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Business Problems and Metaphors Used

Both PepsiCo Americas Beverages and Amazon.com, Inc. as global companies represents interesting case studies for the review of some metaphorical elements of structure, business and management designs. To start with, PepsiCo being in the healthy food market has faced many challenges and setbacks. The biggest challenge has been integration of its global activities. From the metaphorical machine view, PepsiCo the over 300,000 employees are expected to work diligently and meet the shareholders goals of profitability and growth (Aguirre-Mar, 2013). As a machine, PepsiCo is a tool to achieve the ends of its owners. PepsiCo is also underpinned by the organismic view where it has to compete with the likes of Coca-Cola for market. Guided by its culture, PepsiCo aims at winning with its diverse employees through inclusion and respect of others.

On its part, Amazon is driven by a culture of expansion and growth. This is in addition to continuous innovation and lean management of the capital it purchases (Berryman, 2013). This is an indicator that organizations can adapt and change. Innovation is a good way that has helped the Company to find ways of dealing effectively with change. Given the dynamic and technological market niche it operates in, it has for instance transitioned from physical delivery to digital delivery which is a major change in both distribution and logistics. It is also worth noting that Amazon has continued to enter new markets by creating new products and services through related diversification. It has done so to edge out competition which is a major threat to its business operations.

Critical Issues Stated In the Cases

There are a myriad of critical issues stated in the cases. Ranking on top is adaptation to changes due to dynamic market place. This is followed by the organizational culture of the organizations. Within the organizational culture, there are leadership hierarchical issues. Other issues that dominate the organizations are the interests of the stakeholders within the organizations, conflicts among the employees and power issues between the top leadership and the subordinates given the diverse workforce. Additionally, there is the effect of the decisions that are made by the top leadership and implemented by the bottom-line employees.

Evaluation of the Proposed Solutions, Their Validity, and the Use of Metaphors in the Solutions

By clinging to the organizational culture in its global reach, PepsiCo has been able to be a dominant player in the healthy food market with its beverages. According to Aguirre-Mar (2013), given the over 300,000 employees, commands are given from the top of its management hierarchy and travel throughout PepsiCo’s organization in a precisely defined way to have a precisely defined effect. That is why the employees bound by rules and beliefs, are able to work diligently and meet the set goals. It is expected in such a diverse workplace that there are wrangles and conflicts, but guided by its culture, employees respect of other and they all feel included thus the success of the company. The proposed solutions in Amazon have also driven its unprecedented expansion and growth (Berryman, 2013). The use of metaphors have assisted in the solutions. Since organizations must adapt to change, Amazon has followed suit and transitioned from physical delivery to digital delivery. It very well understands the dynamic and technological nature of the market niche it operates in, therefore its creation of new products and services through related diversification.

Proposed Recommendations

There are numerous recommendations that I can propose to both PepsiCo and Amazon. Using the organismic view which emphasizes growth, adaptation and environmental relations, both companies could use available to resources to edge out competition. On its part, PepsiCo work diligently on its beverages to outcompete Coca-Cola. On its part, Amazon could tap into the potential of selling everything that is not possible with EBay. Employees are an important aspect when it comes to company success, therefore, both Companies should work on rewarding and promoting employees so that they are satisfied to deliver. It goes without saying that the diversity of their workforces calls or inclusion and respect. In order to adapt well to changes, employees must be trained and allowed space to be innovative.

Communicating the Solutions in Each Case

It is imperative to note that or global corporations, there are organizational structures that are in place to ensure the companies succeed. Therefore, solutions in PepsiCo will be communicated using their continental or regional offices. The regional managers will then communicate to their immediate inferiors and consequently to the subordinates. Similarly, Amazon would do the same by ensuring that all their global agents and employees get the decisions and necessary information that will guide them in executing their duties. Decisions made at the top of the organizational hierarchies are processed by the employees in both the middle and bottom levels thus aiding in achieving organizational objectives.

Takeaways/Benefits of Using Metaphors in Management Practice

In conclusion, metaphors are useful tools, particularly in organizational communication. The metaphors used in analyzing the case studies, create vivid mental images which help readers clearly interpret the case studies. According to Cornelissen, and Kafouros, (2008), they keep a clear mental picture of the organization. Undeniably, through the 8 elements, Morgan vividly elaborates a clear picture or perspective of an organization as a machine, brain, organism, machine, instruments of domination, psych-prison, flux and transformation and a political system. Through the use of metaphors, it easy to grasp the context of an organization, understand its hierarchical structure, management control, leadership style and behavior. The metaphors give a clear and broad perspective by slicing an organization from a given angle. As a final note, the use of metaphors in management practice, help individuals look at organizations from various perspectives and opens the possibility for continued innovation and success.

References

Aguirre-Mar, M. (2013). Global Structural Design and Results: PepsiCo Case. Journal of Strategic Leadership, 4(2), 6-13.