Could some please help me with this question. I used Nike. The best strategies o
ID: 328945 • Letter: C
Question
Could some please help me with this question. I used Nike.
The best strategies often fail not because they weren’t good strategies, but because they weren’t implemented properly. One of the most important aspects of implementing a good strategy is ensuring that the organization is designed in a way that will properly support the plan. In Week 4 you identified a generic strategic direction for a selected organization; in Week 5 you narrowed down that strategic direction and identified possible alternative strategies and then narrowed those alternatives down to ONE specific strategy to implement for either Kroger or Nike. Using that specific strategy, identify what type of organizational design would best support that strategy. Provide a high level overview of the organizational design – be sure to fully explain the design and why it was selected to support the strategic direction and, more importantly, the specific strategy to be implemented.
Explanation / Answer
Answer:
Selected Strategy for Subway: Development of new product line or product development strategy
Suggested organizational design: Matrix Structure
In a matrix organizational design, specialists or experts from different functional departments work together on one or more projects assigned. When the project is complete they go back to their previous functional responsibilities. So the structure can be characterized with two managers on every employee, one being the project manger and the other will be functional manager.
Matrix organizational design will support the new product development strategic direction or subway, as the selected leader or the project head who is responsible for the new product line (organic foods or fruit drinks) will be able to select or gather experts and other resources from the different functional departments to serve this project. These experts will have the knowledge and skill required to steer the new product line in the right direction, as per the Subway’s working processes they are experienced with. Also, once the project passes the test phase and the new product line has to be launched, new hires can be trained under these experts which can result in a better functioning of the new product line aligned to the Subway’s policy and process requirements. After the new product line’s manpower is set and functional, these managers or experts cane either go on their previous responsibilities or can be assigned to other such strategic projects.