Background: You work for a large manufacturing company producing and selling paper and stationery products. The company
Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 6:13 am
Background: You work for a large manufacturing company producing
and selling paper and stationery products. The company is concerned
that the supply of paper used in their production processes may not
be from sustainable sources. It is considering whether to change
suppliers towards more sustainable sources of raw materials, as
part of a wider strategy aimed at reducing the company’s carbon
footprint. This strategy may involve switching to green energy, as
well as other actions towards sustainability. Over the last
three years, you have been in a management role in the company,
working directly with the board of directors. The Managing Director
has organised a meeting to reconsider the company strategy, and has
invited you to contribute to the discussion. In preparation for
this meeting, you have been advised to: i) do some research before
the meeting and ii) make some notes to structure your
discussion.
Question 1: [Context: In preparation for the meeting, you are
reviewing the key aspects involved in making a strategy and the
methods that may be used for this purpose] Outline and
explain the process management will need to go through to develop
the strategy. Identify and explain the tools or models to use in
the process. Illustrate your answer with examples applied to the
case in question (as described in the Background above). Hint:
You are expected to focus on and explain the process to be followed
and the models/theories that you can use to develop a strategy (you
don’t need to know details of the specific business context and/or
any technologies involved).
Question 2: [Context: The change in strategy will be accompanied
by major organisational change, including using new technologies,
employing new staff and re-training existing
employees] Outline the key issues and challenges that a
manager in this organisation may encounter in leading this
organisational change. Your answer should draw upon different
management theories and models.
and selling paper and stationery products. The company is concerned
that the supply of paper used in their production processes may not
be from sustainable sources. It is considering whether to change
suppliers towards more sustainable sources of raw materials, as
part of a wider strategy aimed at reducing the company’s carbon
footprint. This strategy may involve switching to green energy, as
well as other actions towards sustainability. Over the last
three years, you have been in a management role in the company,
working directly with the board of directors. The Managing Director
has organised a meeting to reconsider the company strategy, and has
invited you to contribute to the discussion. In preparation for
this meeting, you have been advised to: i) do some research before
the meeting and ii) make some notes to structure your
discussion.
Question 1: [Context: In preparation for the meeting, you are
reviewing the key aspects involved in making a strategy and the
methods that may be used for this purpose] Outline and
explain the process management will need to go through to develop
the strategy. Identify and explain the tools or models to use in
the process. Illustrate your answer with examples applied to the
case in question (as described in the Background above). Hint:
You are expected to focus on and explain the process to be followed
and the models/theories that you can use to develop a strategy (you
don’t need to know details of the specific business context and/or
any technologies involved).
Question 2: [Context: The change in strategy will be accompanied
by major organisational change, including using new technologies,
employing new staff and re-training existing
employees] Outline the key issues and challenges that a
manager in this organisation may encounter in leading this
organisational change. Your answer should draw upon different
management theories and models.