Work Activities Management at Nokia - Case Study Example

Managing Work Activities Q1: Identify at least five functions of an engineering business (which could be the engineeringbusiness you established in assignment 1). Classify those functions according to their purpose. Show the relationship between these business functions using the organisational structure of the engineering business Business engineering is a multidisciplinary approach to business management, which according to Benjamin, ensures that businesses are able to operate at minimal costs, yet achieve maximum value (2). At Nokia, there is the marketing function which is the company’s supply chain. The customer service function is concerned with meeting customer requirements, accessing customer needs and working on ways of reducing costs. As for the human resources function, it deals with the recruitment and training of personnel. Accounting and finance is concerned with an analysis of the budget in the business in order to minimize costs and maximize savings. Finally, the Legal function takes care of any business contracts with all stakeholders, and also deals with compliance with domestic and international standards. All these functions complement each other especially following Nokia’s organizational structure. The office of the CFO ensures that there are enough funds to fund the budget and pay the staffs, thus making sure that the human resource and finance functions. Availability of funds and personnel eases the processes of marketing and customer service, since there are more people to do the work. By knowing what the consumer wants, the company is able to come up with products that meet the set legal standards, while also pleasing the customer. Q2: Explain the functionality of three departments of an engineering business of your choice, (which could be the engineering business established in assignment 1). Explain the importance and effects of each function on the operation of the company as a whole. The department for designing is the most significant in Nokia. This department determines the look of Nokia products, in addition to their various functionalities. Accordingly, this department has to create products that are appealing to the consumer, yet they are affordable and have high functionality. According to the Nokia website, the design department houses the solutions unit which is tasked with coming up with practical products that have varied content and are able to meet the personalized need of the consumer. Essentially, Nokia’s products should be able to offer solutions to some consumer needs, for example, the need to access the internet using a mobile device. While doing this, the design department needs to maintain low operational costs so that the company maximizes profits. It is the design department that ensures that Nokia stays in the market, by designing products that offer a competitive advantage with Nokia’s rivals. Without the designing department, Nokia would not be able to compete with other manufacturers, in the production of state-of-the-art products. Fundamentally, the design department is the one that ensures that Nokia remains relevant in the business, thus assuring the company’s survival. The human resource department is a very important department, since it is charged with the recruitment, training and sometimes, retraining of personnel. According to Griffin, a company needs to identify future human resource need s and recruit accordingly (232). Without this department, Nokia, and any other company would not be able to run operations, since machines cannot operate themselves. Human resource ensures that people with the right qualifications are employed and that they are trained to meet the standards at Nokia. Without the right workforce, Nokia would not be able to battle in the global market which has become increasingly competitive in recent years. The sales and marketing department at Nokia ensures that the company has proper sales channels through engaging in product branding and promotional activities. In the current global market that is saturated with varied mobile phone brands, a company that hopes to survive, if not emerge among the best, cannot afford to relax. As a result, Nokia, through its sales and marketing department has conducted popularization campaigns for Nokia’s products to ensure that consumers are ware of the existence of such products. Information from the Nokia website states that using such tactics as special offers, promotions, and efficient product and service delivery, the sales and marketing department has ensured a stable consumer base. Q3: Planning is an important function for any business. Discuss the importance of planning and illustrate the difference between a single use plan and a standing plan. Give an example of each. Planning is very important in management since it facilitates decision making, especially concerning the future thus, as Aswathappa states, reducing uncertainty (232). Essentially, lack of planning means that the organization is unable to coordinate and control operations, thus leading to inefficiency. A single-use plan of business is a type of a plan that is only used once or a few times within the organization. This is because; a single use business plan is usually designed for specific situations or to meet specific goals and objectives, after which the plan may not be relevant. However, the validity period of the single-use business plan varies depending on how long a project takes. For example, an annual budget is a single use business plan which is only valid for one fiscal year, after which another budget is prepared. On the contrary, a standing business plan is one which can be used repeatedly since it is concerned with frequent occurrences within the organization. Standing business plans are usually prepared in order to ensure the smooth running of organizational operations. Organizational rules and policies are examples of standing plans. These rules and policies direct employees conduct for duration of the organization’s existence. Q4: Define three examples of the inter-relationship between engineering business departments or processes identified in task 1. As Benjamin states, business engineering involves such issues as prompt problem resolution, implementation of new technologies and successful innovation of products and services (2). Therefore, the various departments within the engineering business need to collaborate and create relationships among them. Benjamin writes that all departments within an engineering business are inter-related, considering that the engineering function plays a role in all major departments. For instance, in the designing department, the engineering function ensures that new products are developed and testing using the right procedures and are geared towards meeting consumer needs. The engineering function also ensures that the right employees are recruited and trained so as to maximize efficiency within a company. Finally, the engineering function influences the sales and marketing department by ensuring that the company is able to forecast the potential within the market and calculate the market share. Consequently, the three departments are inter-related in that none can function without the other; in as far as engineering business is concerned. In order for the company to continue introducing consumer-friendly products to the market, it needs to have a very competent design department. This means that the design department relies on the human resource department to recruit and train skilled personnel who will be able to come with products that will satisfy the consumer and challenge the competitors. However, it is not enough to have a highly qualified team to design products, if there are no guarantees that people will buy the products. This defines the role of the sales and marketing department, which ensures that the products are adequately popularized, by engaging in promotions and conducting advertisements. This department t also ensures that the products reach the consumers in good time and condition. In the end, the three departments work together for the success of the company. Q5: Outline three different types of information that is exchanged between the different departments within an engineering company. What form does this information take? Julian states that information about the consumers, competitors and other company stakeholders is derived from the marketing information systems (MIS), (289). MIS, therefore, comes from the sales and marketing department, which shares the information both with the departmental members and the entire staff. This way, the company can be able to forecast future trends in the market. MIS enables the company to come up with products that meet future consumer needs and be updated about competitor activities. Most companies use telecommunication networks to transmit information within and without the company. These networks require that computers be used in the transfer of data from one place to another. Essentially the intranet and the internet are examples of telecommunication networks that companies use to transfer information. Companies use the intranet to send electronic mails within the company, and to communicate information from one department to another. The internet, on the other hand, facilitates communication with the external environment. By use of telecommunication networks, communications within departments, among departments, and with the external environment become easier. A company also needs to make use of accounting information systems (AIS) which provide information to do with the financial status of the company (Julian 1). This type of information is usually shared with the internal management so that they can be able to assess the profitability of the business and plan for future operations. This type of information may also be shared externally, to interested parties such as sponsors, partners and external auditors who may be interested in the financial aspects of the company. By using MIS, AIS, and telecommunication networks, the company is able to achieve both horizontal and vertical communication. Horizontal communication is when information is passed around amongst people of equal ranks within the company, while vertical communication occurs when the top management is able to pass information down to the subordinates. Q6: Describe the importance of quality control within an engineering business Quality control plays a fundamental role within an engineering business just like in other businesses. In the thought of Nicholas, quality control is referred to as a continuous process that involves appraisal and monitoring work in an organization (339). In relation to control and quality of work, it is evident that taking the corrective action and planning for the quality outcome is achievable. Since engineering involves practicalities, it is of importance that the project requirements and standards of practice are assessed. In the event that the engineering business is carrying out business in an unscrupulous manner, then through quality control, the causes of the issues in business may be determined as well as eliminated (Nicholas 339). Since engineering involves practical knowledge in building and designing structures, quality control involves scope verification as seen in the argument of Nicholas (339). It is this scope verification that leads to the acceptability of the creations from the engineering business to the clients or the consumers of the products. Without quality control, it is evident that the designs made would be of low quality. Engineering has been termed as a technical department that requires very strong departments in the quality control, and design. Quality has been indicated to increase the productivity in the industry. Since the quality control assesses the quality of goods produced, it is evident that through this department it is possible to come up with better technological advances that will improve the goods being produced in the engineering business (Nicholas 341). Since engineering business involves an application of science- related principles, production of quality services is no exception to the engineering business (Nicholas 339). Quality control in this case is the root of performance and success in any engineering business. If the client’s response will be positive, then a general outline of the performance of the business can be understood. Q7: Describe the impact of the following on product or service specifications and standards a. JIT (Just in Time) methods In the work of Dubrin, just- in-time systems are used in minimising inventory and shift the same into the plant t the exact time needed (207). In the manufacturing industry, the JIT system is use in the manufacturing effectively; thus, do away with any form of waste from the production. The JIT system allows for elimination of the surplus parts through purchasing of what is required, whether parts, sub-assemblies or the finished products (Dubrin 207). In relation to product specifications, the JIT system specifies on the number of components used as inventories (Dubrin 207). The system is also able to keep a clear record on the days and hours consumed for the inventories. The main causes of waste include excessive production, waiting as well as stock where JIT produces the exact of what is required, coordinating the workflow, and keeping an exact inventory respectively (Dubrin 207). b. SPC (Statistical Process Control) In the thought of Rauwendaal, SPC entails the use of numerical approaches to evaluate, organize, scrutinize, and manage processes in different process variances (65).in the case of the manufacturing industry such as engineering where goods are produced; it is possible to review the quality of the process and the products from the processes. SPC improves the value of production and service; consequently, lessen the costs of production, and any form of waste that would result from coming up with poor quality productions (Rauwendaal 65). SPC devises a specific target value to be attained and the proximity to these productions, the higher the quality of the products. SPC basically ensures that all the products from a manufacturing industry are of high quality; thus, minimal rejects and product rejects; thus, product and process control (Rauwendaal 65). This is achievable through the analysis, collection and organization of the numerical data (Rauwendaal 65). Works cited Aswathappa, K. International Business 4E. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Education. 2010. Print. Benjamin, Collin. Engineering for Business: Theory and Cases. Maryland: University Press of America. 2009. Print. Dubrin, Andrew. Essentials of management. London. Cengage Learning. 2008. Print. Gaspar, Julian. Introduction to Business. Kentucky: Cengage Learning. 2005. Print. Griffin, Ricky. Fundamentals of management. Kentucky: Cengage learning, 2011. Print. Nicholas, John. Project Management for Business, Engineering, and Technology: Principles and Practice. Amsterdam. Elsevier. 2008. Print. Nokia website at www.nokia.com Rauwendaal, Chris. SPC - Statistical Process Control in Injection Molding and Extrusion. Munich, Berlin: Hanser Verlag, 2008. Print. Read More