ASSIGNMENT TASK 2: DESCRIPTION
For this assignment, you will be investigating a “live” case. A held argument with the Harvard case method has always been that it seemed to be like training physicians by only letting them do autopsies. That is, the patient is already dead, so the outcome is known. Hence, it is preferable to work on a live patient, (case). For this you will be provided with a scenario that is currently occurring in the real world. You will be required to research information, rather than focus on a ‘generic’ case, presenting your own informed conclusions. The case is detailed below:
The online shoe retailer, Zappos (now a subsidiary of Amazon), has spent several years involved in a rather radical experiment in corporate management. Founder Tony Hsieh tried to institute the idea of holacracy, which is a full suite of concepts, but in simple terms seeks to flatten the organizational structure. The results to date have been mixed. Your goal is to use our case analysis tool to:
1) Put the transformations at Zappos in the context of what you have learned regarding accepted traditional theories of organizational behaviour.
Using the outline as used for Case Study One above, analyse the problem with Zappos, and the introduction of holacracy and teal. You document must use New Times Roman or Arial typeface, be single sided, use double line spacing, and APA referencing (in a separate page).
Assignment marking criteria: