Question

As a student in the Principles of Management class of Ama Ghana University, you are expected to have experiential knowledge so that you can be able to solve real life business problems after graduation. To achieve this objective, the 2020 class has been divided into ten groups; and each team works in a management capacity with ten management consulting companies in the Greater Accra Region. San Consulting - the firm that your group works with is a project management company that is into Real Estate construction and management consulting. This firm which has twenty years’ experience in this business is the first choice for all individuals and companies that want quality service. You have on the contrary, observed that many of the management practices have not developed precipitously as situations in the business environment warrant. The accountant confirmed this by saying in the last general meeting that a certain percentage of San’s profit margin is being lost because of this situation. She gave the example that the surveying department spent eight labor hours generating data that had been generated two weeks ago by another unit. Due to the fact that the surveying department did not know that the data had already been created, a substantial effort was wasted and this has been a recurrent problem.
In addition, the increase in demand of the services of San’s Consulting has placed significant pressures on the five managers whose duties are not clearly defined. For instance, you have observed that any of these managers perform duties in the operations department as well as any other unit within the firm. They are not able to perform all the functions required of them due to the ineffectiveness of the organizational structure.
You and the members of your group are expected to write a report to the top-level management team regarding your analysis of the situation in the firm.
Questions
1. Explain which of the four main management functions is/are not operating as it/they should within the firm? 3 Marks
2. What recommendations will you make in your report that will help assure that this situation or similar one would not happen again? 4 Marks
3. Assume that the top-level management team has accepted your recommendations, how can their effectiveness be evaluated three months after implementation? 4 Marks
4. Discuss the organizational structure currently used by San’s Consulting and would you recommend the continuous use of this structure? If yes or no, present the factors (4) that influenced your decision regarding the right organizational structure for San’s Consulting. 5 Marks
5. Identify and discuss the main problems that the firm is likely to experience (i) if the current structure is continued or (ii) if a new structure is implemented. 5 Marks
1B) Akwamba made this statement ‘organisations cannot be successful if managers fail to pay attention to the forces in the external environment’. Do you agree or not? Justify using practical examples (9 marks)

Answer 1

Answer:

The organization structure is not clearly defined, Managers are performing duties in various departments at a time.

Explanation:

San Consulting is one of the finest consulting firm in the Greater Accra Region. The firm is always a first choice for individuals who want to pursue their career in business. The Organizational structure of San Consulting is not clearly defined. San's profits are falling because management practices are not according to the other competitive organizations. The managers working at San are facing excess workload and pressure for their work. Their job descriptions is not clearly defined and they are forced to work in multiple departments at the same time due to which they are losing focus on their own work.  

Questions 1: Planning, organizing, leading and controlling  

Question 2: The organizational structure needs to be set and every employee should have their defined job role so they are able to complete work with efficiency.  

Question 3: The profits of San consulting will rise as there will be less duplication of work and every employee will be able to focus on their own task and will work with efficiency.  

Question 4: Matrix. The matrix organizational structure is not suited in this organization. The right organizational structure for San consulting will be Functional Structure.  

Question 5:  

(i) The profits for San Consulting will decline  

(ii) The profit will rise because employee will focus more on their specific tasks.  

1B. Yes agree. The managers need to focus on the external environment as well to identify the opportunities and threats present which can stimulate changes for the organization.