Initial Post
This week’s discussion is a case analysis of Smithfield Custom Furniture developed specifically for this course. Your posting should answer the questions posed using this week’s course materials to support your answers. It is important to write concisely and to follow the detailed instructions provided below. Include in-text citations and references in a reference list. For APA citation examples, follow the link to the Library under Resources on the homepage.
Case Discussion
SMITHFIELD’S CUSTOM FURNITURE
It is 1901. Alicia Smithfield, daughter of the founder of Smithfield Custom Furniture, just inherited the company. She is the only surviving heir to the furniture empire her father built.
Headquartered in upstate New York, the company has grown significantly over the past 60 years. Began in a shed built next to his log cabin, Jonas Smithfield’s quality furniture developed a huge following among New York City’s wealthiest residents.
After being educated in the best business schools in Europe and America, Alicia has run the business side-by-side with her father for the past 15 years. When there were many issues confronting the business, a tree being felled took an unexpected route and brought Jonas’ life to a surprising end.
The company had just moved to a facility large enough to house its workers: 10 carpenters; 5 furniture designers; 5 wood finishers (varnish and dye experts); 10 machine operators to assist with the various equipment needed to cut the wood into various designs, polish and sand the wood; 5 mechanics to keep the vehicles (5 trucks) and boats (7) that transported wood from upstate New York and Canada to the work area in good repair; 15 lumberjacks who cut wood in nearby areas and moved it downriver by boat or over the rugged highway by truck; and 5 office personnel who assisted with filing, invoicing, drafting and responding to correspondence, handling customer inquiries, and performing other necessary office functions. More than half of these employees were hired in the past 5 years.
Alicia’s Big Issues
The major issues confronting Alicia Smithfield are these:
(1) The furniture manufacturing functions are very disorganized. It is not clear how to best organize these functions. For example, the varnish and dye experts each use a different method to complete their tasks.
(2) The production schedule is a mess. It is not clear which projects should be completed first to ensure products are being delivered to customers on time.
(3) The lumberjacks, both cutting trees down and shipping them by truck or boat, differ on the best methods to perform these tasks.
(4) Tempers are flaring as a result of the disorganization. The office, clerical, and support workers are rude to each other and can’t seem to act as a cohesive work unit.
(5) While the company is financially successful, as it has grown from a small family-owned business to a large and complex enterprise, the organizational structure has not kept pace. Few formal rules exist, and the keeping and maintenance of records are haphazard.
(6) Employees are feeling overworked and losing satisfaction in the work they are doing. They believe their basic needs are not being addressed.
Alicia’s Proposed Issue Solutions
Alicia Smithfield is familiar with all of the contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among others) to the management theory you have read about this week. She has decided to hire six (6) of those contributors to management theory from the week’s readings as consultants. (We shall now refer to those contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among the others) in this week’s readings as “consultants.”)
Each of the six (6) consultants selected will be assigned to solve only one of the six (6) issues listed above. Alicia’s problem is that she is unclear as to which of the six (6) contributors selected from the week’s reading to be her consultants are best matched to solve each of the six (6) specific issues listed above.
Your Task for Your Initial Post
You are to answer four (4) of the above-mentioned six (6) issues identified by Alicia Smithfield. Specifically, she has asked you to recommend a consultant to solve four of the six issues confronting her. You have been requested to explain to Alicia why you selected the four consultants you chose to solve each of the four selected issues. Each consultant will solve one of the four issues you identified that particular consultant to address. You must explain the major contribution/idea of the consultant selected and how that contribution/idea applies to the specific issue you have recommended that the consultant solve. You must identify the school of thought that each consultant represents.
Note: You may not use any of the individuals in the readings to solve more than one of the four (4) issues. If a person you select is deceased, do not let that inconvenience stand in your way. You may still use that individual to solve a specific issue
For research associated with this discussion, you must use course materials only. You must provide APA formatted in-text citations and references for each of the four (4) issues you select.
Format for Your Initial Post
Use the exact numbers and corresponding headings for your initial post for each of your 4 selections. For example, one student’s post may be numbered 1, 3, 5, 6; another student’s post may be numbered 1, 2, 4, 5; and so forth. Any four of the six issues listed that a student selects to answer will be acceptable.
1. Manufacturing Functions are Disorganized
2. Production Schedule is a Mess
3. Lumberjack Disagreement Methods To Cut Trees/Load Boat
4. Tempers Flare among Office Support Staff
5. Lack of Formal Rules/Record-Keeping Processes
6. Basic Needs and Job Satisfaction Overlooked
Frederick Taylor, a key figure in the Scientific Management school of thought, is the ideal consultant to address the issue of disorganized manufacturing functions. Taylor’s major contribution was the development of scientific management principles that aimed to increase efficiency and productivity through systematic methods. He emphasized the importance of analyzing work processes and designing optimal workflows.
In the case of Smithfield Custom Furniture, Taylor’s principles can be applied to streamline the manufacturing functions. Taylor advocated for breaking down tasks into smaller, standardized steps and identifying the most efficient methods for completing them. By observing and analyzing the work of the varnish and dye experts, Taylor’s approach can help identify the best practices and create standardized procedures for these tasks.
Henri Fayol, known for his contributions to the Administrative Management theory, is the suitable consultant to address the chaotic production schedule issue. Fayol’s major contribution was his development of the 14 Principles of Management, which include concepts like division of labor, unity of command, and centralization.
To tackle the production schedule problem at Smithfield Custom Furniture, Fayol’s principles can be applied. By implementing clear lines of authority and communication, using a centralized decision-making process for scheduling, and ensuring coordination among different departments, the production schedule can be organized and managed effectively. Fayol’s ideas promote a structured approach to management that would help align the company’s efforts toward achieving timely product deliveries.
Elton Mayo, a central figure in the Human Relations Movement, is the consultant suited to address the lumberjack disagreement regarding tree cutting and shipping methods. Mayo’s major contribution was his research on the impact of human behavior and social dynamics on workplace productivity and satisfaction.
Mayo’s approach involves recognizing the importance of interpersonal relationships and communication in the workplace. To resolve the lumberjack disagreement, Mayo’s principles can be applied by fostering open communication channels between the lumberjacks, allowing them to voice their opinions and concerns. Creating a collaborative environment and involving the workers in decision-making can help identify the most effective and acceptable methods for tree cutting and shipping.
Mary Parker Follett, a pioneer in the fields of organizational behavior and management, is the consultant to address the issue of interpersonal conflicts among office support staff. Follett’s major contribution was her emphasis on the importance of conflict resolution, cooperation, and employee empowerment.
Follett’s ideas can be applied to mitigate the tensions among the office support staff. Her principles promote resolving conflicts through open dialogue, finding common ground, and involving all parties in decision-making. By creating opportunities for the office personnel to collaborate, share ideas, and jointly address challenges, a more cohesive work unit can be established. Follett’s focus on harmonious relationships and participative management aligns well with resolving interpersonal conflicts and improving team dynamics.
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