INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT

PRACTICE 2. INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT

QUESTION 1. Identify and contrast the management approaches, which appear in video 1 and video 2. Is one better than another? Justify your answer.(Half a page)

-In video 1 we can identify:                                                                                                                  TQM approach  because the main charecters never are satisfied. Quality can always be improved. “How to get them to be better than they think they can be?” asked Mr President. OB is found too. For example, in the video is shown that François Pienaar´s job is to communicate and stimulate players´ high levels of effort, just like the economist Chester Barnad thought.                                                                                                                                             I can identify contigency approach in the video because of the enviromental uncertainty and individual differences. Also a cotemporary approach (open system) is found in the video. For example using a song to motivate people.

-In video 2 we can identify:                                                                                                                      The classical approach because the management emphasized rationality and making organizations and workers as efficient as posible.                                                                                 A Bureaucrazy is clearly introduced in the video too. Chaplin was in a form of organization characterized by division of labor, a clearly defined hierarchy, detailed rules and regulations, and impersonal relationships. General administrative theory also fits in the video (Fayol’s 14 Principles of Management).

-Is one better  than other? As I see it, each aproach has its advantages…  In the video 2, one advantage is that the employees have their role in the company clearly defined… but I prefer  the approaches shown in video 1 because they are more dynamic and inspirational.  

QUESTION 2. Read the text below and using the management approaches explained int eh course, propose possible solutions that could have helped KODAK. (half a page)

First of all, following scientisfic approach. They should have changed their work method and start to work with digital cameras.

The total quality management approach would has been the key in this situation. KODAK was not adjusted to the needs of the costumer and did not demonstrate a progressive improvement. They could have focused more in the costumer, improved quality in production and management, done an accurate meauserement each month…

In addition, KODAK was a close system in the way of interacting with the enviroment. If they had interacted with it as an open system, they woul have obtained better results.

At least, KODAK should have followed the variables of a contigency approach such as routiness of task technology or enviromental uncertainty.

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