CORNERSTONE-7BE002Strategic Management

Tutor: Dr. Shaukat Ali

Student Declaration

ABC Company
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Subject Name:
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Student Name:
Center Name: Dubai, Al Ain, or Sharjha
Lecturer Name:
Number of Words:
I certify the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources
are fully acknowledged and have not been plagiarized.

Due Date:
Submitted Date:
Student Signature

Table of content
Report Structure for Personal Development Plan.......................................................
Synopsis........................................................................................................... 21
2

ABC Company
Report Structure............................................................................................... 22
Table of content................................................................................................ 22
List of abbreviations and Acronyms..........................................................................
Executive Summary..................................................................................................
Introduction..............................................................................................................
1.1 Company overview.................................................................................. 25
1.2 Business case for restructuring...............................................................26
Challenges:....................................................................................................... 26
Core values of the company:............................................................................ 27
Organizational behavior:.................................................................................. 28
Internal & External conditions:.........................................................................28
Literature review......................................................................................................
Recommendation.....................................................................................................
Conclusion................................................................................................................
References................................................................................................................
Appendix..................................................................................................................

Report Structure for Professional Development

Plan
Introduction

ABC Company
In this study, I have identified and indicated three goals in my personal
and professional life that been always blinking in my mind.
I am planning to be Chief Executive Officer within two years, and complete
my Master in Business Administration in this year in order to start the PHD
study in 2017. To accomplish these goals as it considers part of strategy
career development and enhance my education, knowledge and personal
skills out of the studies, I have used SMART objectives. It is the best
method for goals achievement and measurement which stands for;
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time bounds. For instance,
taking the first goal as per the following tool:
SMART Objective Table With Examples
SMART Meaning

Examples

Specific Objectives
should specify what I
want to achieve.

I want to be a CEO in two years

Measurable I should
be able to measure
whether I am meeting the
objectives or not.

I need to meet every week the board of directors, to

discuss and understand their direction in order to enhance
my skills of thinking style over 24 years; means that each
week targets can be measured against a specific goal.

Achievable - Are the

objectives I set,
achievable and
attainable?

The weekly meeting with the board of directors objective

for the 24 months achievable. ABC has the resources,
manpower and finances to achieve the goals

Realistic Can I
realistically achieve the
objectives with the
resources I have?

The weekly meeting over a 24 months period realistic and

I do not need longer than that. I do have some skills and
resources to achieve this over the time period set, which
need to improve it immediately.

Time When do I want

to achieve the set
objectives?

To be a CEO has set a period of 24 months to achieve the

target.

ABC Company
The purpose of this report is to understand my strengths and the
development area and work towards these areas by setting up an action
plan which has indicated in Personal Action Plan part.

How do you fit the design

I have got Daft (2013) results from how do you fit the design
questionnaires in thirteen chapters. I have explored that I have very
strong area in internally role, mindfulness vs environment (certain and
uncertain), political skills, decision making, corporate culture reference,
innovation skills, goal setting, the organisation size and fitting service
organisation. Though I am not too active in networking skills but I am
slightly active somehow (refer to appendices 1).
On the other hand, I have observed that I have three areas of needs of
minor development. This is important point that serves my scope of being
a CEO and a master/ PHD holder.
Evolution of style: In structure and human resource modules I got

the highest scores, but this serve a (new manager at lower and
middle management level Daft 2013, p. 26), and not as senior or top
management where I consider it as a weak point. Also he comments
managers obtain experience in order to move up their companies. I
should acquire collective and more political skills and learn crucial
competencies in order to have more options to manage ABC. I can
acquire this from my current boss (CEO) once a week during 24
months.
The pleasure/ pain of working on a team: I prefer working in a team.

Which it is a negative point. Daft (2013, p. 81) adds that working in

a team either motivating or frustrating based on the manger
preference. I might lose some independence once I rely on them
and not all of them are committed. I am working through others and
may lose some control over findings. It scores me to be in a position
of horizontal connection or matrix company structure. I will study
online Communication & Interpersonal Skills on 14 / 16 Feb 2016

ABC Company
from (Bayt 2016) in order to fit the new position and work in my
education lonely
Your strategy / performance strength: Daft (2013, p. 131) says that

formulator and implementer are crucial methods managers can add

value to strategic management. My score out of this test is a
balanced formulator and implementer style which it is not too bad,
however I need to develop this area especially to be a CEO of ABC
and working with very high level, expert, specialised and well
educated employees. I will gain thinking style from my boss
whenever incident occurs in two years time.
Daft test gives indication that I am able to lead teams, develop them,
communication and delegate effectively. Being a CEO of ABC will require a
minimum master degree and maximum PHD in order to align with the job
description and fit with the same level of the other peers.
Indeed I have used CP 360 feedback from my boss and a peer as a leader
for the organisation, and they comments me as follows (refer to
Appendices 2):
Communication: actively listens to ideas and concern of other.

Analyses from varying perspectives established the pivotal elements

of an issue, and reaches a logical conclusion through the process,
expresses ideas clearly concisely directly and willingly. In this skills
my boss rated me usually, but my fellow gave sometimes I am.
Leadership: build a solid foundation of trust by leading through

example. My boss rated me usually, but my fellow gave slightly

usually I am.
Adaptability: deals effectively with diverse work styles and in

differing environments. My boss rated me usually, but my fellow

gave slightly usually I am.
Relationship: is sensitive to the feelings of others and contributes to

a positive, cooperative workplace. My boss rated me usually, but my

fellow gave sometimes I am.

ABC Company
Task management: use technology resources and time efficiently

learns quickly and applies information to appropriate tasks. My boss

rated me usually, but my fellow gave slightly usually I am.
Production: initiates action. Is assertive and decisive. Overcomes

obstacles to achieve high quality, beneficial results. My boss rated

me almost always, but my fellow gave usually I am.
Development of others: coaches effectively and makes training

available. Provides timely objective performance reviews. Gives

recognition to top-notch work and extra effort. Is enthusiastic and
promotes positive attitude. My boss rated me almost always, but my
fellow gave usually I am.
Personal development: displays a high level of energy, persistence

and a positive outlook. Learns from mistakes and constructive

criticism and continuously seeks ways to improve. My boss rated me
usually, but my fellow gave almost usually I am.
The above feedback is supported the Daft (2013) results of how do you
fit the design. Thus, I will require to work closely with the board of directors, learn from
them, see how they act on different situations and what decision they make. Also being more
independent in myself in some projects in order to maintain the control in the organization.
These development will equip me to secure the CEO to be better leader (for more details refer
to How do you fit the design p.3).
Having said that, it is crucial to know the major gaps at ABC which its
badly require changes. Indeed, ABC does not have strategy from the
beginning and lack of communication skills among the departments itself
and top management.

Topics of interest
Based on How do you fit the design (Daft 2013) results, and
understanding my area of development and the strength skills, I have
selected are related to my weaknesses in order to add strong values to
cross the challenges effectively and efficiency (Daft 2013):
Aligning organisational structure and design with strategy

ABC Company
Creating, structuring and leading teams within organisations
Shaping and reinforcing organisational culture on strategy and

structure
To enhance my personal and professional experience and achieve the
goals indicated, I have to follow the following topics:
-

To align the new organisational structure and design with strategy, as a

CEO I need to improve my strategy and performance strength skills.
The new designed strategy and goals would influence the whole ABC
organisation and the top management included CEO who is one of the
deciding goals, structure and strategy to adapt the organization for the
dynamic time and cascaded to the departments head (Daft 2013).
Therefore I must work on this area to get distinctive strength and more
or less certainly I would like to contribute in this area and improve it.
Also this dynamic changes will help me to adjust quickly with my study

on moving from MBA to PHD

To create, structure and lead the whole groups within ABC organisation,
as a future CEO point view, I need to improve my working on a team
skills to comfort working in both sides individually and with a team.
Working frequently with a team makes me lost my control, autonomy
and rely on a weak committed staff. They might achieve tasks faster
and success more than an individual work (Daft 2013). But it is not
recommended

always

to

work

with

team,

especially

if

its

confidentiality things like top management salaries, contracts or

personal issues. Hence I need to focus more and do my task alone
sometime without relying to anyone such as doing my MBA. I can be
more committed than others may do. In this sense I will be able to fit in
a functional structure in role of contributor within a vertical hierarchy in
-

ABC firm.
To shape and reinforce organisational culture on ABC new strategy and
structure, this can be achieved if I develop Evolution of style, perhaps
because I got the top two scores in structure and human style.
Structure style was the highest so structural frame at ABC similar to a
machine, having routine tasks and vertical hierarchy that gives me
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ABC Company
authority to achieve objectives but this is an old style. On the other
hand the second higher score I got is in Human resource frame. I am
strong enough to see ABC as it is scope of people with having
empowerment, belonging and support. After Hawthorne researches,
this frame becomes significance (Daft 2013). But again this is not fit a
director and not even a CEO level. I am slightly weak in political and
collaborative as well as symbolic frames; so I am in need of moving up
and gain more experience to use diverse ways of thinking on viewing
ABC organisation. This also will help me to think devise ways in how to
write or enhance my academic style.

ABC Company
Critical reflection
In my perspective, Daft (2013) has taught me a lot in how to identify my
strengths as well as my weaknesses and design my goals in SMART
objectives way to achieve them successfully. The modules key concepts
have

presented

personal

networking,

teamwork,

environment

and

strategy. According to (Allen, R. K., 2012):

Organizational design is a step-by-step methodology which identifies
dysfunctional aspects of work flow, procedures, structures and systems,
realigns them to fit current business realities/goals and then develops
plans to implement the new changes. The process focuses on improving
both the technical and people side of the business.

To choose the topics of interest leads to know how ABC design currently,
and my practices around these, as per the following:

Align the organisational structure and design with strategy. I have

taken the permission from the board of directors to start designing
ABC strategy along with other departments head. Based on creating
a new strategy and understanding ABC environment I will be able to

align ABC structure with the strategy

Create, structure and lead the teams is significant for a CEO role.
Currently ABC need for strong bridge to link all the employees
together regardless their levels, because now I am implementing
the company policy, treating everybody equally, giving them
promotion based on the heads recommendation aligning with ABC
grading system. I assume having personal network and developed
plan will help to give clear direction for employees and will maintain

my control, to be able to lead ABC teams successfully.

Shape and reinforce organisational culture on ABC strategy and
structure, has allow me interact with the employees individually to
know ABC culture. Understand their emotions in order to do the best
way of the changes or to start with the changes. I assume this way
will reduce the resistance of the changes 80% in order to achieve
ABC goals.

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ABC Company
Apart from that, my current role towards the key concepts, I have started meeting all the
department head talk about formal and informal subjects in order to build strong relation with
them also have visited them at their offices. This will assist me to conduct with them brain
storming for ABC strategy. Working with a team and encouraging people to do so in order to
achieve the deadline and avoid errors. Maintaining a secure and competitive environment in
order to promote the outstanding people. But I have not yet start with the strategy, because I
am wanting for the whole team to be available in March 2016.
Meanwhile, I have indicated (Daft 2013) strategies for survival to have big changes in my
personal and professional life:

Generalist strategy: more narrow area, the demand decrease/ increase for some
products and services due to diversity of the products, service and customers, this
strategy is able to reallocate sources internally to changing environment such a flora

and fauna company

Specialist strategy: more competitive, not able to reallocate sources internally to
changing environment due to small size of the company, it is moving faster and
flexible in adapting the changes environment, such as Olmec corporation

Therefore I can influence ABC success frequently when I have determined specialist strategy
for an open niche since ABC is a sport company so there is no diversity in products, services
or customers. It can adapt with the changes easily. Same as me, I can adapt with the changes
and be flexible in developing and moving up to higher level and study in the same time to
achieve my desire goals on an accurate time and most importantly benefit the community that
I belongs to.
Eventually, I identify my potential area for development, the harmony
between the assessment test results indicate that I need to focus more in
working alone, thinking diverse ways like a CEO, move rapidly ABC with
the dynamic changes or thinking political, where I am extremely strong in
the following skills, such as ready for internal role, mindfulness vs
environment (certain and uncertain), political skills decision making,
corporate
11

culture

reference,

innovation

skills,

goal

setting,

the

ABC Company
organisation size and fitting service organisation like ABC company that I
am working in. Additional my networking skills is not too bad.

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ABC Company
Personal Action Plan
Duration

Goals

Describe/expr
ess

Measurement

Obstacles

Resources

Time table

Balancing of
working
alone and
team

Rely on myself
and learn how
to be
independent

set everyday one

project for myself

Time consumer and

other responsibilities

Using my skills,
attend online course
for three days

14/16 Feb
2016

Strategy and
performance
strength
skills

Adapt ABC for

dynamic time
and
environment

design the strategy

based on
competitive,
resilience and
sustainability by
having performance
management system

New company and

no performance
management makes
the competitive not
display

Having performance
management system
to measure the
performance of the
employees

Immediately

Evolution of
style

Have different
view of
thinking to
move up ABC

Have written
scenario with some
options to change
my way of thinking.
Have always plan B
& C in my mind

time consumer,
make an urgent
decision, sensitive
cases

best practice as per

the bench market
and measure what
other management
move on

Immediately

MBA

I am working
on that by
forcing myself
on my studies

everyday study for

two hours to
complete it
successfully

working hours,
destination from
home to work vs,
find a quite area to
study and most
important wolf
connection issue

Books, materials,
lap top, internet,
access to university
website, note book
and pen

2016

Strategy

Work on the
ABC strategy
with the
departments
head and
escalate it to
the board of
directors for
their approval

By meeting the
departments head
every day for two
hours to determine
the ABC strategy in
a month time

Time consumer also

each department
heads has some
projects to focus on

Using the meeting

room, flop chart,
projector and big
screen in order show
live strategy classes
to the board of
directors

2016

Handle this
role and be one
of the board of
directors

Setting every week

with board of
directors and write
down the new
knowledge and
information I gained
for each meeting
and practice it

Sometimes they get

busy with other
meetings

Use my vehicle to
go to head office.
Use my talented
skills to learn fast
and practice it these
days

2017

financial and time

management

2020

Short
Term

Medium
Term

Long
Term

CEO

PHD

13

To start in
2017 studying
PHD in HR

Start in January
2017 with a wellknown university

Maybe unsecure
world politically.
ABC chairman
allows me to study

ABC Company
Therefore, the action plan designed in short, medium and long terms to set my goal &
combine all objectives (personal & professional) in one hierarchy.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I have explored very important skills that I really in need to
understand myself firstly and secondly understand where the company
should reach.
Daft (2013) assessment makes life easy. The results show me where I
have to focus and where I am talented in. Meanwhile as a Director of HR,
my role has to do major changes and adjustment to success the
organization. Indeed, Daft structure guides me to know where are the
gaps of ABC, select the topics of interest and link them with my
weaknesses in order to allow me to develop these both areas personally
and professionally.
Finally I have drown an action plan in order to achieve my short, medium
and long terms positively.
1. Future workplace research opportunities: It is better to have
examples from Dubai United Arab Emirates companies or make
study in the Middle East regain that it match with our culture.
2. Future dissertation opportunities: It is good to have more authors
talking about same concept also have a separate test in Daft book
for a boss and a peer of the student in order to rate him/her beside
the students test
Word count: 3048

References
Allen, R. K.(2012). What is organizational design? [Online][Accessed 18 January
2016] available at: http://www.centerod.com/2012/02/what-is-organizationaldesign/
Bayt. Strategic Career Partner. [Online][Accessed 18 January 2016] available at:
http://selecttraining.ae/?
gclid=CjwKEAiA2ve0BRDCgqDtmYXlyjkSJACEPmdwEep0lwUVebr1ghuUR3SFWJtnu
E7pi6wIQhF3g3P90hoCEF7w_wcB
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ABC Company
Daft R.L. (2013) Organization Theory & Design. Eleventh Edition. South-Western.
Cengage Learning. pp.1-662.

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ABC Company
Appendix
In this section, kinldy refer to all the PDP tests that I have completed so far based
on (Daft 2013). Appendices 1:
Chapter 1

Chapter 2

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ABC Company
Chapter 3

Chapter 4

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Chapter 5

Chapter 6

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Chapter 7

Chapter 8

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Chapter 9

Chapter 10

20

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Chapter 11

Chapter 12

21

ABC Company
Chapter 13

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ABC Company

Appendices 2 (Feedback from Boss and a peer):

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ABC Company

Appendices 3
According to that, I have indicated the main goals and included objectives
in different period;
Durat
ion

Goals

Specific

Measurabl
e

Achievable

Realistic

Short
term

To
complete
my
Master in
Business
Administr
ation

Study
Master in
Business
Administr
ation

Pass two
top up
modules
and
dissertatio
n

Focus on my
study and give
3 hours every
day from my
times

Medi
um
term

To be
Chief
Executive
Officer

Get my
promotio
n to be
CEO of
the
company

By interact
with board of
directors and
other
departments
head to
understand the
business
perfectly

Long
term

To revise
the
strategy

Update
the
strategy
to align
Expo
2020

Once I
complete
one year
of service
and
understan
d the
direction
the
business
Based on
the
performan
ce of the
company
and the
SWOT

Have the
right
materials
and get the
feedback
directly
from the
supervisors
Conducting
formal and
informal
meetings
periodically

24

By meeting
again the head
of department
and adapt with
the changes

To have
resilience
and
sustainabilit
y
environmen
t

Time
boun
d
2016

2017

2020

ABC Company
Strategic Management Project Report Guidelines

Synopsis
Board of directors have asked me to design a strategy for ABC, because
there is no strategy. They advised me to conduct meeting with the
departments head and think about organisational strategy. Therefore, I
have gathered overview of structural design (Daft 2013, p. 70). Then I
have collected the organisational structure, and designed the group based
on their job function, and grading structure in order to design the
correlation and linked them horizontal and vertical also organisational
structure is reflected in the organisation chart (Daft 2013, p. 70).
Therefore the new organisation chart shows with the changes is indicated
in recommendation section.

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ABC Company
Report Structure
Table of content
Report Structure for Personal Development Plan.......................................................
Synopsis........................................................................................................... 21
Report Structure............................................................................................... 22
Table of content................................................................................................ 22
List of abbreviations and Acronyms..........................................................................
Executive Summary..................................................................................................
Introduction..............................................................................................................
1.1 Company overview.................................................................................. 25
1.2 Business case for restructuring...............................................................26
Challenges:....................................................................................................... 26
Core values of the company:............................................................................ 27
Organizational behavior:.................................................................................. 28
Internal & External conditions:.........................................................................28
Literature review......................................................................................................
Recommendation.....................................................................................................
Conclusion................................................................................................................
References................................................................................................................
Appendix..................................................................................................................

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ABC Company
List of abbreviations and Acronyms
Desk procedures: means that easy to find the documents by your hand,
such as documented the results and analyses, hand over, JDs...
Effective communication: to be clear, precise, polite and respectful in
delivering or receiving information
Professionalism: to maintain the highest level of ethical values while
working towards achieving the companys goals
Customer oriented: to provide highest level of satisfaction to internal and
external customers by providing excellent service
Deduction: being motivated to continuously provide the highest level of
quality service with continuously improvement and improvisation of
technology and facilities
Integrity: to remain, trustworthy, loyal, honest and clear in all aspects
Creative and Innovation: brain storming and build new ideas that company
with the nature of ABC objectives
SHRM: Strategic Human Resources Management

Internal Scan : (Strengths and weaknesses)

External Scan: (Opportunities and Threats)

Strategy: a plan of action that explain source activities and allocation with
dealing with organisation to achieve the company objectives ( Daft 2013)
Goals and strategy are the scope of the organisation and employees,
competitors and customers ( Daft 2013)
organizational behavior: Actions and attitudes of individuals and groups
toward one another and toward the organization as a whole, and it is
effect on the organization's functioning and performance (Business
direction, n.d).
Formalization: Administrative procedures, policy and regulation and job
descriptions.
Specialization: ABC has technical staff who are specialised in such function
also we have multitasks, like office assistant, secretary, administrators,

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ABC Company
Hierarchy of Authority: it breaks employees
managers
directors
board of directors

supervisors
chairman.

Centralization: the power and the decision limited only with directors and
above

Executive Summary
In this paper, I have written a brief the background of ABC has took place,
explained the structural dimensions and the contingency factors of the
company. It has indicated some challenges due to new organization; no
strategic organization also lack of communication.
The role of the directors at ABC has been explained and supported by the
authors point of views and the issues have been addressed and analyzed
the internal and external environment by using five forces model and
SWOT analysis. Therefore I have allotted Human Recourses sector out of
ten sectors (Daft 2013), since it is serve my department, and I have put
the efforts from Human Resources perspectives.
Provided an action plan for the current issues, with indicating whom is
going to handle this particular project, how he/ she is going to handle,
with whom and decided the timeframe. At the end, I have stimulated
some recommendations for the issues addressed.
The reference details has been taken from google scholar, Wolverhampton
university e-library and Daft 2013 book to support this work.
I have indicated the extra charts and diagrams in the appendix for a
reference.

28

ABC Company
Introduction
In this paper, the researcher has taken ABC company as a case study to
restructuring the organisation. During my experience with ABC I have
understood some of the organisation features and observed that this
company is like other companies over the world has some strengths and
weaknesses. The structure dimensions of the organisation are that the
company is in a good shape, the employees having high wages and strong
benefits. They are loyal to the company, low turnover and high demand of
specialised applicants. Comparing with the other organisations, ABC is
leading the others in all aspects except in strategic structure. Having the
best sports facilities and best employees with skill set, in fact lot of
candidates grabbing the opportunities to work in this organisation.
1.1 Company overview
ABC is a sport company, having most of sports facilities and equipment
designated for sporty people. It is a hospitality environment and
considered as a private sector under government supervision. The
company is in a median point in the market, employed more than 200
talented, sporty staff and exports with over than 200 nationalities,
different ages and various cultures. Having big mega sports events
periodically per annum locally and internationally. The hierarchy of
organisation is span to narrow, the authority and the power is only with
the top management. Indeed it is a centralization organisation.
Most importantly is the company is growing successfully and increasing
number of the staff in order to provide sports equipment and service the
customers. Currently, ABC does not have competitors due to leading
position that the company has gained in the Middle East territory,
however Gulf politics it might affect the business by time to time.
Contingency factors are considered main influence factors that can shape
the organisation structure. ABC has contributing healthful sports and
29

ABC Company
fitness in the region as one of the company goals; however I am aiming as
Human Resources Director focusing on dimensions of organisational
design in all aspects since ABC does not have strategy till date in order to
comply with the smart City (Dubai), and improve the communication
skills/ channels to increase the performance of the employees.
However there are some minor and major challenges that influence the
organisation in order to run business smoothly. In this regards two major
challenges have indicated in this paper and solving these issues would
take sometimes to help the organisation to grow properly.
1.2 Business case for restructuring
There are significant factors that influence ABC environment internally and
externally. Hence the aim of this research is to shape and draw the
organisation structure to do major changes during three years ahead since
there neither strategy nor objectives. It would require writing the vision,
mission and company statement, and identifying the elements that may
affect the business by using appropriate tools in order to enhance the
environment in human and mechanism fields. Organisation environment
is defined as everything that exists outside the boundary of the
organisation and has the potential to affect all or part of the organisation
(Daft 2013). Hence the best tool to identify the organization is SWOT
Analysis. This instrument is one of the significant instruments helps to
analyse ABC organisation.
Challenges:
Challenges the idea that there can be a one best way and instead
seeks to replace prescription with choice. Begins by reviewing the two
main models of changing the planned and emergent approaches, before
moving on to discuss the merits of adopting a contingency model of
change (Bernard, B 1996). In this instance ABC is suffering with lack of
communication skills in all levels as well as no clear or written strategy.
Partially there are some lacks on structural and contextual dimensions.
That impacts on the behaviour and performance of the employees of not
30

ABC Company
receiving information and lack of knowledge pursues lack of tools
technology which require for more manpower in order to process the
documents in appropriate rapidly way.
The expectation here is to have appropriate systematic/structural
organisation and develop the organisation from Human Resources point of
view within three years, such as:

Enhance the organisation communication skills and build strong

network internally and externally

The communication can be solved by having soft system to take the
authorities signatures (because each of authorities signatures is
seating in different office), that channels will connect the employees
together in order to make it simple and easy by reducing the span
authorized approvals which will reduce the cost and cut short the
time.
Social network should be in formal and informal meetings and

sharing information or news by emails and face to face that need

more improvement.
Design organisation structure and have ABC strategy
Creating organisational structure and design strategy for the

company
Building awareness for the employees after designing the vision and
mission to know where ABC is going, moving from one point to
another and where it should reach.

This study would change the major Issues in ABC which influence all the
employees and external factors in positive way. Meanwhile, the company
will require to have values for employees to adapt their ethical behaviour
based on the following points:
Core values of the company:

Effective communication between all the employees, customers and

suppliers
Professionalism when dealing with each other and to reach to the
companys goals

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ABC Company

Customer oriented by solve the issues if any, assist and satisfy the

internal and external customers legally

Deduction: with the quality of work and maintain enhancing the

technology
Integrity saying the truth and ensure about the information of ABC

staff are passing correctly

Creative and Innovation for best practice in HR department
specifically and ABC generally

Organizational behavior:

Macro in big picture: focus on the structure and overall ABC levels.
In 2015, I designed the salary scale and grading system and cleanup
the system to align all the existing positions in a particular job

function in order to have organizational structure

Micro comes with more details and focus on the individuals such as
(motivation, training Daft 2013). In 2016 I will be focusing more on
strategic plan and training and development to improve the
communication skills.

Internal & External conditions:

External environment:
1. Macro-environment 10 sectors analysis ( Daft 2013); (refer to
appendices 1).

32

ABC Company
Factor

International
context

Description

ABC

Industry

Competitors, industry size and

competitiveness

Not applicable

Raw
Materials

Suppliers, manufacturers and

service

ABC provides service for the costumers and deal with

suppliers for providing sports machines

SocioCultural

Age, culture, work ethic, values,

beliefs

Create an enjoyable times and design the strategy based

on ABC culture

Computers, information
Technological technology and techniques of
production
Financial
Stock markets, banks and savings
Resources
Human
Resources
Market
Economic
Conditions

Try to minimize using paper and automate all the

documents via electronics service and self-service
ABC do the payment transactions of purchasing and
paying employees salaries via the banks

Employment agencies, training

and development, policy

People at ABC feel that the companys rules are now

much safety, fairness and systematic than before

Customers, potential users of

services and products

ABC has customers who use the sports facilities through

good service

Unemployment rate and inflation

rate growth

ABC is a successful organization. It is growing

gradually and increase number of staff based on opening
new sports departments
ABC belongs to Dubai government where it follows
Dubai government law as a policy

City, services, rules and

regulations
Competition from and
International
Not applicable
acquisitions by foreign firms
Out of 10 sectors of Daft, I have selected Human Resources sector to
Government

understand the influence of ABC SHRM. Thus I have to conduct:

The Importance of Human Resource Management (HRM) (refer to
appendices 2)
1. Once the org structure is in place and jobs have been identified, ABC
need people to fill the jobs created.
2. Quality of an org = quality of people (hired and kept)
3. A significant source of competitive advantage
4. An important strategic tool
Achieve competitive success through people by treating employees as
partners, and working on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs ( Motivation Theory
) and develop them (Refer to appendices 3). Since the company is not
33

ABC Company
focusing in this, it will be my main changes in this company to understand
the employees and build relationship to enhance the communication. Also
involve the department heads to design the organization and have
organisation structure.
2. Micro environment (Porters Five Forces model)
Internal environment (Porters value chain)
Micro (porters 5 force analysis), building business case (Refer to
appendices 4). To ensure the business actually makes the transformation
from one that focuses on individual performance to one that stresses
collaboration and social connections, everyone from the CEO to entry-level
employees must embrace the change. The best way to get them to do this
is to involve them in the process from the start. Involve ABC
management, employees, Human Resources, Information Technology and
managers (Turek, M. 2012). The Porter's Five Forces tool is a simple but
powerful tool for understanding where power lies in a business situation.
This is useful, because it helps you understand both the strength of your
current competitive position, and the strength of a position you're
considering moving into (Mindtools, 2016). Having said that, porters 5
force analysis describe as follows;
Threat of new entry: ABC is a unique company. So this is not

consider as threaten factor because eventually it is supported by

the government
Supplier power: ABC has lot of suppliers in order to provide the

products it is requires accordingly and the payment is done

-

immediately
Buyer power: ABC is non-profit company. It is a club where players

comes and utilize the facilities on free of cost

Competition: there is no competitive company for ABC as it is non-

profit company
Threat of Substitution: as indicated earlier, financially ABC is high so
there is no threaten concern.

34

ABC Company
Daft (2013) has confirmed that managers in non-profit company deal with
various stakeholders and ABC services is to attract clients, donators and
volunteers. He empathizes that the organisation comprises many sectors
with stimulatory factors; such as Industry, Raw materials, Human
Resources, financial resources, market, technology, economic conditions,
government, sociocultural and international sectors. Out of these sectors,
I have selected SHRM. Human Resource (HR) department is frequently
accorded a key role in shaping ABC direction through programme of
strategic change involving best practice transfer or culture change
(Martin, G. & Beaumont, P. 2010). Daft (2013, p.3) says that an
organization can be understood primarily by understanding the people
who make it up (Refer to appendices 5).
External and internal environments (SWOT analysis and GAP analysis)
SWOT Analysis is one of the significant tools helps to analyse the company
(refer to appendices 6).
Internal Scan
Strengths
Weaknesses
ABC strong financially
No Strategy
Talented employees
No proper system
Some resistants from employees to adapt
Good growth
with the changes
Biases
External Scan
Opportunities
Threats
ABC is leading the market due to paying
high wages and benefits
Resilience environment
Geographic politics
Can obtain for the best facilities and sports
machines easily and in short term
Identification of ABC helps to create the mission, and this mission can be statement. From
knowing the mission, ABC can create strategic plan/ objectives (Objs), such as maximizing
stakeholder values so the goals must be more measurable, upon these Objs it will be divided
the tasks to the departments. Each department comes with Business Unit (budget and plans)
and bring business case.
35

ABC Company
Plan for changes: ABC has to do changes from time-to-time structures,
management processes and some administrative procedures if required
also create strategy.
CSR
Competitiv

Why change
Plan
It requires focusing on this positively To encourage the staff to

eness

among the staff. On the other hand work hard based on their
the top management must consider objectives and aligning with
this on developing the employees, the policy and procedures
obtaining for new technology and and ABC vision. Motive and
equipment machine to maintain on reward them tangible and
the highest position in the market, intangible manner
because

the

relationship

between

ABC and a new technology would be

understood

visa

job

descriptions

( Daft 2013, p.610). To have a proper

competitive, ABC must enhance the
Sustainabil

communication among them

Opposite than resilience to keep the To involve the departments

ity

system

operating

within

an head

on

designing

the

unchanging envelope of variability company strategy by having

(William E. R., 2014).

brain storming meeting. Also

create

employee

voice

system for any suggestion or

may

be

complains.

Also

check the bench market for

Organizatio ABC

has

to

have

sustainability
organisational Most of our

employees

nal

resilience in order to survive with resistance for the change,

Resilience

affected

factors,

so

the

company and will start grouches and

should be rapidly change when it complains.

needs

For

that,

ABC

must build awareness for the

employees and push them
for

36

training

to

avoid any

ABC Company
future resistance

Literature review
Organisation theory assists the management to link between the history
of the company and the future in order to manage ABC effectively (Daft
2013, p.7) it can be applied also for non-profit company like ABC (Daft
2013, p8). Therefore Nadler and Tushman (1999) said it is significant to
understand ABC and understand the environment where it operates and
other factors that influence and make up an organization. It is importantly
addresses problems of competitive strategy (Bowman, C.1997). Thus ABC
has to put into accounts and understand right from the beginning the
elements as demonstrated by (Daft 2013). They are four structural
dimensions: Formalization, Specialization, Hierarchy of Authority and
Centralization (Daft 2013). Andrews,R, Boyne,G.A, Law,J. and Walker, R.
M. (2009) say that there is no independent result on service performance
in

centralization

performance,

and

when

controlling

service

for

expenditure.

external
However,

constraints,
the

prior

influence

of

centralization considers as contingent factor on ABC strategic orientation.

Perhaps ABC does work best in Centralized decision making works with
defending in conjunction, but in emphasize prospecting organizations, the
decentralized decision making works best.
On the other hand, the five contingency factors that impact on ABC:
Strategy and objectives, environment, culture, size and technology (Daft
2013). Such as examines the integration, outline, and alignment between
HR procedures:
Welfare, Compensation Management, Structure and Policies, HR Flow,
HRD, Communication Systems, Performance Management, Culture and
Industrial Relations and the Organizational Strategies Primary Statements:
Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Core Values and Core Competencies
and Supportive Statements: Corporate Strategy, Business Strategy, HRM
Strategy. They add No correlation was found between Structure &

37

ABC Company
Policies and Business and HRM strategies (Rao, G. V. & Krishna, D. J.,
2015).

Meanwhile Walters, B. A., Priem, R.L., Shook and Christopher L. (2005)

advise that recognise variances in the internal firm attributes and external
environmental

sectors

they

examine

best

when

following

diverse

strategies. Advise ABC to measure the new strategy as the degree of

which

service

providers

are,

defenders,

reactors

and

prospectors

(Andrews, R, Boyne,G.A, Law,J., & Walker, R. M. 2009). The measurement

preventive required (Justin H. D., & Nicholas J. S., 2010).
In fact Nagayoshi, S. (2015) says Strategy Execution is a significance point
for ABC to maintain sustainable growth. ABC should be able to transform
strategic tactics into operation/ action is also a bit concern.
The big challenges are here that ABC does not have strategy, lack of a
clear direction and strategy integrated with strict control in core areas
(Stnu, C. 2014). Also lack of communication among the levels, therefore
it is necessary to improve communication (Daft, 2013, p.133) and
impalement a Strategy for ABC (Rocamora, C. Vera, J. & Abada, R. 2013).
"funding for research is clearly inadequate and needs to be increased
within an overall strategy (Ahlstrom, D. & Irish T. 2000)." Thereafter ABC
employees must be given a chance for development and training (Daft
2013, p.148) in order to enhance the communication part.
To accomplish and support ABC strategic plan and maintain employees
considered in the ABC direction determined by vision, mission and
objectives (Daft 2013, p130) also cascade those objectives to the second
level for action and accountabilities. Here is general consensus that
accountability involves a relationship between the 'principal' who has
delegated responsibility (Law, J. 2005). He adds that compulsory
competitive tendering, market testing and others can be achieved through
their accountabilities however he suggested that accountability has not
been importantly developed by reforms to performance information
organizational structure, and markets. Hussain, B and Asad, A. (2012)
38

ABC Company
said something against the concept to look at the duplicated structure of
the triple system of policy responsibilities and put provide some
suggestions in order to improve the system as well as to build a policy
that is more responsible. Whereas Ferry, L., Eckersley, P., and Zakaria, Z.
(2015) argue that effect on organisational performance (Bovens, 2005),
longstanding hierarchical accountability structures to ensure financial
conformance. Finally Dafts (2013) comments contingency framework for
environmental uncertainty and organisational responses referenced helps
managers understand ways in which environmental uncertainty influences
organisational characteristics. Adds there is no perfect structure because
it is all depends.
The board of directors roles influence on corporate-level strategies well. It
is described and understood in the literature of strategic management
(Matyjas, Z. 2014). Managers have to understand fully the organisations,
assess them as open systems like integrate them with the company to
survive (Daft, 2013, p. 32). Whereas Watson, A. and Wooldridge, B.(2005)
disagreed that ABC manager does impact significantly on corporate
strategy they agreed that the effectiveness is occurred by corporate
strategy itself, or by company performance. Daft ( 2013 p. 34) confirms
that open systems made up of numerous interconnections and divergent
choices

that

create

unintended

effects

and

render

the

whole

unpredictable
In fact managers require understanding the company structure before
creating strategies that focusing on attractive system. Unsure defines the
situation when a manager makes decision with no valid information
regarding environmental elements and has a challenging time expecting
external changes (Daft 2013, p. 153). The organisation and managers
have to understand and modify continuously changing demands and make
the organisation structure design resilience at any time and manage the
changes gearing towards contingency factors and avoid organisational
risks

39

ABC Company
After analyzing the role of the mangers on changing ABC structure and
have resilience strategy, and under the dynamic market circumstances,
ABC managers require a strategy with a new model in order to form
sustainable competitive advantage (Massingham, P. 2004). The author
comments that the results of external environment and ABC structure in
the connection with level of business strategy and ABC performance
(Nandakumar, M. K., Ghobadian, A., O'Regan, & Nicholas 2010).

40

ABC Company
Presenting the restructured organization
With this regards, I am planning to do some changes at ABC, considering
the challenges and given recommendation for this project.
Challenges Responsibilit Task given
No strategy

Time

y people
HR,

bounds
Set a brain storming meeting with The plan has

Departments

all the departments head. Design to

head

and the strategy by understanding the March

(board
directors
final

start

of nature of the business and create a end

and approval)

and

structural

close

system

by

2016

also for

dimension

and

up

for clear vision, mission. Consider the June

decision open

in

three

and years

contingency factors. Using the right resilience,

tools

and

accurately

work

towards

in

fact

these competitive
there and

is no overall strategy (Ahlstrom, D. sustainabilit

Lack

of HR

& Irish, T. 2000)

and Involve all ABC

staff

in

y strategy
any This project

communica

departments

tion

head ( have to changes and explain to them the implement

cooperate

changes, build awareness of the has

to

reason of the changes prior to the accordingly

with

the implementation.

It

policy

and conducting

training

procedures)

requires

also to

the

and awareness

development courses to enhance and mind set

the

communication

channel. of

all

the

Additional, communication system employees,

by having HR system in order to and
pay

salary

for

the

coach

employees them in the

instead of using manual system and system

will

self-service benefits system to allow require

ABC employees to manage and year time to

have more strategic activities (Daft ensure
41

the

ABC Company
2013,

p372).

That

will

reduce plan

for

number of manpower, time and accomplish

efforts. Having multi choices of ment
communication,
meeting

such

as

formal,

emails,
informal;

conference room; outing..

Recommendation
In this section I have indicated the new structure diagram since ABC does
not have before, considering the existing, new and remove positions are
no longer existing in the organization;

I have indicated the new organization structure based on business

requirement. Having indicating the important departments and the
positions that through them ABC will continue running the business,
creating some important positions and redundant some unimportant
posts. Since ABC is new company, there were no reporting lines, no clear
42

ABC Company
structure, no finance and IT departments also some sports game are not
exists before.
Now I have created new ABC structure that shows clearly who reported to
whom and the career bath for the employees is visible.
This resilience environment will make life easy, so I can create new
positions or departments smoothly whenever the company require for.

43

ABC Company
Conclusion
In conclusion, ABC has major challenges that should be taken seriously
because ignore it will affect the business and the performance of the staff
so it will get worse and worse by using the right sources in order to solve
the issues accordingly and increase the performance of the employees.
The issues that still waving since ABC it is established the business up to
date are: no organizational strategic and lack of communication.
The role of the directors/ managers is to understand the direction of ABC
based on that they can write the strategy and the subsequent in order to
cascade it to the ABC departments as objectives so people will be more
involve and communication will increase.
I have allotted Human Recourses sector out of ten sectors (Daft 2013),
and I have put the efforts from Human Resources point of view. Last I have
designed an action plan for the current situation and issues, and I have
stimulated some recommendations towards ABC issues.
Nevertheless, the impact on new structure of organizational effectiveness
and efficiency can be done by obtaining sources easily through a
particular department or a position, achieving the goals via a position, and
under whom supervision. Also easily identify which department can satisfy
the stakeholders. Meanwhile collaboration between the departments and
the positions in different levels are made sense. Putting into account CSR
that ABC is planning to create a competitive environment among the staff,
having a reward system and measure their performance through right
channels. Sustainability company can be achieved by having alternatives
plans in order to continuing survive and resilience environment would help
ABC to cross the challenges over any dynamic changes occurred in the
world such as the second economic crisis 2016.
Word count: 4343
44

ABC Company
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47

ABC Company
Appendix
Appendices 1(removed due to big size)
Appendices 2(removed due to big size)
Appendices 3(removed due to big size)
Appendices 4(removed due to big size)
Appendices 5:
Video by the late Steve Jobs for Apple company On Managing
People:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f60dheI4ARg
Appendices 6: A SWOT Chart

48