Task 2 – Case Study
- The decision is described as a course of action that is chosen from a set of alternatives to meet the objectives of an organization. Recently, my organization made a basic and routine decision. Basic decisions are those of critical importance and need a good deal of thought (Saaty, 2008, p.93). These decisions need to be made over and over and they need certain measures, rules, and policies concerning them.
For these decisions to be made, there is the need for one to look for information that about it in order to make the right decision. These include: the information of the company which includes the competitors of the organization, if the decisions made will impact the business either positively or negatively and also it needs one to ask from the business peers and friends to consider their views.
- A mistake that may occur if the information is valid and not reliable illusory correlation. This mistake occurs when we see the relationships that do not really exist. One may conclude that two unrelated events have a correlation simply because the two events happened at the same time or the events bring the same output.
- The formal network is vertical by nature and requires one to follow a chain of command and mostly relies on leaders to make a command while informal network does not require a rigid chain of command and always doesn’t have strong ties. Formal network gather information through letters, tenders inquiries etc. and each company has a formal procedure of doing the same (Levin, Huneke & Jasper, 2010, p.189). Informal network gathers information through phone calls, face to face discussions and sometimes light-hearted emails.
- a) For an organization to run smoothly, it needs regular information to make decisions. Decision making is vital in an organizational process that influences every level. There are objectives put in place in order to govern and guide the way information is analyzed and it includes
Focusing the decision makes on what is important in the decision even if it is hard to quantify
Generate alternatives and creating ideas to produce good alternatives.
Provide the basis of transparently and consistently to show the relationships and exposing the key differences.
Streamlining the data collection to ensure proper decision-relevant information base
These objectives are clear, relevant and consistent in decision making and reduce its duration
. b) Globalization may lead to organizational changes. Globalization is the process by which businesses interact and intergraded worldwide. Most organizations operate globally and are characterized by greater interdependence and high competition. To monitor this trend, the company needs to embrace offshore outsourcing in order for it to stay competitive. This information is obtained from competitors in order to understand how they go about it. Globalization has grown due to transport and other major advancements
- c) The statistical information gathered in my organization include:
The key factors that set my customers aside
The customers’ behavior
Service record of the customer
Source of referrals
Impact of website
Customers taste and preference
Demographic information
Statistics are important to the organization as it helps in:
Managing the performance of the employees can be achieved through the analysis of each employee and individual output to the business. The manager might make a decision to guide the improvement of each employee to increase the output (Ellis &Fisher, 2014, p.896).
Research and development where Statistics are important to the business as it helps the management to know what the market requires and also what it needs to be improved.
Alternative scenarios where in statistics helps the organization in getting the best alternatives in order to increase the productivity of the company.
Ensure quality ensures quality comes out of the organization since there are records of previous performance which help in better decision making.
- c) Numerical data is the statistical information that the organization opts to gather which is used to compare performance for different departments. The organization uses discrete numerical data to assess performance where the information required is limited while continuous data is used when calculating large sums of results. The data is efficiently utilized in special programs of the organization such as promotion, appraisal to provide evidence of picking the most appropriate candidate.
- d) Sensitivity analysis is a technique used to determine how autonomous variables impact on a certain dependent variable under given certain conditions.
Sensitivity analysis can be used in decision making and this is achieved through the repeated application of sensitivity analysis. This helps the analyst to understand the doubts with the disadvantages of the scope of decision models since not all decisions are made under uncertainty.
- e) There are many methods of storing information and my organization is using hard disk installed on a computer to store data. This implies that the company can share data that is stored in the hard dick in various ways which promote efficiency. To improve data management, the organization is planning to store data in cloud storage as it will help in securing data and making sure that no data is lost in any process.
- a) To ensure that the organization has valid, sufficient and reliable information to support the decision making, the organization has adopted four ways which include:
Answers:
Obtaining information for decision making
Recording and storing information
Analyzing information to support decision making
Advice and informing others
When all this information is available, the decision process will be efficient, reliable and valid hence improving the decision making of the organization.
- b) Quantitative decision making is a method that uses optimal decisions by using mathematical, statistical and numerical analysis in a situation where the outcome is uncertain.
Quantitative decision making is applied in a situation when;
There is clearly stated objective
When there are numerous different courses of action
Events that are beyond the control of the decision maker
When the outcome is uncertain
- c) There is a range of relevant groups and individual specialist that are consulted by any organization them to offer advice. These specialists may range from strategy, management, operations, human resource, IT and financial advisory. To ensure optimum output these specialists are conducted to give an advice on the affected area of the place that the management feels there is a gap (Simon, 2009, p.495). These specialist and groups help in guiding the organization in realizing the maximum output.
- d) The organization has employed three levels of decision making since decisions are made at different levels.
Strategic decisions which are long term in nature and they affect the way business go and its direction. These decisions are usually made by managers and other senior officials of the company. These decisions are made after discussions since they greatly impact on the future of an organization (Trevin, 2011, p.609).
The operational decision is based on the day-to-day running of a business with decisions being made by junior officials or employees occupying that capacity. These decisions are usually repetitive in nature (DiSanza, & Legge, 2015, p.356). At this level, the decisions are made randomly since there is no skill or specialist needed to guide.
Tactical decisions which usually help in executing the strategy of the business. And these decisions are usually made by middle managers of the organization. These
- a) There various ways in which one can ensure that the information is documented and databases updated accordingly. The debut way is through upholding appropriate training and documentation once the review of the business procedure is complete and the installation has already taken off. Moreover, it is vital to adhere strictly to terms and conditions of data standards through ensuring that it is encoded accurately and uniformly. Moreover, standardization of data is a vital concept to come up with useful and reliable reports (Rothenberg, 2015, p.46). To ensure that there is the regular update of database one needs to be aware of whatever is useful and unwanted data. Possessing awareness on whatever one requires in the database is vital for its effectiveness as well as easy retrieval of information when required.
- b) A memo from the organization directs all the members of the entity from the information department to liaise themselves with the new equipment for information storage and sharing. The department that created this information was more goal-oriented as it was after ensuring that the employees in the department are fully committed to ensuring flexible information storage. It is flexible since it also touches to other departments such as information technology to ensure that more parties participate in the process (Croteau & Bergeron, 2011, p.88) The written format does not meet the needs for the recipient as it is known to hinder feedback or more clarification.
- c) One part of the communication plan in my organization is a marketing plan that reflects on how the organization promotes its products to the public members. The marketing plan is composed of various platforms such as social media, salespeople as well as visual advertisements. This communication plan reflects the nature of the organization such as its culture where it works to create strong bonds with its potential customers from all over the globe. Moreover, it depicts that the size of the organization is huge since it uses such communication to send the message to a large number of recipients at a relatively lower time.
- d) The organization process in the collection of information is up to standards and meets some requirements. On data quality, the process ensures that only the required and valuable data is stored on the database as well as ensuring that it is up to date. To ensure that there is data security there use of strong passwords and cloud systems to ensure only authorized individuals are able to access the database. The database is able to detect any malicious attempt to tamper with the information hence taking various actions at disposal.
- e) Communication plans are frequent in organizations where the procedures take place at regular intervals or when needs occur. The policies require communication to be done when crucial changes are being done in the organization such as changing schedules or duties. It is done at monthly intervals to communicate protocols, priorities, objectives of the new month. Update on progress is done at this interval to ensure that the information within the organization domain is reliable.
- f) The news on new technology that is about to be introduced in the organization is expected to elicit conflicting feelings from employees. Some of them are expected to oppose with fear that it would compromise their interest. To ensure acceptance the best approach that I would prefer is engaging all people and assure that their interests such as job securities are guaranteed. I would utilize the chance to communicate on the importance of the new technology.
on being delegated the responsibility of obtaining and managing information in relation to sacking the manager and planning to compensate the victims of bullying there are three crucial stages for achieving the objectives. The steps are obtaining, analysis and managing information, the next is Accessing, storing and retrieving information finally is use of technology.
On this stage the debut protocol is gathering and analyzing the information on reported cases from relevant parties that is the form the victims of bullying and on scene respondents. The two categories of people are crucial in providing first hand information on the events that exactly took place. They will be summoned to present their evidence which could be in terms of video footages, real analysis with hard facts and literally explanations. On gathering enough information the next step would be presenting the information to the department Emergency Department personnel whose primary responsibility is to analyze the information to prepare intelligence reports (Cha, Mislove, Gummandi, 2009, p.728). On analysis information will be disseminated to the relevant authority that is board of management through face to face press conferences with the senior hierarchy in management.
The management will make decision making after ensuring that the information is reliable complemented with testimonies from the accused parties. Each member in the board of directors will be expected to provide their opinions on the issue. However, there will be risk management initiative since the information on evidence could deter the image of the organization. The victims of bullying will be expected to demonstrate royalty to preserve the information for internal reach only. Information will be submitted to three major parties in the issue which include the directors, the complainants and the accused to create way for a open and transparent hearing of the issue. However, the condition for sending information is upholding confidentiality of the message. Some information should be covered to prevent the public members possessing hard evidence which might result to insolvency of the company.
1.
This stage is a crucial one as it involves retaining information for future use to avoid repetition of similar mistakes in future. The information gathered, analyzed and disseminated will be stored in the long memory access to ensure easy retrieval of information even after long period of time. However, to access such information will be allowed to indicate members in management or any other junior member but only with authorization from the senior management. The information will be restricted from accessibility to prevent possible manipulation for selfish gains.
The storage of information will be kept in long term memory as the information will be useful in ensuring that similar incidents to happen in future. Moreover, in case of such occurrences in future the organization will have an easy task in identifying on how to take disciplinary actions on the accused and how to plan for the compensation plan.
Retrieval of the information will be restricted but the informal data from informal networks will be free for retrieval. This kind of information can be useful to the organization in upholding the integrity as well as correcting dented image. This information can be like how the justice for the victims of bullying has been achieved and channels used in their quest for upholding ethical provisions. Therefore, such information will be readily available in informal sources in the organization to ensure there is confidence in the organizations in terms of respecting personality of individuals.
There are two main forms of technologies that can be used to retrieve and store information in the organization that are Hard Disk and Cloud storage system. Hard Disks are modified to store information in form of magnetically charged patterns. The information stored in this platform is accessed by twin heads that intercross its surface in a unique manner with a needle present in the vinyl record player. Hard disks can be found in most of computers but the organization can also purchase them as independent external units. The main advantage of this technology is that it is relatively cheaper and can also be written as many times as possible. However due to their fragile nature care is paramount when handling them. They are easy to access information from since one only require authorization such as passwords, finger prints to access (Clarke, Sandberg, Wiley & Hong, 2011, p.57). Moreover, the information is arranged in a systematic manner which suggests that less time is used in retrieving information when need occurs.
The other form of technology that the organization can use for retrieval and storage of information is the cloud technology. This form of storage allows for using internet to store information which is mostly charged monthly fee to avoid purchasing own storage equipments. However, the conditions for accessing such information are that the organization has to utilize devices that are connected to the internet. To ensure security of the information in cloud one can opt to reach for services like Dropbox to frustrate the activities of hackers. The organization can use this technology to store sensitive data such as compensation for the victims of bullying.
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