GOOD OUTSTANDING
(SELF-CONFIDENT, TAKES CHARGE, EFFECTIVE, RESPECTED, MANAGEMENT MINDED, GRASPS AUTHORITY)
COMMENTS:
◗ Don’t monopolize the interview or let the applicant dominate the interview.
◗ Listen to the candidate and encourage him or her to express thoughts fully.
◗ Don’t ask for just general statements about accomplishments; ask for specific
examples.31
◗ If the candidate lists specific strengths or weaknesses, follow up with, “What are
specific examples that demonstrate each of your strengths?”
● Delay the Decision Research shows that interviewers often make snap
judgments based on inadequate information. Keep a record of the interview, and
then review it before deciding.32
● Close the Interview End the process courteously. Tell the applicant whether
there is an interest, and if so, what the next step will be. Rejections should be
diplomatic.
352 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
To be Completed by Employer:
Employed From To
Position(s) Held
Reason for Separation: Quit Laid-off Discharged
Other
Comments:
● Honesty Testing Many employees work in jobs for which honesty is espe-
cially crucial—as bank tellers or cashiers, for instance. With few exceptions, fed-
eral law now prohibits employers from using polygraph (lie detector) machines.37
Paper-and-pencil honesty tests are legal. They ask questions (such as “Have you
ever made a personal phone call on company time?”) aimed at assessing a person’s
tendency to be honest. In practice, detecting dishonest candidates involves not
just tests but comprehensive antitheft screening procedures. These procedures
may include, for instance:
◗ Asking blunt questions.38 Managers can generally be quite blunt. For example,
“Have you recently held jobs other than those listed on your application?” “Have
you ever been fired or asked to leave the job?”
◗ Doing a credit check. Have applicants sign an application form declaration saying
that the employer is authorized to conduct background checks and credit
checks.
◗ Carefully checking all employment and personal references.
◗ Testing for drugs. Devise a drug-testing program, and give each applicant a copy
of the policy.
◗ Establishing a search-and-seizure policy. The policy should state that all desks and
similar property remain the property of the company and may be inspected.39
● Health Exams Employers use the medical exam to confirm that the appli-
cant qualifies for the physical requirements of the position and to discover any
medical limitations they should take into account.
With drug screenings, it is common to test candidates just before they’re hired.
Many also test current employees when there is reason to believe the person has
been using drugs—after a work accident, or in the presence of obvious behavioral
symptoms, chronic lateness, or high absenteeism. Some firms routinely adminis-
ter drug tests on a random or periodic basis.40
Orienting Employees
orientation: providing new Employee orientation means providing new employees with basic information
employees with basic like work rules and vacation policies. In many companies, employees receive a
information like work rules and hard-copy or Internet-based handbook containing this information. Orientation
vacation policies
aims to familiarize the new employee with the company and his or her coworkers;
provide information about working conditions (coffee breaks, overtime policy,
and so on); explain how to get on the payroll, how to obtain identification cards,
and what the working hours are; and generally reduce the jitters often associated
with starting a new job.
Orientation also begins the process of socializing employees into the em-
ployer’s values and ways of doing things. Here, socializing means achieving a fit
between the employee’s values and way of doing things and those of the firm.
For example, the Mayo Clinic recently revised its orientation program. Its new
“Heritage and Culture” program now covers matters such as Mayo core principles,
history, work atmosphere, teamwork, personal responsibility, innovation, in-
tegrity, diversity, customer service, and mutual respect.41
Figure 12.13 outlines a typical orientation program.
Training Employees
Orientation usually precedes training, which is a set of activities aimed at giv-
ing the employee the knowledge and skills to perform the job. Training is one
thing that distinguishes superior firms and managers.42 For example, why does
the coffee always taste good at Starbucks? Because “Brewing the Perfect Cup” is
one of five classes that all Starbucks employees take during their first six weeks
on the job.43 They learn that they must steam milk at temperatures of at least
157°F, and that coffee should never sit on the hot plate for more than twenty
minutes.
F IGURE 12.13
New Employee Departmental Orientation Checklist
SOURCE: UCSDHealthcare. Used with permission.
Most managers do not need to create their own training materials because
many materials are available on- and offline. For example, the professional devel-
opment site Click2learn.com offers a wide range of Web-based courses that
employees can take online. And many firms, including American Media Inc. of
West Des Moines, Iowa, provide packaged training programs on various topics.
The programs include a training leader’s guide; a self-study book; and a video for
improving skills in areas such as customer service, documenting discipline, and
appraising performance.
Training Techniques
on-the-job training (OJT): Training techniques range from simple to complex. On-the-job training (OJT)
having a person learn a job by means having a person learn a job by actually performing it. Just about every em-
actually performing it, usually ployee gets some OJT. It usually involves assigning new employees to experienced
under guidance of an
workers or supervisors, who then do the actual training.44 Some employers, like
experienced coworker
The Men’s Wearhouse, do almost all their training via a formal on-the-job training
program. This includes providing line managers with detailed manuals explaining
how to train employees on the job. At a minimum, employees should get job
descriptions and short training manuals that explain their jobs. The Improving
Your Training Skills feature shows the kinds of information a supervisor should
know about using OJT techniques.
Of course, most situations call for using other training techniques as well.
For example, instead of sending new rental agents to weeklong, classroom-based
training courses, Value Rent-a-Car provides them with interactive, multimedia-
based training programs using DVDs. Airlines use simulated learning to train
pilots to fly new planes and to react to various emergencies (both situations
would be dangerous for training on the job). When steelmaker Dofasco discov-
ered that many of its employees would be retiring in the next few years, it revived
its apprenticeship training program. New recruits spend about thirty two months
in a training program learning various jobs under the tutelage of experienced
employees.45
With jobs becoming more technically demanding, literacy training is often
required. This often involves bringing in local educators to teach basic literacy
skills such as reading, writing, and math.
I M P R OV I N G Y O U R T R A I N I N G S K I L L S
On-the-Job Training
1. Put the learner at ease—relieve tension. 1. Have the learner go through the job several times,
2. Explain why he or she is being taught. slowly, explaining each step to you.
3. Create interest, encourage questions, find out what the 2. Run the job at the normal pace.
learner already knows. 3. Have the learner do the job, gradually building up skill
4. Explain the whole job and relate it to some job the and speed.
worker already knows. 4. As soon as the learner demonstrates ability to do the
5. Place the learner as close to the normal working job, let the worker begin, but don’t abandon him or her.
position as possible.
Step 4: Follow-Up
6. Familiarize the worker with equipment, materials, tools,
and trade terms. 1. Designate to whom the learner should go for help.
2. Gradually decrease supervision, checking work from
Step 2: Present the Operations
time to time.
1. Explain quantity and quality requirements. 3. Correct faulty work patterns before they become a
2. Go through the job at the normal workplace. habit.
3. Go through the job at a slow pace several times, 4. Compliment good work; encourage the worker until
explaining each step. he or she is able to meet the quality and quantity
standards.46
4. Again go through the job at a slow pace several times;
explain the key points.
5. Have the learner explain the steps as you go through
the job at a slow pace.
Employee Appraisal
performance appraisal: Performance appraisal means evaluating an employee’s performance relative
evaluating an employee’s to his or her performance standards. There are several methods for evaluating em-
performance relative to his or ployees. Probably the most familiar performance appraisal method involves using
her performance standards
a graphic rating scale. This scale lists several job characteristics (like quality of
graphic rating scale: work) and provides a rating scale (from outstanding to unsatisfactory), along with
appraisal scale that lists several short definitions of each rating. Some use the more subjective critical incidents
job characteristics (like quality method instead. Here, the manager compiles brief examples of the employee’s
of work) and provides a rating good or bad performance, and then uses these examples to support the person’s
scale (from outstanding to
appraisal and his or her development needs. Some supplement graphic ratings
unsatisfactory), along with short
definitions of each rating with critical incidents. Ranking means positioning employees at different levels,
from low to high, based on their performance. Behaviorally anchored rating
critical incidents: brief scales (BARS) aim to combine the benefits of critical incidents and quantified
examples of an employee’s good ratings by anchoring each rating in the rating scale (from high to low) with illustra-
or bad performance, used to tive performance examples. The forced distribution method, a form of ranking,
support the person’s appraisal
and his or her development
is similar to grading on a curve. The rater places predetermined percentages of ra-
needs tees into performance categories, for example, top 10 percent, middle 80 percent,
and bottom 10 percent.
ranking: positioning Sun Microsystems uses the forced distribution method. Managers appraise
employees at different levels, employees in groups of about thirty, and the bottom 10 percent of each group gets
from low to high, based on their
ninety days to improve. If they’re still at the bottom 10 percent in ninety days, they
performance
get a chance to resign and take severance pay. Some decide to stay, but if it doesn’t
behaviorally anchored work out, the firm fires them without severance.49 GE still uses forced distribution
rating scales (BARS): scales rankings. Its former CEO, Jack Welch, insisted that managers routinely dismiss
that combine the benefits of their lowest 10 percent–performing employees each year. The current CEO, Jeffrey
critical incidents and quantified
Immelt, has softened the process by giving bottom 10-percenters more time to
ratings by anchoring each rating
from high to low, with improve. About a fourth of Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Conoco,
illustrative performance and Intel, use versions of forced distribution.50
examples With 360-degree feedback, performance information is collected via surveys
from supervisors, subordinates, peers, and internal or external customers.51 Based
forced distribution on one study, 29 percent of the responding employers use 360-degree feedback.52
method: a form of ranking,
similar to grading on a curve; the
For managers, surveys might include items such as “returns phone calls promptly”
rater places predetermined and “my manager keeps me informed.”53 Computerized systems compile the feed-
percentages of ratees into back into individualized reports for the ratee.54 The feedback is generally used for
performance categories training purposes, not raises.55
360 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
◗ Encourage the person to talk. Use expressions such as “go on” or “tell me more.”
◗ Provide a plan with concrete examples. Make sure the person leaves with an
agreement of remedial steps to take.
The halo effect problem means that the rating of a subordinate on one trait
(such as “gets along with others”) influences the way you rate the person on other
traits (such as “quantity of work”). Thus, an unfriendly employee might be rated
unsatisfactory for all traits rather than just for “gets along with others.” Being
aware of this problem is a major step toward avoiding it.
Central tendency is the tendency to rate all employees about average. For
example, if the rating scale ranges from 1 to 7, a supervisor may tend to rate most
of his or her employees from 3 to 5. Ranking employees eliminates this problem.
Leniency or strictness means that some supervisors tend to rate all their subor-
dinates consistently high or low. Again, solutions here include ranking subordinates.
Bias refers to the tendency to let individual differences like age, race, and sex
affect the appraisal ratings employees receive. In one study, researchers sought to
determine if pregnancy is a source of bias in performance appraisals. Despite hav-
ing been exposed to otherwise identical behavior by the same female employee,
the student raters of this study assigned lower performance ratings to pregnant
women than to nonpregnant women months later. Raters must be forewarned of
such problems and trained to use objectivity in rating subordinates.
Compensation
employee compensation: After being appraised, employees expect to be paid. Employee compensation refers
all work-related pay or rewards to all work-related pay or rewards that go to employees. It includes direct financial
that go to employees payments in the form of wages, salaries, incentives, commissions, and bonuses, and
indirect payments in the form of financial fringe benefits like employer-paid insur-
ance and vacations. Today, the emphasis is generally on basing the employee’s pay
at least in part on his or her performance and on his or her skills and competen-
cies. Competency- or skills-based pay basically means paying the employees for
the range and types of skills they’ve accumulated.
financial incentive: any ● Pay for Performance A financial incentive is any financial reward that is
financial reward that is contingent on performance (some call this pay for performance). Salespeople get
contingent upon performance financial incentives called commissions, generally in proportion to the items or
(some call this pay for
services they sell. Production workers may receive a financial incentive called
performance)
piecework, which is a standard sum for each item the worker produces.
Today, increasingly, it is common to pay almost all employees, including engi-
neers, secretaries, managers, and college professors, in part based on the extent to
which they and/or their companies achieve their goals. For example, in a profit-
sharing program, most employees usually receive some small share of the com-
pany’s profits. Many employees periodically receive merit pay or a merit raise,
362 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
employee benefits: pay ● Benefits Employee benefits are pay supplements. Many benefits are legally
supplements, such as insurance mandated. For example, under federal and state law, unemployment insurance is
and vacations available to most employees and is paid by state agencies to workers who lose their
jobs through no fault of their own. Worker’s compensation, another legally man-
unemployment insurance:
a payment made by state dated benefit, is a payment aimed at providing sure, prompt income and medical
agencies to workers who lose benefits to victims of work-related accidents or their dependents, regardless of
their jobs through no fault of fault. Social Security is another federally mandated benefit paid for by a tax on an
their own, and paid for by a tax employee’s salary or wages. Vacations and holiday days are benefits but are not
on the employer’s payroll legally mandated.
In an effort to attract and hold superior employees, employers can differenti-
worker’s compensation:
a payment aimed at providing ate themselves on the basis of the benefits that they offer. For many employees,
sure, prompt income and health and hospitalization benefits are a major determinant of which job to
medical benefits to victims of accept. Many other companies such as SAS Institute distinguish themselves with
work-related accidents or their outstanding family-friendly benefits such as child-care facilities, gyms, and flexi-
dependents, regardless of fault ble work schedules. With the number of employees age sixty and over skyrocket-
ing, many firms are offering early retirement benefits, for instance, allowing those
employees to phase into retirement by working half-time until they formally retire.
◗ The rule allegedly violated should be reasonably related to the effective opera-
tion of the work environment.
◗ Investigate the matter.
◗ Make sure the penalty is reasonably related to the misconduct and to the
employee’s past work history.
Appraising and Maintaining Employees ■ 363
Employers now use online employee portals for commu- career growth, and NCR values and policies. NCR also
nicating with employees and for enabling employees to has a forms center on the site’s title bar.The portal gives
self-service their HR-related tasks.60 General Motors NCR employees a shortcut to all the information and
calls its employee portal mySocrates. It enables employees forms they need to manage their own tasks, such as
to keep track of and/or modify details such as their merit updating their personal information. It also helps NCR su-
awards, pay records, and retirement formulas.61 pervisors carry out day-to-day supervisory tasks such as
NCR Corporation organized its HR portal into three completing performance appraisal forms.
information areas: benefits and compensation, training and
T ABLE 12.1
Summary of Important Equal Employment Opportunity Legislation and Decisions
Action What It Does
Title VII of 1964 Civil Rights Act, Bars discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;
as amended instituted EEOC
Executive orders Prohibit employment discrimination by employers with federal contracts of
more than $10,000 (and their subcontractors); establish office of federal
compliance; require affirmative action programs
Federal agency guidelines Used by federal agencies for enforcement of laws barring discrimination
based on sex, national origin, and religion, as well as employee selection
procedures; for example, they require validation of tests
Supreme Court decisions: Ruled that job requirements must be related to job success; that
Griggs v. Duke Power Co., discrimination need not be overt to be proved; that the burden of proof is
Albemarie v. Moody on the employer to prove that the qualification is valid
Equal Pay Act of 1967 Requires equal pay for men and women for performing similar work
Age Discrimination in Prohibits discriminating against a person 40 years or over in any area of
Employment Act of 1967 employment because of age
State and local laws Often cover organizations too small to be covered by federal laws
Vocational Rehabilitation Requires affirmative action to employ and promote qualified disabled
Act of 1973 persons and prohibits discrimination against disabled persons
Pregnancy Discrimination Prohibits discrimination in employment against pregnant women or
Act of 1978 workers with related conditions
Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Requires affirmative action in employment for veterans of the Vietnam
Assistance Act of 1974 War era
Wards Cove v. Atonio; Patterson v. These Supreme Court decisions made it more difficult to prove a case of
McLean Credit Union unlawful discrimination against an employer
Morton v. Wilks This case allowed consent decrees to be attacked and could have had a
chilling effect on certain affirmative action programs
Americans with Disabilities Strengthens the need for most employers to make reasonable
Act of 1990 accommodations for disabled employees at work; prohibits discrimination
Civil Rights Act of 1991 Reverses Wards Cove, Patterson, and Morton decisions; places burden of
proof back on employer and permits compensatory and punitive money
damages for discrimination
Source: Gray Dessler, Human Resource Management, 10th ed. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2005), p. 45.
I. GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING
Adequate and wide aisles—no materials protruding Material piled in safe manner—not too high or
into aisles too close to sprinkler heads
Parts and tools stored safely after use—not left in All work areas clean and dry
hazardous positions that could cause them to fall All exit doors and aisles clear of obstructions
Even and solid flooring—no defective floors or ramps Aisles kept clear and properly marked; no air
that could cause falling or tripping accidents lines or electric cords across aisles
Waste and trash cans—safely located and not overfilled
VI. ELECTRICITY
No frayed, cracked, or deteriorated cords No dangling wires
All portable, as well as fixed, machinery grounded Ground-fault circuit interrupters used in humid conditions
by three-wire connectors
SOURCE: Courtesy of the American Insurance Association. From “A Safety Committee Man’s Guide,” pp.1–64.
368 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
SOURCE: www.osha.gov.
their own training websites, complete with a “message from the safety director.”
The employer contracts with www.puresafety.com. Puresafety is an applications
service provider that creates a website for the employer and populates the site
with safety training courses from www.puresafety.com.65
Labor-Management Relations
Under the laws of the United States and many other countries, employees may
organize into unions. In the United States, the Norris-LaGuardia Act guarantees
each employee the right to bargain with employers for union benefits. The
Wagner Act outlaws unfair labor practices such as employers interfering with,
restraining, or coercing employees who are exercising their legally sanctioned
rights of organizing themselves into a union. The Taft-Hartley Act prohibits unfair
labor practices by unions against employers (like refusing to bargain with an em-
ployer). The Landrum-Griffin Act protects union members from unfair practices
perpetrated against them by their unions.
The manager needs to be familiar with a variety of special terms with respect
to labor relations. For example, suppose that a union wins, through a special elec-
tion, the right to represent the company’s workers. Good faith bargaining means
that both the union and management must make reasonable progress toward
working out an agreement, by making proposals and counterproposals. If progress
is unsatisfactory, the union or management may bring in a third party, such as an
arbitrator or mediator, to help the two sides reach an agreement. The former may
have the power to impose an agreement. The latter usually just meets with the par-
ties and tries to get them to agree.
Chapter Summary ■ 369
● Managing Now Unions’ websites are becoming integral parts of many union-
ization campaigns. Alliance@IBM provides one example. Managed by the Commu-
nications Workers of America, Alliance@IBM seeks to encourage IBM employees to
join the union. It does so by providing information on a range of issues, such as why
IBM employees need a union, questions and concerns about unions, and how
employees can join the union and get involved.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Human resource management is the management including the use of internal sources, advertising,
function devoted to acquiring, training, apprais- the Internet, employment agencies, recruiters,
ing, and compensating employees. As workers referrals, college recruiting, and recruiting a more
become more fully empowered, the HR function diverse workforce—is then used to create a pool of
has grown in importance. applicants.
2. Staffing—filling a firm’s open positions—starts with 3. With a pool of applicants, the employer can turn
job analysis and personnel planning. Recruiting— to screening and selecting and use one or more
370 PART FOUR CHAPTER 12 Human Resource Management
techniques—including application blanks, inter- fringe benefits like employer-paid insurance and
views, tests, and reference checks—to assess and vacations.
investigate an applicant’s aptitudes, interests, and
7. In disciplining employees, managers should be
background.
sure they have all the facts and that the discipline is
4. Once employees have been recruited, screened, and defensible and fair.
selected, they must be prepared to do their jobs; this
8. The HR function is subject to the constraints of
is the purpose of employee orientation and training.
numerous federal, state, and local laws. The equal-
Orientation means providing new employees with
employment laws prohibiting employment dis-
basic information about the employer; training
crimination are among the most important of
ensures that the new employee has the basic knowl-
these personnel laws and include Title VII of the
edge required to perform the job satisfactorily.
Civil Rights Act, various executive orders, the Equal
5. Once they’ve been on the job for some time, Pay Act of 1963, and the Americans with Disabili-
employees are appraised. ties Act of 1990. The Occupational Safety and
Health Act sets safety and health standards that
6. Employee compensation refers to all work-related
apply to most U.S. workers. Other laws govern
pay or rewards that go to employees. It includes
union-management relations and include the
direct financial payments in the form of wages,
Wagner Act.
salaries, incentives, commissions, and bonuses, as
well as indirect payments in the form of financial
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why do we say that HR today is strategic? 5. Why is effective employee selection important to
the manager?
2. What are the main elements in a job description?
6. Explain how you would conduct an interview, in-
3. What information would you collect for a job
cluding the types of questions you would ask.
analysis?
7. What do the equal-employment laws say managers
4. How would you use JobDescription.com to create
can and cannot do? Explain briefly.
a job description?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Working in teams of four to five students, conduct plan for the job of teaching this course, as well as a
a job analysis and develop a job description for the list of interview questions your team can use to
instructor of this course. Make sure to include a job screen applicants for the job of instructor. Then
summary, as well as a list of job duties and a job develop an on-the-job training program for the job
specification listing the human requirements of or instructor.
the job.
3. Working in teams of four to five students, refer to
2. Using the job description that you wrote in Experi- Figure 12.14 and spend thirty minutes assessing the
ential Exercise 1 as a guide, develop a recruiting safety of the college building your class meets in.
Case Study ■ 371
CASE STUDY
The Out-of-Control Interview
aria Fernandez is a bright, popular, and well- the management team. She was left wondering whether
M informed mechanical engineer who graduated with
an engineering degree from State University in May
the panel interview had been intentionally tense to see
how she’d stand up under pressure and, if so, why the
2007. During the spring preceding her graduation, she panel members would do such a thing.
went out on many job interviews, most of which she
thought were courteous. Therefore, she looked forward
with great anticipation to an interview with the one DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
firm for which she most wanted to work, Apex Environ-
mental. She had always had a strong interest in clean- 1. How would you explain the nature of the interview
ing up the environment. The interview, however, was a Maria Fernandez had to endure? Specifically, do
disaster. When Maria walked into the room, five men, you think it reflected a well-thought-out interview-
including the president of the company, two vice presi- ing strategy on the part of the firm or carelessness
dents, the marketing director, and another engineer, on the part of the firm’s management? If it was
began throwing questions at her. The questions ranged carelessness, what would you do to improve the
from unnecessarily discourteous (“Why would you take interview process at Apex Environmental?
a job as a waitress in college if you’re such an intelligent
2. Would you take the job if you were Maria? If you’re
person?”) to irrelevant and sexist (“Are you planning on
not sure, is there any additional information that
settling down and starting a family anytime soon?”).
would help you make your decision, and, if so,
After the interview, she met with two of the men indi-
what is it?
vidually (including the president), and the discussions
focused almost exclusively on her technical expertise. 3. The job of applications engineer for which Maria
She thought that these later discussions went fairly well. was applying requires (1) excellent technical skills
Given the apparent mean-spiritedness of the panel with respect to mechanical engineering, (2) a com-
interview, however, she was astonished when several mitment to working in the area of pollution con-
days later she got a job offer from the firm. The offer trol, (3) the ability to deal well and confidently with
forced her to consider several matters. From her point customers who have engineering problems, (4) a
of view, the job itself was perfect—she liked what she willingness to travel worldwide, and (5) a very
would be doing, the industry, and the firm’s location. intelligent and well-balanced personality. What
And, in fact, the president had been quite courteous in questions would you ask when interviewing appli-
subsequent discussions, as had the other members of cants for the job?
13 LEADING
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Innovation Leadership at Whirlpool
Opening Vignette: Innovation
Leadership at Whirlpool
● What Is Leadership?
W ith stagnating washer and dryer sales,Whirlpool Corporation’s
former CEO Dave Whitman knew the company needed bold new
products. His plan for achieving this was risky and required strong
Are Leadership and Management
the Same? leadership—he would transform Whirpool into a company in which
Studying Leadership every employee felt driven to
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
How Can Technology Help New come up with new ideas.
Leaders? Whitman knew that this
● What Characteristics Do would require a major leader-
Leaders Have?
Types of Power
ship effort. Employees had to
When Is Each Type of Power get the information they
Appropriate? needed and have the freedom
Abuse of Power
Influence to develop their ideas.They
What Traits and Skills Are Associated would need training, and their
with Leadership? supervisors would have to
Emotional Intelligence
Does Gender Matter? learn how to supervise by con-
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: sensus rather than by com-
How Does Technology Increase
mand.Whitman’s plan meant
the Importance of Leaders’
Communication Skills? changing the very nature of Whirlpool CEO Dave Whitman drove
● What Do Leaders Do? what his managers did and innovation through his effective leadership.
The Ohio State Studies how they led. And it meant
The University of Michigan Studies
Blake and Mouton’s Managerial Grid finding new ways to use information technology (IT) to help employ-
University of Iowa Leadership Styles ees share information and collaborate.Whirlpool asks your team for
Transformational and Transactional advice on two issues: (1) what new leadership styles would you rec-
Leadership
ommend for our managers, and (2) how can we use IT to further our
● What Influences a Leader’s
Effectiveness? aims?1 ■
Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership
Model
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
Fiedler’s Leader-Match Model
IMPROVING YOUR LEADERSHIP
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
SKILLS: Least Preferred Coworker
Scale Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by
Continuum of Leader Behavior
Path-Goal Theory
➤ Describing the difference between leadership and management.
PRACTICE IT: Empowerment Through ➤ Explaining how leaders can best use different types of power and influence.
Technology at Whirlpool ➤ Briefly explaining what traits, skills, and behaviors have been associated with
leadership.
372
CHAPTER 13 Leading ■ 373
T ABLE 13.1
Management Versus Leadership
Management Leadership
A function A relationship
Planning Selecting and developing talent
Budgeting Motivating
Evaluating Coaching
Facilitating Building trust
Source: Michael Macoby, “Understanding the Difference Between Management and Leadership,” Research &
Technology Management, January–February 2000, pp. 57–59. Reprinted by permission of Research & Technology
Management.
coworkers to provide better customer service and the leadership shown by a ware-
house supervisor who inspires subordinates to work more safely both have posi-
tive consequences for the firm. And leadership does matter—a Hewitt Associates
study found that companies with more rigorous leadership development pro-
grams tend to outperform their competitors.4 Successful organizations and lead-
ers develop leadership skills in all of their employees, encouraging employees to
set a positive example for their coworkers and continually work toward the ac-
complishment of the firm’s goals.
The next five chapters provide a wealth of information about leadership and
behavioral concepts and skills related to effective leadership. After studying
them, you should have a variety of tools at your disposal for becoming a better
leader.
Studying Leadership
Throughout the ages, Chinese emperors, Egyptian pharaohs, and Indian chiefs
must have wondered, “Why are some people more effective leaders than others?”5
Yet only in the last seventy years or so have behavioral scientists addressed this
question. In brief, experts’ current thinking is that effective leadership reflects
a balance of (1) a leader’s traits and skills and (2) a leader’s styles or behaviors,
(3) combined in a way that best fits the followers and is most appropriate for the
situation at hand.6 Essentially, effective leadership depends on who a person is in
terms of their traits and skills, how the person behaves, and the appropriateness of
the two given the situation the leader is facing. Followers’ perceptions of the leader
and their willingness to let the leader influence them further influence leadership
effectiveness. No one can be a leader without followers, and only the followers de-
termine whether someone will lead them.
First, we will discuss leadership traits, what leaders do, and what influences a
leader’s effectiveness. At the end of the chapter, we will review several contempo-
rary approaches to leadership. Let’s first look at the Window on Managing Now
feature, which illustrates how technology can help new leaders become effective
more quickly.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
How Can Technology Help New Leaders?
New leaders often have a lot to learn before they can get Online Leadership Development
down to the business of leading. They have to learn what
Web-based coaches and tools can support leadership de-
their new goals and responsibilities are and who it is that
velopment. For example, Boeing’s Web-based leadership
they are responsible for leading. New and existing leaders
development tool, called Waypoint, helps leaders develop
also often benefit from training in coaching and leadership
their leadership and management competence.Waypoint
skills. Technology can help new leaders get up to speed in
allows leaders to engage in self-directed learning using
a variety of ways.7
an interactive website where they can take assessment
CD-ROMs tests, devise personal development plans, and identify
training and developmental assignments. Reading materi-
Many companies, like Dell Computer, are putting new-hire
als and other learning resources facilitate their contin-
and new-leader orientation information on CD-ROMs, in-
ued development.8
cluding hyperlinks to important company intranet pages;
videos featuring corporate leaders and corporate spaces,
manufacturing facilities, and product lines; and information Mixed Modes of Training and Development
about the company’s history, mission, and culture. Unlike Some companies use learning programs that incorporate
classroom training programs that require leaders to be in technology to help leaders learn quickly and develop new
a particular place at a particular time to learn the infor- skills. For example, Xerox partnered with the Center for
mation, the leader can watch a CD-ROM when he or she Creative Leadership to institute the Emerging Leaders
has the time to devote to it or when the leader needs the Program, a five-month program that combines Web-based
information. conferencing with face-to-face sessions, along with Web-
based learning modules, personal executive coaching, and
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)
internal mentoring.9
Some companies provide incoming leaders with personal
digital assistants (PDAs) preloaded with important contact
information in the organization, key tasks to complete, and
even pictures of staff and others whom the new leader
needs to know. Important meeting dates can also be pre-
loaded to help the new leader schedule his or her time.
Web-Based Toolkits
Some companies also create Web-based toolkits or in-
tranet sites that contain information leaders regularly
refer to, including information about company ethics, per-
formance management, and other company processes and
procedures.
Communities of Practice
Employers encourage leaders and others to visit online
chatrooms and bulletin boards to form communities of
practice where members ask questions and share an-
swers.These communities can be particularly helpful for a
new leader who wants advice on how to handle certain Many organizations use technology to enhance their
situations or challenges. training and development programs.
What Characteristics Do Leaders Have? ■ 377
Types of Power
Managers’ power stems from both organizational authority and personal sources.
position power: power based Organizational authority gives a manager position power. For example, the dean
on one’s position in the of a school has certain authority that comes with this position. However,
organization organizational authority cannot grant a leader all forms of power—some types
originate with the person. Personal power is based on the characteristics of that
personal power: power based
on the person’s individual individual and stays with him or her regardless of where that person works.
characteristics; stays with a French and Raven11 identified five sources of power: legitimate, reward, coer-
person regardless of his or her cive, expert, and referent. Another type of power is informational power. Table 13.2
job or organization summarizes these six types of power. We will discuss each of these types of power
in more detail next, along with their use and abuse.
legitimate power: a position
power based on a person’s
holding of the managerial
● Legitimate Power Legitimate power is based on a person’s holding of the
position rather than anything managerial position rather than anything the manager is or does as a person.
the manager is or does as Legitimate power is the formal authority the firm gives managers to hire new
a person employees, make work assignments, monitor employees’ work, and enforce
T ABLE 13.2
Summary of the Six Types of Power
Legitimate: control because of the position of authority held.
Reward: control over rewards.
Coercive: control over punishments.
Expert: control due to knowledge, skills, and/or expertise.
Referent: control because subordinates respect, admire, and identify with the
leader.
Informational: control over information.
378 PART FIVE CHAPTER 13 Leading
reward power: a position ● Reward Power Reward power is power that involves the use of both tangi-
power that involves the use of ble (e.g., pay raises or preferred work assignments) and intangible (e.g., praise) re-
rewards to influence and wards to influence and motivate followers. Subordinates comply because they
motivate followers
want to receive the rewards. As we discuss further in Chapter 14, rewards are one of
the strongest tools used by managers to inspire high performance.
Because rewards are such strong motivators, it is important to monitor the
positive and negative impacts they have on employee behavior. For example, the
manager of a hair salon wanted to motivate his stylists to sell more hair care prod-
ucts. The manager began offering a monthly prize to the stylist who sold the most.
Because one stylist’s customers always tended to buy more products than did the
other stylists’ customers, the other stylists felt that there was no way they could
win the prize. Rather than trying harder to sell products, they stopped trying at all
and overall product sales and revenues fell. Clearly, if rewards are improperly
used, they can decrease the motivation of employees who do not expect to receive
them.
expert power: a personal ● Expert Power Expert power is based on an individual’s expertise in some
power based on an individual’s area. People respond to expert power because of their belief in the person’s knowl-
knowledge and/or expertise edge, skills, and/or expertise. For example, some sales managers may have spe-
cialized knowledge of certain market segments or customers, giving them expert
power among other managers and employees.
Because an individual’s knowledge is the foundation of expert power, it can
exist at any level in an organization. When Jack Welch was the CEO of General Elec-
tric (GE), he realized that the Web was going to transform business. He recognized
that GE’s younger employees had better Internet skills and e-business knowledge
than did GE’s older and higher-ranking executives. He decided to pair an Internet-
savvy employee with each of GE’s 600 worldwide executives to share his or her ex-
pertise about the new technology. In addition to building the e-business capabili-
ties of his managers, this unique mentoring program made managers at all levels
more receptive to influence from people at lower levels of the company who have
referent power: a personal relevant expertise.13
power based on a manager’s
charisma and/or attractiveness ● Referent Power Referent power is based on a manager’s charisma and/or
to others attractiveness to others. Subordinates refer to the manager as a role model and
What Characteristics Do Leaders Have? ■ 379
comply out of respect, admiration, and liking. They behave as the manager does
and wants because they seek his or her approval.
Referent power is not limited to high-visibility leaders. All managers can use
referent power effectively by displaying respect for subordinates, modeling behav-
iors consistent with the organization’s culture, and being effective role models. By
consistently walking the walk and talking the talk, managers can use their referent
power to promote the attitudes and behaviors they desire in employees. For ex-
ample, when Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton was worth more than $25 billion, he
still drove an old pickup truck to work and shared budget-hotel rooms with col-
leagues on business trips. His modeling of frugality permeated the company and
promoted the practice of frugality that made Wal-Mart consistently profitable.14
informational power: power ● Informational Power Control over information is informational power.
derived from control over In addition to experts with specialized knowledge, some people in an organization
information have or are able to control access to important information. These gatekeepers are
able to exert power over others by providing or withholding information that
others need. For example, managers with extensive personal networks may have
access to information few others have. Once the information is shared, however,
the informational power that the information provided is lost. Managers who de-
pend on informational power must therefore continually replenish their supply of
hard-to-get information.
Abuse of Power
Power in itself is neither good nor bad—what matters is how people use their
power or position. Gary Jackson, president of private military contractor and se-
curity firm Blackwater USA, preserves his military training company’s high-energy
culture through his own example of energy and commitment.16 An important
point to make about power is the potential for its abuse. In any firm, the abuse of
power is (1) using any type of power to demean, exploit, or take advantage of an-
other or (2) influencing someone to do something they later regret. It is easy to
think of news stories where people have abused their power. In addition to finan-
cial ruin, the results of the abuse of power may include sexual or racial harass-
ment, abusive behavior, and embarrassed employees.
Unchecked authority can result in the abuse of power. Managers should not
have free reign to do whatever they want—a manager’s power should match his
380 PART FIVE CHAPTER 13 Leading
Influence
Power does not necessarily translate into influence. Whether a leader’s use of
power to influence someone will be successful depends on whether the other per-
son allows him- or herself to be influenced. How much formal power or authority a
manager has is not as important as the amount of influence the manager has over
subordinates. A manager who lacks the respect of subordinates because of unethi-
cal behavior or perceptions that the manager is unqualified will not effectively mo-
tivate subordinates to work their hardest toward the firm’s goals.
In addition to possessing power, leaders can engage in various influence tac-
tics to increase the likelihood that others will respond favorably to their requests.
Table 13.3 summarizes some of the influence tactics, along with the possible re-
sponses to them. Responses to influence attempts are not always positive.
T ABLE 13.3
Influence Tactics and Responses to Them
Effective Influence Tactics
Coalition tactics: engaging the help of others to persuade someone to do something; referring to the support of others
to convince someone to agree to a proposal or to change his or her attitude toward something.
Consultation: requesting someone’s advice to solve a problem or mutually setting goals to increase a follower’s
commitment to the leader’s decision; being willing to modify the goals or solution based on the person’s concerns
and suggestions to sustain commitment.
Exchange: offering to exchange something of value now or in the future for someone’s cooperation.
Ingratiation: flattering or praising people to put them in a good mood or to make them more likely to want to help
(for example, complimenting your manager’s outfit before asking for additional project funding).
Inspirational appeals: appealing to someone’s aspirations, values, and ideals to gain his or her commitment;
increasing the person’s confidence that he or she can do something to increase motivation.
Legitimating tactics: enhancing one’s formal authority to make a certain request by referring to rules, precedents, or
official documents.
Personal appeals: asking someone to do something because of friendship or asking for a personal favor.
Pressure: using coercion or persistent follow-up or reminders to gain influence.
Rational persuasion: using logic and facts to persuade someone.
Source: Gary Yukl, Leadership in Organizations, 4th ed. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1998).
Reprinted by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J.
382 PART FIVE CHAPTER 13 Leading
T ABLE 13.4
Some of the Traits and Skills of Leaders
Determination: leaders overcome obstacles and achieve their goals through initiative, drive, dominance, and a
motivation to achieve.
Emotional maturity: effective leaders control their emotions rather than letting their emotions control them.
Energy levels: leaders have the energy to work hard toward their goals and can create excitement and enthusiasm
in others.
Integrity: leaders who behave honestly and earn the trust of followers are more effective at motivating them.
Intelligence: leaders must scan, interpret, and integrate large amounts of information; identify patterns; and devise
courses of action based on the information.
Internal control orientation: leaders tend to believe that they are able to control their environment rather than
merely reacting to events around them.
Job-relevant knowledge: leaders make decisions and set appropriate goals and strategies based on their
understanding of how their unit and firm works.
Self-confidence: leaders who demonstrate self-confidence and a belief that their chosen course of action is correct
develop followers who are more committed.
Social and interpersonal skills: leaders who are good at relating to other people are able to build trusting
relationships with followers.
Source: Based on Stephen J. Zaccaro, Cary Kemp, and Paige Bader, “Leader Traits and Attributes,” in John
Antonakis, Anna T. Cianciolo, and Robert J. Sternberg (eds.), The Nature of Leadership, pp. 101–125 (London:
Sage, 2004); Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. (London: Sage, 2000); and Gary Yukl,
Leadership in Organizations, 5th ed. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2002).
What Characteristics Do Leaders Have? ■ 383
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to recognize and manage emotions and
relationships. This characteristic gained popularity in the 1990s when psycholo-
gists, sociologists, and management consultants claimed that one’s emotional
quotient (EQ) was twice as important as their intelligence quotient (IQ) or even
technical skills when it comes to job performance.22 One research study found
that emotional intelligence accounted for 85 percent of what distinguishes stars
from low performers in top leadership positions.23 Organizations, including
American Express, use emotional intelligence programs to improve team and
organizational effectiveness.24 Some of the biggest supporters of emotional intel-
ligence have called the awareness of others’ feelings and ability to recognize and
control one’s own emotions an indispensable ingredient of leadership.25 Emo-
tional intelligence is composed of five dimensions:
◗ Self-awareness: being aware of what you are feeling.
Part innate and part trainable, emotional intelligence has been receiving
increasing attention in leadership development programs. Emotionally intelligent
leaders know their own limitations and strengths and have the ability to commu-
nicate clearly and convincingly, manage conflicts, build strong personal bonds,
and motivate employees and customers.26 Because leadership involves such a
high degree of social interaction, emotional intelligence is likely to enhance lead-
ership effectiveness. In a negotiation setting, Franz Humer, the chairman and CEO
of the pharmaceutical firm Roche, tries to switch his entire body, mind, and emo-
tions into “receiving” mode to understand how the other side is reacting and be-
having. This increases his sensitivity to how the negotiations are going and how
best to negotiate with the other party.27
women. However, men and women are much more similar in personality,
communication, ability, and leadership than commonly believed.31 Several
reviews of studies of gender differences in leadership have found many more
similarities than differences between males and females,32 although research
does suggest that males tend to punish subordinates more harshly than
women do.33 It is important to note that while males and females may differ
with respect to participative management and punishment tendencies, re-
search has found males and females to be equally effective as leaders.
Another problem may be that people frequently compare women to an
ideal leadership style that favors autocratic men. It is common for both men
and women to view competitive (stereotypically masculine) characteristics as
managerial and cooperative and communicative (stereotypically feminine)
characteristics as nonmanagerial.34 Because men are more likely to exhibit the
Carly Fiorina ran into considerable
masculine characteristics thought to reflect better managerial and leadership
headwinds as HP’s CEO, and
eventually stepped down.
skills, they are more likely than women to be viewed as appropriate leaders.
Research does suggest that many women use a more participative style
and can have better interpersonal skills than men.35 It is interesting to note, how-
ever, that a more participative style may actually be more appropriate for today’s
challenges of managing diversity and leading empowered teams. As Rosabeth
Moss Kanter put it, “[W]omen get high ratings on exactly those skills needed to
succeed in the global Information Age, where teamwork and partnering are so im-
portant.”36 Rather than changing how women lead, it may be more appropriate to
change perceptions about what it means to be an effective leader and what char-
acteristics and styles are required to become one.
Communication skills are critical to all managers, regardless of their gender.
The Window on Managing Now feature gives you some tips on deciding when
technology is an appropriate communication medium.
Technology gives managers the opportunity to communi- ◗ Be careful when writing e-mail messages. Like written
cate with employees in a variety of ways. Sometimes tech- performance reviews and other documents, e-mails can
nology can enhance a leader’s effectiveness, but some- be subject to discovery and subpoena. Also, e-mail is
times it can get in the way. Here are some netiquette tips not always secure, and it sometimes results in unin-
for deciding when technology is an appropriate medium tended readers receiving confidential information.
of communication and for creating appropriate employee ◗ Do not rely on e-mail to the exclusion of personal con-
expectations about the use of IT:37 tact. Even in the age of IT, relationship skills are at the
◗ Never use e-mail to fire employees or deliver bad heart of long-term business success. Supplement your
news. Because it contains no body language, facial e-mails with periodic face-to-face staff, customer, and
expression, and intonation, e-mail is the worst way to supplier meetings, even if they must occur through
deliver bad news to employees. A one-on-one meeting videoconferencing.
is better. ◗ Do not use e-mail when there is any chance of the
◗ Do not use e-mail to discuss an employee’s perfor- message being misunderstood. Use a telephone call or
mance with other managers. Hold these discussions a face-to-face meeting if a message is complex, techni-
privately. cal, or in any danger of being misinterpreted.
What Do Leaders Do? ■ 385
High
F IGURE 13.1
Blake and Mouton’s
Managerial Grid 9 1, 9 Team Management 9, 9
Work accomplishment is
Country Club Management
8 from committed people;
Thoughtful attention to the
interdependence through a
needs of people for satisfying
“common stake” in organization
7 relationships leads to a comfortable,
purpose leads to relationships
friendly organization atmosphere
of trust and respect.
and work tempo.
6
Concern for People
3 Authority-Compliance
Efficiency in operations
Impoverished Management results from arranging
2 Exertion of minimum effort conditions of work in
to get required work done such a way that human
1 1, 1 is appropriate to sustain elements interfere to 9, 1
organization membership. a minimum degree.
are independent of each other. Although Blake and Mouton considered the ideal
to be a 9,9 manager who integrates a high concern for both task and people, there
is little evidence to support this style as the most effective in all situations.46
Effective leadership requires more than the use of a particular style regardless of
the context. We’ll see that the nature of the followers and the situation are impor-
tant as well.
leaders can influence followers to change their priorities, set new goals, and de-
velop confidence in their abilities by giving subordinates developmental work ex-
periences, inspiring them to do their best, and demonstrating positive behaviors
that followers want to emulate.53
Transformational leaders are:54
◗ Inspirational, and they communicate a future vision of the organization that can
be shared with followers. “The leader uses visionary explanations to depict what
the employee work group can accomplish.”55
◗ Considerate, and they treat each employee as an individual rather than simply as
a member of the group. A transformational leader tries to bring out the strengths
of each employee.
◗ Intellectually stimulating, and they encourage employees to solve problems cre-
atively by approaching old and familiar problems in new ways.56
◗ Charismatic,57 or idealized by followers who develop strong emotional attach-
ments to them. Charismatic leadership during the early stages of a group’s life
can influence the group’s belief that it will be successful, enhancing the likeli-
hood that it will perform well.58 Although substantial research has found that
charismatic leadership spurs high performance and follower satisfaction,59 it
isn’t always needed. Charisma appears to be most influential when the environ-
ment has a high degree of uncertainty, with accompanying stress, or when the
followers’ task is ideological in some way.60
transactional leadership: Transactional leadership focuses on a transaction or exchange of something
leadership based on a reciprocal of value that the leader possesses or controls and that the follower wants in return
exchange of something of value for his or her services. By offering promotions in exchange for work done, or
bonuses in exchange for extra effort or good performance, leaders are able to in-
fluence and motivate others. With transactional leadership, employees comply be-
cause of contingent reinforcement, but with transformational leadership, employ-
ees comply because they are personally committed to the leader’s goals.
Transformational leadership and transactional leadership complement each
other,61 and the choice of which to use depends on the situation. The best leaders
are both transformational and transactional.62 The transactional style can work
well for short-term goals when both leader and led understand and are in agree-
ment about which tasks are important. Because transformational leadership re-
sults in employees adopting the leader’s mission, vision, and goals as their own, it
is more effective for long-term goals and organizational change. Transformational
leaders, if unsuccessful in gaining compliance by appealing to the values of the
followers or peers, may resort to the transactional style to get things done.63
level 5 leadership: a Level 5 leadership requires a leader to use a combination of transforma-
combination of transactional tional and transactional leadership styles and channel his or her ambition into the
and transformational leadership goal of building a great company.64 Level 5 leaders are humble and willing to take
styles focused on long-term
the blame for failure while simultaneously setting high standards and demon-
company performance
strating an unwavering resolve to do whatever it takes to produce the best long-
term results.
David Maxwell retired after turning financial-services company Fannie Mae
around and leading it for nine years. His retirement package, which had grown to
be worth $20 million because of Fannie Mae’s strong performance, drew the atten-
tion of Congress (Fannie Mae operates under a government charter). Maxwell
responded by writing a letter to his successor expressing concern that the future
of the company could be jeopardized and asked that the remaining $5.5 million
What Influences a Leader’s Effectiveness? ■ 389
ting
Sell
opportunity
cipa
ing
for clarification
Parti
High Rel High Task
Low Task High Rel
ng
S4 S1
Tel
ati
li n
Turn over Provide specific
eg
l
g
De responsibility instructions and
for decisions closely supervise
and implementation performance
Low
FOLLOWER READINESS
(when to use each style)
S4 S3 S2 S1
works best when followers are somewhat less ready to be led. Participating lead-
ers work well when followers are able but are unwilling or insecure.
◗ Selling: explaining and clarifying decisions is appropriate when followers are
even less ready to be led because they are unable but are willing or confident.
Here, a leader must persuade followers to buy into the decisions, then the leader
must check their understanding of the task, explain why certain actions are
taken, encourage questions, and demonstrate how to do the task.
What Influences a Leader’s Effectiveness? ■ 391
Think of the person you work with least well. This may answers. Work quickly; your first answer is usually the
be a person you currently work with or someone you most accurate. Please do not omit any items, and mark
knew in the past.This person is not necessarily the per- only one answer for each item. When you are finished,
son you like least, but he or she should be the person add up the numbers appearing under each line that you
with whom you had the most difficulty in getting a job marked with an X. Scoring instructions are at the bottom
done. of the table.
The following questionnaire asks you to describe this Scores above 78 are considered high LPC and are
person as she or he appears to you. Look at the words at more people-oriented; scores below 29 are considered
both ends of the line before you mark one box with an X. low LPC and are more task-oriented.
Please remember that there are no right or wrong
Pleasant Unpleasant
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Friendly Unfriendly
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Rejecting Accepting
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Helpful Frustrating
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Unenthusiastic Enthusiastic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Tense Relaxed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Distant Close
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cold Warm
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cooperative Uncooperative
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Supportive Hostile
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Boring Interesting
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Quarrelsome Harmonious
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Self-assured Hesitant
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Efficient Inefficient
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Gloomy Cheerful
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Open Guarded
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Source: Adapted from Fred E. Fiedler, A Theory of Leadership Effectiveness (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967), p. 41.
What Influences a Leader’s Effectiveness? ■ 393
Low LPC
Task-Motivated
Leaders Perform
Better
F IGURE 13.4
Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s Continuum of Leader Behavior
Subordinate-Centered
Manager-Centered Leadership
Leadership
Use of Authority
by the Manager
Area of Freedom
for Subordinates
Path-Goal Theory
Respected leadership researcher Robert J. House’s73 path-goal theory emphasizes
that the leader’s job is to help followers attain their goals and to provide appropri-
ate direction and support to ensure that followers’ goals are consistent with those
of the group and organization. Path-goal theory is based on the expectancy theory
of motivation (see Chapter 14), which proposes that motivation to exert effort
is based on a person’s belief that (1) he or she has the ability to accomplish a goal,
(2) goal accomplishment will lead to rewards, and (3) these rewards are attractive
or valued. Path-goal theory reflects the belief that effective leaders increase the
personal rewards that subordinates receive for attaining goals, and they clarify the
What Influences a Leader’s Effectiveness? ■ 395
path to these goals by reducing roadblocks. The core assumption is that subordi-
nates will be motivated if they think they can do their work and get a favorable
reward or outcome for doing so.
Path-goal theory originally focused on the leadership dimensions of leader
consideration and initiating structure.74 It now focuses on four leadership styles:75
◗ Directive leadership: letting subordinates know what the leader expects of them,
giving specific guidance about what to do and how to do it, and scheduling the
work to be done.
◗ Supportive leadership: being friendly and approachable and showing concern
for the status and well-being of subordinates.
◗ Participative leadership: soliciting subordinates’ suggestions and input.
T ABLE 13.5
Fitting the Leadership Style to the Situation: Applying Path-Goal Theory
Leader Behavior Best for Situations With . . . Motivational Effects
Directive Ambiguous, unstructured tasks Reduces role ambiguity; increases follower
beliefs that effort will lead to good
performance and that performance will
result in an attractive reward
Supportive Frustrating, routine, stressful, or Increases self-confidence; increases
dissatisfying tasks; employees may lack the personal value of job-related effort
self-confidence
Participative Ambiguous, varied, challenging tasks Reduces ambiguity, clarifies expectations,
increases consistency of subordinate and
organizational goals, increases involvement
with and commitment to organizational
goals
Achievement-oriented Ambiguous, varied, challenging tasks Increases subordinate confidence and the
personal value of goal-directed effort
Source: Adapted from Jon Howell and Dan Costley, Understanding Behavior for Effective Leadership
(Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001), p. 43.
PRACTICE IT
Empowerment Through Technology at Whirlpool78
Facing pressure to become more innovative and to build tools and resources, including innovation templates and
customer loyalty, Whirlpool wanted to empower every- I-Mentors.This allows innovators to seek employees with
one in the organization to participate in the innovation expertise to influence innovations early in the process.
process. The hardest part was changing the way leaders On the back end is the I-Pipe, a digital dashboard view of
saw their roles.“Only leaders can change an environment the innovation pipeline adapted from Strategos. By track-
and allow an innovator the freedom to pursue things,” ing ideas from concept to scale-up, it can provide project
says Nancy Snyder, vice president of leadership and com- details and a view of the big picture. This gives lower-level
petency creation.“Leaders are no longer controlling, man- employees the power to make decisions and changes
aging. Now they’re removing barriers, setting up seed without having to depend heavily on top management.
funds, interacting.” By removing obstacles and genuinely The innovation democracy at Whirlpool seems to
empowering employees, which is consistent with path- be working. For example, when a team from marketing
goal theory, leaders are helping employees meet their played with the idea of appliances for men, it refined the
goals. concept into a modular system of garage appliances and
Technology was critical to empowering employees to storage units. It was so successful that Whirlpool eventu-
innovate.To help with the creative end,Whirlpool built an ally spun off Gladiator Garage Works as a separate brand.
informal intranet social system called the Innovation Whirlpool now has hundreds of ideas in its innovation
E-Space. The homepage links prospective innovators to pipeline under new CEO Jeff Fettig.
Path-goal theory makes a lot of intuitive sense, but research on the theory has
yielded mixed results. Supportive leadership tends to have a positive relationship
regardless of the task, and the results for directive leadership generally haven’t
supported the theory. Research is insufficient to draw conclusions about the
situational factors influencing the effectiveness of participative and achievement-
oriented leadership.79
The Practice IT feature shows how Whirlpool used technology to apply some
of these leadership concepts.
businesses (even those based in one location) employ people from many cultural
backgrounds.88
Consider China as an example of how culture influences the exercise of lead-
ership. In China, Guanxi, which literally means social relationships or social con-
nections, defines in-group and out-group people. Like LMX, Guanxi determines
how individuals treat others—in-group people are benefited and protected,
while out-group people may be rejected.89 Followers expect Chinese leaders to
have personal contact with subordinates and show their awareness of their sub-
ordinates’ personal problems and sentiments to gain their loyalty and support.90
A manager is not only responsible for business success but is also supposed to
act as a father figure and take care of employees’ personal lives.91 The effective
model for leadership in the Chinese system is thus the wise and loving father,
which results in a paternalistic managerial style,92 in which the leader will take
care of subordinates in exchange for responsible behavior and performance. This
clearly calls for a different leadership style than would be found in most Western
cultures.
A recent large-scale, eleven-year study (the GLOBE study) of global leader-
ship effectiveness investigated the leadership beliefs of people in sixty-two differ-
ent cultures.93 One of the goals of the research was to identify the ways in which
middle managers worldwide distinguish between effective and ineffective lead-
ership. The GLOBE team identified many leader attributes universally seen as
being at least somewhat responsible for a leader’s effectiveness or ineffectiveness.
They also identified a large number of culturally contingent attributes, whose ef-
fects on leadership effectiveness differed from one culture to the next. A sum-
mary of the effect of culture on perceptions of leaders’ attributes is presented in
Table 13.6.
Effective leaders must learn to leverage technology in engaging followers. The
next Window on Managing Now feature discusses how to manage the interactions
with followers that occur through technology, or e-leadership.
T ABLE 13.6
The Effect of Culture on Perceptions of Leaders’ Attributes
Some Examples of Some Examples of Some Examples of
Universal Positive Universal Negative Culturally Contingent
Leader Attributes Leader Attributes Leader Attributes
Trustworthy Irritable Cunning
Dependable Dictatorial Sensitive
Excellence-oriented Uncooperative Evasive
Honest Ruthless Risk taker
Motivating Egocentric Ruler
Source: Based on Robert J. House, Paul J. Hanges, Mansour Javidan, Peter W. Dorfman, and
Vipin Gupta, Culture, Leadership, and Organizations: The GLOBE Study of 62 Societies (London:
Sage Publications, 2004).
What Influences a Leader’s Effectiveness? ■ 399
Technology is rapidly altering how leaders engage follow- inspire others. Although the vast majority of leaders use
ers. Leaders must manage work through telecommuting e-mail to communicate at least once a day, more sophisti-
relationships, communicate with employees through e-mail cated technologies (such as videoconferencing,Web con-
and Web-based portals, and support virtual teams that ferencing, instant messaging, chatrooms, blogs, or wikis)
may have members around the world. E-leadership ad- are used less frequently. Blogs are Web logs, or online di-
dresses the human interactions that now occur through aries, that can provide information to a particular sub-
IT. E-leaders use technology to enhance, improve, and re- scriber audience. Wikis are websites that allow users to
fine relationships in an organization’s structure and envi- add and edit content easily and collaboratively. They are
ronment. For example, a participative leader may set up especially well suited for collective writing and collabora-
chatrooms to solicit input on an important decision. tive problem solving.
Anonymous commenting during meetings can encourage Fourth, e-leaders must be able to communicate with
honest input, and electronic polls can take the pulse of the ’Net generation—people born after 1977 who have
current opinions.94 grown up with the Internet and technology embedded in
Like traditional leadership, e-leadership can be inspir- the world around them and are very comfortable with
ing and transformative, even if it takes place through web- new technologies. Attracting, retaining, and motivating
site postings, e-mail, or large-scale Web conferencing. So people from the ’Net generation requires a departure
how is e-leadership different from traditional leadership? from traditional hierarchical and autocratic styles of lead-
Emerging trends in leadership and concerns expressed by ership and an appreciation for how one might use tech-
current mid- and high-level executives provide some nology to motivate and generate commitment to the
clues.95 organization.96
First, e-leaders must use more participative styles to
address both global and local demands of decision making.
E-leaders must use technology to gather and distribute in-
formation around the globe so that others with specific
knowledge or expertise can provide insights about
emerging issues.
Second, e-leaders must become more comfortable
with developing, managing, and maintaining relationships
without having direct personal control and oversight. A
manager of telecommuting call-center employees must
use technology to keep abreast of employee attitudes,
maintain effective working relationships, and evaluate cur-
rent levels of productivity.This requires a different set of
skills than those of a leader who has an office inside a call
center filled with employees. Managers must use different techniques when leading face-
Third, e-leaders must become increasingly comfort- to-face than when interacting with subordinates through
able using technology to manage, influence, motivate, and technology.
400 PART FIVE CHAPTER 13 Leading
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. The difference between leadership and manage- authoritative/autocratic leaders present workers
ment is that management is a function involving with clear goals and offer little participation, affilia-
planning, budgeting, evaluating, and facilitating, tive leaders focus on human relationships and
while leadership is a relationship-based process emotional bonds, democratic leaders encourage
focused on developing talent, motivating, coach- employee involvement by being consultative and
ing, and building trust. participative, laissez-faire leaders are extremely
hands-off, pace-setting leaders expect high perfor-
2. Leaders can update their knowledge quickly by
mance from others without telling them what is
using technology-based solutions such as CD-
expected, and coaching leaders develop employ-
ROMs, PDAs, Web-based toolkits, communities of
ees. Transformational leadership is most effective
practice, online leadership development, and
when large-scale change is required. Transactional
mixed modes of training and development.
leadership works well for short-term goals when
3. Managers have both position power and personal both leader and led understand and are in agree-
power. Through position power, managers have ment about which tasks are important and about
legitimate, reward, and coercive power by virtue when change is smaller in scale.
of organizational authority. Effective managers
8. Initiating structure behaviors and production-
should focus on using personal power that includes
oriented leaders focus on task accomplishment,
expert, referent, and informational power.
i.e., getting the job done. Consideration and
4. Leaders can use coalition tactics (consultation, ex- employee-oriented leaders focus on employees,
change, ingratiation, and inspirational appeals) their needs, and interpersonal relationships.
and legitimating tactics (personal appeals, pres-
9. Path-goal theory emphasizes that the leader’s job is
sure, and rational persuasion) to influence others.
to help followers attain their goals. Leaders must
Some of these influence approaches are more
provide appropriate direction and support to
effective than others.
ensure that followers’ goals are consistent with
5. Traits and skills that tend to identify leaders include those of the group and organization.
determination, emotional maturity, high energy
10. Leader-member exchange theory proposes that
levels, integrity, intelligence, internal control orien-
leaders develop a special relationship with a subset
tation, job-relevant knowledge, self-confidence, so-
of subordinates (the in-group). Members of the
ciability, and interpersonal skills.
in-group serve as trusted advisers, while members
6. Netiquette is important for effective management of the out-group are given little opportunity to pro-
in today’s world. vide input to group decisions.
7. There are a variety of leadership styles. Coercive
leaders make demands and expect results,
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do all managers need to be leaders? Why or 5. Are men and women equally effective as leaders?
why not? Why or why not?
2. Can a leader be effective without power? Why or 6. When would transactional leadership be preferred
why not? to transformational leadership?
3. What influence tactics do you believe are most 7. Which leadership style do you feel is best for man-
effective? Why? agers to use most often? Why?
4. How can emotional intelligence help leaders be 8. Is it always good to empower workers? Why or why
more effective? not?
Case Study ■ 401
9. How do situational factors influence whether or 11. What advice would you give a leader on managing
not leaders will be successful? people from the ’Net generation?
10. Do you feel that it is possible for leadership substi-
tutes to be effective? Why or why not?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Think of an ineffective leader with whom you are 3. In groups of three or four students, form an execu-
familiar. It could be a manager you’ve worked with tive board and brainstorm the leader characteris-
or a public figure. Drawing from the material tics and styles you would look for when hiring a
presented in this chapter, describe what has made new CEO for a company with which you are all
this leader ineffective. Then identify three factors familiar (e.g., Microsoft, Google, McDonald’s, GE).
that would have made the leader more effective. From this list, identify the three most important
competencies or characteristics for the new CEO
2. Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer association
and describe why you prioritized them the way
whose goal is to eliminate poverty housing and
you did. Would these competencies and charac-
homelessness from the world and to make decent
teristics work equally well in all organizations?
shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat
Why or why not?
invites people of all backgrounds, races, and reli-
gions to build houses together in partnership with 4. Internet Exercise. In groups of three or four stu-
families in need. Imagine for a moment that you dents, brainstorm three leaders with whom every
have been asked to lead a Habitat for Humanity group member is familiar. As a group, choose one of
team in building a house. Now incorporate infor- these leaders to research using the Internet. Write a
mation from leader-member exchange theory to two-page paper describing the nature of the follow-
describe how you would be effective in this con- ers and the situation that the leader faced, the lead-
text. Then identify the power and influence tactics ership style(s) the leader used, and why the leader-
you would use to motivate your team. ship style(s) were or were not appropriate.
CASE STUDY
Steve Bennett of Intuit
hen Steve Bennett became president and CEO of When he gave his first overview of the company at
W Intuit Corporation, the software firm known for
Quicken and TurboTax, he became the leader of an
an analysts’ meeting, he did something unthinkable at
the time: with the company’s founders in the audience,
organization obsessively devoted to its people but lack- he stood up and said that Intuit was underperforming
ing operational rigor. It had focused so intently on its compared with the opportunity it faced. That message
core customers—businesses with fewer than twenty was directed as much to Intuit’s employees as it was to
people—that it had not kept up with customers who the financial markets. He then distributed a document
had outgrown its software. titled “Steve’s Dream for Intuit” that mapped his plan
Bennett had run a variety of business units over the for turning the company into a high-performance
course of two decades and had refined a plan for taking machine; among his goals: put leaders of business
on new challenges. He realized Intuit was an organiza- units totally in charge of the end-to-end customer ex-
tion with a democratic, employee-centric culture. “We perience, institute zero-based budgeting, standardize
were focused too much on making sure that everybody equipment as a way of managing costs, and eliminate
felt good and not enough on high performance,” says businesses such as insurance where Intuit couldn’t
Bennett. He adds, “I wanted them to know that a com- control the critical success factors.
pany can be focused on high performance and still be a Bennett restructured the organization so that he
good place to work.” had eighteen direct reports instead of eight. “I took out
402 PART FIVE CHAPTER 13 Leading
some layers so that I could connect directly with more DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
people in order to drive change faster,” he says. “If you
have that many direct reports, you don’t have time to 1. Which traits and characteristics does Steve Bennett
meddle in their business. My job is to conduct the possess that make him an effective leader?
orchestra, not to play all the instruments.” 2. How would you describe Steve Bennett’s leader-
Raymond Stern, Intuit’s senior vice president of ship style in terms of task and relationship orienta-
corporate development and strategy, appreciates the tion? Is his style appropriate for Intuit? Describe
discipline Bennett has introduced. “One of the things why or why not.
that Steve is amazingly good at is getting a crisp under-
standing of priorities. All of the top-level leaders in this 3. Which of the leadership theories covered in this
company have a one-page list of priorities. They chapter do you think apply to Steve Bennett’s lead-
learned that from him.” ership at Intuit?
Despite all of the new initiatives, including a focus 4. If you were the CEO of Intuit, what leadership style
on operational rigor, time management, and the quality- and influence tactics would you use to guide Intuit
improvement process, Intuit has not lost its small- into the future? There is more than one way to
company feel or its dedication to being a great place to be an effective leader; be honest regarding your
work. Bennett himself now has more time to seek personal leadership style and beliefs rather than
employees’ input, and he is often seen in the company trying to be like Steve Bennett.
cafeteria or around the office talking to employees. He
even sends praiseworthy employees handwritten
notes.97
MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES 14
Mercury Interactive Corporation CHAPTER OUTLINE
Opening Vignette: Mercury
403
CHAPTER OUTLINE (Continued)
PRACTICE IT: Online Incentives at
Mercury Interactive Corporation Show that you can practice what you’ve learned here by
Alternative Rewards ➤ Reading the chapter-opening vignette and identifying ways the company can motivate
Putting It All Together its field staff to identify and report sales opportunities.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: ➤ Reading the end-of-chapter exercises and identifying which motivation theories apply
Using Technology to Retain to the situation.
Knowledge Workers
➤ Reading the end-of-chapter exercises and identifying a job’s enrichment potential.
➤ Reading the chapter case study and describing why GM employees’ motivation
increased.
Some employees might want money or career advancement from their job, but
these things may have relatively little appeal to others. For example, it is clear from
the following conversation that what motivates these two workers is quite different.
Tyler: You’re crazy for quitting your old job. The work may have been
boring, but it pays better than any other job in the area.
Ryan: You’re right about the pay, but the job drove me crazy. Even though
I make less money in my new job, I really like it. I do something different
every day.
How can work be motivating? Work can be motivating because it:
◗ Is interesting and satisfying.
Why is motivation important? One reason is that motivated workers are more
productive.5 High performance requires both ability and motivation. Someone
who is able to do a task well will do so only if she or he is motivated to do it well.
Higher employee motivation can also lead to faster and better-quality work.6 More
motivated employees work more safely,7 provide suggestions for improvements,
and are less likely to quit.8 Clearly, managers can realize several benefits if they can
increase the motivation of their employees.
T ABLE 14.1
Some Individual Characteristics That Influence Motivation
Goals Needs Attitudes
To attain a certain quality level For affiliation About oneself
To reach a certain performance level For power About the job
To complete a task For the approval About the
of others supervisor
To advance one’s career For achievement About coworkers
the characteristics jobs should have to satisfy the needs of the worker. Next, we
will discuss the four main content theories of motivation.
F IGURE 14.2
How Managers Can Address Self-
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Actualization:
Manager assigns
challenging tasks
and empowers workers
Self-Esteem:
Manager shows workers
appreciation, recognition, and respect
Social Needs:
Manager shows interest in and concern for employees
Alderfer’s Existence-Relatedness-Growth
(ERG) Theory
Clay Alderfer13 suggested that there are three groups of individual needs:
◗ Existence needs reflect desires for physical and material well-being, including nu-
tritional and material requirements (e.g., pay, benefits, and working conditions).
◗ Relatedness needs reflect desires for respect from and relationships with others.
◗ Growth needs reflect a desire to make useful and productive contributions and
to have opportunities for personal development.
Alderfer’s existence needs parallel Maslow’s physiological and security needs.
Similarly, Alderfer’s relatedness needs parallel Maslow’s social and esteem needs,
and his growth needs parallel Maslow’s self-actualization needs. Despite these
similarities, Alderfer’s theory differs from Maslow’s in a number of important re-
spects. First, Alderfer argued that it is better to think in terms of a continuum
rather than a hierarchy, and he argued that people could move along the contin-
uum in either direction. Maslow proposed that a satisfied need becomes less
important, but Alderfer argued that relatedness or growth needs become more
important when satisfied. This suggests, for instance, that work enriched by orga-
nizing employees into teams can continue to motivate employees.
Both Maslow’s and Alderfer’s theories were developed in the United States,
and it is likely that the needs do not fall into the same order in all cultures and
countries.14 It is also likely that the order of the needs differs in one country at dif-
ferent times; during periods of war, for example, security needs may take prece-
dence over physiological needs. Different people are also likely to have different
hierarchies when it comes to their own needs, as well as different thresholds for
meeting one level’s needs. For example, one person may not feel financially secure
until he or she has saved $10 million, but another person may feel quite secure
with $1 million. These ambiguities make it difficult for managers to base specific
actions on either theory.
Nonetheless, it can be helpful for managers to remember that people have dif-
ferent types of needs. Managers can enhance employees’ motivation by looking
for opportunities to address employees’ existence, relatedness, and growth needs
in creative ways. For example, some companies sponsor volunteer activities in the
community or create mentoring programs with local schools, which can fulfill
relatedness and growth needs.
● Managing Now Technology and the Internet have helped organizations meet
employees’ growth needs by enabling the delivery of training and development
programs. Using an Internet/intranet training platform, employees at HIP Health
Plan of New York can choose from over 2,000 professional business and technical
training classes, which are available from home or at work via the Internet.15
T ABLE 14.2
Herzberg’s Motivators and Hygiene Factors
Motivators (Satisfiers) Hygiene Factors (Maintenance Needs)
Achievement Pay
Advancement Supervision
Recognition Company policies and administration
Growth Status
Responsibility Interpersonal relations with colleagues
The work itself Working conditions
hygiene factors: factors such behavior. Extrinsic hygiene factors, such as pay, status, and working conditions
as pay, status, and working produce an acceptable working environment. Although their presence does not
conditions that produce an increase satisfaction, their absence causes dissatisfaction. In other words, high
acceptable work environment
pay and good working conditions are generally not enough to make people feel
and whose absence leads to
dissatisfaction satisfied with their jobs. But if pay or working conditions are poor, then people feel
dissatisfied. Hygiene factors correspond to Maslow’s lower-level physiological,
safety, and social needs and Alderfer’s existence and relatedness needs.
motivators: factors intrinsic Herzberg identified a second set of factors, called satisfiers or motivators,
to the job that can drive an that are intrinsic to the job and can drive an employee to pursue excellence.
employee to pursue excellence Motivators include recognition, responsibility, and growth.18 Motivators corre-
and whose presence increases spond to Maslow’s higher-level needs of esteem and self-actualization and Alder-
satisfaction
fer’s growth need. Table 14.2 lists some examples of motivators and hygiene
factors.
As you can see in Figure 14.3, motivator factors can increase satisfaction but
do not lead to dissatisfaction, and hygiene factors can reduce dissatisfaction but
do not lead to satisfaction or positive motivation. In other words, the opposite of
both satisfaction and dissatisfaction is no satisfaction. This differs from the tradi-
tional view of motivation that satisfaction is the opposite of dissatisfaction, as
summarized in Figure 14.3.
The most important contribution of the two-factor theory is the idea that
motivation comes from the intrinsic value and satisfaction the worker gets from the
job itself, not from the conditions surrounding the job. Even if pay and benefits are
high, a job must also be challenging and interesting, and have opportunities for
feelings of achievement, if it is to be motivating. Herzberg’s two-factor theory thus
draws attention to job design and the role of managers in attending to the motiva-
tor factors present in a job.
Although its intuitiveness and simplicity appeals to many managers, many
scholars have criticized the two-factor theory.19 One important issue is the fact
that Herzberg talks about satisfiers and dissatisfiers, but satisfaction and motiva-
tion aren’t necessarily the same. For example, Mary might be satisfied with her pay,
but pay may not motivate her to work harder. Despite the criticisms and lack of
consistent research support, Herzberg’s theory continues to influence manage-
ment practitioners.20
Empowerment
One theme shared by the four needs or content theories we just discussed is the
idea that a sense of achievement and responsibility is motivating. This idea corre-
sponds with Maslow’s self-actualization need, Alderfer’s growth need, Herzberg’s
Content Approaches to Motivation ■ 411
◗ Connecting employees with the outcomes of their work and giving them
feedback.
◗ Building confidence by showing competence, honesty, and fairness.
◗ Task significance: The degree to which job performance is important and affects
the lives or work of others
◗ Autonomy: The degree to which the job gives the worker freedom, discretion,
and independence in scheduling the work and determining how to do the work
◗ Task feedback: The degree to which carrying out the job’s activities results in di-
rect and clear information about the effectiveness of the worker’s performance
These five characteristics together determine the motivating potential of a
job.29 But a high motivating potential score alone does not mean that the job is
more motivating for everyone. Not everyone wants more variety, responsibility,
and so on—some people just want to do their jobs without having to think much
about it. For them, jobs that are stable, less complex, and less demanding (i.e., jobs
with a lower motivating potential score) would be more motivating. We look at a
person’s motivational preferences, such as desire for advancement, to identify the
factors that motivate that particular worker. We then compare a job’s motivating
potential to the person’s motivational preferences to identify the job-person
match. Ideally, the motivating potential of a job matches the growth needs (such
as your achievement) of the individual.
Hackman and Oldham suggest that if there is a good match between the needs
of the person and the characteristics of the job, three critical psychological states
can occur in employees:
◗ Experienced meaningfulness of work
● Job Enrichment, Job Enlargement, and Job Rotation Related to the no-
tion of motivating potential, enriched and enlarged jobs can increase employee
motivation. For many people, enriched, more interesting work tends to be more
motivating than simple, repetitive work. Task variety, task significance, and au-
job enrichment: an approach tonomy (characteristics of motivating work proposed by the job characteristics
to job design that increases a
job’s complexity to give workers
model) are much more likely to exist when a task is complex than when it is
greater responsibility and simplified.34
opportunities to feel a sense of Job enrichment is an approach to job design that increases a job’s complex-
achievement ity to give workers a greater sense of responsibility and achievement. Enriched
Content Approaches to Motivation ■ 413
F IGURE 14.4
The Job Characteristics Model
■
Skill Variety
■
Task Identity Experienced Meaningfulness of Work
■
Task Significance
■
High Motivation
Autonomy Experienced Responsibility of Work Outcomes ■
High Performance
■
High Satisfaction
Employee Growth
Need Strength
SOURCE: Adapted from J. Richard Hackman and Greg R. Oldham,“Development of the Job Diagnostic Survey,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 1975, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 159–170.
Reprinted by permission of The American Psychological Association.
Technology
8. Changes in job content would not necessitate a 1-2-3-4-5 The huge investment in equipment and
large investment in equipment and technology. technology overrides all other considerations.
9. Employees are accustomed to change and respond 1-2-3-4-5 Employees are set in their ways and prefer the
favorably to it. status quo.
10. Employees feel secure in their jobs; employment 1-2-3-4-5 Layoffs are frequent; many employees are
has been stable. concerned about the permanency of
employment.
11. Employees are dissatisfied with their jobs and 1-2-3-4-5 Employees are satisfied with their present jobs
would welcome changes in job content and and general work situation.
work relationships.
job rotation: moving workers Job rotation occurs when workers are moved through a variety of jobs to in-
through a variety of jobs to crease their interest and motivation. For example, a workgroup of three secretaries
increase their interest and may take turns answering the phones, greeting visitors in the reception area, and
motivation typing and filing correspondence. Cross-training is usually required to give em-
ployees the skills they need to do the different jobs. Because it involves a horizon-
tal rather than vertical expansion of job responsibilities, job rotation is a type of
job enlargement rather than job enrichment.
Because some workers actually prefer work with low responsibility, autonomy,
and variety to seemingly more stimulating jobs,36 well-intentioned managers
need to be careful when enriching or enlarging the jobs of people who like their
jobs just the way they are. Successful job enrichment efforts to improve employee
motivation require an understanding of employee and management readiness for
proposed changes and an analysis of the job’s suitability for enrichment. We can
never be certain that job enrichment will work as intended, but the form for eval-
uating the appropriateness of job enrichment in the Improving Your Motivation
Skills feature provides a guide. According to the form’s creators, “A lower rating
(1.0–1.9) indicates that a job is a prime candidate for enrichment; and if properly
Process Approaches to Motivation ■ 415
12. Employees are highly skilled blue- and 1-2-3-4-5 Employees are semi- and unskilled blue- and
white-collar workers, professionals, and white-collar workers.
supervisors.
13. Employees are well educated, with most having 1-2-3-4-5 The average employee has less than a high
college degrees. school education.
14. Employees are from a small town and rural 1-2-3-4-5 The company is located in a large, highly
environment. industrialized metropolitan area.
15. The history of union-management (if no union, 1-2-3-4-5 Union-management (worker-management)
worker-management) relations has been one relations are strained, and the two parties are
of cooperation and mutual support. antagonistic to one another.
Management
16. Managers are committed to job enrichment and 1-2-3-4-5 Managers show little interest in job enrichment
are anxious to implement it. and even less interest in implementing it in
their departments.
17. Managers have attended seminars, workshops, 1-2-3-4-5 Managers lack the training and experience
and so forth; are quite knowledgeable of the necessary to develop and implement job
concept; and have had experience in enrichment projects.
implementing it.
18. Management realizes that substantial payoffs 1-2-3-4-5 Management expects immediate results (within
from job enrichment usually take one to three six months) from job enrichment projects.
years to materialize.
Source: Theodore T. Herbert, Organizational Behavior: Readings and Cases, New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976, pp. 344–345.
Individual goals can sometimes conflict with team or organizational goals. For
individual goals to be effective, they must be integrated with team and organiza-
tional goals and strategies. Home Depot ensures that all senior store staff work to-
ward the same goals by broadcasting a live twenty-five-minute show called The
Same Page in stores every Monday. The show emphasizes the week’s top priorities
so that everyone shares the core goals of the business.40
Managers must continually challenge and motivate employees by setting
high goals and tight schedules. But in doing this, managers must avoid setting
unrealistic targets that may stimulate unethical behavior. People whose perfor-
mance is falling just short of a goal are the ones most likely to act unethically to
collect a reward.41 In the early 1990s, Sears, Roebuck, and Company set very
difficult goals for its automotive service advisers. After a number of complaints,
California state regulators found that most of the repairs made were unnecessary.
Sears’ chairperson, Edward Brennan, later admitted that Sears’ “goal setting
process for service advisors created an environment where mistakes did occur.”42
To guard against this, managers must create an ethical climate so that employees
feel comfortable bringing up conflicts. The pressure to reach high goals is often
necessary to ensure that the company succeeds. Enhancing trust and teamwork
reduces the pressure for unethical behavior and better equips employees to man-
age the pressure.
Feeling that goals are important also enhances commitment to them and in-
creases the motivation to do a job well. For example, S. Kenneth Kannappan, CEO
of Plantronics, a $560 million maker of headsets and products for the hearing
impaired, says, “The way I believe you motivate people is to make it clear not only
what goals the company is trying to achieve but also why the goals are important to
society. Our products, for example, help people drive safely while talking on mobile
phones. That’s a societal benefit we want our people to understand.”43 Explaining
goal importance also enhances feelings of task significance, which can increase
motivation, according to the job characteristics model.
Process Approaches to Motivation ■ 417
As first discussed in Chapter 7, a digital dashboard pre- that reflect their own performance regularly reminds
sents a manager with desktop graphs and charts that paint employees of their goals and gives them feedback on their
a picture of performance in terms of various key perfor- performance. Digital dashboards provide personalized
mance indicators. For example, Johnson & Johnson uses information tailored to each user based on his or her
digital dashboards to provide timely and accurate key organizational role.48
business indicators to executives.46 Verizon executives Digital dashboards can also stimulate people to help
can choose from 300 metrics that reflect company objec- others to reach their goals. For example, Oracle CEO
tives in constructing their dashboards, metrics that in- Larry Ellison closely tracks his customers near the end of
clude information from broadband sales to wireless each financial quarter. “I want to know what our five
subscriber defections.47 Dashboards can be created that biggest deals are three days before the quarter closes,” he
show organization-level performance, workgroup-level says. “I look at the [dashboard] several times a day. So
performance, or individual performance. Dashboards can much of our sales activity gets compressed into a few
provide important feedback to employees about how well days.” He will then call the companies himself or figure
they are meeting their individual goals. out another way to seal the deal.49 By reviewing the digi-
Organizations are increasingly using digital dashboards tal dashboard, Ellison can identify where to best invest his
to motivate employees as well as to monitor and control time in closing deals that will help Oracle meet its quar-
them. Giving employees access to digital dashboards terly goals.
418 PART FIVE CHAPTER 14 Motivating Employees
Self-Efficacy
If salespeople did not think that they could sell enough products to meet their
quotas, would they be very motivated to try? Because people are motivated in part
by what they expect to be able to do, these salespeople would probably not be very
self-efficacy: a person’s motivated. Self-efficacy is a person’s beliefs in his or her capabilities to do what is
confidence in his or her ability required to accomplish a task.50 Self-efficacy influences an individual’s effort and
to organize and execute the persistence in the face of challenges, potentially aversive situations, and events
courses of action necessary to
with high probabilities of failure. Self-efficacy beliefs have three dimensions:
accomplish a specific task
◗ Magnitude: How difficult is the task to be accom-
plished?
◗ Strength: How confident is the person that he or she
can accomplish the task?
◗ Generality: What is the degree to which he or she can
accomplish similar tasks?
Self-efficacy perceptions are changeable. Good
managers enhance subordinates’ perceptions of their
abilities. Managers can raise self-efficacy through
coaching and encouragement. If an employee fails at a
task he or she should be able to do, the manager can ex-
press confidence in the employee and guide him or her
through successful experiences. When an employee is
successful, the manager can discuss how the success
was due to the employee’s skills and effort (rather than
to luck) to enhance his or her self-efficacy.
VIE theory has been criticized.52 It focuses on only a few variables that are
likely to influence motivation. The concept of instrumentality is also ambiguous
and difficult to measure.53 Although support for the theory is mixed, empirical
research has shown that the strength of these three factors can influence a
worker’s effort and performance level.54 VIE theory is useful to managers because
Process Approaches to Motivation ■ 419
● Managing Now Online incentive programs have made it easier for firms
to identify rewards that are highly valued by employees. For example,
salesdriver.com offers 1,500 different rewards, including gift certificates, travel,
technology, and even motorcycles. This broad selection allows employees to iden-
tify rewards that have high valence for them, which increases their motivation.
Online incentive programs typically award employees points for engaging in
desired behaviors or for reaching goals. Because employees know exactly how
many points they need to earn to receive their chosen reward, instrumentality is
also high.
Equity Theory
equity theory: the theory that J. Stacey Adams59 developed equity theory to describe how people arrive at deci-
people observe the rewards sions regarding whether a decision was fair. Equity theory proposes that people
others are getting and the effort observe the rewards others are getting and the effort they are putting into their
they are putting into their work,
work. They then compare the efforts and rewards of others with their own effort
and then compare these
observations with their own and rewards. If people perceive inequity, especially in comparison to relevant oth-
effort and rewards ers, they will be dissatisfied and will try to restore equity. Employees’ concern for
fairness and equity drives this social comparison process. Research has supported
this theory, and it has become one of the most useful frameworks for understand-
ing work motivation.
A fair or equitable situation is one in which people with similar inputs experi-
ence similar outcomes. Employees will compare their inputs and rewards with the
rewards received by others for their inputs. Inputs include effort, ability, experience,
Process Approaches to Motivation ■ 421
and other factors that enable someone to perform the job well. If employees per-
ceive that an inequity exists, they are likely to withhold some of their contribu-
tions, either consciously or unconsciously, to bring a situation into better balance.
This balance can be expressed as follows:
own inputs others’ inputs
⫽
own outcomes others’ outcomes
For example, imagine you have a job at which you feel that you work hard for
forty hours a week and earn a salary of $50,000. A colleague with the same job and
same hours earns a $60,000 salary. Is this fair? In assessing the equity of the situa-
tion, you realize that your colleague has advanced training, has worked ten years
longer than you have, and is more productive. You decide that, given your col-
league’s greater job inputs, his or her greater outcome (salary) is fair. You might
know of another colleague, however, who has the same effort level, work experi-
ence, productivity, and education that you do but who makes $55,000. You may
feel that this situation is unfair.
Equality and equity are not the same: equality means that everyone’s out-
comes are the same; equity means that everyone’s outcomes are fair given the na-
ture of their inputs. Equity theory does not propose that pay levels (outcomes)
need to be equal across employees. Employees generally won’t think it’s unfair if a
comparison employee is receiving more from the organization (such as getting
paid more) if he or she also contributes more to the organization (by being a bet-
ter performer, working more hours, etc.).
If an inequity is perceived, the employee may experience an emotional reac-
tion (such as anger) and try to restore equity. Adams proposed several ways that an
individual can try to resolve the inequity. For example, imagine a situation where
someone feels that they are underpaid compared to a coworker. To restore feelings
of equity, the worker could react by:
◗ Decreasing inputs (working more slowly or sloppily).
◗ Increasing outputs from the company (asking for a raise or bonus, or stealing).
◗ Trying to get the comparison person to work harder (to increase his or her inputs).
◗ Trying to get the comparison person’s outputs from the company reduced.
◗ Cognitively distorting the comparison and trying to convince him- or herself that
the situation is equitable.
◗ Quitting.
Employees are more likely to notice being underpaid than being overpaid.60
When employees perceive that they have been overpaid, they may temporarily
increase their productivity to make the situation more equitable, but this effect
gradually wears off.61 It is likely that people reevaluate their inputs to justify the
overpayment and convince themselves that they deserve it.
Although equity theory was originally concerned with differences in pay, it is
also applicable to other forms of tangible and intangible rewards in the work-
place.62 That is, if any employee input is not balanced with some fair outcome,
motivation will be difficult. Managers must manage the perception of fairness in
the mind of each employee. If a subordinate thinks that you are treating him or her
unfairly, it will be difficult to motivate that employee, even if you disagree with his
or her assessment.
422 PART FIVE CHAPTER 14 Motivating Employees
Reinforcing Performance
Reinforcement theory is based on the work of noted psychologist Edward
Thorndike and B. F. Skinner.64 Thorndike discovered three laws:
◗ The law of effect: People tend not to engage in behavior that does not result in a
reward.
◗ The law of recency: The most recent consequence of a behavior is likely to govern
the recurrence of that behavior.
◗ The law of exercise: Repetition strengthens the association between cause and
effect.
The core of reinforcement theory is that behavior that is followed by positive
consequences is likely to be repeated. B. F. Skinner expanded on Thorndike’s work
and found that many behaviors can be controlled using different types of rein-
reinforcer: anything that forcers.65 A reinforcer is anything that makes a behavior more likely to happen
makes a behavior more likely again. Reinforcers work best when they are immediate, sincere, and specific to an
to happen again activity. There are four types of reinforcers, which are shown in Figure 14.5 and
explained more fully below:
◗ Positive reinforcement: Use of rewards to increase the likelihood that a behavior
will be repeated.
◗ Negative reinforcement: Removal of current or future unpleasant consequences
to increase the likelihood that someone will repeat a behavior. In other words,
avoidance or removal of something undesirable is motivating.
◗ Punishment: Application of negative outcomes to decrease the likelihood of a
behavior.
◗ Extinction: Removal of any reinforcement (positive or negative) following the
occurrence of the behavior to be extinguished to decrease the likelihood of that
behavior.
For reinforcement to work, the employee must know exactly why he or she is
receiving a reward. To best reinforce a behavior, the reward should come as quickly
as possible after the behavior. One of the biggest benefits of online incentive
Learning and Reinforcement Approaches to Motivation: How Consequences Shape Behavior ■ 423
Behavior Modification
Behavior modification, based on the work of B. F. Skinner, gives managers a way
to apply reinforcement theory to motivate workers. There are two basic issues in
using behavior modification: the type of reinforcement (reward or punishment)
and the schedule of reinforcement.
● Types of Reinforcement Managers must choose from among the four types
of reinforcement listed above: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement,
punishment, and extinction. Each is best suited to a different type of situation:
◗ Positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement motivates more of the desired be-
havior. For example, when a manufacturing employee wears hearing protection,
the manager can praise the employee to increase the likelihood that the em-
ployee will wear the hearing protection in the future.
424 PART FIVE CHAPTER 14 Motivating Employees
1. General Statement of Problem: The accounting department was making many payroll errors,
F IGURE 14.6 frustrating employees, and increasing costs by taking up managers’ time and accounting time.
Performance Improvement 2. Pinpointed Behaviors: The accounting department counted and recorded the number of payroll
Project Worksheet errors reported to it by department managers.
15
10
0
0 5 10 15 20
Weeks
4. Consequences for Behavior Changes: Each bookkeeper in the accounting department started
graphing the number of errors for which he or she was responsible. The accounting manager
assigned responsibility for each error after discussing it with the bookkeepers. The manager verbally
reinforced those bookkeepers who displayed low rates of error to begin with or who showed
SOURCE: Lawrence Miller, Behavior improvement on their graphs.
Management: The New Science of Managing
People at Work (New York: John Wiley, 5. Evaluate Changes: The number of errors dropped from an average of 11.6 per week to 1.17
1978), p. 18. per week.
Rewarding Performance
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE
R
ewards are one of the most powerful motivational tools managers have at their
disposal. The rewards offered by a job determine not only whether someone is
willing to accept a job offer but also how much effort he or she is willing to put
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Using Internet Tools to Motivate and Reward Employees
Incentive programs can have a positive impact on em- Many Internet incentive sites exist, including
ployee motivation and performance by providing positive incentivecity.com, emaritz.com, premierchoiceaward.com,
reinforcement.69 Many companies are using technology to salesdriver.com, hinda.com, and loyaltyworks.com. In
enhance their positive reinforcement programs. For exam- some cases, employees can specify the rewards they want.
ple, Sta-Dri, a forty-year-old plastics manufacturer based in Managers can adapt the rewards to be those most moti-
Mankato, Minnesota, established an online scoreboard vating to each employee, such as an extra day off for one
where sales representatives could check their incentive and a flat-screen TV for another. Many incentive sites are
points. “Having access, literally, twenty-four hours a day to point-based and work like airline frequent-flyer programs.
see how they’re progressing is important,” says Paula Employees earn points for reaching certain goals or for
Godar, director of marketing communications for Maritz doing certain things over a set period of time and can cash
Incentives in St. Louis, because “They can say, ‘I’m doing in the points for a variety of trips and prizes.
great’ or ‘I need to step it up because I’m really behind.’ ”70
forth. In organizations, workers exchange their time and effort for some set of
rewards, including pay, benefits, training opportunities, and so forth.
The clearing of the island of Penang illustrates the motivational power of
rewards. Before 1786, Penang was covered with jungle and infested with malaria.
When English captain Francis Light of the East India Company chose Penang as a
new harbor for ships on their way to China to get fresh food and water, he needed
his soldiers to clear the thick jungle. The soldiers were understandably not very
excited about the job. To motivate them, Light loaded the ship’s guns with silver
dollars and fired them into the jungle. The work was rapidly finished.
● Merit Pay Merit pay is a salary increase, usually permanent, given because
of an individual’s past performance. Consistent with VIE theory, employee motiva-
tion is enhanced because good performance is expected to result in higher pay. A
clear link among effort, job performance, and the reward enhances motivation.
● Spot Awards Spot awards are most consistent with reinforcement theory.
Spot awards are given on the spot, as soon as a desired behavior is observed.71
Effective spot reward programs depend on discretion, timely acknowledgments,
and clear links between employee actions and recognition. Systems engineering
consulting firm Scitor in Sunnyvale, California, has a Be Our Guest program in
which employees award bonuses, usually ranging from $100 to $300, to cowork-
ers who go beyond the call of duty at work. If someone feels a coworker has done
something worthy, the giver fills out a card indicating the amount of the bonus,
and the recipient can spend it as he or she likes through his or her expense
account.72
Rewarding Performance ■ 427
● Gain Sharing Gain sharing is sharing the value of productivity gains with
the workforce. For example, if workers come up with ways to increase productivity
10 percent by lowering costs or increasing productivity, they receive some of the
value of the 10 percent productivity gain. This clear link between performance and
rewards is consistent with VIE theory and can motivate employees to improve pro-
ductivity because doing so will lead to financial rewards for them. Gain sharing
can also increase employees’ commitment to organizational goals by focusing
their attention on cost and productivity.
● Skill-Based Pay Rather than paying employees for the jobs they currently
hold, skill-based pay compensates employees for the range and depth of their
knowledge and skills.75 Broader skills make workers more flexible and enable them
to contribute to the organization in more ways. When work is organized in teams,
skill-based pay can encourage all team members to develop the skills needed to
help the team be flexible and perform at its best.
A General Mills plant implemented a skill-based pay plan that paid employees
in several types of jobs based on their attained skill levels for their job.76 Workers
could attain three levels of skill in their job: limited ability (ability to perform simple
428 PART FIVE CHAPTER 14 Motivating Employees
● Managing Now Organizations use IT, the Internet, and their intranets to
improve the effectiveness of their incentive and reward programs. When T-Mobile
needed to improve the performance of its call-center customer-service profes-
sionals, it reinforced its Do More Get More program through in-center TV moni-
tors, e-mail flashes, and an intranet site.78 A point system awards employees
PRACTICE IT
Online Incentives at Mercury Interactive Corporation
Mercury Interactive Corporation needed an affordable, company priorities. For example, sales of slow-moving
online employee incentive program to encourage its field products can be stimulated by offering bonus points for
staff members to identify and report the sales opportuni- sales of these items. Because the data in online systems is
ties they saw while on client assignments. The company centralized, firms can continually evaluate the effectiveness
implemented an online program in which field staff mem- of the awards program and ensure that it is making a dif-
bers receive points for sales leads and even more points ference, and they can identify underperformers as well.80
for leads that generate new business.“The administration An important requirement for online incentive pro-
of this would have been way too much if the program grams is that employees must have Internet access. This
wasn’t online,” a company representative says. “A $7,000 requirement is challenging for companies with employees
investment has generated more than $600,000 in new who work on factory floors and at cash registers and thus
business.”79 Setting clear expectations for employees to do not have access to company computers. Many online
identify and report sales opportunities and then reward- vendors provide supplemental paper materials for these
ing these behaviors with points redeemable for valued re- employees, but other companies find ways to give all em-
wards are consistent with reinforcement theory. Letting ployees computer access. By putting its incentive program
employees choose their rewards increases employees’ va- online, 3M saved enough money that it was able to install
lence, and knowing how many points are required to earn computer kiosks so that all employees had access, and it
a reward enhances instrumentality, which is consistent scheduled time on the computer as part of the workday.81
with VIE theory. Incentive programs should also be well promoted and
Online programs also give managers easy access to made an integral part of the job.82
real-time data and the flexibility to adjust to changing
Rewarding Performance ■ 429
Alternative Rewards
Besides money, employees also value recognition, appreciation, and help in
balancing their work and family lives. Recognition and nonmonetary rewards are
typically inexpensive, but they can be effective motivators. One study found that
financial incentives initially had a greater effect on profit and customer service,
but over time, financial and nonfinancial incentives had an equally significant
impact.84 Employee recognition methods include a personal thank-you note, a
preferred parking space, public praise, a unique award, company picnics, and
management dressing in a crazy outfit if employees meet sales targets.
At Nucor Corporation, the largest steelmaker in the United States, motivation
is about focusing on the people on the front line. Managers talk to them, listen to
them, and act on their ideas. In exchange for being treated with respect, having
real power, and being generously rewarded, Nucor employees put in extraordi-
nary effort.85
Sometimes simple gestures can get great results. A Westinghouse sales man-
ager agreed to pay for and cook lunch for all sixteen of the employees who
reported directly to him if they met their sales quotas. They subsequently ex-
ceeded their goals in eighteen out of nineteen months. Corporate higher-ups vol-
unteered to foot the bill, but the manager refused, saying that the incentive
worked because he personally went to the supermarket to buy the steaks with his
own money and because employees got a kick out of seeing the boss become a
cook and a waiter.86
Employees have lives outside work, and facilitating work-life balance can
reward and motivate employees. Offering a compressed workweek allows em-
ployees to work forty hours in less than five days. Job sharing, which allows two or
more people to split a single job, is another option. One person might perform
the job on Mondays and Tuesdays, the other person on Thursdays and Fridays,
and both on Wednesdays. Or one employee could work in the mornings and the
other in the afternoons. This option requires finding compatible pairs of employ-
ees who can share the responsibilities of one job successfully, and it can help
motivate and retain skilled workers—particularly students, retirees, and parents
of young children.
motivation of workers by helping them better match their work schedule to their
personal needs and preferences.
The challenge in retaining employees often is finding ways To create an employee retention model, Banca
to match individuals’ passions with the organization’s Carige used SAS to create an employee data warehouse
needs. Knowledge workers, who develop or use knowl- that contains information about each employee’s age, gen-
edge in doing their jobs rather than doing production der, salary, job role, education, and professional informa-
work, are often motivated by doing their work well, build- tion. The retention model analyzes the factors associated
ing their professional reputations, working on challenging with voluntary turnover, builds a model to predict the
projects that broaden their skills and marketability, and likelihood of an employee voluntarily leaving, scores all
achieving a greater balance between work and their per- employees based on the model, and delivers reports
sonal lives. Examples of knowledge workers include based on the model’s results. The retention model allows
lawyers, doctors, professors, managers, and bankers. Tech- the company to answer questions like the following:
nology has helped companies better understand the
◗ Which employees are at the highest risk of voluntarily
turnover patterns of their knowledge workers so that
leaving the organization?
they can better retain them.
Banca Carige, one of the oldest banks in Italy, uses ◗ What reasons do employees have for wanting to leave?
technology to engage in what it calls employee relation- ◗ Which reasons are the strongest predictors of employ-
ship management. Its first goal was to predict if its best ees actually leaving?
employees were about to leave. Improving employee re- ◗ What are the profiles of those employees most likely
tention would not only save money (it is cheaper to retain to leave?
employees than to hire and train new people), it would
While low current turnover is important, it is just as
also help the bank keep its best performers. It wanted a
important to keep turnover from increasing, and the re-
retention model that would help forecast and analyze in-
tention model from SAS helps with both issues.
formation and trends, plan proactively for the future, and
reduce turnover costs.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Motivation is the intensity of a person’s desire to about reaching the goal. Feedback is necessary to
begin or continue engaging in the pursuit of a goal. monitor progress toward the goal and to learn if
Motivation is affected by factors that arouse, main- task strategies need to be changed.
tain, and channel a person’s efforts toward a goal to
5. Digital dashboards help keep employees focused
fulfill unmet wants or needs.
on important goals and provide timely feedback to
2. Motivation is affected by characteristics of the in- employees regarding how well they are meeting
dividual, job, and work environments. their goals.
3. Whereas content theories focus on which factors 6. According to VIE theory, employees must perceive
(needs) internal to a person influence motivation, valence, instrumentality, and expectancy if they
process theories address how and why different are to be motivated. Managers can proactively in-
factors external to a person influence motivation. fluence employees’ perceptions of all three factors.
4. Goal setting is one of the most effective ways of 7. Employees’ fairness perceptions affect their job
motivating workers. Goal setting is particularly ef- performance, satisfaction, organizational commit-
fective if employees participate in setting the goals, ment, withdrawal behaviors, and counterproductive
are committed to them, and have self-efficacy behaviors such as stealing. Fairness perceptions
Experiential Exercises ■ 433
are determined by the nature of the outcomes observations with their own effort and rewards. If
received (distributive fairness), the policies and inequity is perceived, people are motivated to try
procedures used to determine the outcomes (pro- to reduce the inequity.
cedural fairness), and the nature of the informa-
9. Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement,
tion given and interpersonal treatment received
punishment, and extinction can all be used to en-
during the process.
courage or discourage certain behaviors from oc-
8. Equity theory proposes that people observe the re- curring again, and they are at the core of behavior
wards others are getting and the effort they are modification programs.
putting into their work, and then compare these
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What motivates you at work? What motivates motivation do you think least applies to the work-
you at school? Are your answers the same? Why or place? Why?
why not?
5. How can management style and organizational
2. Think about a time when you had a hard time policies affect the motivation levels of employees?
getting motivated to complete a task (a task at work, Consider both content and process theories in
studying for an exam, etc.). Why did you have a your answer.
hard time? What could have increased your motiva-
6. What suggestions would you give an organization
tion? How can you use this information to improve
that has little money to spend but wants to moti-
your performance in these tasks in the future?
vate its employees to work harder? What would you
3. Think of a time you felt unfairly treated at work or caution it not to do?
at school. Now describe why you felt that you were
7. What can managers do to reward employees for
treated unfairly. How do your answers relate to
behaving ethically? What are some things that
fairness theory? What could have been done differ-
managers should not do if they want employees to
ently to make your reactions less negative?
behave ethically?
4. Which theory of motivation do you think best
applies to the workplace? Why? Which theory of
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Read the following about motivation and intelli- consequences of poorer decisions made by less in-
gence: telligent police officers can clearly be great, includ-
ing the loss of life. This controversy highlights the
It can be hard to stay motivated when you do the
importance of understanding the impact of task
same thing day after day. Because of this, one
characteristics on task motivation, as well as the
town’s police department decided that applicants
importance of managing jobs to reduce the poten-
who score too high on a cognitive ability test will
tial for negative outcomes.
not be hired on the premise that they are more
likely to feel bored on the job and thus be harder to Now form groups of three or four students, answer
retain.91 The test’s manual even warns about the the following questions, and share your answers
cost of replacing high-scoring workers who quit with the class:
because they become dissatisfied with repetitive
a. Do you agree that candidates high in cognitive
work.92 This premise has proved controversial,
ability should not be police officers because
however, because the hiring of less intelligent
they might become bored with the work? Why or
police officers may also reduce their overall perfor-
why not?
mance. And when a gunfight does occur, the
434 PART FIVE CHAPTER 14 Motivating Employees
b. What motivation theories best apply to the job each person. What are the similarities? What are
of police officer? the differences? Now imagine that you are their
manager. Given what you have learned, what rec-
c. If you were a police chief, what would you do to
ommendations would you make about how best to
increase the motivation of your officers and pre-
motivate each of them?
vent them from feeling bored?
4. Use the Internet to identify a situation where a
2. In groups of three or four students, identify a job
company leader was effective in motivating em-
with which you are all familiar or a job currently
ployees in some way (i.e., to perform better, to
held by one of your group members. Use Fig-
work more safely, etc.). Write a two-page paper de-
ure 14.5 to analyze the job’s enrichment potential.
scribing what made the leader effective, applying
To what degree is the job enriched now? Why? What
material you learned in this chapter.
would your group recommend to enrich it further?
3. Interview two people about a job they currently
hold and try to identify the factors that motivate
CASE STUDY
Motivation at General Motors93
he 3,500 employees in General Motors’ (GM) assem- in the spring and for a picnic in the summer. “When
T bly plant in Wilmington, Delaware, were told by GM
executives that the plant would be shut down in five
your family is engaged, it makes you feel good about
what you do,” says Harvey G. Thomas, the plant’s cur-
years to reduce costs. They were told that the decision rent manager.
was final. After the executives left, plant manager Ralph Within two years, the workers made the factory the
Harding spoke passionately to the stunned workers. lowest-cost producer for GM, with the lowest warranty
“There may be nothing we can do to affect this deci- costs as well. The employees succeeded in making the
sion, but there is something we can do: We can make corporation’s decision look foolish—and GM reversed
them feel really stupid! Because they are going to be itself and kept the plant open.
closing the best plant in General Motors!”
Motivated by his challenge, employees and man-
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
agers began working in problem-solving teams to
lower costs and tackle quality-control problems. Ener- 1. What motivation theories describe why the work-
gized to embarrass GM’s top brass, “Be the Best!” be- ers became so motivated to do their best?
came a rallying cry and was printed on posters and
2. What might GM have done, rather than announce
sewn onto jackets given to employees. Union leaders
the plant’s closing, to motivate the plant workers to
and managers worked together more closely than ever
do their best? Would your suggestions have been as
to come up with ideas to improve quality and lower
effective? Why or why not?
costs. Harding kept everyone informed of the plant’s
weekly progress on quality and costs. And the families 3. Why would involving the workers’ families en-
of employees were invited to the plant for a luncheon hance workers’ motivation?
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION 15
Communication at Lucent1 CHAPTER OUTLINE
L ucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, de- Opening Vignette:
Communication at Lucent
signs the systems, services, and software that drive next-generation
● The Communication
communication networks.With over 30,000 employees located around Process
the globe, communicating with One-Way and Two-Way Communication
Communication Barriers
employees is difficult. But in this
● Organizational
fast-paced industry, communica- Communication
tion is critical to keep employ- Downward Communication
ees abreast of company chal- Upward Communication
Horizontal Communication
lenges and needs. As a global WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
company, employees live and Using Portals to Improve
work in different time zones: Performance
Diagonal Communication
work is done somewhere in the Formal and Informal Communication
world twenty-four hours a day, PRACTICE IT: Technology-Enabled
Communication at Lucent
seven days a week. How can
● Communication Media
Lucent keep employees abreast The Internet
of company challenges and Collaboration Software
needs and use technology to Intranets
Lucent employees must be able to WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
communicate effectively with communicate effectively around the world Building an Intranet
them? ■ twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Oral Communication
Media Richness
● Interpersonal
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
Communication Skills
After studying this chapter, you should be able to: Listening Skills
Persuading Skills
Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by Negotiating Skills
Conflict-Resolution Skills
➤ Describing the communication process.
Nonverbal Communication Skills
➤ Explaining the difference between formal and informal communication in Writing Skills
organizations. IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNICATION
➤ Giving examples of different technologies that have influenced organizational SKILLS
communication. WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
➤ Discussing how media richness affects the appropriateness of a medium for different E-Mail Tips
types of messages. Speech and Presentation Skills
Meeting Skills
➤ Describing active listening and explaining what makes a good listener.
➤ Describing how to make an effective presentation.
435
436 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
communication: the
transmission of information
from one person to another to
C ommunication is the transmission of information from one person to another
to create a shared understanding and feeling. The word communication actu-
ally comes from the Latin word communicare, which means to share or make
create a shared understanding common.2 Figure 15.1 illustrates the communication process. The six parts of the
and feeling
model of the communication process, other than the message sender and mes-
encoding: converting a sage receiver, are defined as follows:
thought, idea, or fact into a
message composed of symbols, 1. Encoding is when the message sender converts or encodes a thought, idea, or
pictures, or words fact into a message composed of symbols, pictures, or words.
The Communication Process ■ 437
message: the encoded 2. The message is the encoded information that the sender sends. For example,
information a manager wants to communicate to her new employee Kim that Kim is doing
well. The manager encodes that thought into words expressing that Kim’s per-
formance has been steadily increasing and that she is performing at 80 per-
cent of her target level. These words are the message. The manager could also
create a graph showing Kim’s performance pattern and a line representing her
target performance level. This graph would then be the message.
channel: the medium used to 3. The channel is the medium used to send the message to the receiver, includ-
send the message ing voice, writing, videos, television, and body language.
4. When the message receiver sees, reads, or hears the message, it gets decoded.
decoding: the interpretation Decoding is the interpretation and translation of the message back into
and translation of a message something that can be understood by the receiver. The information resulting
back into something that can be from the decoding should be the same as the information the sender intended
understood by the receiver
to communicate.
feedback: a check on the 5. Feedback is a check on the success of the communication. The message re-
success of the communication ceiver becomes the sender of a new message back to the original sender, and the
original sender can assess if the receiver understood the original message as he
or she intended. Repeating or paraphrasing the original message, asking for
clarification, and asking if your conclusion is correct are examples of feedback.
noise: anything that blocks, 6. Noise is anything that blocks, distorts, or changes in any way the information
distorts, or changes in any way the sender intended to communicate. For example, noise can be something
the information the sender physical in the environment, like machine noise or other people talking, or it
intended to communicate
can occur because the sender or receiver is distracted by other things and is
unable to concentrate on the message being sent or received.
Essentially, in the communication process, the sender translates (encodes)
information into words, symbols, or pictures and passes the encoded information
to the receiver through some medium (channel). The sender then receives the
438 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
message and retranslates (decodes) it into a message that is, with luck, the same as
what the sender intended. Noise can enter anywhere in the process, making the
message received different from the one that the sender intended. Feedback
should represent two-way communication that helps to check on the success of
the communication and ensure that the received message is accurate.
Throughout the communication process, barriers can make the message that
the recipient ultimately receives different from the one sent. These barriers, a form
of noise, can come from the sender, the receiver, the organization, or from other
forms of noise. We will discuss some of these barriers below.
● Managing Now Information technology (IT) and the Internet have given
senders more media channels to choose from than ever before. Managers now
regularly use cell phones, voice mail, and instant messaging to communicate. The
managers on the cover of this book are using IT devices like wireless laptops,
BlackBerries, and cell phones to make two-way communication possible where it
has never been possible before.
Communication Barriers
Several potential barriers can prevent effective communication. Table 15.1 sum-
marizes some of the most common barriers that can interfere with the accurate
communication of a message.
T ABLE 15.1
Communications Barriers
Barrier Description
Body language Gestures or expressions that carry meaning in themselves, for example, shrugging your
shoulders or rolling your eyes.
Verbal intonation How words are said can affect how they are interpreted.
Selective perception We select what we are willing to see or hear based on our expectations and beliefs.
Misperception Messages are not received in the way that they were intended.
Filtering Information is intentionally withheld, ignored, or distorted to influence the message
that is ultimately received.
Information overload Having so much information that it is impossible to process all of it.
Organizational barriers The hierarchical structure and culture of an organization can influence who is allowed
to communicate what to whom and can limit how messages are sent.
Cultural barriers Different cultures have different ways of expressing things. For example, a thumbs-up
sign does not mean the same thing everywhere in the world.
Noise Anything that blocks, distorts, or changes the message that the sender intended to
communicate. Distractions, the sender’s credibility, jargon, and ambiguity are some
common sources of noise.
verbal intonation: the Verbal intonation is the emphasis given to spoken words and phrases. For ex-
emphasis given to spoken words ample, the simple words, “May I speak with you?” can be interpreted very differently
and phrases if said in a cheery, upbeat tone versus a strong or angry tone. Managers should re-
member the saying, “It’s not what you say that matters but how you say it,” every
time they communicate. When body language is inconsistent with the spoken mes-
sage, receivers are more likely to interpret the body language as the “true meaning.”3
According to noted nonverbal communication researcher Albert Mehrabian,
in any face-to-face communication:4
◗ Seven percent of the total message is conveyed by the words.
◗ Fifty-five percent of the total message is conveyed by facial and body expressions.
For communication to be effective and meaningful, all three parts of the mes-
sage need to be similar. If any of the three parts are different, the receiver is receiv-
ing conflicting messages.5
Consciously controlling our body language is as important a managerial skill
as knowing how to interpret others’ body language. Managers must control their
body signals and tone to ensure that they reinforce their intended message. For ex-
ample, shifting your eyes and looking away while speaking makes people not trust
your message. If you want people to see you as a leader, stand up straight, make
eye contact, and smile—those signals project confidence and energy. Walking with
slumped shoulders, speaking in a flat tone, and fidgeting will often lead to your
being seen as indecisive, negative, or inexperienced.6 Managers must also be sen-
sitive to how the interpretation of body language varies in different cultures. In
some areas of the world, averting your eyes by looking downward is a sign of re-
spect for senior managers, while in others, it is interpreted as a lack of confidence.
● Misperception People tend not to hear things that they do not want to hear
selective perception: the and to hear things that are consistent with what they already believe. Selective
tendency to see and hear things perception is our tendency to see and hear things according to our beliefs and ex-
according to our beliefs and pectations rather than how they really are. Sometimes people ignore conflicting
expectations rather than how
information and focus on only the information that confirms what they already
they really are
believe. Selective perception makes a receiver perceive only part of a message be-
cause of his or her expectations, needs, motivations, interests, and other personal
characteristics.
Managers’ functional expertise can influence how they perceive and solve
complex problems.7 Two managers given the same information about a problem
may see the problem differently. A manager with a finance background may be
more likely to see the problem as financial, while a manager with a production
background may be more likely to see it as production-based. Each manager se-
lectively perceives information that is consistent with his or her expertise and ex-
pectations and does not pay as much attention to other types of information.
misperception: when a Misperception is when a message is not decoded by the receiver in the way
message is not decoded by the the sender intended. A misperception can occur because the sender’s body lan-
receiver in the way the sender guage is inconsistent with the sender’s words, and the receiver incorrectly inter-
intended
prets the body language to be the true message. It can also occur if body language
or tone is interpreted incorrectly; if the receiver selectively focuses on favorable
parts of the sender’s message, thus distorting the message’s meaning; or if the
filtering: less than the full
amount of information is
receiver has poor listening skills.
received due to withholding,
ignoring, or distorting ● Filtering Filtering occurs when people receive less than the full amount of
information information due to the withholding, ignoring, or distorting of information. Filtering
The Communication Process ■ 441
can happen when a sender manipulates information so that the receiver is more
likely to perceive it in a favorable way. For example, a manager might tell his or her
boss about the things that are going well in the manager’s unit and not mention
any problems to try to look good during a performance evaluation.
● Information Overload Filtering can also occur when a receiver has too
information overload: the much information. Information overload results when the amount of informa-
amount of information available tion available exceeds a person’s ability to process it. People faced with too much
exceeds a person’s ability to information have to use some sort of filtering strategy to reduce it to a manageable
process it
amount. For example, an executive who starts the day with 500 e-mails in the in-
box will apply some sort of filter, such as who sent each e-mail or the urgency con-
veyed by the sender, to decide which to read and which to delete or save to read
later. Filtering is essential to managers because it helps to reduce noise in the com-
munication process. Using technology such as spam filters for e-mail amplifies
relevant and accurate information and minimizes the rest.
● Managing Now Some companies have used technology to reduce the filter-
ing of messages. For example, Medco Health Solutions wanted to better manage
its internal communication and encourage the free flow of information to serve its
clients better. Medco built an internal broadcast facility that allows the company
to broadcast video with sound to all employee desktop computers in the country.
The facility posts taped presentations to the company intranet and hosts real-time
interviews and panel discussions with company leaders. Employees can e-mail
questions to the people in the studio, who can answer them in real time. This pre-
vents lower-level employees from having to go through the company’s hierarchy to
get information about company issues. Medco uses polling tools on its intranet
and in the broadcast studio to quickly survey employees on important issues.
The broadcast facility has allowed Medco managers to go right to the source to
get information that hasn’t been filtered as it gets passed around and up the hier-
archy. In addition, lower levels of the organization get faster resolution to many of
their issues because they can eliminate all of the inefficient filtering and managing
that used to take place when the company relied on traditional linear communi-
cation channels. An additional benefit of adopting the technology has been
greater mutual visibility between the lower and higher levels of the organization,
which helps to ensure that everyone shares the same goals and priorities.8
Seattle to Fort Mill, South Carolina, company leaders wanted to take advantage of
the move to create more open communication paths. To do this, they designed the
new workspace to be completely open, with no cubicle walls. The open environ-
ment makes it easy for people to ask questions and offer ideas. This setup facili-
tates communication and allows the CEO to get ideas from people he previously
never would have asked for input.9
● Cultural Barriers Words and gestures can mean different things in different
cultures. For example, in much of the world, the thumbs-up sign means “okay.”
But in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iran, and parts of Italy and Greece, it is an obscene
insult and carries the same stigmatism as the middle finger does in the United
States.
One informal survey of managers from fifteen countries identified lack of cul-
tural understanding as the biggest challenge in communicating with people
around the world. Other challenges (in order) were: “being thorough and very care-
ful with interpretations,” “careful audience research,” “keeping communication
simple,” “respecting everyone,” “using technology as an asset,” and “knowing sim-
ilarities as well as differences.”10
organizational
communication: the
exchange of information that
O rganizational communication is an exchange of information that creates a
common basis of understanding and feeling among two or more individuals or
groups in an organization. Organizational communication can move in a variety of
creates a common basis of
directions and can be formal or informal in nature. Figure 15.2 illustrates upward,
understanding and feeling
among two or more individuals diagonal, downward, and horizontal communication paths in an organization.
or groups in an organization
Downward Communication
Downward communication occurs when higher-level employees communicate to
those at lower levels in the organization, for example, from a manager to a subor-
dinate. Downward communication typically consists of messages about how to do
a job, performance goals, the firm’s policies, and how the company is performing.
Management by wandering around is a face-to-face management technique
in which managers get out of their offices and spend time talking informally to em-
ployees throughout the organization.13 Being actively engaged in the day-to-day
operations of the business gives managers a feel for what is really going on in the
company. For example, in the first six months after Gary Kusin became CEO of
Kinko’s Inc., before it became FedEx Kinko’s, he went into each of Kinko’s twenty-
four markets in the United States, visited over 200 stores, and met with over 2,500
team members to learn what the company needed to do to continue evolving.14
● Managing Now IT and the Internet have given managers more choices in
how to communicate downward, including e-mail, instant messaging, intranets,
portals, wikis, blogs, and webcasts, in addition to traditional verbal and written
communication. Managers need to fit the medium to the message, use appropri-
ate body language and nonverbal cues, and ensure that subordinates understand
444 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
F IGURE 15.2
Communication Paths in an Upward Downward
Organization Communication Communication
Diagonal
Communication
Horizontal
Communication
the meaning of the messages sent. As Lucent discovered (see the Practice IT fea-
ture on page 447), it is also a good idea to understand how employees like to be
communicated with and to seek their feedback about how different communica-
tion channels are working.
Upward Communication
Upward communication occurs when lower-level employees communicate with
those at higher levels, for example, when a subordinate tells a manager about a
problem she or he is having with a customer’s request. Encouraging upward com-
munication can help managers check that subordinates understand their goals
and instructions, keep managers informed of employee challenges and com-
plaints, and cultivate acceptance and commitment by giving employees the
opportunity to express ideas and suggestions.15
Despite its potential benefits, getting subordinates to give upward feedback
can be challenging. Subordinates often filter bad news, fearing that their bosses do
not really want to hear it. A manager who is approachable and accessible and who
creates a culture of trust and openness can help subordinates feel more comfort-
able giving upward feedback. Not overreacting, being defensive, or blameful and
respecting confidentiality when a subordinate shares potentially controversial or
negative information can help. Attitude surveys, an open-door policy, and regular
face-to-face meetings with subordinates can also foster upward communication.
One of the best ways to build trust and make subordinates feel comfortable
sharing negative information may be sympathetically listening during your daily
informal contacts with them in and outside the workplace.16
● Managing Now Technology tools such as wikis can enhance upward com-
munication in organizations and make all employees part of the brainstorming
and problem-solving process. For example, when a manager at an investment
bank wanted an analysis of how to double profits on a particular trade, he put the
Organizational Communication ■ 445
problem on a wiki page where other employees could comment, brainstorm, and
edit in real time. In two days, the manager had analytics that would have otherwise
taken two weeks.17
Technology helps keep managers connected to subordinates in other ways.
Old Navy staffers are all connected to the back room via headsets that provide two-
way communication so that they can get real-time announcements about out-of-
stock items and substitutions as well as real-time responses to customer questions
they can’t answer.18 By facilitating both upward and downward communication,
this technology helps to improve customer service and boost sales.
Horizontal Communication
Horizontal communication occurs when someone in an organization communi-
cates with others at the same organizational level. Managers often depend on each
other to help get the job done, and communication is necessary for them to coordi-
nate resources and workflow. Although horizontal communication occurs between
peers, as in all organizational communication, it is important to stay professional
and avoid belligerent words and negative body language. Managers can facilitate
horizontal or interdepartmental communication by appointing liaison personnel
or creating interdepartmental committees or task forces to facilitate communica-
tion and coordination and solve common problems.
The Window on Managing Now feature describes how Sperry Marine uses por-
tals to improve horizontal communication and improve project team performance.
Portals are pages on a company’s intranet that contain Now everyone gets general information from the portal’s
links to other sites on the company’s intranet. Organiza- home pages, reviews an up-to-date notice board, checks
tions adopt project management portals to give their documents in and out, accesses process and risk informa-
executives easy access to the latest project information. tion, and views live schedule and milestone reports.”19
Portals also make it easier for their project teams to share Goodrich Aviation Technical Services uses a project
information, stay informed of changes, and collaborate. management portal, along with a project-scheduling sys-
Sperry Marine, a business unit of the global aerospace and tem, to manage the maintenance and repair of Boeing 737
defense giant Northrop Grumman, implemented a project aircraft. With these integrated tools, the company de-
management portal to create virtual rooms for collaborat- creased turnaround time from thirty-seven to about
ing on requests for proposals and resulting projects. The twenty-seven days. Goodrich maintenance teams receive
portal also provides a centralized, visible location for co- real-time work orders and assignments live through the
ordinated document storage, information, and schedule portal. Teams can quickly adjust when a part is missing be-
tracking. cause that information is communicated instantly on the
The portal has improved horizontal communication portal. Mechanics enter progress updates on the shop
dramatically. “Before using the portal, people had to e-mail floor, giving managers the most up-to-the-minute infor-
back and forth or call to stay informed,” says Thea Yancey, mation that allows them to adjust quickly. Decision mak-
proposal manager with Sperry Marine. “The wrong version ers are also able to detect problems earlier because the
of a document could be passed to somebody and team portal makes schedule status immediately visible and
members might miss information if they missed meetings. keeps senior managers continually up to date.20
446 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
Diagonal Communication
When employees communicate across departments and levels, they are engaging
in diagonal communication. For example, if Lorenzo’s subordinate, Amy, contacts
Lorenzo’s peer in a different department, diagonal communication has occurred.
Diagonal communication is common in cross-functional project teams com-
posed of people from different levels drawn from different departments.
Diagonal communication allows employees in different parts of an organi-
zation to contribute to creating a new product or solving a problem. Diagonal
communication also helps to link groups and spread information around the
firm. Almost all successful managers use these informal communication net-
works to monitor employee communication and to communicate quickly with
employees.21
IT and the Internet can facilitate horizontal and diagonal communication
through the company’s intranet, portals, and wikis. By creating a central loca-
tion where employees can post questions and help solve problems other em-
ployees are dealing with, communication can occur among employees who
would be unable to communicate without the use of technology. For organiza-
tions with multiple locations, IT and the Internet can create employee networks
that allow employees located around the world to work together and share
knowledge. The Practice IT feature presents another example.
Lucent relies heavily on IT to facilitate communication the MyLucent page, making it easier for us to get impor-
with and among employees around the world. Lucent tant information to employees in a timely fashion.” Lucent
continually uses employee feedback submitted through its also distributes a subscriber-based e-mail publication with
intranet to assess which communication methods em- additional company information.
ployees prefer and what is and is not working. Through To ensure that employees share the same organiza-
this feedback, Lucent has learned how best to focus its tional goals, once a quarter the CEO and the executive
communication to reach a variety of different audiences. leadership team webcast what the company has done in
Communication through satellite broadcasts, e-mail mes- the prior quarter and what needs to be done in the future.
sages, and Internet publications helps to share informa- These webcasts are then archived on Lucent’s website,
tion with employees. Mary Lou Ambrus, Lucent’s vice making it possible for employees around the world to view
president of group communications, says,“Global commu- the messages at a time that is most convenient for them.
nication becomes almost instantaneous when posted to Clips of Lucent leaders reflecting on pivotal moments or
the web site. We can send out an internal press release discussing important topics, such as innovation and taking
and ensure that employees are getting accurate informa- a risk, are also posted weekly on the MyLucent site. Price
tion as quickly as possible.” When big news hits, audio says,“Employees want more candor in communications—
files are quickly posted to the website so that employees they want to hear the real voice of what is going on in
can listen to the leader’s message. the business. While we try to reflect this in our written
Lucent relies on the Internet to make its internal com- communications, employees often interpret this as ‘the
munication entirely Web-based.Bill Price,Lucent’s director company line.’ When it’s the executive’s own voice, the
of corporate communications, and his team researched message is given much more credibility.” The webcast
how to make the site user-friendly and interactive. “Our medium has been so well received by employees that
main Internet homepage,MyLucent,has two weekly feature Lucent leaders have begun doing their own webcasts with
articles that reinforce the strategic vision and positioning their teams and archiving them for employees to view
of the company. This prompts weekly employee visits to when it fits their schedules.
Communication Media
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE I nformation technology has changed the way communication occurs in organ-
izations.27 Managers now have a variety of communication media available
for use. We will discuss some of the most commonly used media next.
The Internet
The Internet has fundamentally changed how many managers communicate.
Managers are no longer the filtration system for all information coming into an
organization. Now they are responsible for aligning information with business
goals, and they act as facilitators by bringing the right people together to solve
business problems as a collaborative community. Individuals using the Internet
can select only the information they want using information pull.28 This contrasts
with the old broadcast technique of information push, where people receive infor-
mation just in case they need it.
448 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
● Managing Now: Medco Health Solutions IT and the Internet have changed
some of the skills managers need to be effective communicators. For example,
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., is a virtual, real-time, fully networked pharmacy
benefit management community. Instant messaging is available companywide
and is used constantly to provide high-quality cus-
tomer service. Most corporate managers are rarely
without their wireless laptops. Because meeting
customer needs is Medco’s priority, managers are even
expected to respond to customer-oriented instant mes-
sages during meetings. Although this can create some
distractions, managers have become good at multitask-
ing and have learned to handle the multiple communi-
cation channels open to them at any one time.30
Managers are increasingly using cell phone–personal
digital assistant hybrids, wireless messaging devices,
smart phones, and wireless devices using Internet-
based calling systems to communicate with employees.
Videoconferencing enhances the quality of communication For example, technology distributor Avnet introduced a
with people in other locations. program that allows executives to make international
Communication Media ■ 449
calls from their laptops using an Internet-based calling system, which yields a sav-
ings of more than $1 million annually.31
Managers can also use various software tools to meet with staff without being
face-to-face. Videoconferencing can enable leaders to communicate effectively
with employees and customers. By allowing the parties to see as well as hear each
other, videoconferencing can be a very effective form of communication. At the
Global Outsourcing Group at Unisys Corporation, leaders regularly use videocon-
ferencing to stay in touch with telecommuting staff. Any employee can schedule a
telephone meeting over Unisys’s phone system.32
Collaboration Software
Computer software such as Microsoft’s SharePoint allows members of workgroups
and teams to share information to improve their communication, efficiency,
450 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
Intranets
An intranet is a type of centralized information clearinghouse. At its simplest, an
intranet is a website stored on a computer that is connected to other company
computers by an internal network. Employees reach the intranet site with stan-
dard Web-browser software such as Netscape or Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. An
intranet can be connected to the Internet so that suppliers and customers can visit
using company-issued passwords. In such cases, firewall software can be installed
to act as a barrier between the internal systems and unauthorized outsiders.
Because they centralize data and provide easy access, intranets are a good idea
when a company’s employees use several different types of computers and all of
the users need to reach the same company information. Intranets give employees
controlled access to the information stored on a company’s network, which can
reduce the need for paper versions of documents such as manuals and company
forms. Intranets are not useful if many employees do not use or have access to
computers or if no one has the expertise to set up and manage the intranet. Many
companies now use intranets, including Intel, Nike, and Safeco Insurance.
Communication Media ■ 451
Companies like ExxonMobil recognize that their globally consistency, only one person, or one group, should be
dispersed and increasingly mobile workforce make knowl- responsible for approving the content and setting
edge management, collaboration, and wireless communi- standards.
cation technologies more important to their success than 3. Keep pages simple. All intranet pages should be con-
ever.47 Firms including Boeing, Ford Motor Company, and sistent in format and work in a similar way. Using
Sandia National Laboratories are turning to their in- templates can help ensure simplicity and consistency.
tranets to address their coordination and communication
4. Keep the information updated, trustworthy, and reliable.
needs. But how do you start building a company intranet?
Here are some recommendations:48 5. Avoid information overload. Don’t try to cram too
much information onto a single page.
1. Use the intranet as a productivity and communication
tool. First establish what the intranet should contain. 6. The intranet homepage should include company news,
What types of information or services would make easy-to-understand navigation, and a search option. If it is
employees more productive? Needs vary from com- difficult to use, it won’t be used.
pany to company, but some popular elements include 7. Test the usability of your intranet. Intranet features can’t
human resources information (the employee hand- be too complicated, and the links must be clearly la-
book, vacation and sick-leave policies, change-of- beled, or the intranet won’t be used. Before launching
address forms, etc.), business forms, the ability to an intranet, ask a few employees to use it to solve a
book a conference room online, and company news. problem or locate a form and watch how they do it
2. Make a single person or group responsible for the intranet. and how much time it takes. Ask for their feedback
Depending on your company’s size, an employee can about whether the intranet is easy to use and intuitive.
manage an intranet in addition to his or her regular 8. Evaluate the intranet and modify it over time. An organi-
role, or one person might manage an entire depart- zation’s intranet needs change over time, as the com-
ment responsible for the intranet. Content for the in- pany’s priorities change and as the ways the intranet
tranet can come from many sources, but to maintain can add value change.
Wikis are easy to use and inexpensive. Because real-time project information
is located in one easy-to-access place, project completion times can be greatly re-
duced. Unlike a portal or intranet, wikis have no inherent structure. Some emerg-
ing wiki conventions are an automatically generated list of pages recently changed
and an index of all of the wiki’s pages.51 Access can be restricted to a limited group
of people and even require passwords. Disney, Kodak, Cingular, and Motorola
have all found ways to use wikis successfully.52
● Managing Now IT and the Internet have made it easier for organizations to
communicate with people outside the organization. When Intuit wanted to con-
nect with more tax professionals, it created a free wiki called TaxAlmanac.org,
where thousands of professors, authors, and tax attorneys contributed thousands
of articles as a tax law resource.53
Blogs are individuals’ personal accounts of thoughts and interests. Some blogs
function as online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other
blogs, webpages, and other media related to its topic.54 Companies such as
McDonald’s, General Motors, Walt Disney, Boeing, Nokia, and Kodak have estab-
lished blogs to enhance internal communication. In some cases, a CEO will create
a blog to communicate more directly with employees and stakeholders. Compa-
nies like Sun Microsystems, Google, and Maytag have set up both customer blogs
and internal ones, too.55 A wiki listing the Fortune 500 companies that have a blog
is on the Internet at http://www.fortune500blogs.com/.
Oral Communication
Despite the speed and convenience of IT message channels, some, like email, tend
to promote one-way communication and decrease feedback opportunities. If used
improperly, these message channels can increase the chances of miscommunica-
tion because the receiver has less opportunity to ask questions or get clarification.
They can also decrease the quality of decisions if it is harder for employees to make
suggestions or share concerns.
IT and the Internet have changed the ways many managers communicate, but
there will always be a need for managers to communicate face-to-face. One expert
advises people to use electronic communication only to transmit and confirm
simple information and to have actual conversations for anything that could pos-
sibly be sensitive.58 Some companies, like Veritas Software, designate one day a
week to be e-mail-free to promote greater in-person communication.
Communicating in person is also important to building credibility and trust.
One DreamWorks representative says that despite technological advances, face-
to-face conversations are still critical—especially in the early stages of a project.
“When you meet someone, there’s that instinctive, involuntary chemical reaction,
where you decide what you think and whether you trust them.”59
454 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
Media Richness
Communication media can be classified in terms of their richness, or the media’s
ability to carry nonverbal cues, provide rapid feedback, convey personality traits,
and support the use of natural language.60 The richness of a medium depends on
four factors:
1. Interactivity or the availability of feedback. Immediate feedback allows senders
to adjust their messages—richer media provide faster feedback.
2. The ability to transmit multiple cues. Multiple cues include physical presence,
voice inflection, nonverbal cues, and pictures. Richer media allow the com-
munication of multiple cues.
3. Language variety for conveying a broad set of concepts and ideas. For example,
ideas about a new advertising campaign cannot be expressed in as many ways
in a letter as they can in a face-to-face conversation. Richer media allow for
greater language variety.
4. The personal focus of the medium. Personal focus is the degree to which the
medium allows the expression of emotions and other social cues.
The more a medium displays these four attributes, the richer it is. Otherwise,
it is leaner. Face-to-face interaction is the richest medium because it has the ca-
pacity for immediate feedback, carries multiple cues, and uses natural language.
When communicating, managers must choose the medium that best matches
the information richness that the task or communication requires.61 The more am-
biguous and uncertain a task is, the richer the medium should be that supports it.
For example, text-based computer messaging is a good fit for generating ideas but
not for negotiating conflicts. Videoconferencing is a good fit for decision-making
tasks, but is often not rich enough for negotiating. Table 15.2 describes how differ-
ent media compare in terms of their richness.
T ABLE 15.2
The Media Richness of Various Managerial Communications
Feedback Number Language Personal
Media Richness Availability of Cues Variety Focus
Face-to-face
interaction High High High High High
Videoconferencing High High High High High
Telephone Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate High
62
Instant messaging Moderate High Low Low Moderate
E-mail Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate
Personal written
correspondence Low Low Low Low Low
Formal written
correspondence Low Low Low Low Low
Interpersonal Communication Skills ■ 455
Listening Skills
Listening is not the same as hearing. Hearing is passive, whereas listening is an
active listening: becoming active search for meaning. Active listening plays an important role in communi-
actively involved in the process cation and is especially important for effective leadership. It requires becoming
of listening to what others are actively involved in the process of listening to what others are saying and focusing
saying and focusing on the
on the meaning of messages. Both parties should engage in active listening until
meaning of messages
it’s clear that each understands the final message.
Being an active listener requires asking (at least to yourself), “What is the
sender really saying?” When someone speaks, try to identify any ambiguous words
and any discrepancies between the speaker’s words and nonverbal cues. Then re-
flect the message back to the sender, paraphrasing and repeating the message in
your own words. The person with whom you are speaking should either confirm
your understanding or restate his or her message if there is a misunderstanding.
This allows both parties to continue to work toward mutual understanding until
you both are sure you understand each other.
Active listening requires the receiver to tune out noise and concentrate on the
message. It is harder than it sounds—it can be as difficult to refrain from inter-
rupting a speaker as it can be to keep your mind from wandering while listening
to someone else. Ways to be an active listener include asking open-ended ques-
tions and sending the other person feedback to check that you understand the
message—for example, by saying, “You’re really overloaded with work today, I
guess.” Making eye contact, nodding occasionally, and showing appropriate non-
verbal behaviors also show the sender that you are listening. Here is one expert’s
list of good listening skills:63
◗ Pay close attention to individual inferences, facts, and judgments and make use-
ful and logical connections between what you have heard on multiple occasions.
◗ Give speakers clear, nonverbal evidence that you are listening attentively, includ-
ing leaning toward the speaker, maintaining eye contact, and not fidgeting.
◗ Give speakers clear verbal evidence that you are listening attentively, including
giving constructive feedback, paraphrasing, and questioning for clarification
and refinement.
◗ Show the speaker respect by not interrupting and by using an inclusive, friendly,
and sharing tone rather than an exclusionary, hostile, and condescending tone.
◗ Follow up on unusual or inconsistent communication cues from the speaker,
such as changes in tone, vocabulary, and body language, to determine the real
message that the speaker is trying to send.
◗ Use what the speaker says or infers to determine his or her motives, self-interest,
and expectation(s) of listeners.
◗ Offer speakers honest, clear, timely, respectful, and relevant acknowledgment of
what they have said.
456 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
Persuading Skills
Managing often requires persuading others. The manager who wants more
resources, the supervisor who wants to keep a key employee from leaving, and
the company president who wants to sell her idea to the board of directors all
need to be persuasive. Because most people are resistant to altering their habits,
managers need to use persuasion skills whenever they need to create change.64 As
we discussed in Chapter 13, persuasion is a more effective way to lead when it
gets people to do things differently because they want to, not because they have
been ordered to.
Persuasion requires several things: thorough and careful preparation; the
compelling framing of arguments; the presentation of vivid supporting evidence;
and finding the correct emotional match with the audience. It is much more
than a sales skill. As one expert says, “Many businesspeople misunderstand per-
suasion, and more still underutilize it.”65 Here are some recommendations for
being more persuasive:
◗ Build credibility. Using good posture, an appropriate tone of
voice, and showing a sense of confidence increases the
chances that others will quickly see you as credible.66
◗ Do not begin with a hard sell. This gives potential opponents
something to resist and fight against.67
◗ Search for shared ground. Every audience is different, and it
is important not to come across as if you have already made
up your mind. Communicate in words easily understood and
related to by the audience, incorporate values and beliefs
they share, and be willing to compromise.68
◗ Develop compelling positions based on only a few convinc-
ing arguments rather than overwhelming people with facts
and information.
◗ Connect with people emotionally rather than relying solely
on logical arguments. Appealing to people’s needs can better
persuade them.
◗ Create a continuous feedback loop between the audience
and yourself. Incorporate the audience’s perspective into
your own arguments.69
◗ Be patient—people are rarely persuaded on the first try.70
Negotiating Skills
negotiation: a process in Negotiation is a process in which two or more parties make offers, counteroffers,
which two or more parties make and concessions to reach an agreement. Most managers do a lot of negotiating as
offers, counteroffers, and part of their jobs. Job offers and contracts with customers and suppliers have to be
concessions to reach an
negotiated, resources need to be secured and shared with other departments, and
agreement
deals have to be cut with bosses and subordinates.
There are two types of negotiation: distributive and integrative. Distributive
negotiation (also called competitive negotiation) occurs under zero-sum condi-
tions, where any gain to one party is offset by an equivalent loss to the other
party.71 Distributive negotiation essentially distributes resources among the
Interpersonal Communication Skills ■ 457
◗ Identify what you can and cannot part with. Identify the details most important to
you and those details that are less important. Act like everything is important and
grudgingly concede ground on the details that matter less to you. The other party
will count these concessions as victories and might yield on issues you value more.
◗ Try to identify and use sources of leverage. Leverage consists of anything that can
help or hinder a party in a bargaining situation. For example, a seller who must
sell is at a disadvantage, and if the other party needs to move quickly, you might
be able to make a tougher offer. Competing offers can also increase the leverage
one party has over another.
458 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
◗ Show the other side that you understand her or his position. Help the other person
to see you as an ally by mirroring their emotions. If the other person appears
frustrated, let him or her know that you recognize he or she is frustrated. They
may respond with, “You’re right I’m frustrated!” and now you’re agreeing on
something. By empathizing with the other party, you stand a better chance of
preserving a cordial and productive atmosphere.
◗ Suppress your emotions. Negotiations can become tense and stir emotions. Con-
stantly reminding yourself of your goal can help you keep an appropriate level of
detachment and continue to see the deal clearly. Stay rationally focused on the
issue being negotiated, and take a break if emotions start to flare up. Also, be
careful not to show too much desire for something, or your bargaining power will
be reduced.
◗ Know your BATNA. BATNA is an acronym for “best alternative to a negotiated
agreement.” It is what you could have done had no negotiation taken place, or
what you will do if you can’t reach an agreement with the other party. The pur-
pose of negotiations is to see if you can meet your needs better by negotiating an
agreement with the other party, compared to this best alternative. If the BATNA
is not compared to the agreement being negotiated, negotiators can make agree-
ments that are worse than not making an agreement at all.77 If negotiations stall,
letting the other side know that you’re prepared to proceed with your backup
plan can also help to get the process started again.
Conflict-Resolution Skills
We all regularly deal with conflict at home, at work, and with friends. Whenever
two or more parties want different things, the potential for conflict exists. Eventu-
ally, all managers have to deal with conflicts between coworkers and/or between
themselves and employees. Good managers take action to resolve a conflict before
it interferes with productivity or performance.
In managing conflict between others, sometimes conflict resolution can be as
easy as directing the disputing parties to leave their disagreements at the door.
More frequently, however, managers have to get more directly involved by order-
ing the disputants to behave in a certain way (arbitrarily settling the argument for
them) or by mediating the conflict (helping the parties find their own settlement
or solution). Arbitrarily imposing a solution seldom works, however, and often
backfires. Mediating the conflict usually has the most positive and lasting effects,
but it requires skills that don’t come naturally to many managers.
● Conflict Management Skills The good news is that almost everyone can
learn to develop effective conflict-management skills. Professionals in conflict-
resolution training suggest four areas of skill development: listening, questioning,
communicating nonverbally, and mediating.78 Listening skills include making eye
contact, rephrasing, and summarizing what each side tells you to show them that
you understand their positions. Also reflect back the feelings you observe them
expressing (anger, frustration, disappointment, etc.).
Ask open rather than loaded or leading questions, and use nonverbal cues to
show both parties that you are listening respectfully and are sincerely trying to
help. Read both parties’ nonverbal cues to learn additional information. Media-
tion skills include being open-minded, staying nonjudgmental and calm, demon-
strating empathy and sensitivity, remaining neutral, respecting confidentiality,
and showing flexibility and resiliency.79
Interpersonal Communication Skills ■ 459
T ABLE 15.3
Best and Worst Conflict-Resolution Behaviors for Career Advancement
Best Conflict-Resolution Behaviors
◗ Perspective taking: trying to put yourself in the other person’s position and trying to understand her or his point
of view.
◗ Creating solutions: brainstorming with the other person, asking questions, and trying to create solutions to the
problem.
◗ Expressing emotions: talking honestly with the other person and expressing one’s thoughts and feelings.
◗ Reaching out: reaching out to the other person, making the first move and trying to make amends.
Source: Martin Delahoussaye, “Don’t Get Mad, Get Promoted,” Training, June 2002, vol. 39, no. 6, p. 20.
Reprinted by permission of Training magazine.
One study found a strong link between a person’s ability to resolve conflict
and his or her perceived effectiveness as a leader.80 Managers with poor conflict-
management skills encountered a promotional ceiling much earlier in their ca-
reers. The study revealed strong relationships between certain conflict-resolution
behaviors and perceived suitability for promotion. These conflict-resolution
behaviors are summarized in Table 15.3.
Writing Skills
From memos and business letters to e-mails, managers frequently need to com-
municate in writing. Effective business writing isn’t about just grammar and punc-
tuation; the style and tone also have to be appropriate for the audience.81 The style
of business writing also needs to be professional and direct, and it often needs to
be persuasive. Here are some guidelines for effective business writing:82
1. Make sense. Express ideas in an organized and logical way. Provide transitions
between ideas.
2. Back up your assertions. Support your points with statistics, examples, citation
of authorities, and anecdotes.
I M P R OV I N G Y O U R C O M M U N I C A T I O N S K I L L S 83
When Negotiating
Do:
◗ Prepare well ◗ Build rapport
◗ Control the environment ◗ Maintain good eye contact
◗ Offer a warm greeting ◗ Ask high-quality, open questions
◗ Understand your position ◗ Speak in a clear, measured manner
◗ Have an upright, confident posture ◗ Show empathy
◗ Use open body language (relaxed, not stiff) ◗ Display controlled energy
Do not:
◗ Constantly make eye contact ◗ Display closed body language (arms folded, head down,
◗ Ignore members of the group avoiding eye contact)
Composing effective electronic communication can be financial report.” This saves time and prevents
challenging. Because e-mail is not an interactive conversa- confusion.
tion, the rules for phone conversations aren’t appropriate. 8. Send group mail only when the message is useful to
Neither are the rules for written correspondence, which all recipients. Use “reply all” and “cc” sparingly.
is more formal and not instantaneous. Because e-mail falls
9. When traveling, unsubscribe from e-mail distribution
in between a phone call and a letter, e-mail etiquette can
lists (e.g., listservs), use the out-of-office feature to
be difficult. Here are some suggestions for using e-mail at
let people know that you may not be able to respond
work effectively:85
quickly.
1. Deliver important personal information in person or
10. Because they are slow to download, avoid sending
by telephone rather than via e-mail.
large attachments and graphics to people who are
2. Read your e-mails before sending them to check for traveling unless it is necessary. Post large attachments
clarity and readability. on a wiki or portal instead.
3. Have clear company policies about what is acceptable 11. Be specific and helpful in letting the recipient know
and what is not acceptable to send in e-mails; for what is important. If you send a twenty-five-page
example, salary and layoff information may not be attachment, highlight critical information.
appropriate.
12. Consolidate your messages in one organized e-mail
4. Write concise and informative subject lines; for ex- rather than sending one message per thought.
ample,“We’re meeting Tuesday morning at 10” sends
13. Respond to e-mails quickly, preferably by the end of
a message without employees even needing to open
the same day.
the e-mail.
Training in using all forms of electronic communica-
5. Don’t criticize employees via e-mail. Their inability to
tion,including e-mail,instant messaging,blogs,and wikis,can
respond can make them feel that you have not shown
help managers and employees reduce misunderstandings
them respect.
and enhance communication efficiency. For example, the
6. Don’t use your in-box as a catchall folder. After read- New Jersey HospitalAssociation (NJHA) in Princeton,New
ing an incoming item, answer immediately, delete it, or Jersey, gives all new hires e-mail etiquette training, which
move it to a project-specific folder. covers the basics including how to communicate quickly
7. Agree on company acronyms for subject lines, such but with courtesy, what not to put in writing, and the im-
as AR for “action required” or MFR for “monthly portance of proofreading e-mails before sending them.
9. Use graphic aids and pictures where appropriate to highlight and express ideas.
10. Write with energy and conviction.
Knowing when and how to use e-mail to communicate is another important
managerial skill. The Window on Managing Now feature gives you some tips for
effectively using e-mail at work.
Meeting Skills
Because they lead groups and teams, another way that managers often have to
communicate is through meetings. In addition to wasting time and money, poorly
led meetings are often a source of frustration. One international survey found that
employee well-being in meetings was related to whether meeting time was well
spent, not to the amount of meeting time or number of meetings attended. Meet-
ing effectiveness may be improved when people come to meetings prepared, an
agenda is used, meetings are punctual (start and end on time), purposes are clear,
and there is widespread participation.87
Leading meetings requires skills in organizing, eliciting input from meeting
participants, and conflict management. Here are some suggestions for running
effective meetings:88
◗ Have a good reason to meet in the first place, or do not meet.
◗ Distribute an agenda in advance that clearly states the purpose of the meeting
and the key steps to satisfying that purpose by the end of the meeting. Require
that participants know what you expect of them and to come prepared for the
meeting.
Discussion Questions ■ 463
◗ State a time frame at the beginning of the meeting and stick to it.
◗ Keep participants focused on the agenda items and quickly manage any inter-
personal issues so that the meeting stays productive. Record additional issues
that arise so that they can be attended to later.
◗ Before adjourning, decide what needs to be done next and assign tasks, respon-
sibilities, and time lines accordingly.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. In the communication process, the sender en- 5. E-mail, instant messaging, teleconferencing, tele-
codes information into words, symbols, or pictures commuting, wikis, blogs, portals, and collabora-
and passes it to the receiver through a channel. The tion software are all ways IT and the Internet have
sender then receives the message and decodes it changed organizational communication.
into a message that is, with luck, the same as what
6. The richness of a medium, or its ability to carry
the sender intended.
nonverbal cues, provide rapid feedback, convey
2. The message carried by nonverbal communica- personality traits, and support the use of natural
tions, such as body language and verbal intonation, language, affects its appropriateness for different
can carry more meaning than a spoken message. types of messages.
3. There are numerous barriers to effective commu- 7. Active listening requires becoming actively in-
nication, including body language, verbal intona- volved in the process of listening to what others are
tion, selective perception, misperception, filtering, saying and clarifying the meaning of messages. It
overload, noise, organizational barriers, and cul- requires the sender to tune out noise and focus on
tural barriers. Noise can enter anywhere in the the message being sent.
communication process, making the message
8. Distributive negotiation means that one side’s gain
received different from the one that the sender
is the other side’s loss. Integrative negotiation is
intended.
win-win negotiation that focuses on meeting each
4. Formal communication is official and organization- party’s needs.
sanctioned. Informal communication is anything
9. Making a good presentation requires speaking
that is not official. Informal communication occurs
loudly and clearly, achieving a good rapport with
via informal networks, gossip, or the grapevine.
the audience, minimizing notes, looking at the au-
Employees rely on both formal and informal com-
dience, highlighting key ideas, and taking cues from
munication to communicate effectively.
the audience to assess any misunderstandings.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How is communication important in helping man- 4. How have IT and the Internet changed organiza-
agers be effective leaders? tional communication? Do you think each of these
changes is for the better, or have any of them made
2. Think about a time when someone’s nonverbal
organizational communication more difficult? Why?
cues overrode their spoken words in communicat-
ing a message. What about their behavior made 5. What are some of the negative consequences if
you question what they were saying? media richness is not matched to the message
being sent?
3. When do you think formal communication is best
in an organization? When is informal communica- 6. What do you think are the most important com-
tion best? munication skills for managers?
464 PART FIVE CHAPTER 15 Improving Communication
7. Think about a time when you listened to a speaker 8. Think about a time you were at a poorly run meet-
you thought was very effective. What did she or he ing. What could have been done to make the meet-
do that made them so good? ing more effective?
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Pair up with another student. One student should 2. Form groups of four to five students and appoint
be the job candidate, and the other should be the one member as the group’s spokesperson. As a
company representative negotiating a job offer for group, brainstorm ways that IT and the Internet
an entry-level management position. Assume that can make managers more effective in their roles as
the company typically pays similar new hires in the leaders. From this list, identify what your group
range of $30,000 to $40,000, with the dollar amount thinks are the best three ways managers can lever-
depending on the new hire’s background and rele- age IT and the Internet to lead better.
vant work experience. Health and dental benefits Now brainstorm ways that IT and the Internet
are included, as are a $2,500 relocation package, can make managers less effective in their roles as
two weeks paid vacation that increases to three leaders. From this list, identify the three most im-
weeks after one year of service, and the opportunity portant of which managers should be aware. Share
to earn up to 15 percent of base salary as an annual your answers with the class.
bonus depending on individual and organizational
3. It is midterm week. You have four exams scheduled
performance. The recruit’s start date is flexible.
in two days and are concerned that you won’t be
Using the material presented in this chapter,
able to do your best on the exam in this class. In
negotiate a compensation package. The company
groups of four to five students, use what you
representative should assume that the company
learned in this chapter to persuade the instructor
would really like to hire this person, but it is impor-
to reschedule the midterm for this class to the fol-
tant not to offer a package that is out of line with
lowing week. A spokesperson for the group should
what current employees are receiving. You should
briefly present the message to the class, and the in-
be creative in meeting the recruit’s needs and try to
structor will identify the most persuasive one.
keep the candidate enthusiastic about joining your
company, even if you can’t give him or her every- 4. Working alone or in small groups, use the Internet
thing requested. to research different ways two different compa-
The job candidate should try to negotiate the nies are using webcasts to communicate. Write a
best compensation package possible. You would two-page paper comparing and contrasting how
really like to take this job, but you want the best the two different companies are using the technol-
starting salary and compensation package you can ogy, and provide recommendations for how each
get. Both parties should give each other feedback company could use webcasts as a communication
on their negotiation tactics and use of nonverbal tool. The material you learned in this chapter
cues. When you have finished, switch roles and should inform your evaluation and suggestions for
negotiate again. improvement.
CASE STUDY
Electronic Monitoring
lthough employers are increasingly using technology Employees think that their bosses monitor them to
A to monitor employees at work,89 a workplace privacy
survey found a huge discrepancy between how organi-
check their productivity levels and job performance,
and because management does not trust them. Human
zations and employees view electronic monitoring. resources (HR) professionals, on the other hand, say
Case Study ■ 465
that the reasons organizations monitor employee be- e-mail or computer-use monitoring unless employees
havior are to prevent computer viruses, keep hackers have been informed of the monitoring.93
and others from interfering with business operations,
and protect the organization’s proprietary informa- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
tion.90 Employees have become more cautious about
1. What forms of electronic monitoring would you be
Internet usage while at work because they believe that
in favor of at work? What forms of electronic moni-
their behavior may be monitored by their organiza-
toring would you be opposed to? What could your
tions. More companies are starting to block instant
manager do to make you feel more comfortable
messaging and employee access to personal e-mail ac-
with being electronically monitored?
counts to protect proprietary information.91
The survey found that HR professionals were more 2. Do you think that organizations have the right
likely than employees to agree that organizations have to monitor employees electronically? Are there
the right to monitor the use of cell phones in the work- any situations in which you think organizations
place (76 percent compared with 52 percent, respec- should not be allowed to monitor employees
tively), and that organizations have the right to search electronically?
employee desks and offices (49 percent compared with
3. How do you think electronic monitoring affects
23 percent), although overall, both groups tended to
employees’ morale?
oppose these searches. HR professionals and employ-
ees agreed that organizations should not read employee 4. What can managers do to effectively communicate
postal mail, listen to employee telephone conversa- to employees why they are being electronically
tions, and search employee desks and offices without monitored and make them more comfortable with
cause.92 Many states have enacted laws prohibiting the monitoring?
16 BUILDING TEAMWORK, COMMUNITY,
AND CULTURE
CHAPTER OUTLINE Customer-Service Representatives at Medco
Opening Vignette: Customer-
Service Representatives
at Medco
● Basics of Teamwork
M edco Health Solutions, Inc., a Fortune 50 company headquartered
in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, is a leader in managing prescription-
drug benefit programs in the United States. Meeting client needs safely
Groups Versus Teams
Types of Teams and effectively is a priority at Medco, and it is important that its
How Groups Become Teams customer-service representa-
● Building Teamwork
tives provide high-quality ser-
Enhancing Team Effectiveness
Creating Effective Teams vice. A large part of their work
IMPROVING YOUR TEAMWORK involves answering benefits
SKILLS: Are You Emotionally
Intelligent?
questions and addressing client
Managing Now: Leading Virtual Teams needs over the telephone.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: Because the work is largely
Virtual Team Technology at
Steelcase telephone-based, Medco felt
● Building Community that it could improve efficiency
Establishing Shared Goals, Values, and increase employee satisfac-
and Rules
tion by allowing some of its
Communities of Practice
PRACTICE IT: Using Technology to customer-service representa-
Build Community at Medco tives to work from home.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
How Technology Enables
Challenges remained. How can Working at home can make employees more
Communities of Practice these work-at-home employees efficient and satisfied.
● Building Culture be integrated into Medco’s cul-
Does Culture Matter? ture and feel part of the Medco community? What would your team
How Leaders Create Culture
Using Intranets to Build and suggest to Medco to prevent the representatives from feeling
Maintain Culture disconnected from the rest of the company?1 ■
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW:
Technology-Assisted Culture at Xerox
B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
466
Basics of Teamwork ■ 467
Some of the most important things managers do in their leadership roles are build-
ing a sense of community, creating a strong and positive culture, and organizing
effective teams. As a manager, you will definitely be working in and will probably
also need to lead teams. In the first part of this chapter, you will learn how to make
your teams more effective. Later, you will learn how to build a strong culture and
sense of community among employees.
Basics of Teamwork
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE O f the many trends in business, perhaps the best documented has been the
increased use of teams in organizations.2 One reason why organizations have
increasingly relied on teams is the belief that they can be more creative, respon-
sive, productive, and efficient than individuals working alone. Although few man-
agers seem to question the potential benefits of work teams,3 the fact remains that
teams often fail.4 Good teams are not the result of luck—they are a product of care-
ful planning, effective leadership, and support from the broader organization.
Companies like Hewlett-Packard use information technology (IT) to promote
effective teamwork by making it easy to express information visually and to share
files and data freely, and by promoting communication.5
more complex, they require greater coordination among team members. Team
members’ roles become interdependent, increasing the need for teamwork, recip-
rocal communication, and feedback. Communication and collaboration demands
group: two or more people also increase dramatically.7 A group, on the other hand, is simply two or more
interacting so that each people interacting so that each influences the other.
influences the other Companies have long used groups at work—workgroups—to help get work
done. GM uses groups of employees to install dashboard parts in new cars or to
unload trucks at the loading dock. However, such groups differ from today’s
work teams in several ways (as Table 16.1 summarizes). In general, workgroups
tend to be simply clusters of people who find themselves working together,
whereas teams tend to be more premeditated, pre-designed, self-directing, and
self-contained. In particular, group members tend to continue to focus on their
own individual goals, while team members subordinate their goals to those of
the team. Team members’ efforts tend to be highly interdependent, while group
members can do their jobs more independently. Group members tend to be
more individually accountable for their results, while team members are jointly
responsible for the team’s performance. Group members need only their individ-
ual technical skills, while team members also need team-supporting social skills
(such as in interpersonal communications and problem solving) to make the
team function effectively. Group decisions tend to be made by an appointed
leader, while team decisions tend to be self-directed and shared. Today’s teams
thus “bring to the table” a set of advantages that most employers work hard to
capitalize on.
Types of Teams
There are many different types of teams.
functional teams: teams ● Functional Teams The members of functional teams come from the same
whose members come from the department or functional area. A team of marketing employees and a team of
same department or functional finance employees are examples of functional teams.
area
T ABLE 16.1
Differences Between Workgroups and Work Teams
Workgroups Characteristic Work Teams
Low Interdependence High
Individual Goals Shared
Individual Accountability Individual and group
Task Competencies Task and social
Individual/leader Decision making Shared
Fixed Leadership Shared or rotated
Basics of Teamwork ■ 469
quality circles: teams created ● Quality Circles Quality circles, or work councils, are teams established to
to solve problems and make solve problems and make improvements at work. Because employees are the ones
improvements actually doing the work, they usually know the job best. Putting employees on
teams responsible for solving problems puts this expertise to work. Quality circles
at the Paul Revere Insurance Group use computers to log, track, and share ideas
with each other.10
Suggestion teams are teams that meet to address a specific work issue such as
productivity or safety improvements. For example, Colgate-Palmolive and JM
Huber, a raw materials supplier, assembled a multidisciplinary team to identify
ways to reduce costs. The team ultimately realized savings of hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars.11 Unlike quality circles that can exist for long periods, suggestion
teams are short-lived and assembled to address specific issues.
self-directed teams: teams ● Self-Directed Teams Self-directed teams set their own goals and pursue
that set their own goals and them in ways defined by the team. Team members are responsible for tasks typi-
pursue them in ways defined by cally reserved for team leaders or managers, including scheduling work and vaca-
the team tions, ordering supplies, and evaluating their performance. At 3M, self-directed
work teams have made improvements in products, services, and processes while
increasing customer responsiveness, lowering operating costs, increasing produc-
tivity, and decreasing cycle times. Warner-Lambert, FedEx, and Silicon Graphics
also use self-directed teams.12
The General Electric (GE) plant in Durham, North Carolina, that assembles
engines for the Boeing 777 is a good example of self-directed teams.13 The plant
has one manager and 170 employees. The only company mandate for each of the
nine teams is the day their next engine must be finished. Teams make the sched-
ule, assign tasks, and deal with underperforming teammates. Teams also send
members to a work council that deals with supplier problems, computer systems,
and other issues. The manager’s job is listening, informing, focusing the teams on
costs, and representing the factory within GE and to customers.14
and speed up cycle time. The classic example is the IBM team created to develop
IBM’s first personal computer (PC).16 The team had its own budgets and leader
and the freedom to make decisions without the constraints of many of the typical
IBM rules and policies.
IBM’s experience illustrates the pros and cons of venture teams. The team
successfully developed the new PC and brought it to market in less than two
years—much faster than it would have taken with IBM’s usual hierarchical,
check-with-me-first, product development approach. However, the team’s
autonomy also let it avoid IBM’s traditional requirement of using only IBM parts.
The team instead used Microsoft for the computer’s disk operation system and
Intel for its processor. This allowed Microsoft and Intel to sell these same parts to
any PC manufacturer, leading to increased competition from low-priced IBM
clones.17 Team autonomy can clearly have advantages, but appropriate controls
should hold it in check.
virtual teams: teams whose ● Virtual Teams Virtual teams are teams of geographically and/or organiza-
members are linked by tionally dispersed coworkers who communicate using telecommunications and
technology information technologies.18 Some virtual team members may never see each
other face-to-face. Many organizations use virtual teams to accomplish a variety
of goals. For example, PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world’s largest ac-
counting firms with over 130,000 employees in 148 countries, uses virtual teams to
bring employees from around the globe “together” for a week or two to prepare
work for a particular client. Whirlpool Corporation used a virtual team composed
of experts from the United States, Brazil, and Italy during a two-year project to
develop a chlorofluorocarbon-free refrigerator.19 You will learn more about lead-
ing virtual teams later in this chapter.
global teams: face-to-face or ● Global Teams Global teams consist of members from different countries.
virtual teams whose members Global teams can be virtual or they can meet face-to-face. Procter & Gamble (P&G),
are from different countries a multinational manufacturer of family, personal, and household care products,
uses global teams to allow employees at its Cincinnati headquarters to collaborate
with employees and suppliers all over the world. Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte
GmbH (BSH) is a global company that operates thirty-one production sites and
forty-three factories in fifteen countries in Europe, Asia, the United States, and
Latin America. The company sells household appliances under brand names
including Bosch and Siemens and uses global teams of employees from Spain,
China, and Latin America to develop technologies and concepts for new products.
T ABLE 16.2
How Groups Become Teams
Forming : team members learn about each other and the team’s purpose, goals,
and lifespan and begin to identify each member’s strengths and potential
contribution to the team.
Storming : team members begin establishing goals, work processes, and
individual roles, and they test how the team will respond to differences among
team members and to conflict.
Norming : the team becomes more cohesive and clarifies members’ roles and
responsibilities and team goals; team processes and members’ expectations of
each other are established.
Performing : the team is cohesive and productive and makes progress toward its
goals; cohesiveness and goal commitment are high.
Adjourning : the team disbands.
performing: stage of team During the fourth stage of team development, performing, the team has a
development in which the team shared understanding of why it is doing what it is doing; it is cohesive and produc-
is cohesive, productive, and tive, and makes progress toward its goals. Disagreements in the team are resolved
makes progress toward its goals
positively, and the focus is on goal achievement. Team members are also able to
attend to relationship and process issues that arise. As team members master their
roles, team roles may become more flexible, with members taking on various roles
and responsibilities as needed. Cohesiveness and goal commitment are high, and
the team makes significant progress toward its goals.
The performing stage is where teams hopefully become high-performing.
Even when a team has reached this stage, however, it is not the end of the team’s
development. The team needs to be able to adapt to any changes in its environ-
ment or goals. The team also needs to address membership changes—each new
member requires the team to cycle back to an earlier stage to incorporate the new
member and find ways to fill the roles left by the departing member. A team that
does not take the time to socialize a new member and modify the team’s roles and
processes does not allow the newcomer to contribute maximally to the team. If
membership and environmental changes are recognized and addressed, teams
can remain in this stage indefinitely.
Building Teamwork
Enhancing Team Effectiveness
We can define “team effectiveness” in terms of three outcomes: (1) a team product
acceptable to clients, (2) growth in team capability (the team enhances its ability
to work together effectively in the future), and (3) a team experience that is mean-
ingful and satisfying for its members.23 Teams that deliver on all three of these
components are the most effective.
It is the leader’s job to create the conditions needed for a team to be successful.
Noted team expert J. Richard Hackman believes that teams perform best when lead-
ers create five conditions that allow teams to manage themselves effectively. The
five conditions he has identified as necessary for effective teams are as follows:24
1. The team must be a real team, rather than a team in name only. The team
needs to have a real team task requiring interdependence, rather than
being merely a group of individual workers. The team task must be neither too
large nor too small for the team to accomplish and find energizing. Teams
need to have the authority to manage their own work processes, and mem-
bership needs to be stable over a reasonable period. If team members are fre-
quently reassigned or quit, the team’s effectiveness is compromised.
2. The team has compelling direction. Setting direction for the team means that
the team’s leadership is insistent about the team’s goals but does not specify
how the team should go about achieving those goals. Creativity and innova-
tion are enhanced when team goals are clear, but appropriately trained team
members are allowed to decide the means.
3. It has an enabling structure that facilitates teamwork. Consistent with the job
characteristics model of motivation that you learned about in Chapter 14, a
team’s work should provide meaningfulness, responsibility, and knowledge of
results to maximize team members’ motivation. In addition, the team needs
to develop appropriate norms. Teams should also be an appropriate size and
have an appropriate mix of skills, and team members should possess the
interpersonal skills required for effective teamwork. Hackman refers to these
characteristics of the team structure as “the shell of the team . . . the shaping
structure within which (the team) comes to life.”25 He states, “[T]hose who
create teams have two quite different but equally important responsibilities:
to make sure that a team has the best structure that can be provided, and to
help members move into that structure and competently launch themselves
onto a course of their own.”26
4. It operates within a supportive organizational context. The rest of the organ-
ization’s policies and practices need to be designed to support teamwork.
For example, a reward system that recognizes and rewards individual perfor-
mance rather than team excellence is not supportive of work teams.
Information systems must provide teams with the necessary information, at
the appropriate time and in the appropriate format. Leaders must also ensure
that team members receive the training and technical assistance to acquire
needed technical and interpersonal skills. The extent to which these systems
are supportive of team efforts reflects the extent to which an organization’s
culture truly supports a team-based approach to effective operations. With-
out cultural support for teams, team efforts are not likely to be successful.
474 PART FIVE CHAPTER 16 Building Teamwork, Community, and Culture
● Create Synergy Overall, the goal is to create synergy, which means to make
sure that the sum of the team members’ individual outputs is greater than what
any one individual’s effect would be. Process gain refers to the performance
improvements that occur because people work together rather than indepen-
dently. Process gain is the goal of teamwork—people working together doing more
and doing it better than would be possible by working alone. IT helps teams ac-
complish synergy despite the increased communication and coordination require-
ments of team-based work. Bausch & Lomb found that a Web-based collaboration
tool increased synergy by decreasing the number of meetings, giving people more
free work time to get things done.27
Unfortunately, many teams do not realize process gain and instead experience
process loss. Process loss occurs when a team of people working together performs
worse than the individual members would have if they had worked alone. Process
loss can be reduced by clarifying role and task requirements and not tolerating free
riders. Free riders don’t contribute because they rely on the work of others. Making
team roles and expectations clear helps to reduce process loss.
● Create Trust Trust is someone’s confidence that another person will honor
her or his commitments, especially when it is difficult to monitor or observe the
other person’s behavior.29 Teams build trust through repeated positive experi-
ences, commitment to shared goals, and an understanding of team members’
needs, motives, and ideas. Because the lack of trust in a team can undermine any
team activity, building trust is one of managers’ most important tasks.
Mutual trust is the foundation of the entire team strategy of Team EcoInternet,
an adventure racing team. The team can progress only as fast as its current weakest
Building Teamwork ■ 475
member, and because the grueling race lasts several days, every team member will
be the weakest link at one point. Team founder Robert Nagle says, “If one of us
stumbles for the second time in 10 minutes, there’s no question about what needs
to be done: Somebody reaches into that person’s pack and takes out some weight,
and then we all just move on.”30 Team members don’t feel heroic for helping each
other, nor do they feel like they’re letting the team down if they need help. Team
members trust their teammates and know that in a while, the person whose stuff
they are carrying is likely to be carrying theirs.
● Prevent Social Loafing Social loafing occurs when people put less effort
into a task when working with a team than they do when working alone.31
Research has supported the existence of social loafing,32 particularly for trivial to
moderately important tasks. Social loafing is less common with very important
tasks33 and with smaller teams.34 Social loafing occurs because team members
feel that their individual contributions will not be evaluated or because team
members expect others in the team to do tasks, so they choose not to. An opposite
behavior occurs when people actually work harder and are more motivated when
others are present than when they are working alone. This social facilitation effect
happens when people are motivated to look good to others and want to maintain
a positive self-image.
Keeping team size small, clarifying what the team expects each member to
do, and clarifying individual contributions to the team can help reduce social
loafing.35 Letting team members choose which tasks they will be responsible for
can also increase their motivation for getting them done.
roles: the behaviors and tasks ● Establish Clear Roles Roles define the behaviors and tasks each team
team members are expected to member is expected to perform because of the position he or she holds. One of the
perform because of their primary outcomes of the forming, storming, norming, and performing process of
positions
team development is the establishment of clear roles in the team. Understanding
what teammates expect you to do and what you can expect your teammates to do
reduces conflict and enables smooth team performance.
Two types of roles must be performed in any team.36 The task specialist role
keeps the team moving toward goal accomplishment and is played by people with
more advanced job-related skills and abilities. The team maintenance role creates
and maintains team harmony. Team maintenance specialists boost morale, show
concern for members’ well-being, and provide support and humor. You may no-
tice that these roles parallel the concern for people and concern for production
leadership behaviors that you learned about in Chapter 13. Any member of the
team can perform these roles, and over time, different team members are likely to
play both roles.
norms: shared rules, standards, ● Establish Positive Norms Norms are shared rules, standards, or guide-
or guidelines for team member lines for team member behavior and performance. By helping team members
behavior and performance know what to expect from each other, norms help to ensure high performance. An
example of a positive team norm is arriving to meetings prepared and on time and
participating fully. Team members comply with team norms (1) to avoid punish-
ments and receive rewards, (2) to imitate team members who they like and
admire, and (3) because they have internalized the norm and believe it is the
appropriate way to behave.43
Team norms can also be negative, such as not producing more than is required
to meet the team’s quota, not thoroughly checking product quality to save time, or
not wearing safety equipment. As team leaders, managers are influential in setting
and reinforcing team norms. Managers can help to establish positive team norms
by leading discussions about how the team can best function to achieve both the
team’s and the team members’ objectives. Clear and mutually agreed-upon norms,
work processes, and rules are important for effective teams. When a problem arises,
effective teams have an open discussion and find a solution.44
● Create Shared Team Goals High-performing teams have clear and chal-
lenging goals that all team members are committed to, and they create subgoals
and milestones against which they measure themselves. If performance is lagging,
the team quickly adjusts its behavior and processes to reach its goals.45
when needed, and challenge their teams to improve. A system that rewards only
individual performance undermines team effectiveness. Some individual rewards
may be appropriate for rewarding particularly critical individual contributions to
the team, but the bulk of the rewards need to be made at the team level.
Southwest Airlines is an example of a company that relies heavily on cross-
functional teams and uses collective rewards such as profit sharing and stock own-
ership to promote teamwork.47 At Men’s Wearhouse, CEO George Zimmer rewards
team selling because shoppers want to have a positive total store experience. To
encourage collaboration, Men’s Wearhouse tracks the sales performance of each
so-called wardrobe consultant. Having substantially more sales than one’s
coworkers is taken as a sign that the person is hogging rather than sharing cus-
tomers. Team selling is taken so seriously that the company even terminated one
of its most successful salespeople because he refused to conform to the firm’s cul-
tural values. After the salesperson was fired, no one matched his individual sales
figures but the store’s total sales volume still increased significantly.48
● Use an Appropriate Team Size Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com feels that if you
can’t feed a team with two pizzas, it’s too big and will be hindered by bureauc-
racy.49 The insight that teams can get bogged down if they are too big is a good
one. Although larger teams technically have more resources available, members of
smaller teams are better able to interact and share information, tend to be more
motivated and satisfied, and can more clearly identify their contributions to the
team. Imagine working on a project or exercise for this class on a team of twenty-
five people versus a team of five people. It would be difficult for everyone to par-
ticipate fully and communicate effectively with each other on such a large team. A
team should be only large enough to contain the expertise it needs to get its work
done without compromising individual and team productivity. Teams should have
fifteen or fewer members, and the ideal number is about seven.
● Integrate New Team Members Over time, some team members may leave
the team or be reassigned, and the team may need additional team members to
work effectively and meet its goals. As replacement team members are introduced,
they need to be integrated and socialized.50 Leaders are critical to this newcomer
integration and socialization process. New team member integration involves
promoting shared goal commitment, creating positive feelings toward the team,
and shaping team processes. Team socialization creates effective bonds that con-
nect members to the team and its mission and helps build trust and a sense of
community. If new members are not incorporated into the fabric of the team, the
team will be less cohesive, and new members will not be able to contribute to their
full potential and will likely be less committed to the team.
Being an effective team leader or team member requires 10. I always tell myself I am a competent person.
emotional intelligence. The following sixteen questions 11. I am a self-motivating person.
will help you to assess yourself on four aspects of emo-
12. I would always encourage myself to try my best.
tional intelligence. Answer each question honestly using
the following scale. Write the number from 1 to 7 that 13. I am able to control my temper so that I can
corresponds to your answer in the space to the left of handle difficulties rationally.
each item number. 14. I am quite capable of controlling my own emotions.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 15. I can always calm down quickly when I am very
angry.
Strongly Disagree Slightly Neither Slightly Agree Strongly
Disagree Disagree Agree nor Agree Agree 16. I have good control of my own emotions.
Disagree
1. I have a good sense of why I have certain feelings Scoring: Add up your scores for statements 1 to 4. A
most of the time. score above 23 reflects high self-emotion appraisal and
means that you have a good understanding of your own
2. I have a good understanding of my own emotions.
emotions. Add up your scores for statements 5 to 8. A
3. I really understand what I feel.
score above 22 reflects high others’ emotion appraisal
4. I always know whether or not I am happy. and means that you are sensitive to what others are feel-
5. I always know my friends’ emotions from their ing. Add up your scores for statements 9 to 12. A score
behavior. above 22 reflects high use of emotion and means that you
6. I am a good observer of others’ emotions. are able to use your emotions to drive positive behav-
ior. Add up your scores for statements 13 to 16. A score
7. I am sensitive to the feelings and emotions of
above 23 reflects high regulation of emotion and means
others.
that you control your emotions effectively.
8. I have a good understanding of the emotions of
people around me. Source: Reprinted by permission of The Leadership Quarterly, a publication of
9. I always set goals for myself and then try my best Elsevier Science.
to achieve them.
expectations about how to work with each other.54 The U.S. Air Force and L’Oréal
use emotional intelligence to improve team performance. The Improving Your
Teamwork Skills feature will help you to evaluate and understand your emotional
intelligence. Table 16.3 contains diagnostic questions that you can use to see if you
are doing what is necessary to address some of the critical factors for team success.
T ABLE 16.3
Diagnosing a Team56
1. Clear Direction Can team members articulate a clear direction, shared by all members, of the basic
purpose that the team has been organized to achieve?
2. A Real Team Task Is the team assigned collective responsibility for all of the team’s customers and
major outputs?
Is the team required to make collective decisions about work strategies (rather than
leaving it to individuals)?
Are members cross-trained and able to help each other?
Does the team get team-level data and feedback about its performance?
Is the team required to meet frequently, and does it do so?
3. Team Rewards Counting all reward dollars available, are more than 80 percent of those dollars
available to teams only and not to individuals?
4. Basic Material Resources Does the team have its own meeting space?
Can the team get basic materials needed for the work easily?
5. Authority to Manage Do the team members have the authority to decide the following (without first
the Work receiving special authorization)?
◗ How to meet client demands
◗ Which actions to take, and when
◗ Whether to change their work strategies when they deem necessary
Source: Ruth Wageman, Organizational Dynamics. Copyright © 1997 by Elsevier Science & Technology Journals.
Reproduced with permission of Elsevier Science & Technology Journals in the format Textbook via Copyright
Clearance Center.
even meet face-to-face. Many virtual teams operate within a particular organiza-
tion, but increasingly they cross organizational boundaries as well.57 Hewlett-
Packard, Motorola, and Bank of Boston rely on virtual teams to execute their
strategies.58
● Leader Behaviors The lack of face-to-face contact with virtual team mem-
bers makes it difficult for leaders to monitor team member performance and
to implement solutions to work problems. It is also difficult for virtual team lead-
ers to perform typical mentoring, coaching, and developmental functions. The
challenges for virtual team leaders are that these tasks must be accomplished
without being physically present and finding ways to empower the team to per-
form these functions itself.61
For example, members of virtual teams are usually chosen for their expertise
and competence and for their prior virtual team experience. They are expected to
have the technical knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes to be able to
contribute to team effectiveness and to operate effectively in a virtual environ-
ment. Thus, the need for virtual team leaders to monitor or develop team mem-
bers may not be as crucial. In addition, it is important for virtual team leaders to
distribute aspects of these functions to the team itself, in effect, making it more of
a self-managing team.62
Virtual team leaders need to provide a clear, engaging direction for the team,63
along with specific individual goals. Clear direction and goals allow team mem-
bers to monitor and evaluate their own performance.64 Although this kind of
clarity is relevant in all teams, virtual team leaders need to be more proactive
about structuring direction and goals. Virtual team leaders need to develop team
processes that become the way the team naturally behaves.
One way virtual team leaders can provide this structure is by developing
appropriate routines and procedures early in the team’s life cycle.65 Routines
create consistent patterns of behavior that occur even in the leader’s absence.
Leaders can establish routines by defining desired standard operating procedures,
training members in them, and providing motivational incentives sufficient to
ensure compliance with them. Leaders can also establish rules and guidelines that
Building Teamwork ■ 481
● Managing Now Using group support systems can take some getting used
to. In one hospital, teams developing plans to improve customer service tried
using group support systems instead of their usual face-to-face meetings. When
they found the technology-based meeting process uncomfortable, they reverted
to their traditional, verbal, discussion-based process. They then found the tra-
ditional processes also to be uncomfortable after their experience with the
technology and went back to using more electronic communication-based
processes.70
482 PART FIVE CHAPTER 16 Building Teamwork, Community, and Culture
● Managing Now The goal of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health
InterNetwork is to improve global public health by providing health professionals,
researchers, and policy makers in developing countries access to high-quality, rel-
evant, and timely health information using the Internet.72 WHO’s challenge is to
keep its worldwide project teams both productive and on track, while minimizing
the expense and time associated with coordinating such a global effort.
To coordinate and support its widely dispersed project teams, WHO uses
Project.net to facilitate the teams’ global collaboration. WHO invites relevant ex-
perts and consultants worldwide to participate in the project, and they then work
together in a Web-based virtual forum. Team members can participate at times
and places convenient to them; the software helps manage processes and docu-
mentation and provides tools to track and archive completed work. Using
Project.net, WHO now works with health experts in more than twenty countries on
this important health initiative for the world’s underserved populations. The
Window on Managing Now feature describes virtual team technology at Steelcase.
Building Community ■ 483
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Virtual Team Technology at Steelcase
The right technology is critical to making virtual teams marking up documents and showing PowerPoint presen-
work. Office furniture maker Steelcase relies on its cross- tations within secure workspaces synchronized across all
functional, cross-office, and even cross-company virtual team members’ personal computers (PCs). Team mem-
teams to do business every day.73 To reduce travel costs bers communicate via instant messaging, chatrooms, or
and to increase team productivity and efficiency, the com- voice over Internet protocol using the virtual meeting
pany uses Groove Virtual Office software to support its tool. A meeting wizard facilitates the process of creating
virtual teams and enable them to work together as if they a meeting and inviting team members. Once a meeting is
were in the same location.74 created, any participant can easily add agenda topics, cre-
The collaboration software connects virtual teams ate action items, attach files, and record minutes.The ease
with members in locations around the world and helps of using the e-meeting software system and its many fea-
structure the meeting process. Teams can share files, tures helped to promote user acceptance.75
manage projects, and coordinate business processes by
Building Community
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE O ne of the most challenging aspects of managing now is maintaining a balance
between integrating technology into jobs for maximum efficiency and keeping
employees engaged and connected to the organizational community. A sense
organizational community: of organizational community develops when employees have a strong sense of
employees’ shared sense of personal connection to the mission of the organization and to their business unit.
personal connection to the How can community be enhanced in an organization in which employees are
mission of the organization and linked by technology and spend less time talking face-to-face?
to their business unit
offset the loss of human contact at work. Holding community events like company
picnics and parties serves a ritualistic as well as a practical purpose. At such
events, people can physically experience being part of the community and be re-
minded of the company’s culture and values. Recognition and awards given during
these events also reinforce the behaviors the company expects from its employees
and help keep them connected to the company and to their coworkers.
One of the best ways to create and maintain a sense of community is for lead-
ers to establish core sets of values that link employees to the broader organization
and work rules that ensure that all employees feel valued and respected. Firms can
help employees feel connected to the broader organization by clearly identifying,
stating, and discussing the organization’s values. Holding employees accountable
for behaving consistently with those values is also important. For example, Johnson
& Johnson is a widely distributed organization with over thirty-five global affiliates
and over 200 different operating units. Each operating unit is highly autonomous
and accountable for its individual performance. Employees’ shared values and
consistent adherence to the company’s credo help to unify these separate units
and connect them with the broader organization.76
What should managers do to build community? One expert suggests the
following:77
◗ Modeling the behaviors you want from all members by consistently demonstrating
openness, respect, and trust.
◗ Maintaining members’ self-esteem and self-confidence by demonstrating
respect for all employees and their opinions and encouraging everyone to
participate fully.
◗ Confronting issues directly and taking the initiative for improvement.
Communities of Practice
communities of practice: Communities of practice are groups of people whose shared expertise and
groups of people whose shared interest in a joint enterprise informally binds them together. Examples include
expertise and interest in a joint consultants who specialize in designing training systems, or environmental engi-
enterprise informally binds neers willing to share their knowledge and insights with other environmental
them together
engineers. A community of practice may or may not meet regularly or even in per-
son. The people involved in a community of practice share their knowledge and
experiences in open, creative ways that can create new solutions and approaches
to problems.78 The company intranet can cultivate a sense of community and
employee loyalty.
For example, The St. Paul Companies is a global organization providing insurance
products and services. It understands that its success depends on the expertise of its
people. Because it is a global company, it needs extensive knowledge-sharing activ-
ities to ensure that employee expertise is consistent around the world. Through their
intranet site, called the Knowledge Exchange, employees use a variety of tools and
processes for online virtual communities. These communities allow The St. Paul
Companies’ employees to network with each other and to share their expertise to
solve work problems.79 The Practice IT feature presents another example.
Building Community ■ 485
PRACTICE IT
Using Technology to Build Community at Medco80
Medco Health Solutions needs to ensure that its work- through a video camera on top of each computer, and
at-home customer-service representatives (CSRs) do not they can monitor what CSRs type on their keyboards and
feel disconnected from the Medco community and cul- discuss with customers. Managers then use this informa-
ture. The CSRs are given a preconfigured workstation to tion to give CSRs performance feedback. Managers also
use in their home offices. Medco uses various tools and take great care to stay in touch with their staff by includ-
technology to ensure that its CSRs can do their jobs ing them in communications and celebrations. Team meet-
effectively and still feel part of Medco’s community. For ings are also held that require the work-at-home CSRs to
instance, CSRs have e-mail and instant-messaging capabil- come onsite, see each other face-to-face, and learn what
ity and can also talk with their supervisor via phone or is happening in the business.
webcam. Also, some of Medco’s CSRs can participate in Rather than feeling disconnected from the rest of the
virtual meetings using Internet and webcam technology. company, technology has helped the work-at-home CSRs
Karin Princivalle, Medco’s senior vice president of human actually feel more committed to the company. Kenny
resources, says, “We’re always conscious of the fact that Klepper, Medco’s president and chief operating officer,
they’re working alone, and we want to make sure they feel says,“Never before have I done something that delivered
part of Medco and our culture.” such employee satisfaction and business results. The
Medco places an especially high priority on keeping work-at-home CSRs are more productive than our on-
work-at-home CSRs connected to their supervisors and site CSRs and have a lower attrition rate.” Medco’s sur-
the corporate resources needed to perform their jobs. veys of its CSRs have found no sense of disconnection
For example, if a CSR needs assistance, he or she can with the rest of the company. In fact, in focus-group dis-
quickly instant message or videoconference with a super- cussions, employees report feeling less stressed, healthier,
visor or technical support staff member and receive an and even more committed to the company. The work-at-
answer while the client is still on the phone.Time is also home program has been so successful that soon more
scheduled for CSRs to watch videotaped presentations than half of Medco’s over 2,500 customer-service repre-
about company issues via the company intranet. sentatives will work from home.
CSRs may work from home, but they are far from
isolated. Managers can see the work-at-home CSRs
2. Start small. Test ideas and try several formats to see what employees like and
what works best. For example, any Hewlett-Packard business can create a
network. A business announces itself as the host for a series of presentations,
conferences, and seminars on a topic it is currently striving to understand.
An invitation is broadcast to the rest of the company, and if employees
respond, then the subject area takes on a life of its own in a community of
practice.84
3. Recruit management involvement. If lower-level employees see their bosses
actively participating in the community, they are more likely to participate
as well.
4. Use technology that supports the community’s needs and that community
members are comfortable using. Manufacturing employees who do not have
computer access will be unable to participate in a technologically mediated
community of practice, even if they would like to. Providing computer kiosks,
installing computer workstations in break rooms or lunchrooms, and sched-
uling computer time for employees allow them to participate. Some training
in using wikis, portals, or other technologies may also be necessary. Some
companies, including Ford Motor Company and Delta Airlines, have even
provided home computers and Internet connections for employees for a very
low price.
5. Respect and build on informal employee initiatives already under way.
Employees may have already created a type of community of practice to help
them do their jobs better. Understand what is already in place and working,
and build on it. Employees will already be somewhat familiar with the
processes and practices of the community and thus will be more willing to
use it.
6. Celebrate contributions and build on small successes. Building a community of
practice takes time and requires employees to behave in new ways. Highlight
on the company intranet or in the company newsletter ways that the commu-
nity has solved business problems, and recognize employees who have mean-
ingfully contributed.
IT helps companies improve the flow of information to questions and help with problems by using their
through communities of practice. For example, Ericsson InTouch system. Peter Day, InTouch program manager,
Canada pools the talent of its geographically dispersed em- credits the program with “$200 million in cost savings and
ployees by using a Web system. Employees can ask ques- revenue in 2001, along with a 95 percent reduction in the
tions and quickly get answers over the company’s intranet. time required to solve difficult operational problems and
The company is experimenting with six communities of a 75 percent decrease in the time necessary to update
practice—four in face-to-face meetings and two online.87 engineering modifications.”88 Technology helps communi-
Schlumberger oilfield services engineers can quickly ties of practice become valuable resources for real-time
reach out to other Schlumberger employees for answers help and information.
488 PART FIVE CHAPTER 16 Building Teamwork, Community, and Culture
T ABLE 16.4
Communities of Practice, Formal Workgroups, Project Teams, and Informal Networks89
What’s the What Holds How Long Does
Purpose? Who Belongs? It Together? It Last?
Community of To develop members’ Members who join Passion, commitment, As long as there
Practice capabilities; to build the community by and identification with is interest in
and exchange their own decision the group’s expertise maintaining the
knowledge group
Formal To deliver a product Everyone who Job requirements Until the next
Workgroup or service reports to the and common goals reorganization
group’s manager
Project Team To accomplish a Employees assigned The project’s Until the project
specified task by senior milestones and has been
management goals completed
Informal To collect and pass Friends and business Mutual needs As long as
Network on business acquaintances people have a
information reason to connect
organizational culture:
a system of shared values and
norms that guide members’
O rganizational culture is a system of shared values and norms that guide
members’ attitudes and behaviors.90 Common organizational culture themes
or emphases include innovation, stability, being casual or formal, having a people
attitudes and behaviors orientation, having an orientation toward outcomes or results, valuing attention
to detail, and having a collaborative or team orientation.91 An organization’s
culture is reflected in how it gets work done and how employees interact with
each other. In many ways, culture is like the organization’s personality because it
Building Culture ■ 489
T ABLE 16.5
Evaluating an Organization’s Culture100
1. Observe the physical surroundings. Pay attention to how employees are
dressed, how open the offices are, what type of furniture is used, and what is
displayed on the walls. Signs warning of prohibited activities can also provide
information.
2. Sit in on a team meeting. Observe how employees treat each other and how
open the conversation is. Are there obvious differences in how different
employees are treated?
3. Listen to the language. Do you hear a lot of talk about customer service and
ethics? Or do you hear more emphasis on meeting targets and making the
numbers?
4. Note to whom you are introduced and how they act. Is the person formal or
casual, serious or laid back? Do you feel you’re being introduced to everyone
in the unit or only to a few select employees?
5. Get the views of outsiders, including vendors, customers, and former employees.
Do these sources of information describe the organization as bureaucratic and
frustrating to deal with or open and flexible and a positive and engaging place
to work?
● Managing Now Business research firm Dun & Bradstreet’s formal telework
program requires employees to put in at least three to six months in an office
before embarking on a remote work program. Time in the office for the Murray
Hill, New Jersey–based company lets managers assess employees’ strengths,
weaknesses, and work habits in person. Employees also experience the company’s
unique corporate culture and work ethic firsthand. Working in the same place also
allows team members to get to know one another before embarking on an e-mail
and phone-based relationship.106
The key issue for organizations is not about using the latest information tech-
nologies but about leveraging the right technologies for creating and maintaining
a culture of trust, openness, relationship building, and information sharing. An or-
ganization’s intranet strongly reflects its culture. Intranets can reflect and influ-
ence a firm’s culture through:
1. Their scope. Intranets with a narrow scope can reinforce a culture of secrecy
and information hoarding. Intranets that contain information on a variety of
topics and links to other useful sites such as human resources, company news,
industry news, blogs, wikis, bulletin boards, interviews with company leaders,
and performance indicators reflect a culture of openness and teamwork.
2. Their openness to employee feedback and contributions. Intranets that contain
feedback tools, ways of easily communicating feedback on the intranet that
will actually be considered, and features that allow employees to contribute
reflect a participative culture that values employee contributions. A more cen-
tralized, heavily edited and filtered site reflects a culture in which information
flows less freely and employee contributions are less valued.
3. The frequency with which they are updated. Intranets that are rarely updated
are not likely to influence the company’s culture and can reflect a culture that
does not value employee contributions, does not value individual contribu-
tions, and has poor attention to detail. Lucent updates its intranet multiple
times a day, if appropriate. It also posts two weekly feature articles that rein-
force the strategic vision and positioning of the company to entice employees
to visit multiple times each week.
4. The number of intranets. Does the company have one intranet or several, each
serving different groups of employees? For example, some organizations have
one intranet for its sales force and another, completely different one for its
research and development (R&D) group.
5. The use of symbols, stories, and ceremonies. Because symbols, stories, and cer-
emonies express a company’s culture, intranets can convey news of events
affecting the organization, messages from CEOs, and announcements of
employees’ awards programs.
Creating a culture that supports sharing and helping other “the 50,000 solution tips that have been entered into the
employees can have big business results. Technology can knowledge base, all on a purely voluntary basis, in ex-
make that type of culture possible. For example, Xerox change for contributors’ being recognized. What we have
gave 25,000 field-service engineers access to a knowledge- learned is the importance of creating a work environment
sharing system that engineers can consult during sales with a culture and incentives that are conducive to shar-
calls. The system led to a nearly 10 percent savings on ing, and to support that environment with improved work
parts and labor, worth $15 to $20 million per year. Dan processes and strong technology.”108
Holtshouse, director of knowledge initiatives, talks about
Discussion Questions ■ 493
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Groups and teams differ in terms of members’ 6. It is the leader’s job to create the five conditions
competencies, interdependence, and accountabil- needed for a team to be successful.
ity; the degree to which goals and decision-making
7. Leading virtual teams requires different skills and
responsibilities are shared; and whether leader-
behaviors than does leading face-to-face teams.
ship is fixed or shared.
8. Shared goals, values, and rules help to create organ-
2. Organizations use different types of teams to ac-
izational community.
complish different goals. Some teams meet face-
to-face, some are virtual, and some are comprised 9. Communities of practice can help organizations
of members from around the world. build a sense of community among employees and
help the organization leverage the knowledge of all
3. The five stages of team development are storming,
of its employees.
forming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
10. Strong, positive organizational cultures can en-
4. Team effectiveness is influenced by team mem-
hance organizational performance by energizing
bers’ trust, cohesiveness, shared goals, and team
employees and helping to coordinate their
rewards.
behavior.
5. Synergy can be realized when the team as a whole
11. Leaders play an important role in creating and
performs better than its individual members
maintaining organizational culture. Intranets can
would have performed working separately. Syn-
also be used to reinforce an organizational culture.
ergy is reduced by process loss, social loafing, and
avoiding conflict resolution.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Think about a time you were on a high-performing 6. What might you do differently as a leader of a vir-
team. What made the team function so well? Link tual versus a face-to-face team?
your answers to the material you learned in this
7. How do you think that working on a virtual product
chapter.
development team would be different from work-
2. Think about a time you were on a team that per- ing on a face-to-face team? Do you think that the
formed poorly. What could have been different characteristics you identified would help or hurt
that would have allowed the team to perform bet- the team’s performance? Why?
ter? Link your answers to the material you learned
8. Do you think that it is important for employees to
in this chapter.
feel a sense of community at work? Why or why
3. What do you think are the three biggest threats to not?
team performance? Why?
9. Why is organizational culture important to organi-
4. What do you think are the most important skills for zations? What would happen if a company let its
leading a team? Why? culture develop on its own and did not try to proac-
tively shape or influence it?
5. Think about a time when you interacted with a
team leader who you thought was very effective. 10. Do you think that the increasing use of IT and the
What did she or he do that made the team so effec- Internet strengthens or weakens organizational
tive? Link your answers to the material you learned culture? Why?
in this chapter.
494 PART FIVE CHAPTER 16 Building Teamwork, Community, and Culture
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. Working alone or in a group of three to five stu- c. How has IDEO created both an organizational
dents, read the following description of work culture and a sense of community among mem-
teams at IDEO, the Palo Alto, California, industrial bers of smaller workgroups?
design company that helped create the Swiffer 2. Assume that members of your group of three to five
Quick Flick, Apple mouse, and Palm V handheld students are each business strategy consultants
computer. Then answer the following questions. who know each other from college. You have de-
Be prepared to share your answers with the class. cided to form an alliance to better serve each of
your clients and increase business. You each work
Teamwork is the name of the game at IDEO,
in different towns in the same state but are at least
with over 350 employees located around the
an hour’s drive from each other. How will your
world. The company has built its success on
group create a sense of community among each of
getting employees to work in teams, to share
your members so that you each feel like committed
ideas, and to build on them. Employees at each
members of your team? How might technology
location are broken down into “studios” with
help you create a sense of community and en-
their own names and themes. IDEO promotes
hance your ability to work as a team?
the establishment of group identity by holding
outside retreats, and uses a bonus system based 3. Imagine that you are about to start working on a
on company performance, the studio, and the semester-long class project in a team of five stu-
individual to reinforce teamwork. Studios dents. What can your team do to ensure that it per-
adopt their own names and themes, including a forms well? What should your team watch out for
“Lost Horizon” theme that has the studio nes- as signs that the team might be underperforming?
tled under a DC-3 wing and another made to Think about what you learned from reading this
look like a supper club complete with velvet chapter and your past experiences working in
curtains. A project often starts with a brain- teams as you develop your answers.
storming session to encourage the free flow of 4. This exercise should be completed out of class in
ideas. Project team members then develop ex- groups of three to five students. Your assignment is
tensive prototypes to test and refine their use the Internet to research the values and culture
ideas.109 of an organization chosen by your group. Then
write a two-page report describing two aspects of
a. If you were a manager in charge of facilitating
the organization’s culture that you feel are positive
teamwork at IDEO, what would you do to help
and two aspects that are negative. Then identify
the teams work even more effectively?
what you would do to improve the culture if you
b. What types of managerial skills do you think are were the company’s top management team. Be
most important for IDEO teams? prepared to share your answers with the class.
CASE STUDY
Improving Teamwork at Novartis
ovartis is a global pharmaceutical and consumer for Novartis’s Clinical Development & Medical Affairs
N health company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland,
employing over 75,000 employees in over 140 coun-
division, states, “In an organization the size of Novartis,
everything relies on communication.”111 Members of
tries.110 Feedback from associates to management at the clinical teams responsible for testing new products
Novartis showed that performance was being compro- are located around the world, and cultural and lan-
mised by poor communication and a lack of coopera- guage barriers are only part of the teamwork challenge.
tion within teams. Annette Schirmer, global account Because insufficient information was flowing through
manager within Pharmaceutical Development Training the teams, the teams were having trouble identifying
Case Study ■ 495
priorities, planning, and making timely decisions. This improved communication and work processes in the
resulted in critical issues not being addressed. The lack teams have led to faster problem solving, smoother
of face-to-face contact in some of the global teams decision making, and faster product development
required skills that team members lacked. times.113
Novartis knew that team synergy was critical to its
short- and long-term success and wanted to take ac-
tion. One of the first things Novartis did was create a DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
team-building training program. The training topics
included remote and virtual team building, cultural di- 1. What were the main issues compromising team
versity, matrix organizations, global talent, and global effectiveness at Novartis?
structure in large organizations. A variety of team- 2. Besides training, what should Novartis do to
building exercises required good leadership and team- improve teamwork in these teams?
work and simulated real pressure.112
The program was a success. Teamwork was en- 3. If you were the leader of a team at Novartis, what
hanced, communication was improved, and team would you do to maximize the effectiveness of your
member interactions were friendly and more common, own team? Be sure to take into account your own
even for team members located around the world. The leadership and teamwork styles and preferences.
17 MANAGING TRUST AND
COLLABORATION
CHAPTER OUTLINE Saturn Corp.
Opening Vignette: Saturn
Corp.
● Building Trust and
Collaboration
S aturn has always built its repu-
tation on giving car buyers an
outstanding service experience.
Information Technology, Collaboration,
and Trust Part of that experience means
What Is Collaboration? making sure that when customers
Why Collaborate?
bring their cars in for service, the
● Examples of Collaborative
Efforts dealer has the required parts in
Supply Chain Management stock.The problem is that most
Alliances
Virtual Teams
retailers aren’t great at inventory
● Collaboration Technology
planning.1 But if the parts aren’t
Types of Collaboration Technology there, it’s Saturn, not just the
Why Use Collaboration Technology? dealer, who the customers blame.
Challenges in Implementing
Collaboration Technology The question is,What can Saturn
and its dealers do to make sure Saturn and its dealers needed some way to
● How to Improve
make sure the parts their customers required
Collaboration the parts are definitely on hand were definitely on hand when customers
Factors in Promoting Collaboration
Guidelines for Collaborating
when customers need them? ■ needed them.
Successfully
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: B E H AV I O R A L O B J E C T I V E S
Solectron Corp.
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
● Building Trust
Trusting Behaviors Show that you’ve learned the chapter’s essential information by
PRACTICE IT: Saturn’s Technology
Aids Its Customers and Dealers
➤ Explaining, with examples, why using information technology often depends on trust.
The Trust-Building Process ➤ Using examples to define collaboration and collaboration technology.
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW: ➤ Explaining why supply chains rely on collaboration and trust.
Customer Relationship Management ➤ Listing and giving examples of the seven C’s of collaboration.
Collaboration at Audi ➤ Listing at least five trusting behaviors.
Similarly, when retailers such as Target enter into collaborative supply chain
relationships with Levi’s and Procter & Gamble (P&G), each partner needs to trust
the other, for instance, with the confidential details of their stores’ demand for
various products. When Xerox Corp. asks its repair personnel to input their repair
experience into its new knowledge database, the repair personnel need to trust
that Xerox won’t use this information to phase out these same employees. When
Boeing formed an alliance with suppliers and others to collaborate online in
designing its 787, it trusted those alliance partners to keep the plane’s details confi-
dential. Trust and collaboration underpin almost everything companies do today.
Nonprofit organizations and governments also rely on collaboration. For ex-
ample, Microsoft Corp. recently donated $41 million in technology and cash to
several humanitarian agencies to foster collaboration and communication.3 The
aim is to help these agencies use technological solutions to collaborate more
effectively in responding to tragedies. Thus, the online Guatemalan Humanitarian
Center now provides a central clearinghouse for the agencies involved in the relief
efforts after mudslides in that country.
The American Management Association polled 461 of its members and cus-
tomers about the executives’ main concerns. Sixty percent of the executives cited
lack of collaboration as their main leadership challenge. Balancing priorities
(56 percent) and motivating workers (40 percent) ranked second and third,
respectively.4 In this chapter, we’ll focus on how managers improve collaboration
and trust.
What Is Collaboration?
collaboration: working Collaboration means working together cooperatively to achieve some aim in an
together cooperatively to atmosphere of teamwork, group effort, trust, and goodwill. Collaboration is not an
achieve some aim in an either/or situation; instead, collaboration can range from informal, loose, ad hoc
atmosphere of teamwork,
relationships to formal arrangements. Figure 17.1 illustrates this. The informal
group effort, trust, and goodwill
networks we discussed in Chapter 10 cut across the company’s hierarchical and
horizontal boundaries and achieve, through collaboration, what the company
might not achieve as well in another way. Three small contracting, design, and
architecture firms might informally agree to collaborate and to submit a proposal
for a new building. When the client accepts their design, the three formalize their
F IGURE 17.1
Collaboration Can Range from Informal to Formal
INFORMAL FORMAL
Creation of
federal structure
in which Merger of
Loose network Limited Agreement Agreement
participating participating
Form of of informal, agreement to undertake to constitute
bodies agree bodies into
Collaboration ad hoc to share activities formal
to devolve single
relationships information jointly governing body
upward some organization
of their
autonomy
SOURCE: Adapted from Helen Sullivan and Chris Skelcher, Working Across Boundaries (New York: Pelgrave, 2002), p. 43. Reprinted by permission.
Building Trust and Collaboration ■ 499
Why Collaborate?
Individuals or companies collaborate when they see that they can’t achieve their
objectives with their own resources. Collaboration “aims to secure the delivery of
benefits or added value which could not have been provided by any single [entity]
acting alone or through the employment of others.”7
Companies collaborate more today because of the complexity of doing busi-
ness in a world that depends on systems like supply chains. As one expert on col-
laborative efforts summarizes, “We are living at a time when organizations cannot
succeed on their own.”8 Collaboration is a recognition of the fact that the chal-
lenges facing companies, communities, and even countries today are so “complex
in scope and scale as to require the involvement of a range of actors with comple-
mentary perspectives, expertise and resources.”9
Sometimes, even competitors need to collaborate.
Ford, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler created a
joint purchasing website where suppliers come to
match their products to America’s big three auto com-
panies’ needs.
New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated
(NUMMI) is a classic example of competitive collabora-
tion. A number of years ago, General Motors and Toyota
collaborated in managing an automobile factory in
California. The factory, in Fremont, California, was
formerly one of GM’s worst in terms of grievances and
productivity. GM wanted to find out more about the
Toyota way of manufacturing. Toyota wanted to learn
more about marketing cars in the United States.
NUMMI automobile factory in Fremont, California. NUMMI helped these competitors work together to
achieve what neither could do as well alone.
Sometimes companies collaborate to share risk, for example, in undertaking a
project that may be too large for either partner to handle. Efficiency is another rea-
son. Companies like Dell use their supply chains to squeeze more efficiency from
their suppliers and transportation systems. They do this by making the transac-
tions among the participants digital and seamless: “. . . in the current digital econ-
omy, organizations gain competitive advantage through collaborative commerce
(C-Commerce) and by sharing information and synchronizing transactions in the
collaborative network of value chain partners.”10 And in such situations, sharing
information and knowledge, and therefore trust, between trading partners is a
necessity.11
500 PART FIVE CHAPTER 17 Managing Trust and Collaboration
Alliances
alliance: a relationship An alliance “is a relationship between separate companies that involves joint con-
between separate companies tributions and shared ownership and control.”14 (We discussed strategic alliances
that involves joint contributions in Chapters 3 and 7.) Companies enter into alliances when they believe that doing
and shared ownership and
so beats the other two basic options. One option is simply to enter into a legally
control
binding agreement. The problem here is that legal agreements usually don’t, by
themselves, provide enough incentives for the sort of collaborative innovation
that a fast-changing situation may require.15 The other option is a merger or
acquisition to obtain the required resources. However, the permanence here may
be too expensive or too risky.
Strategic alliances have three characteristics.16 First, “All alliances are agree-
ments between two or more separate firms that involve ongoing resource
Examples of Collaborative Efforts ■ 501
3. Don’t set up an alliance and then delegate the task of making it work to junior
staff. Alliances need to be continually nurtured by you or your most able and
committed staff.
4. Remember that the other organizations involved are unlikely to want to
achieve exactly the same goal(s) as you. Be prepared to compromise.
5. Try to begin by setting yourselves some small, achievable tasks. Build up
mutual trust gradually through achieving mutual small wins.
6. Pay attention to communication. Beware of your own company jargon and
professional jargon and try to find clear ways to express yourself to others who
do not share your daily world. If partners speak in ways that do not make
sense, don’t be afraid to seek clarification.
7. Don’t expect other organizations to do things the same way you do. Tasks that
may be easy to do in your organization may require major political maneuver-
ing in another.
8. Ensure that those who have to manage the alliance are sufficiently briefed
so that they can act with a high degree of autonomy. They need to be able to
react quickly and contingently without having to check back with the parent
organizations.
9. Recognize that power plays are often a part of the negotiation process. Under-
standing your own source of power and ensuring that your partners do not
feel vulnerable is a valuable part of building trust.
10. In summary: always be sensitive to the needs of, and constraints on, your
partner(s). Then, with commitment, determination, and stamina, you can
achieve the advantages that derive from collaboration.19
Virtual Teams
As we explained in Chapter 3, virtual teams are groups of people who work
together interdependently, using information technology to communicate and
collaborate over long distances. Developing trust in virtual teams is no easy mat-
ter. In teams that meet face-to-face, members can build trust by spending time
with each other and by “sharing meals, discussing personal matters, and socializ-
ing outside work.”20 Given the distances involved and the limited opportunities for
face-to-face interaction, building trust in virtual teams presents some special
challenges. The problems can be especially challenging when people from differ-
ent cultures comprise, for instance, a global virtual team. For example, many peo-
ple in Asia are more comfortable with rich, face-to-face communications where
they can see the context of what is being said, while many Americans are comfort-
able simply zipping orders and suggestions around the world by e-mail. Based on
the virtual teams used by one successful online company, we can draw the follow-
ing conclusions about establishing trust in virtual teams:
1. Establish trust based on performance consistency (doing what you are
supposed to do, when you are supposed to do it) rather than on social bonds.
2. Remember that rapid responses to virtual teammates foster trust.
3. Establishing norms for acceptable communication patterns is key. For
instance, each party should know how to contact each other, when to expect
the response, and so on.
4. Team leaders need to play important roles in reinforcing timeliness and con-
sistency of team interaction.21
Collaboration Technology ■ 503
Collaboration Technology
E veryone collaborates today thanks to information technology. We use instant
messaging via cell phones to plan and organize meetings, file-sharing web-
sites to share and download music, and e-bulletin boards to work on team projects
for school. At work, management makes extensive use of collaboration technology
to help their companies compete more effectively. Companies use videoconfer-
encing to facilitate communications of geographically dispersed members of work
teams. For example, we saw that the team that developed the Boeing 787 made ex-
tensive use of videoconferencing for meetings with engine suppliers and airlines
around the world to discuss the new aircraft’s design. Hewlett-Packard’s new life-
size Halo Collaboration Studio makes videoconferencing so clear that talking to
meeting participants via this technology makes it look as if they’re actually there.
Collaborative writing systems let group members create long written documents
(such as proposals) interactively, while working sepa-
rately at interconnected computers.
The Internet powers much of the new collaborative
technology. For example, a typical $100 million build-
ing project produces about 150,000 technical drawings,
legal contracts, and other such documents. These doc-
uments can run up millions of dollars in reproduction,
storage, and shipping costs.22 By using online collabo-
rative software from Citadon Corp., everyone involved
Hewlett-Packard’s new life-size Halo Collaboration Studio in a project, including owners, contractors, and archi-
makes videoconferencing so clear that talking to meeting tects, can receive instantaneous updates on design
participants makes it look as if they’re in the room with you. changes and construction status.
Same Place
Technology ■
Document management systems
■
Electronic meeting systems ■
Calendar and scheduling systems
■
Workflow management systems
■
Electronic bulletin boards
■ E-mail
Different Place
SOURCE: Bjorn Munkvold, Implementing Integrated products Collaboration product suites, integrated team
Collaboration Technologies in Industry (London, support technologies, e-learning technologies
England: Springer, 2002), p. 10. Reprinted by
permission of Springer-Verlag.
Collaboration Technology ■ 505
Challenges in Implementing
Collaboration Technology
Installing collaboration technology and getting employees to use it are two differ-
ent things. Gaining employees’ acceptance of the new systems is crucial. However,
managers face several challenges in doing so, challenges that would not normally
arise when installing noncollaborative, single-user systems such as e-mail. (In
fact, failure to gain employees’ acceptance to the new technology is one reason
why about half of all business process reengineering projects fail to produce the
expected results.) It’s not necessarily that installing systems like Lotus Notes didn’t
produce some gains; it did, but often there was no corresponding improvement in
interpersonal or organizational collaboration.26
Figure 17.5 summarizes the challenges in implementing collaborative sys-
tems. For example, groupware applications (like Lotus Notes) can require extra
effort. Employees may have to invest extra time in reporting and maintaining in-
formation for use by other team members. Collaborative systems can also disrupt
existing social processes. For example, they cut across department lines and so
can suffer from interdepartmental infighting.27
Managers can take steps to avoid the problems and thereby improve the
chances for successful implementation. The following are indicative of the condi-
tions under which these technologies are most likely to fail:28
◗ There is no clear need for improved collaboration.
◗ The implementers do not define a clear need for collaboration before imple-
menting the system.
F IGURE 17.5 1. Disparity between work and benefit: Groupware applications often require additional
work from individuals, who do not perceive a direct benefit from the use of the application.
Challenges in Designing and
Implementing Collaboration 2. The critical-mass problem: If the groupware doesn’t attract the critical mass (number)
Technology and Groupware of users required to be useful, the system won’t achieve its aims.
Systems
3. Disruption of social processes: Groupware can lead to activity that violates social taboos
and threatens existing political structures or in some other way motivates users who are
critical of or threatened by its success.
4. Exception handling: The groupware may not accommodate the wide range of exceptions
and improvisations that a particular group’s activity requires.
SOURCE: Adapted from Bjorn Munkvold, 6. The adoption process: Groupware can require more careful implementation and/or
Implementing Collaboration Technologies in introduction in the workplace than other types of computer-based systems, given the
Industry (London, England: Springer, 2002), additional challenges of getting teams of people to use it to work together collaboratively.
p. 32. Reprinted by permission of
Springer-Verlag.
506 PART FIVE CHAPTER 17 Managing Trust and Collaboration
◗ Clarity of purpose
— What has each partner learned from the collaboration about how to work
with another organization more effectively and how to create greater
partner and social value?
— How has this learning been incorporated into the collaboration?
— Is there a process for routinely assessing learning from the collaboration?
— Is complacency stifling innovation?
◗ Commitment to the partnership
Solectron Corp. is a leading example of supply chain often heavily based on satisfying measurable performance
integration.35 The company started out as a contract criteria.These rules include:
manufacturer, handling the manufacturing overflow from ◗ Base relationships on a foundation of performance metrics,
companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Sony. During the information, and formal contracts. Otherwise, collabora-
1990s, as companies began outsourcing more of the activ- tors’ styles, approaches, and relationships will tend to
ities in which they did not have a core, strategic compe- vary widely, and performance will be unpredictable.38
tence, Solectron was well placed to take on more of this
◗ Use a supplier scorecard. Every quarter, Solectron eval-
work. It was already providing world-class manufacturing
uates 100 of its most important, preferred suppliers on
and had twice won the Malcolm Baldrige award for qual-
a number of metrics, including price, terms and condi-
ity in manufacturing.
tions, quality, and on-time delivery.39 Solectron sends a
Solectron gradually took on more and more of their
copy of this review to the supplier and then holds
customers’ design, manufacturing, and distribution respon-
meetings with the suppliers to identify and discuss any
sibilities. Soon, it became what some referred to as a
issues they need to address.
global supply chain facilitator, “that is, a company that can
◗ Formalize relationships. While supply chain relationships
manage the entire supply chain.”36 As such, Solectron now
rely on trust and collaboration, Solectron does not do
handles “all the actions, processes, and relationships nec-
business based solely on handshakes. Solectron reduces
essary to turn a great idea into a product—and to keep it
informal agreements to formal contracts, even though
in great working condition for the end-user . . . [f]rom the
“every day things get negotiated outside a contract. Life
time a product is conceived all the way through repair and
is compromise and negotiation.”40
end-of-life.”37 Today, when you get a new Motorola or
other cell phone, chances are Solectron (or one of its ◗ Offer suppliers several ways to provide feedback, so that
competitors, such as Flextronics) made it. the review process is not one way. For example, Solec-
To make their systems work, supply chain facilitators tron has a supplier council, whose purpose is to enable
like Solectron must collaborate closely with their suppli- suppliers to provide their perspective on emerging
ers. Furthermore, they must do this in an increasingly trends and best practices to Solectron and to other
competitive industrial environment, with changing busi- suppliers.
ness conditions across countries and cultures. Solectron ◗ Encourage the use of standardized processes and prac-
follows several rules in building the sorts of strong, col- tices. This “helps make suppliers’ jobs easier and im-
laborative supply chain relationships it requires. Its rules proves the effectiveness of Solectron’s procurement
underscore the fact that in collaborative efforts, trust is processes . . . .”41
510 PART FIVE CHAPTER 17 Managing Trust and Collaboration
PHASE II: ■
Find partners with compatible performance-based cultures.
Getting Started with ■
Management actively and visibly supports projects by:
Specific Projects ■
Developing trust and taking visible risks
■
Providing autonomy to participants
■
Put the right people in the right place:
■
Create liaison roles
■
Link the liaisons in collaborative pairs
■
Fill liaison roles with people who have good lateral skills
(that is, people who can communicate across geographical
and functional cultures, provide customer service and
more, demonstrate integrity, and inspire trust)
PHASE III: ■
Adapt preexisting governance and management practices to
Creating the Infrastructure specific projects (for example, by creating an account
management team and providing lots of autonomy to
on-site participants).
■
Develop and use performance metrics for strategic and
political purposes (for example, as early indicators of
success to build support).
PHASE IV: ■
Establish norms for communicating across cultures and
Doing the Work organizations by using liaisons to establish and teach norms
and by sharing information.
SOURCE: Don Mankin and Susan Cohen,
■
Build relationships through travel and face-to-face interaction.
Business Without Boundaries (San Francisco, ■
Learn from doing.
Calif.: John Wiley and Sons, 2004), ■
Go for early wins.
pp. 136–137. Copyright © 2004. Reprinted
by permission of John Wiley & Sons.
Figure 17.8 summarizes what the Solectron way of doing things tells managers
about how to build collaboration across the supply chain and in other, similar sit-
uations. For example, Solectron set the stage for effective collaboration by invest-
ing the time in promoting a strategic vision and culture that support collaboration
across the boundaries between Solectron and its suppliers and customers. Solec-
tron not only made it clear what its strategic vision as a supply chain facilitator was;
it also created a culture that helped make collaboration possible (including values
such as consistency, metrics, and systems) and developed an infrastructure that
supports collaboration, for instance, in terms of its supply chain systems and per-
formance metrics.
Building Trust ■ 511
Building Trust
Online Study Center
ACE the Test
Managing Now! LIVE S everal years ago, the Harvard Business Review brought together a panel of
supply chain management experts. Most agreed that while information sys-
tems and technology are important for supply chain management, supply chain
effectiveness actually depends on more subjective considerations. One partici-
pant said:
[T]rust is the basis of agility, of flexibility. Yet it’s an incredible challenge to
establish trust, and maybe even harder to maintain it . . . But it’s important. As
the world gets more complicated, when I sell a product, I may be selling a solu-
tion that requires input from 45 companies. How do they get along with each
other? If suppliers don’t trust each other, the customer will be whipsawed. Also,
trust enables you to make fast decisions, which lets you be more innovative
and get rid of unproductive work. Trust is a competitive advantage.42
trust: a person’s belief and Trust is a person’s belief and confidence in the goodwill of others, and the
confidence in the goodwill of conviction that their actions will be consistent with the group’s goals.43 As one re-
others, and the conviction that searcher says, trust “is the essential intangible aspect of the effect of alliances, the
their actions will be consistent
interpersonal webbing that ties organizations together and facilitates considered
with the group’s goals
action.”44 The Practice IT feature illustrates this concept at Saturn Corp.
Trusting Behaviors
Research sheds light on the specific behaviors people need to exhibit to build
trust. These behaviors include:
◗ Integrity—honesty and truthfulness.45
PRACTICE IT
Saturn’s Technology Aids Its Customers and Dealers
Having the right part in stock was a big factor in a car collaborative inventory system in two ways. First, it
buyer’s customer experience. Knowing that, Saturn and showed them over time how effective it could be. For
its dealers came up with an innovative, collaborative solu- example, the average Saturn dealer now turns over or uti-
tion. Saturn, with its dealers’ agreement, took over the lizes its inventory about 7.5 times per year, versus the
entire dealership inventory planning and forecasting job. industry average of 2.5 times. That means a lot more
Saturn installed its own supply chain system to track the profit from each dollar invested in inventory for Saturn
inventory at every dealer. dealers. Second, Saturn won its dealers’ trust by assuming
Letting Saturn implement that solution took consid- part of the risk. If a customer wants a part and it’s not
erable trust on the dealer’s part. Inventory is a very ex- available, Saturn gets the part from another dealer and has
pensive and profitable category for all dealers: stock too it delivered overnight. At Saturn Corp., trust and collabo-
much and profits go down; don’t stock enough and you ration meant superior customer service and better prof-
upset customers. Saturn won its dealers’ trust for its itability for both the dealers and for Saturn.46
512 PART FIVE CHAPTER 17 Managing Trust and Collaboration
F IGURE 17.9
The Trust-Building Loop
Form expectations
Have enough trust;
about the future of
SOURCE: Chris Huxham and Siv Vangan, be willing to be
the collaboration
Managing to Collaborate: The Theory and vulnerable and
based on reputation
Practice of Collaborative Advantage (London take a risk to
or past behavior
and New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis initiate the
or contracts and
Group, 2005), p. 68. Copyright 2005. collaboration.
agreements.
Reproduced by permission of Taylor &
Francis, Inc., http://www.routledge-ny.com.
Chapter Summary ■ 513
WINDOW ON MANAGING NOW
Customer Relationship Management Collaboration at Audi50
We saw in Chapter 5 that customer relationship manage- Audi is working effectively with its dealers to over-
ment (CRM) systems help the company manage all the come this. For one thing, it is building trust among the
processes involved with interacting with customers, such dealers in its network by showing them the long-term
as taking orders, answering technical questions, and send- benefits of sharing customer data with Audi. As the
ing bills. For example, when a customer calls with a prob- head of Audi’s customer and dealer systems put it, “[I]n
lem, Dell’s customer relationship management system using CRM, our goal is to help facilitate more relevant
shows the technician what system the customer owns. interactions between dealer and customer, to help deal-
Audi is using its customer relationship management ers sell more cars.” For example, Audi showed its deal-
systems and effective management practices to collabo- ers how they could create more complete customer
rate with its dealers and thereby improve the Audi cus- profiles and thereby generate more effective marketing.
tomer’s experience. The National Auto Dealer Associa- Audi is also building trust by emphasizing customer data
tion estimates that 50 to 70 percent of the approximately privacy and security. With the new system, “consumers
22,000 car dealerships in the United States engage in specify to the dealer at the point-of-sale whether or
some form of customer relationship management. How- not they want their information used, and whether the
ever, the potential collaboration between manufacturer dealer, Audi, or both can have access.” Audi also out-
and dealer still faces several challenges. For example, even lines its formal data privacy policies in its contracts with
with CRM, manufacturers like Audi often don’t have full consumers and dealers, and Audi does not sell its
access to their dealers’ customers’ data. So even though consumer list.
firms like Audi have sophisticated decision support sys- The bottom line is that by building trust based on
tems that could use this data for predicting things like integrity and competence, Audi AG built a collaborative
local marketing program effectiveness, the manufacturers relationship with its dealers, one that enables both sets of
and dealers can’t fully get at or utilize the data. partners to compete more effectively.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
1. Using most types of information technology own resources. Collaboration “aims to secure the
devices requires trust. Similarly, collaborative sup- delivery of benefits or added value which could not
ply chains require that each partner trust each have been provided by any single entity acting
other, for instance, with the details of their stores’ alone or through the employment of others.”
demand for various products.
5. Many of the modern techniques we discussed in
2. Collaboration means working together coopera- this book rely on collaboration and trust. Supply
tively to achieve some aim in an atmosphere of chains rely on collaboration and trust because the
teamwork, group effort, trust, and goodwill. Col- partners must feel comfortable to exchange infor-
laboration is not an either/or situation, but instead mation, knowledge, and their right to make deci-
can range from informal, ad hoc relationships to sions, as in vendor-managed inventory situations.
formal arrangements.
6. An alliance is a relationship between separate com-
3. Modern collaborative supply chain relationships panies that involves joint contributions and shared
blur the distinctions between types and levels of ownership and control. Companies enter into al-
collaboration because they depend on a range of liances when they believe simple legal agreements
collaborative behaviors, from informal, ad hoc don’t provide enough incentive for the required col-
day-to-day interactions to formal, contractual laborative innovation and when they believe a
agreements. merger or acquisition is too expensive or risky.
4. Individuals or companies collaborate when they 7. Ten suggestions for creating alliances include:
see they can’t achieve their objectives with their don’t do it unless you have to; budget sufficient
514 PART FIVE CHAPTER 17 Managing Trust and Collaboration
time; don’t delegate work to junior staff; be pre- clear need for improved collaboration, users do
pared to compromise; begin with small tasks; pay not understand the new technology, or the organi-
attention to communication; don’t expect others to zational culture does not support collaboration.
do things the same way you do; ensure that those 12. Building and maintaining collaboration depends
managing the alliance have the required knowl- on several factors. These factors include having
edge and autonomy; recognize that power plays people who are adept at seeing the linkages that
may be a part of the negotiation process; and, in need to be made and then bringing people
summary, always be sensitive to the needs of, and together, plus trust and leadership. Furthermore,
constraints on, your partner. participants may lose some of their independence,
8. Virtual teams are groups of people who work and they must invest time and effort in building
together interdependently using information tech- collaboration with no guarantee of success. Thus, a
nology to communicate and collaborate over long normative environment for collaboration should
distances. Developing trust and virtual teams is already exist, which means that the people in-
not easy because, by their nature, they lack the volved share cultural values like trust, openness,
opportunities for day-to-day social interactions and communication. The seven C’s of collabora-
that traditional teams have. Virtual teams build tion include connect purpose and people; clarity of
trust by relying on performance consistency, purpose; congruency of mission, strategy, and val-
quickly responding to virtual teammates, establish- ues; creation of value; communication between
ing norms for acceptable communication patterns, partners; continual learning; and commitment to
and having the right team leaders. partnership.
9. Collaboration technology includes all types of in- 13. Successful supply chains require collaboration.
formation and communication technologies that Solectron’s rules for supply chain success include
enable collaboration at various levels, from col- basing relationships on a foundation of perfor-
laboration between two persons to organizational mance metrics, using a supplier scorecard, formal-
collaboration, where several companies are en- izing relationships, offering suppliers several ways
gaged in common tasks. Examples of collabora- to provide feedback, and encouraging the use of
tion technology include desktop videoconferencing, standardized processes and practices. Trust de-
knowledge-management databases, online meeting pends on cultural and behavioral issues but also on
scheduling systems, and the devices that support proving one is trustworthy by meeting agreed-to
virtual teamwork. performance standards.
14. Supply chains (and all other collaborative efforts)
10. Collaborative technology supports collaboration
also depend heavily on trust. Trust is a person’s be-
by facilitating several types of collaborative tasks,
lief and confidence in the goodwill of others and
including communication, information sharing,
the conviction that their actions will be consistent
and coordination.
with the group’s goals. Trusting behaviors include
11. There are many challenges to implementing col- integrity, competence, consistency, loyalty, open-
laborative systems, including the fact that employ- ness, community, respect, cooperation, and de-
ees may have to invest extra time in maintaining pendability. The trust-building process generally
information for use by other team members. Con- involves starting small and gradually building
ditions under which these technologies are most trust by successfully collaborating and achieving
likely to fail include instances when there is no successes.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. List five reasons supply chains can’t function with- 4. What virtual teams do you participate in, and what
out trust. types of technology does your virtual team rely on?
2. What are the main types of collaborative technolo- 5. What role do measurable performance goals play
gies, and what situations are they most suitable for? in building collaboration and trust?
3. What does building and maintaining collaboration
depend on?
Case Study ■ 515
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISES
1. We’ve all probably met, at one time or another, 2. Just about everyone uses information technology
people we did not trust. In groups of three or four systems and devices today, and many of these sys-
students, pick (without mentioning names) one or tems and devices support collaborative activities.
two people who each student did not trust. Make a In teams of three or four students, list at least ten
list of what those people did—in terms of their information technology systems and/or devices
actual behaviors—that made them untrustworthy. that you typically use, and next to each one, itemize
How does your list compare with the trusting be- the ways in which you either do or could use these
haviors discussed in this chapter? If time permits, systems and devices to improve collaboration.
write the untrustworthy behaviors on the board
and compare them in class.
CASE STUDY
AT&T
rior to its recent merger with SBC, AT&T provided personnel). AT&T doesn’t view itself as having two sep-
P data and voice-service communications to busi-
nesses and consumers worldwide. The company
arate sets of employees: office workers and telecom-
muters. Instead, the company understandably expects
employed about 100,000 employees, half of whom all its employees to collaborate and network together.
telecommute, either full- or part-time. AT&T had long AT&T has installed several tools to connect its
promoted telework, which means encouraging its telecommuters—which it now refers to as its remote
employees to work at home or in other nontraditional knowledge workers—to each other. For example, its
locations during regular business hours.51 InfoCenter portal supplies basic information like organ-
AT&T began seriously promoting telework when ization charts and personnel details, so even employ-
management decided that, henceforth, all its informa- ees outside the office should not have a problem find-
tion systems salespeople would work out in the field ing out who to go to if they have a question.
100 percent of the time. AT&T took away their offices Even so, encouraging collaboration remains a
and cubicles, and AT&T’s new era of telework was born. challenge. AT&T needs to decide what additional infor-
Of the 50,000 or so employees who telecommute, about mation systems and collaborative technology it can
15,000 are managerial personnel. AT&T gives the typi- supply to its employees to encourage collaboration.
cal teleworker a laptop, external keyboard and monitor, And it must try to anticipate the problems that it may
router, and an allowance of about $100 to purchase a encounter by trying to get its employees to use these
telephone (AT&T is also rolling out Voice over Internet new technologies.
Protocol phones).
One chronic drawback to telework (or telecom- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
muting) in many firms is that the remote workers
1. Specifically, what types of collaborative technology
sometimes take on a second-class status. After all, they
would you recommend that AT&T provide to its
frequently don’t have offices, and they usually aren’t
telecommuters and office staff now to maximize
around to socialize with the other office employees for
the opportunities for collaboration? Why did you
lunch or after work. Even AT&T’s own studies show that
suggest these types of technology?
these factors can be a problem. For example, about
68 percent of its teleworkers cited reduced visibility in 2. Assume that AT&T’s managers have accepted your
the office, and 68 percent cited a need to interact with recommendations. Now, provide ATA&T with a
people live. Another drawback to telecommuting in- short report itemizing the problems it can antici-
volves the larger issue of encouraging and facilitating pate in getting employees to use these collabora-
collaboration among employees (both among the tive devices and how you suggest it can overcome
telecommuters and between telecommuters and office those problems.
PHOTO CREDITS
516
ENDNOTES
517
518 Endnotes
51. C. West Churchman, Russell Ackoff, and E. Leonard Arnoff, 76. Stratford Sherman, “A Master Class in Radical Change,”
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52. Daniel Wren, The Evolution of Management Thought (New York: 77. Some argue that with IT so widely available and used, it doesn’t
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53. Fred Vogelstein, “No Love Lost for Google,” Fortune, August 23, Matter,” Harvard Business Review, May 2003, pp. 41–49.
2004, pp. 19–20. 78. Kasra Ferdows et al., “Rapid Fire Fulfillment,” Harvard Business
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Review, September 2005, pp. 140–147. “CRM Done Right,” Harvard Business Review, November 2004,
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Business, 1991), p. 10. 85. Ibid.
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CHAPTER 3 28. For a discussion, see, for example, ibid., Chapter 2; and James
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Planned to Sell His Waterproof MP3 Players in Surf Shops. But in Dollinger, op. cit., p. 333.
Could He Really Say No to the Big-Box Retailers?” Inc, April 2005. 55. This is based on Dean Takahashi, “Reinventing the
25. Norman Scarborough and Thomas Zimmerer, Effective Small Intrapreneur,” Red Herring, September 2000, pp. 189–196.
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27. Quoted in ibid. 58. See, for example, Rosa Grimaldi and Alessandro Grandi,
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Gary Dessler, and John Reinecke, Introduction to Business 59. For a discussion of this, see Bahman Edrahimi et al., “The
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65. Anthes, op. cit. 18. Donna Fenn, “Picture the Image,” Inc., February 1994, pp. 66–71;
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67. Morgan Swink, “Building Collaborative Innovation Capability: 22. Senn, op. cit., p. A11.
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Networks: Implications for Globalization,” Technovation, March Review, September 1999, p. 42; http://www.darwinmagazine
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CHAPTER 5 37. For the definition of telecommunications, see G. Michael
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3. James Senn, Information Systems in Management (Belmont, 41. The term modem is derived from the functions of modulation
Calif.: Wadsworth Publishing, 1990), p. 58. and demodulation. A modem’s function is to modulate or
4. Peter F. Drucker, “The Coming of the New Organization,” superimpose on the telephone line’s analog signal the digital
Harvard Business Review, January–February 1988, p. 45. information form the computer input device. See, for example,
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6. See, for example, David Kroenke and Richard Hatch, 43. Laudon and Laudon, Essentials, p. 413.
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8. George Marakas, Decision Support Systems (Upper Saddle River, decision support systems, see also Marakas, op. cit., pp. 153–154.
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9. Ibid. 47. See, for example, Senn, op. cit., p. 418.
10. Laudon and Laudon, op. cit., p. G7. 48. Ibid., p. 427.
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12. Laudon and Laudon, op. cit., Chapter 2. 50. John Wilke, “Computer Links Erode Hierarchical Nature of
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63. Ibid., p. 59. 7. Peter F. Drucker, The Effective Executive (New York: Harper &
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Mass.: Allyn & Bacon, 1992), pp. 248–249. See also Daphne Setting to Organizational Results (Westport, Conn.: Quorum
Main and Joyce Lambert, “Improving Your Decision Making,” Books, 1994), p. 101.
Business and Economic Review, April 1998, pp. 9–12; and John 8. “Setting Departmental Goals You Can Actually Achieve,” Info-
Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa, “The Hidden Tech Advisor Newsletter, January 22, 2002.
Traps in Decision Making, Harvard Business Review, January 9. Steven Carroll and Henry Tosi, Management by Objectives (New
2006, vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 118–126. York: Macmillan, 1973); see also Conny Antoni, “Management
65. See, for example, Janice Beyer et al., “The Selective Perception by Objectives: An Effective Tool for Teamwork,” International
of Managers Revisited,” Academy of Management Journal, June Journal of Human Resource Management, February 2005, vol. 16,
1997, pp. 716–737. no. 2, pp. 174–185.
66. Dewitt Dearborn and Herbert A. Simon, “Selective Perception: 10. Other examples of time series include daily average
A Note on the Departmental Identification of Executives,” temperatures in Chicago, daily average aircraft turnaround time
Sociometry, 1958, vol. 21, pp. 140–144. For a recent study of this for Southwest Airlines, and monthly customer service
phenomenon, see Mary Waller, George Huber, and William satisfaction ratings.
Glick, “Functional Background as a Determinant of Executives’ 11. Dennis Berman, “Lousy Sales Forecasts Helped Fuel the
Selective Perception,” Academy of Management Journal, August Telecom Mess,” Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2001, p. B1.
1995, pp. 943–994. While not completely supporting the 12. “First Too Few, Then Too Many . . . and Finally a Spot On!”
Dearborn findings, these researchers did also conclude that sas.com (accessed January 10, 2006).
managers’ functional backgrounds affected how they perceived 13. Kenneth Laudon and Jane Laudon, Management Information
organizational changes. See also Paul Gamble and Duncan Systems (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall), p. 598; and
Gibson, “Executive Values and Decision Making: The “Wal-Mart to Triple Size of a Warehouse,” TechWeb,
Endnotes 527
http://192.215.17.45/newsflash/nf617/0210—st6.htm (accessed 37. “Pella Corp. Streamlines Business Processes to Cut Costs and
February 10, 1999). Boost Productivity with Oracle E-Business Suite,” Oracle.com
14. Philip Kotler, Marketing Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: (January 9, 2006).
Prentice Hall, 1997), p. 113. 38. Laura Holson and John Markoff, “With One Click of the
15. Phillip Kotler and Gary Armstrong, Principles of Marketing, Mouse,” New York Times, January 23, 2006, p. C1.
(Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, 2001), pp. G7–8. 39. Adrienne Carter, “Kodak’s Promising Development,” Money,
16. “Companies Turn to Private Spies,” Fortune, August 23, 2004, Feburary 2002, vol. 31, no. 2, p. 39.
p. 24. 40. Robert Kaplan and David Norton, “The Office of Strategy
17. For a tool that helps managers more clearly understand Management,” Harvard Business Review, October 2005,
environmental trends, see Sarsha Drafi and Paul Kampas, “How pp. 72–80.
to Identify Your Enemies Before They Destroy You,” Harvard 41. Michael Mankin and Richard Steele, “Turning Great Strategy
Business Review, November 2002, pp. 115–120. into Great Performance,” Harvard Business Review, July/August
18. Susan Warren, “I-Spy: Getting the Lowdown on Your 2005, pp. 65–72.
Competition Is Just a Few Clicks Away,” Wall Street Journal, 42. Laura Ponticello, “Scorecard: Linking Strategy to Performance
January 14, 2002, p. 14. Objectives,” www.ISIXSIGMA.com (accessed January 21, 2006).
19. George Day and Paul Shoemaker, “Scanning the Periphery,” 43. Noel Tichy and the RAM Charan, “The CEO as Coach: An
Harvard Business Review, November 2005, pp. 135–148. Interview with Allied Signal’s Lawrence Bossidy,” Harvard
20. Harvey Kahalas, “A Look at Planning and Its Components,” Business Reivew, March–April 1995, pp. 69–78.
Managerial Planning, January–February 1982, pp. 13–16; 44. www.sas.com (accessed January 9, 2006).
reprinted in Phillip DuBose, Readings in Management (Upper 45. www.sas.com/success (accessed January 10, 2006).
Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1988), pp. 49–50. For a
discussion of a modern technique for evaluating management CHAPTER 8
policies and procedures, see Salwa Ammar and Ronald Wright, 1. Ron Ruggles, “Transaction Monitoring Boosts Safety, Perks Up
“Characteristics and Features of a Performance Evaluation Coffee Chain Profits,” Nation’s Restaurant News, November 28,
Model Using a Multilevel Fuzzy Rule-Based System,” 2005, vol. 39, no. 58, p. 35.
International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2. Kenneth Merchant, “The Control Function of Management,”
May 10, 2004, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 301. Sloan Management Review, Summer 1982, p. 44.
21. “Annual Report, 2001. Feature Stories, Dell,” Accenture.com 3. This section is based on William Newman, Constructive Control
(accessed January 9, 2006). (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1995), pp. 6–9.
22. Jeffrey McCracken, “‘Way Forward’ Requires Culture Shift at 4. Kristina Sullivant, “Boeing Achieves Internet Liftoff,” PC Week,
Ford,” Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2006, p. B1. May 10, 1999, p. 67.
23. Fred David, Strategic Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: 5. Ibid.
Prentice Hall, 2001), p. 54. 6. Melanie Warner, “Confessions of a Control Freak,” Fortune,
24. David Pringle, “Nokia’s CEO, Marking a Decade, Faces September 4, 2000, pp. 130–140.
Struggling, Quickly Changing Industry,” Wall Street Journal, 7. These characteristics are based on Robert Simons, Levers of
January 23, 2002, p. B70. Control, How Managers Use Innovative Control Systems to Drive
25. Orit Gadiesh and James Gilbert, “Transforming Corner Office Strategic Renewal (Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press,
Strategy into Front-Line Action,” Harvard Business Review, May 1995), p. 87.
2000, p. 74. 8. This discussion is based on Simons, op. cit., pp. 87–88.
26. Danny Hakim, “With Huge Sale, GM Buries a Discarded 9. For an example, see Simons, op. cit., p. 82.
Strategy,” New York Times, October 30, 2001, p. C8. 10. Daniel Wren, The Evolution of Management Thought (New York:
27. Joseph Weitz, “How Ferarri Toils in the Nirvana of Carmakers,” John Wiley & Sons, 1994), p. 115.
Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2006, p. B2. 11. Based on Kenneth Merchant, Modern Management Control
28. Mylene Mangalindian, “How Amazon’s Dream Alliance with Systems (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1998), p. 642.
Toys ‘R’ Us Went So Sour,” Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2006, 12. For a discussion, see ibid., pp. 542–545.
p. A1. 13. Biff Motely, “Picking the Right Ratio to Measure Performance,”
29. Jim Carbone, “Contract Manufacture Is Moved to Vertical Bank Marketing, January/February 2002, vol. 34, no. 1, p. 44.
Integration,” Purchasing, October 18, 2001, vol. 130, no. 20, 14. Merchant, Modern Management Control Systems, p. 304.
pp. 33–35. 15. Arif Mohammed, “Hyundai Boosts Network Access and
30. “Killer App,” Fortune, September 1, 2003, pp. 111–116. Control,” Computer Weekly, February 22, 2005, p. 44.
31. John Byrne et al., “The Virtual Corporation,” BusinessWeek, 16. Mary Sumner, Enterprise Resource Planning (Upper Saddle River,
Feburary 8, 1993, p. 99; see also Keith Hammonds, “This Virtual N.J.: Pearson Education, 2005).
Agency Has Big Ideas,” Fast Company, November 1999, pp. 70–74. 17. “Select Medical Corp Implements Oracle E-Business Suite for 79
32. Gary Latham and J. James Baldes, “The Practical Significance of Long-Term Acute-Care Hospitals and 790 Outpatient Clinics,”
Locke’s Theory of Goal Setting,” Journal of Applied Psychology, www.oracle.com (accessed January 10, 2006).
February 1975, pp. 605–612. See also Gary Latham, “The Effects 18. “Midsize Company Turns to Process-Driven ERP System;
of Proximal and Distal Goals on Performance of a Moderately Biotech Firm Rolls Out ERP System from Exact Software in 18
Complex Task,” Journal of Organizational Behavior, July 1999, Months to 48 Offices Worldwide,” InformationWeek, December
pp. 421–430. 23, 2004, no. 9750-6874.
33. Katherin Mieszkowski, “The E Lance Economy,” Fast Company, 19. “Millipore Goes Global with Oracle,” www.oracle.com (accessed
November 1999, pp. 66–68. See also www.elance.com/ January 9, 2006).
(accessed January 5, 2007). 20. Ibid.
34. Michael Porter, Competitive Advantage (New York: Free Press, 21. “Healthcare Insurer Fit for Success,” www.sas.com (accessed
1980). January 10, 2006).
35. “Westdeutsche Bank,” www.sap.com (accessed January 9, 2006). 22. Matt Hicks, “Tuning to the Big Picture for a Better Business,”
36. Michael Porter, op. cit. PC Week, July 15, 1999, p. 69.
528 Endnotes
23. “RFID: Technology Tracks Goods, Now People,” Knight-Ridder During Restructuring in China,” Asia Pacific Journal of
Tribune Business News (accessed January 20, 2006). Management, 2004, vol. 21, pp. 515–533.
24. Jennifer Maselli and Beth Batcheldor, “Remote-Control 48. Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Commitment and Community
Businesses: Integrating Real-Time Remote Diagnostic Data with (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1972), pp. 24–25.
CRM and ERP Systems to Boost Sales and Improve Service,” 49. See Dessler, op. cit., p. 64.
InformationWeek, September 3, 2001, vol. 18, p. NA. 50. JoAnn Davy, “Online at the Office: Virtual Communities Go to
25. Jeffrey Stanton and Janet Barnes-Farrell, “Effects of Electronic Work,” Managing Office Technology, July–August 1998, pp. 9–11.
Performance Monitoring on Personal Control, Task 51. Ibid.
Satisfaction, and Task Performance,” Journal of Applied 52. Dessler, op. cit., p. 69.
Psychology, December 1996, p. 738; and Paul Greenlaw, “The 53. Abraham Maslow, Motivation and Personality (New York: Harper
Impact of Federal Legislation to Limit Electronic Monitoring,” & Row, 1954), p. 336.
Public Personnel Management, Summer 1997, pp. 227–245. 54. Interview with assembler Dan Dise, March 1992.
26. Norihiko Shirouzu and Jon Bigness, “7-Elevens’ Operators 55. Personal interview, March 1992.
Resist System to Monitor Managers,” Wall Street Journal, June 56. Ron Ruggles, op. cit., p. 35.
16, 1997, pp. B1–B6.
27. www.sas.com/success (accessed January 10, 2006). CHAPTER 9
28. Joseph Rosanas and Manuel Nevilla, “The Ethics of 1. Reuben Slone, “Leading a Supply-Chain Turnaround,” Harvard
Management Control Systems: Developing Technical and Business Review, October 2004, pp. 114–121.
Moral Values,” Journal of Business Ethics, March 2005, vol. 57, 2. Ibid., p. 114.
no. 1, pp. 83–97. 3. Richard Chase and Nicholas Aquilero, Production and Operations
29. The following, except as noted, is based on Kenneth Merchant, Management, 6th ed. (Homewood, Ill.: Irwin, 1992), p. 5.
Control in Business Organizations (Boston, Mass.: Pitman, 1985), 4. Ibid., p. 5.
pp. 71–120. See also Robert Kaplan, “New Systems for 5. Based on Jay Heizer and Barry Render, Operations Management,
Measurement and Control,” The Engineering Economist, Spring 6th ed. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001), p. 181.
1991, pp. 201–218. 6. Norman Gaither, Production and Operations Management, 5th ed.
30. This is based on Simons, op. cit., pp. 81–82. (Fort Worth, Tex.: The Dryden Press, 1992), p. 22.
31. “Did Warner-Lambert Make a $468 Million Mistake?” 7. “Goodnight, Vietnam,” Economist, January 8, 2000, p. 65.
BusinessWeek, November 21, 1983, p. 123; quoted in Merchant, 8. Ibid., p. 65.
Control in Business Organizations, pp. 98–99. 9. Gaither, op. cit., pp. 132–133.
32. Chris Argyris, “Human Problems with Budgets,” Harvard 10. See, for example, James Gilmore and Joseph Pine II, “The Four
Business Review, January–February 1953, pp. 97–110. Faces of Mass Customization,” Harvard Business Review,
33. “Why Good Accountants Do Bad Audits,” Harvard Business January–February 1997, pp. 91–101; and Mark Willoughby,
Review, November 2002, pp. 97–102. “SOA: Enabler of Mass Customization,” Computerworld,
34. “Wal-Mart Takes Reigns at Seiyu,” MMR, December 12, 2005, November 20, 2006, p. 30.
vol. 22, no. 20, p. 103. 11. For a discussion of how other companies apply these concepts,
35. See also Eric Krell, “Greener Pastures,” Training, November see, for example, Edward Feitzinger and Jan Lee, “Mass
2001, vol. 38, no. 11, pp. 54–59. Customization and Hewlett-Packard: The Power of
36. Tom Burns and G. M. Stalker, The Management of Innovation Postponement,” Harvard Business Review, January–February
(London: Tavistock, 1961), p. 119. 1997, pp. 116–121; and Frank Piller and Ashok Kumar, “For
37. Jeffrey Seglin, “A Company Credo, as Applied or Not,” New York Each, Their Own: The Strategic Imperative of Mass
Times, July 15, 2001, pp. 3–4. Customization,” Industrial Engineer, September 2006, pp. 40–46.
38. David Pollitt, “Satisfied Employees Keep Better Track of 12. Everett Adam Jr. and Ronald Ebert, Production and Operations
Tornadoes at the US National Weather Service,” Human Management (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1992),
Resource Management International Digest, 2005, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 254.
pp. 15–18. 13. Ibid.
39. J. Newcomb, 1998 letter to employees, May 17, 1999. 14. Gaither, op. cit., p. 135. See also Nancy Hyer, “The Discipline of
40. J. Pfeffer and J. Veiga, “Putting People First for Organizational Real Cells,” Journal of Operations Management, August 1999,
Success,” Academy of Management Executive, 1999, vol. 13, pp. 557–559; and Tom Dassenbach, “Cellular Manufacturing
pp. 37–48. Part 1—What’s in It for You?” Wood & Wood Products,
41. See also John Myer, “Employee Commitment and Motivation: November 2005, pp. 29–33.
A Conceptual Analysis and Integrative Model,” Journal of 15. Barry Render and Jay Heizer, Principles of Operations Management
Applied Psychology, December 2004, vol. 89, no. 6, pp. 191–206. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1997), p. 551.
42. James McElroy, “Managing Workplace Commitment by Putting 16. Ibid., pp. 551–553.
People First,” Human Resource Management Review, 2001, vol. 11, 17. Jack Robertson, “Sony Centralizes Procurement,” EBN, January
pp. 329–334. 28, 2002, p. 1.
43. See also Rene Schalk and Wim Van Dijk, “Quality Management 18. James Evans et al., Applied Production and Operations Management
and Employee Commitment Illustrated with Examples from (St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co., 1984), pp. 500–501.
Dutch Healthcare,” International Journal of Healthcare Quality 19. Ibid., p. 511.
Assurance, 2005, vol. 18, nos. 2–3, pp. 170–178. 20. See, for example, T. C. E. Cheng, “An EOQ Model with
44. Personal interview. See Gary Dessler, Winning Commitment: How Learning Effect on Set-Ups,” Production and Inventory
to Build and Keep a Competitive Work Force (New York: McGraw- Management Journal, First Quarter 1991, pp. 83–84.
Hill, 1993), pp. 27–28. 21. Evans et al., op. cit., p. 39.
45. Ibid., p. 28. 22. Joel E. Ross, Total Quality Management: Text, Cases and Readings
46. Ibid., p. 30. (Delray Beach, Fla.: St. Lucie Press, 1993), p. 1. See also James
47. See, for example, Gerald Fryxell et al., “The Role of Gaskin, “Bonner Bets on Total Quality Management,” Internet
Trustworthiness in Maintaining Employee Commitment Week, September 6, 1999, p. 43.
Endnotes 529
23. Render and Heizer, op. cit., p. 96. See also, Chip Caldwell, Implementing a Pull System by Putting the Cart Before the
“Lean-Six Sigma: Tools for Rapid Cost Reduction: Have You Ever Horse?” Production & Inventory Management Journal, Spring 1999,
Conducted a “Manager Quality Waste Walk”? If Not, Read On.” pp. 67–72.
Healthcare Financial Management, October 2006, pp. 96–99. 42. Ibid., p. 64.
24. Discussed in Ross, op. cit., pp. 2–3, 35–36. 43. Susan Moffat, “Japan’s New Personalized Production,” Fortune,
25. In Richard Hodgetts, Blueprints for Continuous Improvement: October 22, 1990, pp. 132–135. See also Richard Truett,
Lessons from the Baldrige Winners (New York: American “Chrysler Robots Are Boon to Plant Flexibility,” Automotive
Management Association, 1993), p. 19. See also www.quality News, August 2005, vol. 79, no. 6160, p. 16.
.nist.gov/Business_Criteria.htm (accessed November 8, 2006). 44. Mark Vonderem and Gregory White, Operations Management
26. “How Creamy? How Crunchy? Kraft Foods Discovers the True (St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing, 1988), pp. 44–45. For more
Measure of SAS,” www.sas.com (accessed January 10, 2006). information on computer-integrated manufacturing, see
27. Chase and Aquilero, op. cit., p. 197. Michael Baudin, Manufacturing Systems Analysis (Upper Saddle
28. These traits are quoted from David Anderson, Design for River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1990), pp. 2–5. See also Bob
Manufacturability (Lafayette, Calif.: CI Press, 1990), p. 9. Trebilcock, “Synching up Production Lines,” Modern Materials
29. Ibid., p. 16. Handling, May 2005, vol. 60, no. 5, p. 31.
30. Ibid., p. 15. See also F. Robert Jacobs and Vincent Mabert, 45. For additional information, see, for example, Alan Luber,
Production Planning, Scheduling, and Inventory Control (Norcross, “Living in the Real World of Computer Interfaced
Ga.: Industrial Engineering and Management Press, 1986), Manufacturing,” Production & Inventory Management, September
pp. 96–100; and Otis Port, Zachary Shiller, Gregory Miles, and 1991, pp. 10–11; and Jeremy Main, “Computers of the World,
Amy Schulman, “Smart Factories, America’s Turn,” BusinessWeek, Unite!” Fortune, September 24, 1990, pp. 115–122. See also
May 8, 1989, pp. 142–148. John Teresko, “Japan’s New Idea,” Industry Week, September 3,
31. See, for example, Joseph Martinich, Production and Operations 1990, pp. 62–66; and David Bak, “Shared Intelligence Guides
Management (New York: Wiley, 1997), pp. 215–216. Control System,” Design News, October 18, 1999, p. 97.
32. Valerie Reitman, “Global Money Trends Rattle Shop Windows 46. Kristina Sullivan, “Boeing Achieves Liftoff,” PC Week, May 10,
in Heartland America,” Wall Street Journal, November 26, 1993, 1999, p. 67.
p. A1. See also Derek Korn, “Surviving Global Competition 47. John Teresko, “Manufacturing in Japan,” Industry Week,
Through Aggressive Business Practices,” Modern Machine Shop, September 4, 1989, p. 35–48. See also Richard Jensen, “How to
August 2005, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 72–74. Be Nimble, How to Be Quick,” CMA Management, October 1999,
33. These elements are based on Kenneth Wantuck, The Japanese pp. 34–38.
Approach to Productivity (Southfield, Mich.: Bendix Corporation, 48. Brian McWilliams, “Re-Engineering of the Small Factory,” Inc.
1983). See also Chase and Aquilero, op. cit., pp. 261–272; Adam Technology, March 19, 1996, pp. 44–47, reprinted in Roberta
and Ebert, op. cit., p. 568; Carla Kalogeridis, Gary Witzenburg, Russell and Bernard Taylor, Operations Management (Upper
and John Peter, “A Decade of Tech,” Automotive Industries, Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall), p. 260.
January 2005, vol. 185, no. 1, pp. 34–36; and John 49. David Upton, “What Really Makes Factories Flexible?” Harvard
McClenahen, “JIT Tops Management Practices,” Industry Week, Business Review, July–August 1995, p. 75.
December 2006, p. 13. 50. Ibid., pp. 80–81.
34. See, for example, Mike Kaye, “Continuous Improvement: Ten 51. Ibid., p. 80; Lisa Gewirtz, “Cerberus Buying Mead Paper Unit,”
Essential Criteria,” International Journal of Quality & Reliability TheDeal.com, January 18, 2005, p. 1.
Management, April–May 1999, pp. 485–487; and David 52. Heizer and Render, op. cit., p. 434.
Blanchard, “What’s Working for U.S. Manufacturers: The Latest 53. Ibid.
Census of Manufacturers Reveals That Lean Is Still the Most 54. Ibid.
Popular Improvement Method,” Industry Week, October 2006, 55. “Oracle Supply-Chain Management,” www.oracle.com
pp. 49–52. (downloaded January 15, 2006).
35. Chase and Aquilero, op. cit., p. 261. See also “Flexibility Critical 56. Hau Lee, “The Triple-A Supply Chain,” Harvard Business Review,
for Auto Sector to Succeed,” M P & P, Metal-Working Production October 2004, pp. 102–110.
& Purchasing, June 2005, vol. 32, no. 4, p. 17. 57. Reuben Slone, “Leading a Supply-Chain Turnaround,” Harvard
36. Sharon Parker, “Longitudinal Effects of Lean Production Business Review, October 2004, p. 120.
on Employee Outcomes and the Mediating Role of Work 58. “In the Room,” BusinessWeek, February 14, 2000, p. 116.
Characteristics,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 2004, vol. 88, 59. William Cassidy, “At Wal-Mart, Less Is More,” Journal of
no. 4, pp. 620–634. Commerce, November 7, 2005, vol. 6, no. 45, pp. 29–31.
37. Ibid., p. 631. 60. “RFID: Technology Tracks Goods, Now People,” Knight-Ridder
38. Mary Cronin, “Intranets Reach the Factory Floor,” Fortune, Tribune Business News, January 20, 2006 (accessed February 20,
August 18, 1997, p. 208. 2006).
39. “SAP Manufacturing: Drive Manufacturing at the Speed 61. Janet Perna, “Reinventing How We Do Business,” Vital Speeches
of Business,” www.sap.com (downloaded January 12, of the Day, July 15, 2001, vol. 67, no. 19, pp. 587–591.
2006). 62. Robert Simison et al., “Big Three Carmakers Plan Net
40. Adapted from Gaither, op. cit., pp. 6–8. See also Mike Exchange,” Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2000, p. A3.
Brezonick, “New Vickers Plant Focuses on Flexibility,” Diesel 63. “Dell: Build-To-Order Manufacturing,” www.accenture.com
Progress, North American Edition, January 1999, pp. 32–35; (downloaded January 9, 2006).
Millan Yeung, “The Future Looks Like Flexible Automation,” 64. Ibid.
DPN: Design Product News, May 2005, vol. 33, no. 3, p. 4; and 65. Kasra Ferdows et al., “Rapid-Fire Fulfillment,” Harvard Business
“Chrysler Shifting to Japanese Method of ‘Flexible Review, November 2004, pp. 104–110.
Manufacturing,’ ” Machine Design, September 2005, vol. 77, 66. Ibid., p. 104.
no. 17, p. 49. 67. Ibid., p. 106.
41. Thomas Stewart, “Brace for Japan’s Hot New Strategy,” Fortune, 68. Gabriel Kahn, “Making Labels for Less,” Wall Street Journal,
September 21, 1992, p. 64. See also Bobby Ray Inman, “Are You August 13, 2004, p. B1.
530 Endnotes
69. Heizer and Render, op. cit., p. 277; “Wheeled Coach 17. “My SAP CRM Unites Nestle Nordic,” mysap.com (downloaded
Ambulances Dominate The Market,” Fire Apparatus, October January 9, 2006).
2004, vol. 9, no. 10, pp. 1–6; www.wheeledcoach.com/ 18. “Visibility with mySAP Supply-Chain Management,” mysap.com
(accessed December 10, 2006). (downloaded January 4, 2006).
19. Mintzberg, op. cit., p. 4.
CHAPTER 10 20. Delia Craven, “Click and Mortar,” Red Herring, November 1999,
1. “Millipore Goes Global with Oracle,” www.oracle.com (accessed p. 208; Steven Thompson et al., “Improving Disastor Response
January 12, 2006). Efforts with Decision Support Systems,” International Journal of
2. Lee Hawkins Jr., “Lost in Transmission: Behind GM’s Slide: Emergency Management, November 14, 2006, p. 250; and
Bosses Misjudged New Urban Tastes,” Wall Street Journal, March www.citadon.com/ (accessed December 18, 2006).
8, 2006, p. A1. 21. Paul Lawrence and Jay Lorsch, Organization and Environment
3. “Reshuffle Sees Axa Split into Product Divisions,” Money (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1967). See also
Management, December 7, 2006, p. 12. Frank Mueller and Romano Dyerson, “Expert Humans or
4. Mark Dale Franco, “Synergies 250 Years in the Making,” Catalog Expert Organizations?” Organization Studies, 1999, vol. 20,
Age, March 15, 2001, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 47–38. See also no. 2, pp. 225–256. Some companies today practice concurrent
“Caswell-Massey Forges Ahead with Aggressive Growth Plan,” engineering to improve production coordination, which
Cosmetics International, September 9, 2005, p. 2. basically means having all the departments—design,
5. Rekha Back, “Heinz’s Johnson to Divest Operations, Scrap production, and marketing, for instance—work together to
Management of Firm by Region,” Wall Street Journal, December develop the product so that its production and marketing are
8, 1997, pp. B10, B12. See also “HJ Heinz: Restructuring Plan more easily coordinated once the item goes into production.
Announced by HJ Heinz,” The Economist, February 20, See Hassan Abdalla, “Concurrent Engineering for Global
1999, p. 7. Manufacturing,” International Journal of Production Economics,
6. Jana Parker-Pope and Joann Lublin, “P&G Will Make Jager CEO April 20, 1999, p. 251.
Ahead of Schedule,” Wall Street Journal, September 10, 1998, 22. Paul Lawrence and Jay Lorsch, Organization and Environment
pp. B1, B8. (Boston, Mass.: Division of Research, Graduate School of
7. John Barham, “The Morgan Matrix,” Latin Finance, April 2001, Business Administration, Harvard University, 1967), p. 1.
no. 126, p. 18; and “Thailand: Ad Agency Far East DDB Applies 23. This is based on “Thales: Knowledge Management and Worker
Matrix Management,” Thai Press Reports, September 20, 2006, Transformation,” www.accenture.com (downloaded January 9,
p. NA. 2006).
8. Lee Hawkins Jr., op. cit., p. A1. 24. Ibid.
9. John Hunt, “Is Matrix Management a Recipe for Chaos?” 25. These principles are based on Stephen Robbins and Philip
Financial Times, January 1998, p. 14. Hunsaker, Training in Interpersonal Skills (Upper Saddle River,
10. “Germany: Opel Takes Over Key Role in Development of Saturn N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1996), pp. 91–95; and David Whetter and
Cars,” just-auto.com, February 21, 2005 (downloaded March 20, Kim Cameron, Developing Management Skills (Upper Saddle
2006). River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2002), p. 435.
11. Pui Tam, “Hurd’s Big Challenge at HP: Overhauling Corporate 26. Harold Koontz and Cyril O’Donnell, The Principles of
Sales,” Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2006, pp. A1, A13. Management (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1964), p. 335.
12. Rob Walker, “Down on the Farm,” Fast Company, 27. Roger Crockett, “Can Chris Galvin Save His Family’s Legacy?”
February–March 1997, pp. 112–122; and “Amex acquires BusinessWeek, July 16, 2001, pp. 72–78.
Rosenbluth,” Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland, July 21, 28. Larry Bossidy, “The Job No CEO Should Delegate,” Harvard
2003, p. 3. Business Review, March 2001, pp. 47–49.
13. Jay Galbraith, “Organizational Design: An Information 29. The foundation study for this conclusion is Alfred Chandler,
Processing View,” Interfaces, 1974, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 28–36; and Strategy and Structure (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1962).
Jay Galbraith, Organizational Design (Reading, Mass.: Addison- 30. James Murdock, “Management Matters: To Centralize or
Wesley, 1977). See also Ranjay Gulati, “The Architecture of Decentralize?” Commercial Property News, April 16, 2005,
Cooperation: Managing Coordination Costs and Appropriation vol. 19, no. A, p. 20.
Concerns in Strategic Alliances,” Administrative Science Quarterly, 31. “Saks, Inc. Will Centralize,” Chain Store Age, September 2004,
December 1998, pp. 781–784; Henry Mintzberg, Structures in vol. 80, no. 9, p. 26.
Fives: Designing Effective Organizations (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: 32. “Home Depot to Centralize in Atlanta,” Display and Design
Prentice Hall, 1983), pp. 4–9; and Cliff McGoon, “Cutting-Edge Ideas, May 2005, vol. 17, no. 5, p. 6.
Companies Use Integrated Marketing Communication,” 33. “Home Depot to Centralize Store Teams,” Do-It-Yourself
Communication World, December 1998, pp. 15–20. Retailing, May 2005, vol. 188, no. 5, p. 14.
14. Christopher A. Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal, “Matrix 34. “China Unicom to Set Up International Department to
Management: Not a Structure, a Frame of Mind,” Harvard Centralize Business Management,” China Business News,
Business Review, July–August 1990, pp. 138–145. See also February 6, 2006.
K. Simon-Elorz, “Information Technology for Organizational 35. “7-Eleven Maximizes Savings with Complete Sourcing,
Systems: Some Evidence with Case Studies,” International Procurement, and Financial Solution,” www.oracle.com
Journal of Information Management, February 1999, p. 75; and (downloaded January 9, 2006).
Alexander Gerybadz, “Globalization of R&D: Recent Changes 36. For a discussion of the contingencies affecting span of control
in the Management of Innovation in Transnational (task uncertainty, professionalism, and interdependence), see,
Corporations,” Research Policy, March 1999, pp. 251–253. for example, Daniel Robey, Designing Organizations, 3rd ed.
15. Bartlett and Ghoshal, ibid., pp. 143–144. (Homewood, Ill.: Irwin, 1991), pp. 258–259.
16. “LG Electronics Maximizes Efficiency of Global Business with 37. Judith H. Dobrzynski, “Jack Welch: How Good a Manager?”
Centralized Oracle Platform,” www.oracle.com (accessed BusinessWeek, December 14, 1987, p. 94. See also Thomas
January 12, 2006). Stewart, “Brain Power,” Fortune, March 17, 1997, pp. 105–110.
Endnotes 531
38. Steve Hamm, “Speed Demons,” BusinessWeek, March 27, 2006, 66. John Byrne, Richard Brandt, and Otis Port, “The Virtual
pp. 69–70. Corporation,” BusinessWeek, February 8, 1992, p. 99.
39. Robert Guth, “Microsoft to Restructure Business,” Wall Street 67. “The Americas’ Intelligence Wire,” September 21, 2005
Journal, September 21, 2005, p. A3. (downloaded March 20, 2006).
40. “Home Depot to Centralize in Atlanta,” Display and Design 68. Julie Bick, “The New Fact of Self-Employment,” Inc. Magazine,
Ideas, May 2005, vol. 17, no. 5, p. 6; “Home Depot to November 2001, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 87–89.
Centralize Divisional Store Teams,” Do-It-Yourself Retailing 69. Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the
Telling, May 2005, vol. 188, no. 5, p. 14. Learning Organizations (New York: Currency Doubleday, 1994),
41. Steve Hamm, “Speed Demons,” op. cit., pp. 69–70. p. 3. See also Hershey Friedman et al., “Transforming a
42. Tom Burns and G. M. Stalker, The Management of Innovation University from a Teaching Organization to a Learning
(London: Tavistock, 1961), p. 1. Organization,” Review of Business, Fall 2005, vol. 26, no. 3,
43. Ibid., p. 80. pp. 31–36.
44. Ibid., p. 92. 70. Robert Rowden, “The Learning Organization and Strategic
45. Joan Woodward, Industrial Organization: Theory and Practice Change,” SAM Advanced Management Journal, Summer 2001,
(London: Tavistock Publications, 1965). vol. 66, no. 1, p. 11. See also “Pull Virtual Teams Together,”
46. “CSX Cutting Three Layers of Management,” Railway Age, Investors Business Daily, January 30, 2006, p. 88.
December 2003, p. 15. 71. K. Martin et al., “Implementing a Learning Management
47. Peters, Liberation Management, p. 238. System Globally: An Innovative Change Management
48. Marianne Devanna and Noel Tichy, “Creating the Competitive Approach,” IBM Systems Journal, March 2005, vol. 44, no. 1,
Organization of the 21st Century: The Boundaryless pp. 125–144.
Corporation,” Human Resource Management, Winter 1990, 72. “Millipore Goes Global with Oracle,” www.oracle.com
vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 455–471; and Ron Ashkenas et al., The (downloaded January 9, 2006).
Boundaryless Organization (San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002).
49. Except as noted, the remainder of this section is based on Larry CHAPTER 11
Hirschhorn and Thomas Gilmore, “The New Boundaries of the 1. Chuck Salter, “On the Road Again,” Fast Company, January
Boundaryless Company,” Harvard Business Review, May–June 2002, pp. 51–58; “Trucking Getting Global,” Traffic World,
1992, pp. 107–108. For a contrary view of “boundarylessness,” December 19, 2005, vol. 269, no. 51, p. 34.
see Victoria Sharpe, “The Myth of the Boundaryless 2. Roger Schreffler, “Revivalist Art,” Ward’s Auto World, November
Organization,” Technical Communication, May 2002, p. 262. 2001, vol. 37, no. 11, pp. 38–39; and Bruce Crumley, “Speeding
50. This is based on Hirschhorn and Gilmore, op. cit., pp. 104–108. Up Renault: Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s Savior, Is Pushing the
51. Peters, Liberation Management, p. 238. French Automaker to Get into Gear,” Time, March 27, 2006,
52. This section is based on James Shonk, Team-Based Organizations vol. 167, no. 13, p. A15.
(Chicago, Ill.: Irwin, 1997). 3. Erin Brown, “Big Business Meets the E World,” Fortune,
53. Ibid., pp. 35–38. See also Susanne Scott and Walter Einstein, November 8, 1999, p. 88.
“Strategic Performance Appraisal in Team-Based Organizations: 4. Ibid., p. 91.
One Size Does Not Fit All,” The Academy of Management 5. Ibid.
Executive, May 2001, pp. 107–117. 6. David Baum, “Running the Rapids,” Profit Magazine, November
54. Ram Charan, “How Networks Reshape Organizations—For 1999, p. 54.
Results,” Harvard Business Review, September–October 1991, 7. Ibid.
pp. 14–15. 8. Stewart Alsop, “E or Be Eaten,” Fortune, November 8, 1999,
55. Ibid., pp. 16–17. pp. 94–95.
56. Ibid., p. 106. 9. Based on David Nadler and Michael Tushman, “Beyond the
57. Ibid., p. 108. Charismatic Leader: Leadership and Organizational Change,”
58. Christopher Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal, “What Is a Global California Management Review, Winter 1990, p. 80; and Alfred
Manager?” Harvard Business Review, September–October 1992, Marcus, “Responses to Externally Induced Innovation: Their
pp. 62–74. Effects on Organizational Performance,” Strategic Management
59. Paul Evan, Yves Doz, and Andre Laurent, Human Resource Journal, 1988, vol. 9, pp. 194–202. See also Steve Crom, “Change
Management in International Firms (London: Macmillan, 1989), Leadership: The Virtues of Obedience,” Leadership & Organization
p. 123. See also Carla Mahieu, “Management Development in Development Journal, March–June 1999, pp. 162–168; and Omar
Royal Dutch/Shell,” Journal of Management Development, S. Khan, “The Case for Real Change,” Strategy & Leadership,
February 2001, p. NA. January–February 2006, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 32–36.
60. “Groupware Service Turns Mobile Phones into Smartphones,” 10. Nadler and Tushman, op. cit., p. 80. See also “The Art and
Product News Network, December 21, 2005, p. NA. Process of Strategy Development and Deployment,” Journal for
61. “Enterprise E-Mail and IM, the Linux Way,” eWeek, August 14, Quality and Participation, Winter 2005, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 10–18;
2006, p. NA. and Marc H. Meyer, Mark Anzani, and George Walsh,
62. Ibid. “Organizational Change for Enterprise Growth: IBM Had to
63. Douglas Johnson, “Discuss Changing Models in Real Time,” Change Its Organization and Development Processes to Survive
Design News, May 3, 1999, p. 96; and www.onespace.com/ the 1990s,” Research-Technology Management, November–
(accessed December 15, 2006). December 2005, vol. 48, no. 6, pp. 48–57.
64. Except as noted, this section is based on John Byrn, “The 11. “Baker and McKenzie Selects Hummingbird LegalKEY®,” CNW
Horizontal Corporation,” BusinessWeek, December 20, 1993, Group, January 31, 2006 (downloaded April 28, 2006).
vol. 20, pp. 76–81. See also Frank Ostroff, The Horizontal 12. John Kador, “Shall We Dance?” Electronic Business, February
Organization (London: Oxford University Press, 1999). 2002, vol. 28, no. 2, p. 56.
65. As in a federal government–type arrangement, the parent firm 13. Edgar Schein, Organizational Culture and Leadership (San
need not necessarily “own” the autonomous units. The Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1985), pp. 224–237; Peter Wright, Mark
important thing is that they agree to abide by its rules. Kroll, and John Parnell, Strategic Management Concepts
532 Endnotes
(Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1996), pp. 233–236; and Resistance,” Training & Development Journal, October 1995,
Benjamin Schneider et al., “Creating a Climate and Culture for pp. 15–18; Eric Dent, “Challenging Resistance to Change,”
Sustainable Organizational Change,” Organizational Dynamics, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, March 1999, p. 25; and
1996, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 7–19. See also John S. Oakland and “The Key to Innovation: Overcoming Resistance,” CIO, October
Steve J. Tanner, “Quality Management in the 21st Century: 15, 2005, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 34–38. See also Tina Kiefer,
Implementing Successful Change,” International Journal of “Feeling Bad: Antecedents and Consequences of Negative
Productivity and Quality Management, December 12, 2005, Emotions in Ongoing Change,” Journal of Organizational
vol. 1, no. 1/2, p. 69. Behavior, December 2005, vol. 26, no. 8, pp. 875–898.
14. Peter N. Haapaniemi, “How Companies Transformed 38. John Mariotti, “The Challenge of Change,” Industry Week, April
Themselves,” Chief Executive, November 2001, pp. 2–5. See also 6, 1998, p. 140. See also Jim Folaron, “The Human Side of
“Unisys to Get New CEO,” Client Server News, November 1, Change Leadership,” Quality Progress, April 2005, vol. 38, no. 4,
2004, p. NA. pp. 39–44; and Tina Kiefer, op. cit.
15. Daniel Guido, “Daimler to Reorganize Commercial Vehicle 39. Timothy Judge et al., “Managerial Coping with Organizational
Unit,” Transport Topics, January 30, 2005, issue 3675, pp. 3–5. Change: A Dispositional Perspective,” Journal of Applied
16. Ibid. Psychology, 1999, vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 107–122.
17. Ibid. 40. Shaul Oreg, “Resistance to Change: Developing an Individual
18. Dennis Berman, “Lucent’s Latest Revamp to Split Five Businesses Differences Measure,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 2003,
into Two Units,” Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2001, p. B7. vol. 88, no. 4, p. 682.
19. Michael Goold and Andrew Campbell, “Do You Have a Well- 41. “Pirelli: Enterprise Integration,” www.accenture.com
Designed Organization?” Harvard Business Review, March 2002, (downloaded January 9, 2006).
pp. 117–124. 42. Salter, op. cit., p. 56.
20. Ibid., p. 118. 43. Wendell French and Cecil Bell Jr., Organization Development,
21. Scott Miller, “Volkswagen Is Considering a Reorganization into 6th ed. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1999),
Three Divisions,” Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2001, p. 18. pp. 74–82.
22. Goold and Campbell, op. cit., p. 120. 44. John R. Kotter, Leading Change (Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business
23. Carol Hymowitz, “How a Leader at 3M Got His Employees to School Press, 1996), pp. 40–41. See also Gary Hamel, “Waking
Back Big Changes,” Wall Street Journal, April 23, 2002, p. B1. up IBM,” Harvard Business Review, July–August 2000, pp. 137–146.
24. Ibid., p. B1. See also “Mapping an Effective Change Programme,” Marketing
25. Goold and Campbell, op. cit., p. 123. Strategy, October 2005, p. NA.
26. Gary Dessler, Winning Commitment: How to Build and Keep a 45. Kotter, op. cit., p. 44.
Competitive Work Force (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993), p. 85. 46. Ibid., p. 57.
27. Ibid. See also Varun Grover, “From Business Reengineering to 47. Ibid., pp. 90–91.
Business Process Change Management: A Longitudinal Study of 48. Richard Pascale et al., “Changing the Way We Change,”
Trends and Practices,” IEEE Transactions on Engineering Harvard Business Review, November–December 1997, p. 129.
Management, February 1999, p. 36. 49. Noel Tichy and Ram Charan, “The CEO as Coach: An Interview
28. Daniel Denison, Corporate Culture and Organizational with Allied Signal’s Lawrence A. Bossidy,” Harvard Business
Effectiveness (Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 1990), p. 12. Review, March–April 1995, p. 77.
See also Daniel Denison, “What Is the Difference Between 50. This is based on Kotter, op. cit., pp. 61–66.
Organizational Culture and Organizational Climate? A Native’s 51. Ibid., p. 65.
Point of View on a Decade of Paradigm Wars,” Academy of 52. This subsection is based on Carlos Ghosn, “Saving the Business
Management Review, July 1996, pp. 619–654. Without Losing the Company,” Harvard Business Review,
29. “Business Process Management,” www.TIBCO.com January 2002, pp. 37–45; and Bruce Crumley, op. cit.
(downloaded April 28, 2006). 53. Ghosn, op. cit., p. 41.
30. Bruce Silver, “The ABCs of BPM,” InfoWorld, February 20, 2006, 54. Thomas Cummings and Christopher Worley, Organization
vol. 28, no. A, p. 8. Development and Change (Minneapolis, Minn.: West Publishing
31. See also “Evolve Business Processes, Don’t Reengineer Them,” Company, 1993), p. 3.
Internet Week, November 11, 2004. 55. Based on J. T. Campbell and M. D. Dunnette, “Effectiveness of
32. “Independent Research Company Ranks TIBCO Leader Among T-Group Experiences in Managerial Training and Development,”
Business Process Management Suites’ Vendors,” PR Newswire Psychological Bulletin, 1968, vol. 7, pp. 73–104, reprinted in W. E.
(April 13, 2006). Scott and L. L. Cummings, Readings in Organizational Behavior
33. “TIBCO Staffware Process Suites,” www.TIBCO.com (accessed and Human Performance (Homewood, Ill.: Irwin, 1973), p. 571.
April 28, 2006). 56. Robert J. House, Management Development (Ann Arbor,
34. www.TIBCO.com (April 28, 2006). Mich.: Bureau of Industrial Relations, University of
35. Based on one independent survey of twenty-two companies Michigan, 1967), p. 71; Louis White and Kevin Wooten,
reported by TIBCO. “TIBCO Staffware Process Suites,” “Ethical Dilemmas in Various Stages of Organizational
www.TIBCO.com (downloaded April 28, 2006). Development,” Academy of Management Review, 1983, vol. 8,
36. Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, trans. W. K. Marriott (London: no. 4, pp. 690–697.
J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1958). 57. Wendell French and Cecil Bell Jr., Organization Development
37. Paul Lawrence, “How to Deal with Resistance to Change,” (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1995), pp. 171–193.
Harvard Business Review, May–June, 1954. See also Andrew W. 58. Cummings and Worley, op. cit., p. 501.
Schwartz, “Eight Guidelines for Managing Change,” Supervisory 59. For a description of how to make OD a part of organizational
Management, July 1994, pp. 3–5; Thomas J. Werner and Robert strategy, see Aubrey Mendelow and S. Jay Liebowitz,
F. Lynch, “Challenges of a Change Agent,” Journal for Quality “Difficulties in Making OD a Part of Organizational Strategy,”
and Participation, June 1994, pp. 50–54; Larry Reynolds, Human Resource Planning, 1995, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 317–329.
“Understand Employees’ Resistance to Change,” HR Focus, June 60. Chung-Ming Lau and Hang-Yue Ngo, “Organizational
1994, pp. 17–18; Kenneth E. Hultman, “Scaling the Wall of Development and Firm Performance: A Comparison of
Endnotes 533
Multinational and Local Firms,” Journal of International Business 18. For a discussion of these and others, see Eric Krell, “Recruiting
Studies, Spring 2001, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 95. Outlook: Creative HR for 2003,” Workforce, December 2002;
61. This section is based on Evert Van De Vliert, Martin C. Jennifer Berkshire, “Social Network Recruiting”, HR Magazine,
Euwema, and Sipke E. Huismans, “Managing Conflict with a April 2005, pp. 95–98; Joe Mullich, “Hiring Without Limits,”
Subordinate or a Superior: Effectiveness of Conglomerated Workforce Management, June 2004, pp. 52–58; and Jessica
Behavior,” Journal of Applied Psychology, April 1995, pp. 271–281. Marquez, “A Global Recruiting Site Helps Far-Flung Managers
See also Claire Murphy, “Change Management: Motivation vs. at the Professional Services Company Acquire the Talent They
Manipulation,” Marketing, October 19, 2005, p. 36. Need—and Saves One Half-Million Dollars a Year,” Workforce
62. Paul Lawrence and Jay Lorsch, Organization and Environment Management, March 13, 2006, p. 22.
(Boston, Mass.: Harvard University, Graduate School of Business 19. Gary Dessler, Human Resource Management, 10th ed. (Upper
Administration, Division of Research, 1967), pp. 74–75. Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2005), p. 245.
63. Kenneth Thomas, “Conflict and Conflict Management,” in 20. Alan Finder, “When a Risque Online Persona Undermines a
Marvin Dunnette, Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Chance for a Job,” New York Times, June 11, 2006, p. 1.
Psychology (Chicago, Ill.: Rand McNally, 1976), pp. 900–902; 21. Sarah Gale, “Internet Recruiting: Better, Cheaper, Faster,”
and Michael Carrell, Daniel Jennings, and Christina Heavrin, Workforce, December 2001, p. 75.
Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior (Upper Saddle River, 22. Gilbert Nicholson, “Automated Assessments for Better Hires,”
N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1997), pp. 505–509. Workforce, December 2000, pp. 102–104.
64. “One into Four,” The Economist, August 1, 2002, www 23. Ibid.
.economist.com. See also Philip Klein, “GE Capital to Split 24. “Workforce Testing and Monitoring,” Management Review,
into Four,” July 26, 2002, biz.yahoo.com. October 1998, pp. 31–42.
25. Ibid.
CHAPTER 12 26. Mel Kleiman, “Employee Testing Essential to Hiring
1. Gilbert Nicholson, “Automated Assessments for Better Hires,” Effectively in the ’90s,” Houston Business Journal, February 8,
Workforce, December 2000, pp. 102–104. 1993, p. 31; and Gerald L. Borofsky, “Pre-Employment
2. Ben Nagler, “Recasting Employees into Teams,” Workforce, Psychological Screening,” Risk Management, January 1993,
January 1998, pp. 101–106. p. 47. See also Christina Ronquist, “Pre-Employment Testing:
3. Tony Carneval, “The Coming Labor and Skills Shortage,” Making It Work for You,” Occupational Hazards, December
Training & Development, January 2005, p. 39. 1997, pp. 38–40.
4. Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and David Ulrich, The HR Scorecard: 27. Louis Olivas, “Using Assessment Centers for Individual and
Linking People, Strategy, and Performance (Boston, Mass.: Harvard Organizational Development,” Personnel, May–June 1980,
Business School Press, 2001). pp. 63–67; Tim Payne, Neil Anderson, and Tom Smith,
5. “The Future of HR,” Workplace Visions, Society for Human “Assessment Centers, Selection Systems and Cost-Effectiveness:
Resource Management, 2001, no. 6, pp. 3–4. An Evaluative Study,” Personnel Review, Fall 1992, p. 48; Roger
6. Bill Robert, “Process First, Technology Second,” HR Magazine, Mottram, “Assessment Centers Are Not Only for Selection:
June 2002, pp. 40–46. The Assessment Center as a Development Workshop,” Journal
7. See also James Clifford, “Manage Work Better to Better Manage of Managerial Psychology, January 1992, p. A1; and Charles
Human Resources: A Comparative Study of Two Approaches Woodruffe, “Going Back a Generation,” People Management,
to Job Analysis,” Public Personnel Management, Spring 1996, February 20, 1997, pp. 32–35.
pp. 89–103. 28. Neal Schmitt et al., “Computer-Based Testing Applied to
8. Arthur R. Pell, Recruiting and Selecting Personnel (New York: Selection of Secretarial Candidates,” Personnel Psychology,
Regents, 1969), pp. 10–12. See also Katherine Tyler, “Employees November 1991, vol. 46, no. 19, pp. 149–165.
Can Help Recruit New Talent,” HR Magazine, September 1996, 29. For a full discussion of interviewing, see, for example, Gary
pp. 57–61; and Martha Frase-Blunt, “Make a Good First Dessler, Human Resource Management, 10th ed. (Upper Saddle
Impression,” HR Magazine, April 2004, pp. 81–86. River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2005), Chapter 7.
9. Arthur R. Pell, ibid., p. 11. 30. The research on interviewing is extensive. See, for example,
10. Gary Dessler, Human Resource Management, 10th ed. (Upper R. E. Carlson, “Selective Interview Decisions: The Effects of
Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2005), pp. 114–129. Interviewer Experience, Relative Quota Situation, and
11. Allison Thompson, “The Contingent Workforce,” Occupational Applicant Sample on Interview Decisions,” Personnel Psychology,
Outlook Quarterly, Spring 2005, pp. 28–34. 1967, vol. 20, pp. 259–280; Linda Thornburgh, “Computer-
12. Brenda Palk Sunoo, “From Santa to CEO—Can Display All Assisted Interviewing Shortens Hiring Cycle,” HR Magazine,
Roles,” Personnel Journal, April 1996, pp. 4034–4044. February 1998, pp. 73–76; Chad Higgins and Timothy Judge,
13. Gretchen Weber, “Tempts at the Top,” Workforce Management, “The Effect of Applicant Influence Tactics on Recruiter
August 2004, pp. 35–38. Perceptions of Fit and Hiring Recommendations: A Field
14. “High-Stakes Recruiting in High-Tech,” BNA Bulletin to Study,” Journal of Applied Psychology, 2004, vol. 89, no. 4,
Management, February 12, 1998, p. 48. pp. 622–632; Frank Schmidt and Ryan Zimmerman, “A
15. Sara Rynes, Marc Orlitzky, and Robert Bretz Jr., “Experienced Counterintuitive Hypothesis About Employment Interview
Hiring Versus College Recruiting: Practices and Emerging Validity and Some Supporting Evidence,” Journal of Applied
Trends,” Personnel Psychology, 1997, vol. 50, pp. 309–339. Psychology, 2004, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 553–561.
16. See, for example, Richard Becker, “Ten Common Mistakes in 31. Pamela Paul, “Interviewing Is Your Business,” Association
College Recruiting—How to Try Without Really Succeeding,” Management, November 1992, p. 29.
Personnel, March–April 1975, pp. 19–28. See also Sara Ryne and 32. William Tullar, Terry Mullins, and Sharon Caldwell, “Effects
John Bordreau, “College Recruiting in Large Organizations: of Interview Length and Applicant Quality on Interview
Practice, Evaluation, and Research Implications,” Personnel Decision Time,” Journal of Applied Psychology, December 1979,
Psychology, Winter 1986, pp. 729–757. pp. 669–674. See also Jennifer Burnett et al., “Interview
17. “Internships Provide Workplace Snapshot,” BNA Bulletin to Notes and Validity,” Personnel Psychology, Summer 1998,
Management, May 22, 1997, p. 168. pp. 375–396.
534 Endnotes
33. Gary Dessler, Human Resource Management, 10th ed. (Upper 57. “Employers Turn to Corporate Ombuds to Defuse Internal
Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2005), pp. 264–265. Ticking Time Bombs,” BNA Bulletin to Management, August 9,
34. Coleman Peterson, “Employee Retention: The Secrets Behind 2005, p. 249.
Wal-Mart’s Successful Hiring Policies,” Human Resource 58. “Benefits Cost Control Solutions to Consider Now,” HR Focus,
Management, Spring 2005, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 85–88. November 2003, vol. 80, no. 11, p. 1; and Johanna Rodgers,
35. Edward Robinson, “Beware—Job Seekers Have No Secrets,” “Web-Based Apps Simplify Employee Benefits,” Insurance and
Fortune, December 29, 1997, p. 6. Technology, November 2003, vol. 28, no. 11, p. 21.
36. Mary Mayer, “Background Checks in Focus,” HR Magazine, 59. Johanna Rodgers, op. cit.
January 2002, pp. 59–62. 60. Douglas Shuit, “A Few Years Behind Schedule, Employee Portals
37. John Jones and William Terris, “Post-Polygraph Selection Gain Ground,” Workforce Management, 2005, p. 58.
Techniques,” Recruitment Today, May–June 1989, pp. 25–31. See 61. Chris Pickering, “A Look Through the Portal,” Software
also Richard White Jr., “Ask Me No Questions, Tell Me No Lies,” Magazine, February 2001, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 18–19; and Jill
Public Personnel Management, Winter 2001, vol. 30, no. 4, Elswick, “How NCR Corp. Undertook an Internet Makeover to
pp. 483–493. Improve Access to HR Information,” Employee Benefit News,
38. These are based on Commerce Clearing House, Ideas and Trends, January 1, 2001, item 01008001. Ibid., p. 58.
December 29, 1998, pp. 222–223. 62. “Hiring Based on Strength Test Discriminates Against Women,”
39. Dessler, Human Resource Management, 9th ed., pp. 150–151. BNA Bulletin to Management, February 22, 2005, p. 62.
40. Scott MacDonald et al., “The Limitations of Drug Screening in 63. This section is based on Dessler, Human Resource Management,
the Workplace,” International Labor Review, 1993, vol. 132, 8th ed., pp. 43–44; see also Commerce Clearing House, Sexual
no. 1, p. 98. Harassment Manual, p. 8.
41. Sheila Hicks et al., “Orientation Redesign,” Training and 64. James Nash, “Beware the Hidden Hazards,” Occupational
Development, July 2006, pp. 43–46. Hazards, February 2005, pp. 48–51.
42. “Industry Report 1999,” Training, October 1999, pp. 37–60. 65. Michael Blotzer, “PDA Software Offers Auditing Advances,”
43. Jennifer Reese, “Starbucks,” Fortune, December 9, 1996, Occupational Hazards, December 2001, vol. 63, no. 12, pp. 11–13.
pp. 190–200. 66. Jim Meade, “Web Based HRIS Meets Multiple Needs,” HR
44. Kenneth Wexley and Gary Latham, Developing and Training Magazine, August 2000, pp. 129–133.
Human Resources in Organizations (Glenview, Ill.: Scott, 67. “Oracle Human Capital Management,” www.oracle.com
Foresman, 1981), p. 107. (accessed January 15, 2006).
45. Cindy Waxer, “Steelmaker Revives Apprentice Program to
Address Graying Workforce, Forge Next Leaders,” Workforce CHAPTER 13
Management, January 30, 2006, p. 40. 1. See http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/about/innovation/
46. William Berliner and William McLarney, Management Practice default.asp; Michael Arndt, “How Whirlpool Defines
and Training (Burr Ridge, Ill.: McGraw-Hill, 1974), pp. 442–443. Innovation,” BusinessWeek Online, March 6, 2006, available
See also Stephen Wehrenberg, “Supervisors as Trainees: The online at: http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/
Long-Term Gains of OJT,” Personnel Journal, April 1987, vol. 66, mar2006/id20060306_287425.htm (accessed November 1,
no. 4, pp. 48–51. 2006); and Kathleen Melymuka, “Innovation Democracy,”
47. Unless otherwise noted, this section is based on Darin Hartley, Computerworld, February 18, 2004, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 31–32.
“Technology Kicks Up Leadership Development,” Training and 2. Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus, Leaders: The Strategies for Taking
Development, March 2004, pp. 22–24. “The U.S. Postal Service Charge (New York: Harper & Row, 1985), p. 21.
Turns to Thinq’s LMS to Streamline Operations,” Training and 3. W. D. Spangler, R. J. House, and R. Palrecha, “Personality and
Development, December 2003, pp. 72–73. Leadership,” in B. Schneider and D. B. Smith, eds., Personality
48. Helen Beckett, “Blended Skills for a Better Class of E-Learning,” and Organizations (Mahway, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004),
Computer Weekly, January 20, 2004, p. 20. pp. 251–290.
49. Del Jones, “More Firms Cut Workers Ranked at Bottom to Make 4. Marc Effron, Shelli Greenslade, and Michelle Salbo, “Growing
Way for Talent,” USA Today, May 30, 2001, p. BU01. Great Leaders: Does It Really Matter?” Journal of The Human
50. Steven Cullen et al., “Forced Distribution Rating Systems and Resource Planning Society, 2005, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 18–23.
the Improvement of Workforce Potential: A Baseline 5. See David Waldman, Gabriel Ramirez, Robert J. House, and
Simulation,” Personnel Psychology, 2005, vol. 58, p. 1. Phanish Puranam, “Does Leadership Matter? CEO Leadership
51. Kenneth Nowack, “360-Degree Feedback: The Whole Story,” Attributes and Profitability Under Conditions of Perceived
Training and Development, January 1993, p. 69. For a description Incremental Uncertainty,” Academy of Management Journal,
of some of the problems involved in implementing 360-degree 2001, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 134–143.
feedback, see Matthew Budman, “The Rating Game,” Across the 6. See Gary Yukl, Leadership in Organizations, 5th ed. (Upper
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Joseph E. McGrath, “Does the Medium Matter? The Organizational Frontier,” op. cit., p. 142.
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Endnotes 545
Macy’s, 119, 123, 147, 194 MyHRIS, 369 Outback Steakhouse, Inc., 28
Mankin, Don, 510 mySpace.com, 17, 22, 60, 65, 66, 72, Overholt, Jennifer, 298
Manley, Walter W., II, 41 90, 291 Oxford University Press (OUP), 175
Maritz Incentives, 426
Marks & Spencer, 235–236 N P
Marriott, 20, 155 Nagle, Robert, 475 Palm V, 494
Marriott International, 154, 343 Napster, 192, 294 Palo Alto Software, 106, 188
Marsh and McClellan’s Marsh NASDAQ, 39 Pampers, 89
Kroll, 184 National Auto Dealer Association, 513 Pan American Airlines, 206
Mars Inc., 291 National Bicycle Industrial Paradiso, 143
Maslow, Abraham, 82, 230, 407–410 Company, 252 Paul Revere Insurance Group, 469
Matsushita, 252 National Commission on Fraudulent A Pea in the Pod, 194
Mattel Inc., 76, 186 Financial Reporting, 38 Pearson, 183
Maurer, Rick, 316 National Family Business Association, Pella Corporation, 195
Maxwell, David, 388 97–98 Pepper, John, 38, 50
Mayo Clinic, 355, 469 National Science Foundation, 15 PepsiCo, 51, 64–65, 118, 120–121, 310
Maytag, 453 Nayden, Denis, 330 Pepsi Light, 118
McClelland, David, 410–411 NBC, 196 PerformancePro.net, 363
McDonald’s, 62–63, 99, 191, 208, 234, NCR Corporation, 364 PerformanceReview.com, 363
401, 453 Neeleman, David, 91, 92, 170, 206–207 Perot, H. Ross, 94
McGraw-Hill, 183 Nestlé Corporation, 277–278 Perot Systems Inc., 94
McGregor, Douglas, 14–15, 405–406 netG.com, 43 Peters, Thomas, 19
MCI-WorldCom, 34–35, 42, 155 Netscape, 450 Pfizer, 450
McKinsey & Co., 19, 64, 347 New England Patriots, 155 Philips, 295
Mead Corporation, 237, 254 New Jersey Bell Telephone Piccadilly Circus, 67
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., 441, Company, 15 Pic’n Pay, 355
448, 466, 485 New Jersey Hospital Association Pioneer Group, 63
Men’s Wearhouse, 357, 477 (NJHA), 461 Pirelli, 316
Merck, 5, 110, 111, 128–129, 193, 226 News Corporation, 60, 190, 196–197 Plantronics, 416
Mercury Interactive Corporation, New United Motor Manufacturing Plumtree, 451
403, 428 Incorporated (NUMMI), 499 Polaroid, 106
Merrill Lynch, 451 New York Life Insurance Company, 69 Polo, 97
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 69 New York Stock Exchange, 39, 69 Porras, Jerry, 226
MGM, 62, 70 New York Times, 212 Porsche, 79
Microsoft, 17, 31, 70, 91, 107, 129, 187, Ngo, Samba, 103 Porter, Michael, 193
196, 291, 298, 310, 311, 321, 359, Nike, 48, 60, 450 Pospischil, Bob, 124
363, 385, 401, 451, 470, 482, 498 NineSigma, 112 Post-it Notes, 310
Miele, 234 Nissan, 304, 321–323 Pratt & Whitney, 291
Milgram, Stanley, 37 Nokia, 453 Prevent Blindness America, 366
Miller, Lawrence, 425 Nordstrom, 224, 490 Price, Bill, 447
Millipore Corp., 127, 221, 263, 299 Nortel Networks Corp., 181, 449 PriceWaterhouseCooper, 21–22, 73,
Mintzberg, Henry, 7, 277 Northouse, Peter G., 382 135, 136, 470
Mirchandani, Raju, 60 Northrop Grumman, 445 Princivalle, Karin, 485
Mobility Solutions, 309 NovaCare, 220 Procter & Gamble (P&G), 22, 24, 38,
Money, 225 Novartis, 155, 494–495 50, 70, 89, 91, 106, 111, 112, 128,
Monster.com, 18, 91, 340, 343 Nucor Corporation, 427, 429, 490 272, 470, 498
Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield, 222 NuView, Inc., 369 Progressive, 155
Morris, Andrew, 115 Project.net, 482
Morrisey, George, 178–179, 199 O Puresafety, 368
Morrison, Robert, 310 Oakland A’s, 155
Mosakowski, Elaine, 85 Occupational Safety and Health Q
Motorola, 108, 226, 251, 283, 307, Administration (OSHA), 366, 368 Quaker Oats Co., 310
453, 479, 509 Offset Paperback, 88 QUALCOMM Corporation, 108, 109
Mouton, Jane, 386–387 Ohio State University, 385 Quicken, 401
MP3, 97 Oldham, Greg R., 411–413 Quicken Loans, 489
MTN, 182 Old Navy, 445 Quinn, James Brian, 19
Mulally, Alan, 17, 154, 307 Old Spice, 89
Munkvold, Bjorn, 504–506 Opel, 276 R
Murdoch, Rupert, 190, 196 Oracle Corporation, 74, 127, 195, 204, Raines, Franklin, 29
Murguia, Anne, 298 220, 221, 223, 255, 258, 278, 285, Rainforest Action Network, 49
Mutual Benefit Life, 140 299, 369, 417, 451 Random House, 87–88
Muzak, 441–442 Ortega, Amancio, 259 Rapunzel Barbie, 76
Name Index 551
Raven, 377 Sears, Roebuck, and Company, 416 Swan Dive, 104
RAZR cell phone, 108 Securities and Exchange Commission Swiffer, 89, 106, 494
Red Cross, 4, 264 (SEC), 35
Reinhold, Rusty, 345 Seiko, 189 T
Reiss, Bridget, 263 Select Medical Corp., 131, 132 Taggart, William, 162
Renault, 321, 323 Senge, Peter, 19 Tangri, Ravi, 201
Render, Barry, 239, 253, 255 7-Eleven, 223, 285 Tannenbaum, Robert, 393–394
Revlon, 194, 270 Shanghai Auto, 60, 64, 65, 71–72, 76 Target, 24, 117, 169, 498, 500
Reynolds Metals, 78 Shanghai Bell, 65 TaxAlmanac.org, 453
Rhino Records, 50 Shanghai General Motors, 65, 72 Taylor, Frederick Winslow, 12–13, 16
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, 232, 333 SharePoint, 449 Team EcoInternet, 474–475
Robbins, Stephen, 328 Shell Oil Company, 50–51, 80, 192, 295 Telemundo, 196
Robinson, Ann, 269 Shell Switzerland, 78 Texas Pacific Group, 1, 24
Roche, 383 Shell U.S.A., 78 Thales, 280
Rockefeller Foundation, 15 The Shoe Horn, 104 Thatcher, Margaret, 382
Rodel, Inc., 469 Shonk, James H., 293 Thinq.com, 358
Rodriguez, Serena, 193 Siebel Systems, 211 Thomas, Harvey G., 434
Rogers, Greg, 305 Siemens, 259, 450 Thompson International USA, 345
Rogers, T. J., 19 Signicast, 332–333 Thorndike, Edward, 422
Rolex, 189 Silicon Graphics, 469 3M Company, 310
Rolls-Royce, 308 Simon, Herbert, 15–16, 149 TIBCO Company, 314–315
Ronen, Amit, 403 Skelcher, Chris, 498 Time Warner, 65, 305
Rosenbluth, Hal, 276, 291 skillsoft.com, 43 T-Mobile, 428
Rosenbluth International, 276, 279 Skinner, B. F., 422–423 Toshiba, 252
Ross, A. C., 298 Skoda, 76 Toyota, 17, 19, 61, 63, 65, 71, 212,
Royal Dutch Shell, 78, 186 Slone, Reuben, 233, 256 226, 229, 242, 249–250, 254, 293,
Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort, 102 Small Business Exporters Association, 62 294, 307, 334, 360, 491, 499, 500
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, 177 Snyder, Nancy, 396 Toys “R” Us, 192
Rumsfeld, Donald, 286 Social Venture Network, 39, 50 Tramco, Inc., 59–61, 63, 66, 71, 79
Rusby, Kate, 103 Society of Human Resource Tropicana, 310
Rutgers University, 430 Management, 33 Tuckman, Bruce W., 471
Ryder Corp., 303 Solectron Corp., 192, 509–510 TurboTax, 401
Ryder Systems Inc., 131, 296 Sony Corp., 25, 60, 75, 87, 113, 509 Turner Broadcasting System Inc., 44
Sony-EMI, 297 Tyndall, Gene, 131
S Southwest Airlines, 23, 201–204, 206,
Saba Software, 299 477, 490 U
Safeco Insurance, 450 Spec’s Music, 319–320 UCSD Healthcare, 356
Safeway Supermarkets, 22, 23, 258 Sperry Marine, 445 UniCredito Italiano Group, 63
The St. Paul Companies, 484 Sta-Dri, 426 Unilever, 38, 50, 277
Saks Fifth Avenue, 186–187 Stalker, G. M., 16–17, 287–289, 300 Unisys Corporation, 308, 343, 449, 486
Saks Inc., 284 Starbucks Coffee Company, 22, 64–65, United Auto Workers, 228
Salvation Army, 229 71, 131, 208–210, 213, 229, 230, United Technologies Corp., 31
Sandia National Laboratories, 452 266, 355 Universal Products Company, 62, 272
SAP, 24, 45, 127, 183, 255, 258, 451 Steelcase, 469, 483 University of Iowa, 387
SAS Analytics, 127, 156, 158, 160, Stern, Raymond, 402 University of Michigan, 385, 386
182, 222, 255, 258, 432 Sternberg, Robert J., 382 UPS (United Parcel Service), 23, 25,
SAS Institute, 362 Stogdill, Ralph, 385 33, 44, 128, 131, 138, 142, 156,
Saturn Corporation, 20, 134, 228–230, Strategic Performance 212, 222, 223, 249, 250, 256, 257,
293, 496, 511 Management, 204 306, 413
SBC Communications, 18, 515 Strategos, 396 Upton, David, 254
Scagnetti, Paul, 109 Stratfor, 184, 185 U.S. Air Force, 478
Schein, Edgar, 10, 489 Stringer, Howard, 75 U.S. Bureau of the Census, 93
Schirmer, Annette, 494 Subway, 208 U.S. Department of Commerce, 62, 247
Schlesinger, Leonard A., 317 Sullivan, Chris, 28 U.S. Department of Labor, 93, 343
Schlumberger, 74, 487 Sullivan, Helen, 498 U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Schmidt, Warren H., 393–394 Sullivan, Rev. Leon, 50 (FTC), 99
Schoewe, Tom, 491 Summer, Mary, 140 U.S. Justice Department, 30
Schumpeter, Joseph, 90 Sunlight Financial Insurance U.S. National Weather Service,
Scitor, 426 Company, 109 226–227
Scott, Lee, 491 Sun Microsystems, 108, 359, 453 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 93
Seagate Technology, 360, 450 Surfer, 97 U.S. Post Office, 358
Sears, 169, 256 Sutter Health, 331, 333, 344 U.S. Rubber, 14
552 Subject Index
SUBJECT INDEX