Case Summary

Problem Identification
Goal and Specific Objectives
Diagnosis and Analysis
Development of Alternatives
Selection of desired alternative
Implementation
Evaluation and Feed back
Recommendations
Conclusion

Elektra Products Inc.

80-years
Former leading manufacturer and
retailer of electrical supplies
Several factors led to a decline
in sales
Ongoing crisis

 Main Problem
Specific Problems

 Inappropriate
management approach
and workplace leading to
its inability to attain
organizational goals

 Ineffective communication skills and practices

Person-job mismatch
Failure to adapt and break old habits
Lack of trust among members of the organization
Lack of moivation

Resolve the ongoing crisis that the company is facing by

coordinating resources in an effective and efficient manner to attain
organizational goals and high performance

Improve communication between managers and employees

Determine existence of person-job mismatch and reasons for seeking other work opportunities
Determine reasons for holding on to old habits and ways to improve existing work strategies
Determine the need for developing new ways of organizing and managing which will be
advantageous to the organization

 Determine ways to establish trust and interdependence

between employees and managers
Identify the need for motivation and ways to increase morale
Identify solutions and strategies to empower employees

 a tool that companies use in

order to understand what
they do well and where they
could improve

Strengths
Opportunities

Weaknesses
Threats

 Elektra products Inc. is already

an old company operating for 80
years and had been successful in
developing management
competencies
several senior employees who
remain loyal to the company

 ineffective communication
person-job mismatch
failure to adapt and change
old habits
lack of trust among members
of the organization
lack of motivation

 a new CEO (Martin Griffin) who is

seeking ways to improve the
organization
Some members of the managerial and
department heads are hopeful and still
sees the advantages of change and
innovation for the company
has experienced to become the top
manufacturer of electrical supplies and
old habits may have worked in the past
and can still work in the future through
improvement

 foreign and domestic

competition

 keep her mouth shut

take a chance and confront Martin
about her sincerity in making
empowerment work
push slowly for reform and work for
gradual support from the other teams;
look for another job and leave a company
she really cares about.

Advantages

Disadvantages

no need for confrontation does not address the problems of

leading to less chance of
the company
conf lict between members market sales will still decline

Risk
uncertainty

Effect

Low

No
change

Risk
uncertainty
Barbara and her problem- may cause conf lict between Moderate
solving team are successful
departments
risk
in asserting their own still does not address the problem
personal interests and
of the company, rather benefits
outputs/ efforts
personal interests only
Advantages

Disadvantages

Effect

Moderate
change

Advantages

Disadvantages

improves communication between members of the changes in the company cannot

organization
be easily noticed
fosters interdependence and collaboration
gradual improvement
between different departments
addresses the problems facing the company

Risk
uncertainty

Effect

Low risk

Positive
change

Risk
uncertainty
benefits Barbara because of new work does not address the High risk
opportunities
problems of the company
avoids conf licts between members of work experience and
the organization
opportunit y for Barbara
at present company is lost
Advantages

Disadvantages

Effect

No change

ush slowly for reform and work

for gradual support from the other teams

most directed to the established organizational

goals
most appropriate in addressing the current
problems of the company.
least amount of risk and uncertainty and a
higher probabilit y of success
improves communication and workplace
relationships.

 inform Martin Griffin (authority and power) about her desire

to push slowly for reform and gather support from other teams
Reassess the situation with other teams
New teams with representative from each department
Improve communication
Brainstorming of new ideas for implementation of new
empowerment campaign

 Evaluation criteria
Is the chosen alternative
feasible and doable?
Was the implementation
successfully carried out?
Organizational goals met?

 Feed back
decision making is an ongoing
process
constant evaluation of
alternatives is important to
monitor improvement.
new decisions should be made in
order to adapt to changes

 .explore solutions on how to address

foreign and domestic competition
think of ways and places which will
serve as attractive market
opportunities where there is less
competition.
determining other areas which need
improvement

 Re-establish positive view and

attitude of consumers as well as
members of the company
re-naming of the brand or new
product endorsements and wider
product range.
internal perspectives should be
taken into consideration including
employee satisfaction and burnout

 Innovations are what keeps companies growing, changing and thriving.

Innovations are what keeps companies growing, changing and thriving.
(Daft, 2011) (Daft, 2011)

As the Greek P hilosopher Heraclitus said

The only constant in life is change. Therefore, we
must be able to adapt to the constantly changing
world.

Every success story is a tale of constant adaptation, revision, and change. A

company that stands still will soon be forgotten. (Richard Branson)

Thank you and God Bless!