Google: Organization; Management Essay

1. Compare and contrast each of the organizational structures from your reading. There are two organizational structures mentioned in text; Hierarchical Organizational Structure and Organic Organizational Structure with two possibilities of their structures being one of that of vertical or horizontal. The hierarchical organizational structure consists of a â€Å"set of formal task and formal relationships† (Daft, 2012). The military is an example of a form of hierarchical organizational structure. It is a structure that is clearly stated of â€Å"powers and authority and with a developed bureaucratic control system† (Wk3, Lec. pg. 2, 2012). This control system instills power and authority through rules, policies, programs and training manuals (Wk3, Lec. pg. 2, 2012). In comparison, a hierarchical organizational structure as with an organic organizational structure, they both possess upper levels of management that are responsible for making â€Å"major decisions† (Wk3, Lec. Sum., 2012). Organic organizational structures, although are similar in comparison to hierarchical organizational structures in the since of upper management making key decisions, there are many differences in contrast to the hierarchical organizational structures (Wk3, Lec. pg. 2, 2012). Most large organizations tend to be organic due to the complexity of technology that have more emphasis on detailed work being assigned and to who, and who will concentrate more on â€Å"decision – making authority† (Zanzi, 1987). In a hierarchical organizational structure continuum, â€Å"taking risk† is not encouraged as it could mean the life or death of someone (Wk3, Lec. pg. 2, 2012). However, in the organic organizational structure, risk are taken every day and in fact are commonly encouraged (Wk3, Lec. pg. 2, 2012). 2. If you were to choose one structure in which to work, which would you choose and why? I believe I would choose the hierarchal organizational structure. To me the organic organizational structure could be over burdensome to just one or a few individuals who may be in control of more than one group of employees or departments. When the development of the hierarchical organizational structure is implemented, then you have many different means in which to carry out many different functions and distribute the work to. With this structure I can develop a plan easier and know it will be carried out on time, accurately and see the results and get reports from the structure below. It’s like a baseball team; it takes all 9 players to cover the field cause you never know in which direction the ball will be hit to. Covering virtually every aspect will assure that the ball is almost always controlled ant the play is made. 3. Compare the organizational structures of Google and Wal-Mart. Google has an organizational structure that once seemed hierarchical in nature and characteristics when it first began, thus mimicking business organizational structure in order for it to get off the ground. The use of fast forward, concurrent and feedback controls were in place as well. However, Google has recently â€Å"minimized hierarchy and maximized what can be done at the individual contributing level† (Mohamed, 2006). Google tend to allow its employees the opportunity to contribute new innovative ideas to the company. Innovation through the ranks is the norm now at Google. At Wal-Mart, they too have built a strong market in the online business market (virtual), (Mmr, 2011). With its move into the virtual market place, as with Google, organic, yet more horizontal organizational structure so too is Wal-Mart’s online presents (Mmr, 2011). 4. Explain what types of control processes might be found in each of the organizational structures. There are three control processes; Feed forward, Concurrent and Feed Back. It is noted that â€Å"all three systems of controls are essentials to successful management and use resources for meeting goals† (Wk3, Lec. Pg. 1 2012). If this is the case, then we must consider that each control has a place in which it must monitor. With Feed forward controls, this action begins before a new product or a program or plan is implemented to gain â€Å"feedback in advance† (Wk3, Lec. pg. 1, 2012), this in order to make plans towards the start of a new product, plan or goal. With concurrent controls, this is to gain knowledge of how the new product, plan or goal is coming along, working or functioning during its progress or after it’s implemented. Then with the feedback controls, we get the product, plan or goal results and are able to make adjustments, adaptations to or change our product, plan or goal to operate the way it was originally designed to do so (Wk3, Lec. pg. 1, 2012). 5. Describe what types of quality management processes might be found in each of the organizational structures. First, I believe we have to understand what control is in order to find the quality management process found in each organizational structure. Monitoring activities within the organization based on the â€Å"expectations established in plans† (Daft, 2012) determine organizational controls. Controls establish how those things are handled and not dominance (Wk3, Lec. pg. 1, 2012).. Standards, methods and how those are measured determine quality. Once all these line up you hve what is referred to as a â€Å"balance scorecard† (Daft, 2012). In the hierarchical organizational structure, the type of quality management found there would be best optimized by using total quality management, as with the military. Total quality management improves the originations performance at every level. Since the hierarchal organizational structure is more vertical in characteristics, then it will have more of a need for improvements, because there are more levels that need controls (Daft, 2012). As with organic organizational structures, perhaps a quality management process type best for this structure would be something like â€Å"ISO (000† (Daft, 2012). When I worked at Allied Chemical, years ago, Allied traded and did business on an international scale. Its standard of quality wasn’t restricted to that of just the United States. It had to comply with foreign standards as well and we were ISO 9000 certified. I had to take extra training classes in quality management because of the international standards that were imposed on our products that were sold abroad. Also, with the organization I chose, Google, which is an organic organizational structure, Google also operates on an international scale. So a good example would be the type of quality found in the ISO 9000 certification process which is outlined by the â€Å"International Organization for Standards† (Daft, 2012). Reference Daft , R., (2012). Management, 10th Ed.  © 2012, 2010 South-Western, Cengage Learning, Mason, Ohio. Retrieved from: http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu MGT2037 S02: Principles of Management: Week 3: Lecture, p. 1 – Summary. Retrieved from http://myeclassonline.com Mohamed, A. (2006). Google woos talent in code competition. Computer Weekly, 49. U.S. Business Is Reenergized by Wal-Mart. (2011). MMR, 28(1), 42. Zanzi, A. (1987). How organic is your organization? – Determinants of organic/mechanistic tendencies in a public accounting firm. Journal of Management Studies, 24(2), 125-142. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu