BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION POST
BMGT 364 Wk 8 S. GARDNER initial post:
1. Pandemic: Major Effects on Planning for Smithfield Custom Furniture Company
Planning is the "process of setting goals and defining the actions required to achieve the goals" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-e). The pandemic will cause Smithfield to reevaluate their goals and create new ones. Then, a plan of action will need to be established to reach these goals for the year.
Pandemic: Most Significant Planning Action for Company
The most significant planning action the company will need to take to ensure its survival is to evaluate alternatives. Since it is unknown what is to come with the pandemic, it is important to be flexible. Evaluating alternatives will identify multiple ways to achieve goals and how difficult it would be to implement them. Managers can get ideas and input from others as "different perspectives can provide different solutions" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-f).
2. Pandemic: Major Effects on Organizing for Smithfield Custom Furniture Company
The organizing function is where management coordinates and combines the resources of the organization to complete the goals set out in the planning stage. This pandemic will directly impact the external environment. The external environment "consists of everything outside of organizations that can affect their performance and outcomes" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-c). This can be anything from new government mandates to suppliers slowing down production. Smithfield won't have any control over these things but they will directly affect them.
Pandemic: Most Significant Organizing Action for Company
The most significant organizing action the company will need to take to ensure its survival is to collaborate. Collaboration requires "all the key leaders, managers, and employees to collaborate in an attempt to create a better structure" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-c). Smithfield will need to collaborate with all levels and problem-solve together.
3. Pandemic: Major Effects on Leading for Smithfield Custom Furniture Company
The pandemic will test the leaders and managers of Smithfield. It is said that "the greatest success comes when strong leadership is paired with effective management" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-d). The pandemic will force managers will need to adapt to change quickly and well as help the employees to adapt as well. If the manager isn't a great leader, this could result in employees feeling neglected and lost.
Pandemic: Most Significant Leading Action for Company
The most significant leading action the company will need to take to ensure its survival is communicating. The company will face many obstacles throughout the pandemic and it's essential for there to be open communication as it provides clarity, build relationships, defines expectations, and creates commitment. When communication isn't clear, it can lead to confusion and misinformation. Leaders and managers must be "able to receive accurate information to determine plans, and they must be able to send accurate information for the plans to be implemented" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-a).
4. Pandemic: Major Effects on Controlling for Smithfield Custom Furniture Company
Control means "means guiding the activities, employees, and processes of an organization to reach goals, prevent errors, and abide by the law" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-b). With the pandemic, remote working will be very likely for Smithfield. Smithfield may find it harder to guide the processes and employees while not being in person.
Pandemic: Most Significant Controlling Action for Company
The most significant controlling action the company will need to take to ensure its survival is to implementing organizational control. Implementing control "involves developing rules, procedures, or other protocols for directing the work of employees and processes as well as monitoring the work" (Lumen Learning, n.d.-b). Creating these rules and procedures for remote work will help everyone get on the same page and know what is expected. It will be a new experience for everyone so having these rules and expectations will help people feel more at ease.
References
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-a). Communication and Management | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/communication-in-the-management-function/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-b). Control in the Business Setting | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/control-in-the-business-setting/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-c). Factors Impacting Organizational Design | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/factors-impacting-organizational-design/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-d). Leadership | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/what-is-leadership/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-e). Pros and Cons of Planning | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/reading-pros-and-cons-of-planning/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.-f). The Planning Cycle | Principles of Management. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-principlesofmanagement/chapter/the-planning-cycle/