Module 3 – Case
ORGANIZING
Assignment Overview
Zappos Shoes, led by young CEO
Tony Hsieh, is well known for its non-traditional approaches to the workplace.
From the Background materials you should be familiar with traditional
organizational structures such as the hierarchical organization, the flat
organization, or the matrix organization. But CEO Hsieh plans an even more
radical approach to organizing his online shoe retailing company, called
“holacracy.” This is radical new approach involves eliminating
hierarchies and even eliminating job titles.
Many of you are used to working
in a hierarchical organization, so as you can see, this new form of
organization (or perhaps lack of organization) is a huge change over what
most of us are used to. But for purposes of this assignment we must decide
whether or not holacracy is likely to work for Zappos Shoes. This assignment
reflects the radical new ideas of a younger CEO like Tony Hsieh as compared
with more traditional structures found in the older and more established
structures in Fortune 500 companies.
Here are some readings on
Zappos and holacracy to get you started:
Frean, A. (2014, Jan 06). How
holacracy killed the hierarchy in companies going flat-out for success,The
Times[ProQuest]
Cook, D. (2014). Ready for
holacracy? Zappos says it is. Benefits Selling.Breaking News[ProQuest]
Shiers, L. (2010, 03). Touring
Zappos. Footwear Plus,, 52 [ProQuest]
Case Assignment
When you have finished
researching Zappos current business model and holacracy, write a 4- to 5-page
paper that answers the following questions:
1.
What risks and challenges does Zappos face in implementing
holacracy?
2.
Overall, what do you think the chances are of holacracy
succeeding at Zappos?
3.
Do you think holacracy would work with a traditional Fortune 500
company? Why or why not?
Assignment
Expectations

Integrate readings on the concept of holacracy, Zappos Shoes
organizational structure, and on traditional forms of organization structure.

Answer the assignment questions directly.

Stay focused on the precise assignment questions; don’t go off
on tangents or devote a lot of space to general background materials.

List supporting references, and cite sources in proper format.

Use appropriate writing style in essay form (organization,
grammar, and spelling).

Review Trident’s Writing Style Guide for more detail on
referencing and writing expectations. This guide is found under My Resources
in the TLC portal.Zappos Shoes, led by young CEO
Tony Hsieh, is well known for its non-traditional approaches to the workplace.
From the Background materials you should be familiar with traditional
organizational structures such as the hierarchical organization, the flat
organization, or the matrix organization. But CEO Hsieh plans an even more
radical approach to organizing his online shoe retailing company, called
“holacracy.” This is radical new approach involves eliminating
hierarchies and even eliminating job titles.Many of you are used to working
in a hierarchical organization, so as you can see, this new form of
organization (or perhaps lack of organization) is a huge change over what
most of us are used to. But for purposes of this assignment we must decide
whether or not holacracy is likely to work for Zappos Shoes. This assignment
reflects the radical new ideas of a younger CEO like Tony Hsieh as compared
with more traditional structures found in the older and more established
structures in Fortune 500 companies.Here are some readings on
Zappos and holacracy to get you started:Frean, A. (2014, Jan 06). How
holacracy killed the hierarchy in companies going flat-out for success,The
Times[ProQuest]Cook, D. (2014). Ready for
holacracy? Zappos says it is. Benefits Selling.Breaking News[ProQuest]Shiers, L. (2010, 03). Touring
Zappos. Footwear Plus,, 52 [ProQuest]When you have finished
researching Zappos current business model and holacracy, write a 4- to 5-page
paper that answers the following questions:1.
What risks and challenges does Zappos face in implementing
holacracy?2.
Overall, what do you think the chances are of holacracy
succeeding at Zappos?3.
Do you think holacracy would work with a traditional Fortune 500
company? Why or why not?
Integrate readings on the concept of holacracy, Zappos Shoes
organizational structure, and on traditional forms of organization structure.
Answer the assignment questions directly.
Stay focused on the precise assignment questions; don’t go off
on tangents or devote a lot of space to general background materials.
List supporting references, and cite sources in proper format.
Use appropriate writing style in essay form (organization,
grammar, and spelling).
Review Trident’s Writing Style Guide for more detail on
referencing and writing expectations. This guide is found under My Resources
in the TLC portal.