Assignment title: Management
Module 2 - Case
ORGANIZATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC MODELS
Assignment Overview
XCG
The Excellent Consulting Group
Communication from Art:
Thank you for your report on the strategy analysis of Whole Foods
Market. Now, we need to move ahead to the next part of this project.
ABC Company and Whole Foods Market have decided they want to do
an Organizational Diagnosis to determine how various aspects of Whole
Foods Market are aligned, such as inputs, resources, productivity,
throughput effort, outputs, performance, strategy, etc. They want to know
if there are any significant issues at Whole Foods Market and how these
issues might affect its integration into ABC Company.
Required Reading:
Download and read this white paper by Falletta about OD models.
Salvatore Falletta, President and CEO of Leadersphere, has written a
white paper that reviews several commonly used models of
organizational diagnosis. You will use several of these models in
conducting your integrative Case project. The relevant part of this paper
in terms of this class is the first 31 pages. The last part of the paper (pp.
32-43) deals with the theoretical foundations of the Burke & Litwin
model, Falletta's Organizational Intelligence Model; reading that is
optional. We are not covering Falletta's Organizational Intelligence
Model.
Falletta, S. V. (2005) Organizational Diagnostic Models: A Review and
Synthesis. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.iei.liu.se/fek/frist
/723g16/files/1.120328/Orgmodels.pdf
Falletta provides an overview of Open Systems Theory (OST) in his
Listen
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a basis for most of the later models. For a deeper understanding, go to
the following optional reading and read about systems, systems thinking,
and organizations as open systems. You will see that businesses are not
unlike living organisms: they depend on the environment for sustenance;
they comprise multiple, mutually dependent parts; and they affect the
environment in the course of their daily activities. Open Systems Theory
provides valuable insights into organizations.
Optional Reading:
Systems Thinking and Learning Organizations (n.d.). National Defense
University. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/stratldr-dm/pt1ch4.html
Review Case Analysis since it is so important in this final course. The
purpose of a Case is to show that you have thought critically about the
subject matter that you are learning and to make an argument for
a Claim about the specific situation in the Case Assignment. Stephen
Toulmin has developed an Argument Methodology that is very useful
in Making a Case. To review Case Analysis and Toulmin's Argument
Methodology, go to Making a Case.
Case Assignment
There is some disagreement in the Executive ranks as to which OD
method or model should be used. Some executives have familiarity with a
couple of models, but it seems to be only based on what they have read
or heard about. You need to explore some models and determine their
strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately recommend which one is best
for Whole Foods Market. As part of making that determination, you will
also need to identify several critical issues facing Whole Foods Market.
The executives want you to include the 7S model, the Congruence
Model, and the Burke-Litwin Model in your analysis. Pick three or four
more models to include for a well-rounded group of OD models.
Prepare a report in which you include the following:
A brief overview of what each of the six or seven models you are
analyzing does.
1.
2. Clearly identify the strengths and weaknesses of each model.
3. Identify and discuss two or three issues that Whole Foods Market is
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4. Determine which model you think is the best one to use.
Recommend which model to use. Make a Strong Case. Explain why
your selection would be the best choice, and how the recommended
model can be used to help diagnose the issues you have identified.
5.
This should be a 5- to 7-page paper (not including Title Page and
References).
Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated on the following seven points:
Precision - Does the paper address the question(s) or task(s)?
Breadth - Is the full breadth of the subject, that is, the Keys to the
Assignment, addressed?
Depth - Does the paper address the topic in sufficient depth and
include the background reading and other background resources as
references?
Critical thinking - Is the subject thought about critically, that is,
accurately, logically, relevantly, and precisely?
Clarity - Is the writing clear and are the concepts articulated properly?
Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of
responding to the questions or are points conveyed through excessive
use of quotations?
Organization - Is the paper well written? Are the grammar, spelling,
and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are headings
included in all papers longer than two pages?
Referencing (citations and references) - Does the paper include
citations and quotation marks where appropriate? Are the references
from the background reading and assignment present and properly
cited? Are all the references listed in the bibliography present and
referred to via citation?
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
You may use a simple diagram to highlight important factors. However,
do not use the diagram in lieu of valuable analysis (or to take up
valuable writing space) - it should be in addition to your 5-7 pages of
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analysis.
Just because you have written the minimum five pages does not mean
that you have adequately covered the topic. Err on the side of writing
more rather than less.
Choose the data you use carefully. Is it relevant and important?
Include a cover page and reference page, in addition to the 5-7 pages
of analysis described above.
Include headings within the paper.
Cite and reference all sources that you use in your work, including
those that you paraphrase. This means include citations and quotation
marks for direct quotes of more than five words, and citations for that
information which you have "borrowed" or paraphrased from other
sources.
Follow TUI Guidelines for well-written papers.
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