Organisational Design Principles and Implications for Management and Development of People and Resou

Key Factors to be Considered in Organisational Design

Using the following Case Study, as a focus of your report, you have been asked to write a formal report which addresses the following Learning Outcomes:

·Identifies and examines the key factors that need to be considered when designing the structure of organisations

·Evaluates the implications of organisational structure for the management and development of people and resources

The growth of the internet has significantly impacted on Bookmark’s sales of books, newspapers and magazines. The demand for children’s traditional games has also changed significantly; again this has impacted on ‘Bookmark’.

During the last 5 years ‘Bookmark’ has closed a number of its stores in towns and cities throughout the West Midlands area, the future is looking uncertain for the company. Fears are that it will follow other major retailers that have recently closed resulting in increasing levels of unemployment in the region.

The outlets at ‘Transport links’ have remained profitable, despite the changes in the marketplace. Unfortunately, the company has never operated this as a separate profit centre and therefore the income generated from these outlets have been sacrificed at the expense of the town centre stores.

The Senior Management Team have realised that the organisation needs to refocus its strategy and as such try to revitalise the business and raise its profile within the marketplace and ensure that it remains profitable into the future. The SMT feel that it is essential to consider the stakeholders of the organisation and hopefully protect the future for them all. The view is that they should consider restructuring the business to future proof it and ensure that it doesn’t become another casualty in the High Street.

Task:

You have been asked to write a Report which will help managers understand the principles relating to organisational design and how this can support the organisation in its journey into the future. You should use the case study as a focus of your discussion and use it to demonstrate how the principles of organisational design can be applied to ‘Bookmark’.

Your report should have two areas of focus, these are equally weighted for assessment purposes so should be approximately 50% of the word count each:

·Identifies and examines the key factors that need to be considered when designing the structure of organisations

Section 1 should include:

Size of organisation; product or service; organisational life cycle; strategy; business environment; Galbraith’s Star Structure; The impact of information technology; Demand for flexibility;

Size of organisation

·Evaluates the implications of organisational structure for the management and development of people and resources

Section 2 should include:

·Relationship between the organisation and individuals

Developing staff; Management of change; financial implications, type of workforce; Handy’s three significant workforces; culture.

Please Note: You are required to relate to the case study above, there is no requirement to identify or use a real organisation in your answer.

Your Report should have two main sections addressing the two key areas identified above and should reflect on theory and with clear links being made to literature to support your response.

You should ensure that you:

·Present your answers to the assignment in a Report format – A handout produced by the CIPD is provided in the ‘Useful Documents’ section for this module, this will give a recommended structure for the report

·Your Report should answer the two questions using the main relevant theories discussed in lectures and seminars

·Read round the topic and include a range of academic sources. The focus of your literature must be on the Essential and Recommended texts highlighted in the Reading List for the Module.  Additional sources may be used from the internet however care must be taken to use reputable academic sources and not general websites such as: Wikipedia, Brainy Quote, or similar.

·Using Essay sites will automatically result in your work being referred to Conduct and Appeals  for Academic Misconduct

·Refer to the attached assessment criteria and performance descriptors so that you are clear about what is assessed in relation to this assignment

Examine the key factors to be considered in the design of the structure of organisations

Evaluates the implications of organisational structure for the management and development of people and resources

Whilst many modules require referencing in accordance with the Harvard Referencing convention, some modules – for example those within the School of Law – require Oxford Referencing. Please familiarise yourself with the requirements of your module.

·Submission of your work

·Marking, feedback and moderation in accordance with the University of Wolverhampton Assessment Handbook

·Extensions on submission dates *

·Additional support *

·Academic conduct with regards to cheating, collusion or plagiarism *

·Links to appropriate sources of relevant information *

Further information regarding these and other policies can be accessed through your student portal on wlv.ac.uk.

Always keep a copy of your work and a file of working papers

The requirement to keep a file of working papers is important.  There may be circumstances where it is difficult to arrive at a mark for your work. If this is the case, you may be asked to submit your file and possibly meet with your tutor to answer questions on your submission.  

When you submit your work you will be required to sign an important declaration confirming that:

·The submission is your own work

·Any material you have used has been acknowledged and appropriately referenced

·You have not allowed another student to have access to your work

·The work has not been submitted previously.

The following information is important when:

·Preparing for your assignment

·Checking your work before you submit it

·Interpreting feedback on your work after marking.  

Module Learning Outcomes

Module Learning Outcomes are specific to this module, and are set when the module was validated.