week 8

Week 8 - Overview & Learning Objectives

Week 8 - Overview & Learning Objectives

Attached Files:

·  Chapter 8. Manufacturing and Service Technologies.pptx  Chapter 8. Manufacturing and Service Technologies.pptx - Alternative Formats (879.085 KB)

Assigned Readings:

Chapter 8. Manufacturing and Service Technologies.

Overview:

Chapter 8 discusses core manufacturing, including extremely complex technologies that can be dangerous or hazardous unless handled by high reliability organizations. Next, the chapter explores core service and noncore departmental technologies. The technology for the organization influences organizational structure and design for both manufacturing and service technologies. Differences in departmental technologies influence the design and management of organizational subunits. Finally, the chapter looks at how interdependence—the flow of materials and information among departments—affects organization design.

Chapter 8. Manufacturing and Service Technologies

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter you should be able to:

1. Define an organization’s core technology and its influence on organization design.

2. Explain Woodward’s model of technical complexity, structure, and performance.

3. Apply the distinctive qualities of organization design that enable organizations to operate exceptionally complex technologies with few breakdowns and extremely rare catastrophes.

4. Compare service technology and manufacturing technology in terms of their impact on organization design.

5. Define departmental technology and its relationship to department design.

6. Identify three types of interdependence and their respective structural priority.

Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 8

Assigned Readings:

Chapter 8. Manufacturing and Service Technologies.

Initial Postings:  Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

1. A top executive claimed that top-level management is a craft technology because the work contains intangibles, such as handling personnel issues, interpreting an ambiguous environment, and coping with unusual situations. Do you agree? What type of structure or management process is appropriate for top-level managers?

[Your post must be substantive and demonstrate insight gained from the course material. Postings must be in the student's own words - do not provide quotes!]

 [Your initial post should be at least 450+ words and in APA format (including Times New Roman with font size 12 and double spaced). Post the actual body of your paper in the discussion thread then attach a Word version of the paper for APA review]

Submitting the Initial Posting: Your initial posting should be completed by Thursday, 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Activity 8

To what extent does the development of new technologies simplify and routinize the job of employees?  Can you give an example? Can the new technology also lead to greater variety and complexity?   Discuss. 

The assignment is to answer the question provided above in essay form. This is to be in narrative form and should be as thorough as possible. Bullet points should not to be used. The paper should be at least 1.5 - 2 pages in length, Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins and utilizing at least one outside scholarly or professional source related to competitive strategy. The textbook should also be utilized. Do not insert excess line spacing. APA formatting and citation should be used.