Reorganizing at GM
GM has gone through a great
deal of change in reorganization efforts in the past several years. Part
of this restructuring was the result of the company’s near collapse several
years ago, and the bailout by the government. GMs leadership has started
on a major reorganization effort in this large but troubled organization.
It is one thing to organize a
small- or medium-size business, but reorganizing a global organization is quite
another issue. In a 3- to 5-page paper answer the following questions in a
well-thought-out argumentative essay:
1.
What changes has GMs
leadership made since the government bailout which fall under the organizing
functions of management?
2.
Which aspects of this
reorganization will be the most challenging for GMs leadership? Note: Only
discuss aspects of organizing that will be a challenge, not challenges in terms
of planning or controlling.
3.
What additional aspects of the
organizing function of management do you think GM should change?
Remember to focus on these
specific questions rather than general background information, and focus only
on the organizing function of management at GM.
Required
Reading
Higgins, T., Green, J.,
(2012). GM Seen Planning Global Reorganization Against
Fiefdoms Bloomberg. Retrieved from: .bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-17/gm-seen-planning-global-reorganization-against-fiefdoms-.html”>http://origin-www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-17/gm-seen-planning-global-reorganization-against-fiefdoms-.html
Vlasic, B., (2013).
G.M.s Profit Rises Despite Weakness in Europe. The New York Times.
Business Day. Retrieved from: .nytimes.com/2013/02/15/business/gm-hurt-by-europe-still-increases-profit.html?ref=generalmotorscorporation&_r=0″>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/business/gm-hurt-by-europe-still-increases-profit.html?ref=generalmotorscorporation&_r=0
Higgins, T., (2013). GM
Considers Brazil Options With Akersons Global Reorganization.
Bloomberg. Retrieved from: .bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/gm-considers-brazil-options-with-akerson-s-global-reorganization.html”>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/gm-considers-brazil-options-with-akerson-s-global-reorganization.html
Eisenstein, P., ( 2012). GM
Readying Another Major Reorganization. The Detroit Bureau.
Retrieved from: .thedetroitbureau.com/2012/08/gm-readying-another-major-reorganization/”>http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/08/gm-readying-another-major-reorganization/
This document may provide some
useful historical context regarding GMs most recent restructuring efforts to
address the loan security agreement with the US Department of Treasury:
General Motors Corporation,
(2008). GM 2009 2014 Restructuring Plan. Presented to U.S.
Department of the Treasury As Required Under Section 7.20 of the Loan and
Security Agreement Between General Motors and the U. S. Department of the
Treasury. Retrieved from:.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/20090217GMRestructuringPlan.pdf”>http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/20090217GMRestructuringPlan.pdf
Please also visit GM’s site and
conduct further research, for instance by reading some of the latest news about
the company.
Assignment Expectations

Read the Background materials in depth.

Identify key concepts (main aspects of organizing, such as
design/structures, teams, etc.), make a list of them, and study them.

Study the case presented in the reading materials in depth
and conduct additional research if necessary.

Identify facts in the case that match the
organizing principle of management.

Apply these concepts to facts in the case in order to develop
your arguments.

Make sure to have an introduction, a main body with as many
sections as identified concepts of reorganization design, etc. (see my hints),
and conclusions.

SLP
For this segment of the Session Long Project, we focus on
Organizing.
This is a very important function of management.
Brief reminder:
Main elements of organizational design are:
1.
Work specialization/job enrichment
2.
Departmentalization
3.
Chain of command
4.
Span of control
5.
Centralization/decentralization
Organization Design Forms:
Simple
Hierarchy
Flat
Team based
Virtual
Matrix
Human Resources
Organizing is another important function of management. It
selects the appropriate design and structures, which allow strategies to be
implemented.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Write a 1- to 3-page paper analyzing aspects of Organizing at
your selected organization.
Read the Background Materials in depth and apply concepts to
facts of organizing.
Please do your best to format your essay according to APA
formatting requirements. Here is a good information source to help you
with that: .english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/”>http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
There is an Introduction (providing a roadmap to the paper), A
Main Body with subsections (one subsection per item), Conclusions (summary) and
a List of References.
Please use titles and headings per each section and subsection.
Reorganizing at GMGM has gone through a great
deal of change in reorganization efforts in the past several years. Part
of this restructuring was the result of the company’s near collapse several
years ago, and the bailout by the government. GMs leadership has started
on a major reorganization effort in this large but troubled organization.It is one thing to organize a
small- or medium-size business, but reorganizing a global organization is quite
another issue. In a 3- to 5-page paper answer the following questions in a
well-thought-out argumentative essay:1.
What changes has GMs
leadership made since the government bailout which fall under the organizing
functions of management?2.
Which aspects of this
reorganization will be the most challenging for GMs leadership? Note: Only
discuss aspects of organizing that will be a challenge, not challenges in terms
of planning or controlling.3.
What additional aspects of the
organizing function of management do you think GM should change?Remember to focus on these
specific questions rather than general background information, and focus only
on the organizing function of management at GM.Required
ReadingHiggins, T., Green, J.,
(2012). GM Seen Planning Global Reorganization Against
Fiefdoms Bloomberg. Retrieved from: .bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-17/gm-seen-planning-global-reorganization-against-fiefdoms-.html”>http://origin-www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-17/gm-seen-planning-global-reorganization-against-fiefdoms-.htmlVlasic, B., (2013).
G.M.s Profit Rises Despite Weakness in Europe. The New York Times.
Business Day. Retrieved from: .nytimes.com/2013/02/15/business/gm-hurt-by-europe-still-increases-profit.html?ref=generalmotorscorporation&_r=0″>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/business/gm-hurt-by-europe-still-increases-profit.html?ref=generalmotorscorporation&_r=0 Higgins, T., (2013). GM
Considers Brazil Options With Akersons Global Reorganization.
Bloomberg. Retrieved from: .bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/gm-considers-brazil-options-with-akerson-s-global-reorganization.html”>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-25/gm-considers-brazil-options-with-akerson-s-global-reorganization.htmlEisenstein, P., ( 2012). GM
Readying Another Major Reorganization. The Detroit Bureau.
Retrieved from: .thedetroitbureau.com/2012/08/gm-readying-another-major-reorganization/”>http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/08/gm-readying-another-major-reorganization/This document may provide some
useful historical context regarding GMs most recent restructuring efforts to
address the loan security agreement with the US Department of Treasury:General Motors Corporation,
(2008). GM 2009 2014 Restructuring Plan. Presented to U.S.
Department of the Treasury As Required Under Section 7.20 of the Loan and
Security Agreement Between General Motors and the U. S. Department of the
Treasury. Retrieved from:.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/20090217GMRestructuringPlan.pdf”>http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/20090217GMRestructuringPlan.pdfPlease also visit GM’s site and
conduct further research, for instance by reading some of the latest news about
the company.
Read the Background materials in depth.
Identify key concepts (main aspects of organizing, such as
design/structures, teams, etc.), make a list of them, and study them.
Study the case presented in the reading materials in depth
and conduct additional research if necessary.
Identify facts in the case that match the
organizing principle of management.
Apply these concepts to facts in the case in order to develop
your arguments.
Make sure to have an introduction, a main body with as many
sections as identified concepts of reorganization design, etc. (see my hints),
and conclusions.SLPFor this segment of the Session Long Project, we focus on
Organizing.This is a very important function of management.Brief reminder:Main elements of organizational design are:1.
Work specialization/job enrichment2.
Departmentalization3.
Chain of command4.
Span of control5.
Centralization/decentralizationOrganization Design Forms:SimpleHierarchyFlatTeam basedVirtualMatrixHuman ResourcesOrganizing is another important function of management. It
selects the appropriate design and structures, which allow strategies to be
implemented.Write a 1- to 3-page paper analyzing aspects of Organizing at
your selected organization.Read the Background Materials in depth and apply concepts to
facts of organizing.Please do your best to format your essay according to APA
formatting requirements. Here is a good information source to help you
with that: .english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/”>http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/There is an Introduction (providing a roadmap to the paper), A
Main Body with subsections (one subsection per item), Conclusions (summary) and
a List of References.Please use titles and headings per each section and subsection.