the keyboard company case study

• American History (1,320)
• Biographies (722)
• Book Reports (1,617)
• Business (9,200)
• English (4,172)
• History Other (1,404)
• Miscellaneous (3,117)
• Music and Movies (518)
• Philosophy (589)
• Psychology (1,286)
• Religion (554)
• Science (1,607)
• Social Issues (2,797)
• Technology (1,269)
• Browse Essays
• / The Keyboard Company Case Study

The Keyboard Company Case Study

Essay by Chedu   •  October 9, 2017  •  Case Study  •  2,762 Words (12 Pages)  •  2,821 Views

Essay Preview: The Keyboard Company Case Study

PROJECT AND PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

Programme Managing: Organisational Performance and Innovative Improvement

Group Assignment No: 01

Case Study: The Keyboard Company

Group Name:         Sandton-Buccleuch

Student :         Joel Chigada                        7105215886086

Simbisai Charandura                 29-193417Z23

Lennon Mupfukudzwa         AN541872

Kuda Shoniwa                 BN384156

Walter Chaweta                29-183485D13

Andries van Ross                 6605255091084

DATE: 2008-08-12

EXecutive summary        1

1          Introduction        2

2          Background of company        3

3          problem statement: Problems and the underlying CAUSES        3

3.1          Insufficient Experience of Od team Members        3

3.2          No leadership support and strategy        3

3.3          No acceptance of the OD team        3

3.4          Preferential treatment of OD team members by Zoltan        4

3.5          There is division of thoughts within the OD team        4

3.6          No communication links        4

3.7          Leadership style is not participative        4

3.8          No objectives and goals for the OD team        4

3.9          There is no budget        4

3.10          It is not clear to the OD team as to who the customer is i.e. Zoltan or the organisation        4

3.11          There are no clear roles and responsibilities in the OD team        5

3.12          Composition of the OD group is not cross functional        5

3.13          The independence of the OD team is compromised by placing it under Human Resources        5

4          Solutions and implementation        7

4.1          Approach        7

4.2          Addressing failure to take this as a project        7

4.3          Lack of resource planning and over-reliance on a Single Resource        9

4.4          Lack of Project Processes and Procedures        9

5          conclusions        9

6          BIBLIOGRAPHY        10

EXecutive summary

Introduction

The discussions in the document are structured in the following manner:

• Background of Company
• Problem Statement: Problems and the Underlying Causes
• Recommended solutions and implementation
• Background of company

The Keyboard Company is a medium sized manufacturing firm that supplies computer keyboards to many national computer manufacturers in the United States of America. The Company has experienced rapid growth under John Zoltan, tits president and is now moving into advanced electronics. The Keyboard Company would like to achieve organisational excellence through organisational re-engineering. In an attempt to achieve this objective, four young MBA Graduates have been appointed to work on the OD project that would result major transformation in the Company.

• problem statement: Problems and the underlying CAUSES
• Insufficient Experience of Od team Members

The OD team is made up of young inexperienced members. Most of them have an MBA but not enough experience to successfully drive the project. In the Keyboard Company Case Study, the OD team started off by knowing the members of the organization and then taking managers for training.  

The OD team made no attempt at identifying the requirements of the company in so far as the state of the company, work culture, employees was done before they started on the management training programme. It is also worthwhile that when doing transformation project sufficient information about employee strengths and weaknesses be available from the Human Resources Department.

The job of the OD team is to do an analysis of the organization and then develop redesign recommendations regarding each of the elements of the transformation model. Organization analysis is a period of intense data gathering and discussion to discover who the organization is connected to, how its core business process (es) work (or don't work) and how people coordinate efforts to get work done. The design team leads the data gathering, holding one-on-one or small group interviews with different levels of employees, customers and other key stakeholders. http://www.centerod.com/

• / Financial Accounting

The Keyboard Company Case Study

Autor: Jannisthomas   •  October 19, 2018  •  2,175 Words (9 Pages)  •  1,541 Views

- No leadership support and strategy

In The Keyboard Company case, Zoltan did not consult with top management in the company. He consulted and made decisions to start the internal OD group with a professor who he met at a seminar. Due to the fact that Zoltan did not consult with top management when starting the OD consulting group, there is no awareness and commitment to the change. This also means that the OD team does not have support from management. It is the top management that examines both the business and organizational strategies. On the business side they will review or, if necessary, develop a mission statement, strategic intent, long range objectives and critical success factors. On the organizational side, they will review and/or develop their vision of the future, shared organizational values and guiding and operating principles. Senior leadership also establishes a general framework for the redesign process that includes allocation of resources, time deadlines and other parameters they want to guide the project.

- No acceptance of the OD team

There is no acceptance of the OD team by the employees at the Keyboard Company. This could be due to the fact that Zoltan did not consult with top management before starting the internal OD consulting team. Before embarking on a redesign effort it is necessary that the sponsor of the project and senior leadership understand and be committed to the process. This step involves educating senior leadership about high performance work systems, the transformation model, the change process and needs driving organizational change. It is imperative that this group understand and be willing to commit fully the time and resources to the change effort.

For the success of a transformation project, there is need to sell the change ideas to top management and show the importance of the project. By doing so the project objectives are known by everyone and ensures acceptance of an OD team.

- Preferential treatment of OD team members by Zoltan

Zoltan shows that he prefers to deal with . This could probably be because these two are the most experienced of the OD team members. However this makes all the other team members feel isolated and they were considering resigning. The cause for this might be that the way they recruited the OD team members.

- There is division of thoughts within the OD team

The OD team members dress differently, this reflects the differences in the way they think and in the way they want to implement the transformation.

- No communication links

Zoltan attended a university seminar and subsequently brought in the professor as a consultant which resulted in the two of them appointing the OD group. All this was done without the consultation of Zoltan’s vice Presidents for them to assist and also for them to understand the potential benefits of the initiative. This explains why some of them found the exercise to be a waste of time. The OD group itself had no communication protocol that defined the manner in which the communicated their progress and requirements to the company. As such they all started competing for individual direct access to Zoltan which clearly demoralised some of the team members.

- Leadership style is not participative

The president himself drove the transformation initiative without any support. Although he should have been the custodian of the initiative, he should have had a large enough team comprising of his managers to provide a support structure. Inclusion of the top management would have removed any ill-feelings against the OD group amongst them.

- No objectives and goals for the OD team

- There is no budget

Because of the manner in which Zoltan appointed the OD group i.e without the participation of his top managers, no budget proposal was done to cater for the OD group. This resulted in the managers having to shoulder the cost as over-heads on their individual budgets. This further increased the managers’ animosity towards the OD group. The management should have agreed beforehand and taken the OD as a project, agreed on the structure the OD group would fall on and allocated a separate budget accordingly.

- It is not clear to the OD team as to who the customer is i.e. Zoltan or the organisation

After forming of the OD group, John Zoltan does not allude or communicate with the team who the main beneficiary/customer of the project they were carrying out. This gave the team the impression that the project belonged to John Zoltan. Further confusion reigns in when John Zoltan’s absence at the OD team’s meetings is being felt. The team is left in a limbo, as it does not have proper guidelines to satisfy customer requirements. Failure to provide a free-flow of information and good communication thwart trust in an organisation and this problem is attributable to behavioural strategy which is synonymous with leadership’s failure to appreciate the basic tenets of project management.

- There are no clear roles and responsibilities in the OD team

John Zoltan forms the OD team but fails define each member’s roles and responsibilities for accountability. The team does not have a team leader or contact person; instead the President himself shoulders all the responsibilities. In project management or any set-up team members must be assigned roles that are supported by their natural strengths- in relation to knowledge, skills and attitude. Individuals have unique cognitive, conative and emotional potential, which should have been assessed during the selection process. Zoltan’s behaviour exposes an inept leadership style that does not value proper organograms with well-defined reporting/accountability and communication structures.

- Composition of the OD group is not cross functional

The team is not a representation of the Keyboard Company in lieu of the functional departments. The dictates of project management stipulate that human resources should be recruited from the supporting functional departments (horizontal system that cuts across boundaries). This notion culminates in synergy, builds sound cross-functional relationships, trust and ownership of a project. To avert this structural strategy problem, John Zoltan should have enlisted the services of a qualified and experienced programme management

Case Study Analysis

Not what you're looking for?

Create a case study using the attached files. --- The Keyboard Company is a medium sized manufacturing firm supplying computer knowledge to many national computer manufacturers. The company has experienced rapid growth since its beginning and is now moving into advanced electronics from the electro-mechanically assembly of the past. At one of the company's meetings it was decided that to achieve the "organizational excellence" the company was seeking, they should start an internal OD consulting group. The company ran an ad in the Wall Street Journal and the president of the company, along with a consultant, selected four young MBA's. These four and one young internal prospects from human resources formed the OD group... --- See attached files for full problem description.

Attachments

•  The Keyboard Company Background.doc
•  Case Analysis Form.doc

Purchase this Solution

Solution summary.

Based on the attached case, this solution explains a case study analysis, including the main points of the case fitting the potential problems to solutions.

Solution Preview

Please see response attached, which is also presented below. I hope this helps. Good luck with your studies and take care.

Case Analysis Form

I. Problems A. Macro 1. Organization Structural Issues_____________________________________

2. Relationships amongst roles______________________________________

1. Resistance to change______________________________________________ 2. Middle managers not involved in decision making______________________

Free BrainMass Quizzes

Marketing research and forecasting.

The following quiz will assess your ability to identify steps in the marketing research process. Understanding this information will provide fundamental knowledge related to marketing research.

This tests some key elements of major motivation theories.

MS Word 2010-Tricky Features

These questions are based on features of the previous word versions that were easy to figure out, but now seem more hidden to me.

Cost Concepts: Analyzing Costs in Managerial Accounting

This quiz gives students the opportunity to assess their knowledge of cost concepts used in managerial accounting such as opportunity costs, marginal costs, relevant costs and the benefits and relationships that derive from them.

Understanding the Accounting Equation

These 10 questions help a new student of accounting to understand the basic premise of accounting and how it is applied to the business world.

Related BrainMass Solutions

Value of Case Study Analysis

268689 Value of case study analysis What is the value of case study analysis ? How do results from a case study analysis differ from results from traditional qualitative and quantitative research? Explain why? Thanks for posting today.

Case Study - Organisational Behaviour (Leading)

Format: This case analysis requires you to first review a theory (i.e. a literature review), apply the theory to provide insight into the provided case study (show how the theory explains what happened in the case study ), and then provide recommendations

Case Analysis: Riverside Chamber of Commerce

32130 Case Study 1.

Tylenol Case Study

THE SWOTT ANALYSIS WILL CONTAIN: -STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES -OPORTUNITIES -THREATS -TRENDS Response is attached SWOTT elements of Tylenol Case Study

Case Study Analysis: Minute Clinic

522103 Case Study Analysis : Minute Clinic Can you please help me with a case study analysis using the attached case study ? I need help with the following: Facts or Size-Up - List major facts that are pertinent to your analysis .

Cumulative case study: Desert Coffee Roasters Inc.

95347 Cumulative case study : Desert Coffee Roasters Inc. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FILES FOR DETAILS Based on the Cumulative Case Study : Desert Coffee Roasters, Inc., devise the optimal capital structure for the organization.

Application of Statistics in Riverside Chamber of Commerce

Case Analysis : Riverside Chamber of Commerce Introduction All case studies address the following points: a. define the problem statement b. define any and all assumptions made to address the case study c.

Montreal Olympics

You are expected to provide a detailed analysis of the case study and demonstrate your grasp of project management knowledge by applying lessons you have learned through your project management program.

Ocean Carriers Case Study

316665 Ocean Carriers Case Study Harvard Business Case : 9-202-027 April 18, 2002 Angela Chao Ocean Carriers I need help with the mathematical analysis along with an explanation of the analysis and the conclusion.

Case Study, Survey Methods, Context Analysis

Answers to multiple choice questions on Case Study , Survey Methods, Context Analysis

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Download Free PDF

Case Study 2018 Zoltan Ind Assignment 9 1

Related papers

The survival of any organisation, particularly, a proft oriented organisation depends to a large extent, on how well it can adapt to environmental changes, accepts changes and do better in terms of its operations. This conceptual paper reviewed some extant literatures on organisational learning and learning organisations with a view to answering the following question: First, how do you identify a learning organisation when you see one? Secondly, what is the conceptual difference between organisational learning and learning organisation? Thirdly, what are those impediments that deprive organisation from becoming a learning organisation? Fourthly, what benefts do organisations derive from being a learning organisation? Furthermore, it attempted to pinpoint some examples of learning organisations in Nigeria and USA. Accordingly, this paper supports the proposition that organisation learning culture has direct influence on organisational innovativeness, which is directly tied to long-term organisational success. It is recommended, therefore, that all organisations that want to remain competitive should focus on becoming a learning organisation.

The survival of any organisation, particularly one that is profit oriented, depends to a large extent, on how well it can accept and adapt to environmental changes, and do better in terms of its operations. This conceptual paper reviewed some extant literatures on organisational learning and learning organisations with a view to answering the following question: First, how do you identify a learning organisation when you see one? Secondly, what is the conceptual difference between organisational learning and learning organisation? Thirdly, what are those impediments that deprive organisation from becoming a learning organisation? Fourthly, what benefits do organisations derive from being a learning organisation? Furthermore, it attempted to pinpoint some examples of learning organisations in Nigeria and USA. The contributions of the different approaches to the study of organisation learning and learning organisation are analyzed, and some areas are suggested where the transfer of analytical concepts may improve understanding. Accordingly, this paper supports the proposition that organisation learning culture has direct influence on organisational innovativeness, which is directly tied to long-term organisational success. It is recommended, therefore, that any organisation that wants to remain competitive should focus on becoming a learning organisation. The authors further recommends that more empirical research is required in the construct to investigate whether there are indeed organisations that can truly be called learning organisations or the construct is just a misnomer.

The business environment is changing rapidly and in many different ways. Globalisation, information technology, the internet, issues of social responsibility are all impacting on the knowledge and skills required by today’s business leaders. MBA programs are expected to assist current and aspiring business managers and leaders to respond effectively to all these challenges. One of the electives units within the MBA program at the Brisbane Graduate School of Business, Leadership II, focuses on individual leadership development, challenging students to see themselves as the most significant factor in their own success as leaders. The unit requires critical reflection of individual characteristics and beliefs. In Leadership II, students are required to reflect critically on this process and the impact of their discoveries on their ability to lead. The assessment items within this course play a critical role in facilitating the process. The assessment moves beyond a measurement of learn...

Over the years, learning has been seen as an active and rewarding aspect of peoples' personal and collective experiences. Learning is a feature of all human activities and defines humanity. As the business environment continually changes, organisations increasingly need innovative ideas to stay ahead of competition. Learning therefore is viewed as the key factor that underpins organisational competitiveness. It enables organisations to achieve a better balance between long-term effectiveness and short-term efficiency; hence, a focus on capturing and sharing learning produces a wider range of solutions to organisational issues. Renowned psychologists have identified learning theories that thoroughly analyse the effect of learning on behaviours. Learning theories have therefore influenced a range of people management best practices. This paper seeks to analyse how organisational behaviour can be influenced through the application of these learning theories.

Academia Oncology, 2024

Academia.edu launched a new open-access journal, Academia Oncology. This journal aims to be a platform for all aspects of cancer research, varying from cancer causes, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment, including supportive care, palliation and end of life care. Academia Oncology aims to be in the center of a spider’s web (Figure 1) connecting all these disciplines. Although there are many journals focusing on one or more aspects of oncology, few journals aim toconnect these different fields. This is exactly the mission of Academia Oncology (Table 1).

En esta página están todas las instrucciones ABAP/4 del sistema SAP R/3, además cada una de ellas contiene un pequeño ejemplo (o al menos esa es mi intención). Las sentencias están ordenadas alfabéticamente para una mejor búsqueda y además cada sentencia tiene su propia página para facilitar su impresión, copia, tratamiento, etc...

IRJET, 2020

Topoi (Rio de Janeiro)

Pró-Fono Revista de Atualização Científica, 2010

Siyaset, Diplomasi ve Edebi-Fikri Akımlar Üzerinde Yükselen Bir Alan Olarak XIX. Yüzyıl Alman Oryantalizmi, 2023

SER Social, 2015

Sonograma Magazine, 2024

SUMMITS'24 4. Uluslararası Akıllı Ulaşım Sistemleri Zirvesi, 2024

Quaderni di Studi Arabi, 2023

Aydın gastronomy, 2020

TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIALS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: TMREES21Gr

IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2018

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Indonesia, 2022

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2018

Psikoislamika : Jurnal Psikologi dan Psikologi Islam

The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 2019

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 1996

Heart (British Cardiac Society), 1999

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024