Video 1: The Role of Management in Unifying Business Functions

Considering the story of Danielle who is the senior manager of Numi Tea, it seems that in order to be like Danielle, it would be essential to have the basic leadership qualities like guiding others in a proper way, having strong knowledge in the specific ground of work and support others with positivism. As per the knowledge constructed from the reading about the four key management functions, which Danielle like senior managers pursue, are planning, organizing, leading and controlling (Emerson, 2013).

From the reading, it has been understood that being a senior manager, an individual is responsible for identifying aims for future performance of an organization, assign tasks according to the ability of the subordinates and reflects organizational way of accomplishing goals. Furthermore, it has been understood that it is a manager’s duty to motivate subordinates by establishing a shared value and sharing company aims (Gollenia, 2016). At the same time, in terms of controlling, it is required for a manager to monitor each activity of the employees. As per the video, Danielle efficiently accomplishes each of the four aforementioned managerial functions. As evident from the video, Danielle shares organizational mission with the subordinates and at the same time works with them in packing and supplying in order to support them, motivate them and monitor their activities (youtube.com, 2017).  

The discussion regarding Katz’s work of management skills is indicative of the fact that there are three areas of management skills, which are technical, human and conceptual (Peteraf et al., 2014). As evident from the video, the manager Danielle upgraded herself from being a lower level manager to top-level senior management. As per the video, the following diagram will indicate how Danielle’s management skills transformed from being low-level manager to the top level management –

It has been understood that Danielle is already considered as successful in position. However, if Danielle desires to become more successful in her position, she will need to pursue the following ideas –

Sustainability

Danielle can try to become more proactive in terms of managing relationship with the stakeholders like the suppliers and the distribution workers (Ebert et al., 2014). For example, being a manager she can engage the suppliers and the workers in a meeting where she can ask the stakeholders about their plans and demand in future.

Organizational structure

The manager can think about enhancing the present organizational structure by teaching the subordinates to take control over their individual tasks.

Working environment

In order to enhance positivity of the working environment, the manager can think about building more trust among the subordinates. The manager has already succeeded in accomplishing individual performance in-group performance. Therefore, building trust would not be difficult for Danielle to accomplish.

Technology

It seems that in time of delivery, several works are done manually, the manager can think about implementing some technical software like cloud data base in estimating whether all orders have been prepared or they have the proper quantity or not (Boehm & Thomas, 2013).

Question One

Innovation

In terms of innovation, the manager can think about giving monthly appraisal to the workers, it will help in motivating them.

Five of the management ideas, which has been identified as well as implemented by Mitchell and Bob, are found to be – workplace equality, building a brand through pursuing better CSR policies, building healthy and comfortable working environment, transparency through flexible communication and creating furniture with innovative design. It has identified that both of the managers have pursued a workplace policy where people can work with dignity and honour (youtube.com, 2017). With anti-discrimination policies and creating a healthy work environment, the managers have maintained workplace equality and comfortable working environment. It is evident as per the video that the managers have provided the facility of air conditioning, better coffee machine and health check-up.

On the other hand, in terms of CSR policy, the organization has various community programs like scholarship program. With innovative design, the organization has successfully attracted an impressive extent of customers (youtube.com, 2017). On the other side, by communicating organizational aims and engaging employees in managerial decisions, is indicative of the fact that the management keeps transparency within the internal stakeholder group.

In order to make the organization a better place, both Mitchell and Bob could think about retaining a diverse workforce. It would help the organization in pursuing better community contribution. On the other hand, the organization can think about giving flexible working hours, which would motivate the employee to give better production (Peteraf et al., 2014). At the same time, it will help the organization to retain talented employees who are single parents.   

As per the video, it is understandable that one of the areas, where both Mitchell and Bob have sought to redress imbalances that they have found in other organizations is that most of the organizations are concentrated in consumers and brand. Mitchell and Bob redress the particular imbalance by concentrating on the employees. It is evident as per the video that Mitchell and Bob have attempted in every possible to way to create an enjoyable working atmosphere by giving the facilities of air condition and health check up.

Another imbalance what they sought has been changing the design patter. The video indicates that one of the managers Bob found out that most of the furnishing organizations are making furniture in eighteenth century style. The organization pursued contemporary and innovative styles to attract attraction of the customers (youtube.com, 2017). The managing director of the designing department has implied that they want to establish their store in such a place that the target market does not find any other alternative for buying furniture.  

Keeping in mind about the number of migrant workers is increasing, in order to retain a diverse workforce, it would be essential to make the aspect of diversity an integral part of the organization’s brand. Further, within the organization, there should be policies or various systems to connect people. Systems should be incorporated keeping in mind about the necessity to engage employee in friendly communication (Barney& Hesterly, 2015). On the other hand, the aspect of diversity should be an integral part of the talent management and identification of new talent pool would be convenient. The final step will be to look beyond the compliance.  

References

Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. (2015). Strategic management and competitive advantage concepts and cases. Pearson. 

Boehm, M., & Thomas, O. (2013). Looking beyond the rim of one’s teacup: a multidisciplinary literature review of Product-Service Systems in Information Systems, Business Management, and Engineering & Design. Journal of Cleaner Production, 51, 245-260.

Ebert, R. J., Griffin, R. W., Starke, F. A., & Dracopoulos, G. (2014). Business essentials. Pearson Education Canada.

Emerson, L., (2013) Business students, 5^th Edition. Pearson.

Gollenia, L. A. (2016). Business Transformation Management Methodology. Routledge.

MITCH GOLD & BOB WILLIAMS SBU. (2017). YouTube. Retrieved 7 April 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6YERnug9MI&feature=youtu.be

NUMI TEA. (2017). YouTube. Retrieved 7 April 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzSDCtauVj8

Peteraf, M., Gamble, J., & Thompson Jr, A. (2014). Essentials of strategic management: The quest for competitive advantage. McGraw-Hill Education.