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Case Study Chapter Questions
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Case Study / Chapter Questions
Chapter 2
What is our major problem?
The main problem the company is experiencing has to do with the main executives agreeing on some strategies of taking the firm forward. Many of the executives agree on where the firm should be heading in both long- term and intermediate term, but there are little common grounds in how this can be achieved. Generally, the executives do not agree with each other.
Identify some symptoms of the problem.
There are several symptoms of this challenge. Firstly, the president of the company is losing control. Secondly, the frequency of conflicts occurring seems to be on the rise. Thirdly, some individuals are usually selected for any created new projects. Project managers think that only their ideas are the best, and lastly, more and more projects are missing their deadlines and surpassing the allocated budgets.
What is the major cause of the problem?
The central source of this difficulty is that all executives are working to benefit themselves and not the firm.
Provide a detailed action plan that attacks the problem. Be specific and provide examples that relate to HGC.
To solve this issue, more focus should be put to ensuring that everyone agrees to how different kinds of strategies are to be implemented, given the available resources to the firm. The plan should focus on putting all the executives to gear for the same results using specific strategies.
Chapter 3
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of the functional, matrix and dedicated team approaches to managing projects?
The major advantages of using functional approaches include no change to the parent organization, there is maximum flexibility in- depth expertise can be used and normal paths of career are maintained within a functional division. Some disadvantages include lack of focus, poor integration and slowness. Some advantages of the dedicated approach include, it is simple, fast cohesive and it allows cross- functional integration. Disadvantages include, it is expensive, it results to internal strife, limited expertise in technology and it leads to difficult transitions post- project. Advantages of the matrix approach include, it is efficient, it allows for a strong focus on projects, for easier transitions post- project and it is flexible. Disadvantages include, it brings about dysfunctional conflict, infighting, stress and it is slow.
What distinguishes a weak matrix from a strong matrix?
The two are different in that in a strong matrix the manager controls most aspects of the firm’s project while in a weak matrix the manager usually acts as an assistant who draws the checklists and schedules, and collects information about work status and facilitates the completion of the project.
Under what conditions would it be advisable to use a strong matrix instead of a dedicated project team?
In cases where the department of a functional manager serves as a subcontractor in the firm’s project, in which case the department has more control over the specialized activities and work.
How can project management offices (Pos) support effective project management?
Project managers should have the ability to operate in a number of diverse organizational cultures. As it follows, they can support effective management of projects by interacting with their parent organization’s culture, with the clients of the project organizations and with a host of several other organizations involved.
Why is it important to assess the culture of an organization before deciding what project management structure should be used to complete a project?
Because different organizations have, different cultures and different approaches apply to certain cultures only. Not all approaches can work for any culture.
Other than culture, what other organizational factors should be used to determine which project management structure should be used?
The formal structure of a firm and how it chooses to manage and organize projects.
What do you believe is more important for successfully completing a project- the formal project management structure or the culture of the parent organization?
The formal project management structure because it deals more directly with the project and, therefore, affects the project more.
Motorola and Verizon
Motorola and Verizon
Name
Institution
Motorola and Verizon
Vendors and retailers form alliance in order to benefits from each others superior quality services and products. When forming such an alliance, the partnering farm normally seek to make a powerful combination of superior qualities form both partners and create an unbeatable product that can withstand completion from other firms. The relationship between Verizon wireless and Motorola is a good example of this kind of alliance. Verizon is and multination telecommunication and broadband company while Motorola is also a global telecommunication brand which provides leading edge telecommunication technology solutions to clients worldwide-ranging from individuals, businesses to governments. In 2011, these two telecommunication giants teamed up to provide customers with unique telecommunication services (Pankaj, 2011). This was not the first time the giant teamed. As a retailer Verizon is doing a perfect job for Motorola.
First Verizon has a large commercial network that is of great benefit to Motorola. Verizon as carrier as access to large market which translate to million of consumers to whom the vendor sell its services (Solution Brief, n.d.). The partnership with Motorola means the Motorola technology (mobile devices) devices are easily distributed alongside Verizon’s services. To make this advantage real, Motorola has use it leading edge technology to develop phones designed to securely work on Verizon’s 2G, 3G and 4G networks safely (Jackson, 2011). The technology is unique, the best in the market, and Verizon can proudly sell the technoloy. This distribution is further supported by Verizon’s transportation ability. According to Walsh (2012) Verizon brought in to the alliance its market-leading nationwide transport muscle.
In addition to the distribution, the Motorola technology gets publicity through being marketed alongside the Verizon carrier services. For instance, devices designed by Motorola to ensure public safety integrity on Verizon’s 4G LTE network will be market to customers on the network. This way the vendor Verizon makes the customers aware of the Motorola technology. This is an effective publicity and marketing strategy since the probability of thousand of customers who are interested in their safety to buy the devices or technology is high.
Retailers are known to blend goods and increase the value. Certainly, Verizon will be able to boot the value of Motorola devices since, in addition to a market-leading nationwide transport muscle; Verizon brings into the alliance its applications development community. Verizon has a great community of application developers who develop application for mobile devices (Walsh, 2012). The provision of this application will enhance the utility that customers derive from using from using Motorola phones and communications devices. Being in an alliance Motorola can develop communication devices that have the ability to use popular applications. This is an enhancement that can make Verizon customer also become Motorola customer. The value addition service, therefore, expands that market for Motorola devices.
In conclusion, Verizon as a retailer provides several services to Motorola. Theses include publicity or advertising by providing Motorola devices alongside its services such as 3G, and 4G services. Once customers are made to understand the superior nature public safety provided by public safety the will buy the technology. With its large network across America, Verizon can effectively distribute Motorola devices. Finally, Verizon provide value additional services to Motorola products through provide application that can be used alongside the Motorola devices. Verizon equally benefits from the partnership especially the superior technology that Motorola has to offer. According to Walsh (2012) Motorola bring to the alliance “enterprise class” devices. Motorola is in control of the telecommunication industry’s leading public communication safety for the next generation (Basking & Schaumburg, 2011). It upholds standards base on LTE, safety control and public LTE network delivery. The safety capabilities are simply unbeatable.
References
Basking, N.J. &Schaumburg, Ill. (2011). Motorola Solutions and Verizon Wireless Enter Alliance to Bring LTE Advantages to Public Safety Customers Across the United States. Retrieved from http://mediacenter.motorolasolutions.com/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=13725&NewsAreaID=2&ClientID=1
Jackson, D. (2011). Motorola, Verizon establish public safety LTE alliance. Retrieved from http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/motorola-verizon-lte-alliance-20110223/
Pankaj (2011). Motorola Solutions and Verizon wireless from LTE Alliance for public safety. Retrieved from http://lteworld.org/news/motorola-solutions-and-verizon-wireless-form-lte-alliance-public-safety.
Solution Brief. (n.d.). Motorola Solutions and Verizon Wireless alliance deliver industry leading public LTE safety solutions. Retrieved from http://www.motorola.com/web/Business/Solutions/Business%20Solutions/Mission%20Critical%20Communications/LTE_for_Government_and_Public_Safety/_Documents/_Static_files/Motorola_Verizon_Alliance.pdf
Walsh, L. (2012).Verizon, Motorola Team on Mobile Entertainment. Retrieved from channelnomics.com/2012//02/24/Verizon-motorola-team-mobile-enablement/
Moon Tiger
Moon Tiger
Students Name
Institutional AffiliationMoon Tiger
Moon Tiger’s main character story is Claudia Hampton. The story is unpredictable and captures the attention of the reader: Hampton, an intelligent woman whose life we are taken through, shifting from past to the present. The story of Hampton, written from her nursing home, takes the audience through her memories, different times, and scenarios. The success of the story depends on how Hampton achieves her goal. The other characters involved include her mother, as well as her brother Gordon. The point of view of the three is considered in each piece of the puzzle. That serves to help discover the whole picture of the family.
Firstly, their communication involves a lot of yelling at each other. That shows the lack of civilization that the family portrays. The two children are seen to be reckless, and the book describes this as “cries of alarm.”
Secondly, there is a lot of competitiveness among children. Claudia is said to act like an animal on how she searches for minerals. The words used are “hiss,” “pouncing,” “Furiously.” That shows that the intensity at which Claudia aims to get is far much more than what any other person does. She pays no attention to the danger that surrounds her; her aim is on the prise. Her eyes are focused on her brother, and she is constantly monitoring his movements.
The author also uses syntax in the story. It is used to describe the falling of limbs, Gordon’s limbs. Gordon’s legs are described as it. “it thrashes, she thrusts.” There is a simultaneous description that is mentioned in this passage. Due to their competitive nature, there are both at fault. She did not have a clue of her fall, which comes as a surprise to her. She realizes that not all that she thought was solid proved to be stable. She understands her competitive nature has led to her fall. That is described in the line, “…of the solid world which is not as solid after all.” A lot of repetitiveness is also described during her fall. That is perhaps to emphasize on the fault that is placed on her as well. “Her shoulders, her head, her outflung arm……” That suggests that the excessive energy and adrenaline that made her angry and very competitive to her brother has led to that state. Finally, she is defeated as the story describes the gasping as well as the pain she is enduring. That is in the sense that the brother eventually defeats her despite her competitive nature. “hammering of pain” “…too affronted even to yell” “gasping.” They are all signs of defeat, and the extent of her injuries could not allow her to compete anymore. Also, it’s important to note that the poor communication that was brought about by yelling comes to an end. She is unable to speak due to the pain she endures. That ends the yelling as well as the competitiveness that the excessive adrenaline and energy brought.
The Gordon section beginning with “take” gives him a threat of what he is bound to lose if she overtakes him. Gordon’s reaction to her sister’s fall is that of “horror,” as well as “satisfaction.” Gordon is pleased with the failure of his rivalry, and this impediment to her competitiveness achieves his goal. He is relaxed and happy despite the situation her sister is in and the pain she endures.
The third section where the mother’s point of view is described, “furious tenacity” is used. She is the factor that joins the two siblings despite their competitiveness. She is the cement of the two’s relationship, bringing them together. Gordon insists on his honesty while Claudia pleads for the protection of her findings. Nevertheless, she takes no sides with her children. She asks on them to be still and another to be quiet.
The author should have used more characters and characteristics that bring dialogue as well as direct versus indirect characterization—thus connecting the three characters through different literary devices.
Works Cited
Lively, Penelope. Moon tiger. Penguin UK, 2010.