Organizational HRM - Problems for Discussion and Analysis

Pages 197-121 of the 1st edition of Human Resource Management in a Business Context contain two problems for discussion and analysis. Revised versions also appear in the 3rd edition . This webpage is intended to provide guidance for users of the book to help in analysing the problem cases.

New Age Finance

It is advisable to provide a solution for this mini-case by drawing alternative organizational structures (see page 117 for examples). There is no 'right' answer as such - the object of the exercise is for you to try out a number of possible structures for the company and consider the organizational consequences. You could rate your alternatives systematically using a 10 'C' table.

The Rapid Supply Company

This is a more complex problem, based on a real situation. You are asked to act as an internal consultant to come up with a solution to the company's organizational difficulties. Probably, you will need to read the case several times in order to understand the issues. In fact, it makes a good group exercise if you have one or more friends with interest and time to spare. Try to map out the problem with a diagram, so that you can identify the underlying issues.

You should spot one fundamental problem: senior executives are squeezing costs drastically in order to make the company a more attractive proposition for floating on the stock market. This puts various departments under extreme pressure and places them in conflict with each other. The result is that staff are too busy with details to solve the essential problem - and they are not in a co-operative mood either.

Do you think the mini-case should be solved from an organizational, technological, administrative or financial angle?