Harley-Davidson Cycles Company - Assignment Example

HD CYCLES COMPANY HD Cycles is a small business company that deals in selling motor cycles as their product; the top level management of this company believes in implementation of the four functions of management i.e. planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Planning is the key component of this company and is viewed as a basis of all the activities including its objectives, aims and goals, not forgetting that all of these reflect the company’s vision and mission. The objectives set in order to achieve the company’s goals and keenly followed up to make sure that they are executed accordingly; the company’s plan is a conclusive plan containing all the departments’ plans. When it comes to organization in the company, the manager is in charge, be it getting parts to be used in the manufacturing department or distribution of finances and resources to all the departments which is facilitated by the finances and human resources departments. The company has an information system that helps the management know the number of employees in each department and required for each shift; night and day shifts. When it comes to management it’s mostly about leadership though these are two different activities; management of employees and the company resources is led by the top level manager. The manager supervises all the activities through the various departmental leaders; moreover, knowing and listening to our employees needs, ideas and suggestions have a great impact on the leadership of our company. Controlling is mostly about guaranteeing whether as an organization we have achieved our objectives and met our goals; this is done by evaluating the situation of the company after the duration set in the objectives or plan. Evaluation is mainly about comparing the cost and the output/benefits/performance of the organization ie no of motorbikes sold, their cost of manufacturing and profit. Noticeably, the management shares this information with the employees, giving copies of this information to all the departments and discussing the different figures; this builds a sense of trust, feeling of involvement and team work for the employees. By implementing these four functions in managing the HD Cycles company, it is clearly understood by the top level management that it’s all about these functions in all the organization’s departments. The HD cycles company has an overall number of 100 employees and five departments/branches i.e. finances, human resources, sales, manufacturing and employee welfare departments. Management Management is considered as the art of bringing employees together in a common ground investing in their potential or rather extracting the best out of them through their ideas, opinions and suggestions in the different sectors of the organization to make sure that management is effectual (Allan 2011). Management plays a very significant role in enhancing team work and a strong relationship between employees; moreover, employees’ responsibilities and tasks are contented by management which facilitates the best performance. Management is also about the association and harmonization of the activities in an organization or company so as to achieve the set objectives; it’s a factor of production, marketing and innovation. Effective management eliminates failure by putting together the four functions of developing a company policy. As the manager, am entitled to make decisions and oversee all the activities of my company through the different departmental heads who put up departmental reports. Additionally, am also supposed to consult organizational members understand their needs and wants from which the company’s vision and mission will be used to oversee the company’s objectives focusing on its system and structure (Allan 2011). When it comes to sales, the tasks are not left to the sales department alone the manager also has to put in some effort; as Peter Ducker confirms that management is all about marketing and innovation. Problems/Issues in an Organization Organizational problems are situations or factors that have a negative impact on our company’s activities, affect the normal running of things in the company and act as a barrier to attainment of the company’s goals and objectives. They include; underperforming employees, machine failures, low profits, overworking of particular employees and complains from our consumers. In HD cycle Companies management understand that problem solving and decision making go hand in hand; which is the basis of the way organizational problems are taken critically solved using influential decisions (Harwell 2009). The scope in which a particular decision will be solved is determined by the different techniques and processes used to make a decision not forgetting the quality of that particular decision. Decision making is very essential to the management of a company or organization and the management should have the obligatory decision making skills. There are different techniques that can be used in problem solving using decision making; these include SWOT analysis where a particular decision is evaluated using its strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities (Harwell 2009). The others are brain storming and PEST analysis; brainstorming is not the best way of making decisions since it involves a lot of risks. The one that is most applicable is the SWOT analysis where our company evaluates a particular program were all the departmental heads are involved and also suggestions from a number of employees are taken. This is a good decision making technique because unlike brain storming one is able to figure out the different risks, compare them and get suggestions and opinions from organizational members (Harwell 2009). Organizational Structure The structure comprises of the top level management where the manager is based and where every department head reports; the management department branches into two i.e. human resources and finances. The manager through the heads of these departments facilitate how resources and finances are evenly distributes among all the departments. The sales department is mostly concerned with marketing of the company’s products after they are manufactured in the factories based in the manufacturing department. The employees’ welfare department is mainly concerned with how the employees’ working conditions; all these departments report to the manager for complaints, problems and suggestions after which the manager addresses these issues through the appropriate and concerned departments. This is a mechanistic organizational structure since it is effective and has more of a centralized approach in authority not forgetting that our company’s environment is stable, employees are based in the various departments and, it’s a must for the different departments and employees’ to follow rules from the management. As the Chief Executive Officer, my leadership style is relationship oriented; where I believe in being democratic i.e. getting involved in some of the work like visiting the factories often and see how the motorbikes are being assembled and even sometimes give a hand (Cherry 2013). Significantly, through this I’m able to create a bond and good relationship with the organizational members; by encouraging, motivating and even listening to their grievances and ideas making them feel involved in the decision making process. In a situation where high performing employees are taking advantage of the situation and arriving to meetings; I would personally approach them and ask for a reasonable explanation and establish the seriousness through which I will make them understand the urgency of the meeting and the respect required in such a situation. Definitely, as a manager, intrinsic factors motivate me more especially when the objectives and goals are met in time; this shows that I’m not failing my role and responsibility as a manager (Cherry 2013). There are different procedures that managers can use to influence their employees or members of the organization; some of these include; giving challenging tasks and from the results evaluate the best employee who is given a promotion. Communication very important in any organization; HD Cycles company’s communication is based on the departmental structure. Employees’ welfare is mostly concerned with the employees’ grievances where it collects them and corresponds to the management about them inform of a comprehensive report. Communication is simply determines by how things are being coordinated and controlled in the company; from departmental members to the departmental heads and then finally to the manager. Success of any company determines its position and influence in the market; and most importantly reflects so much of its factors especially the management and other aspects such as what the organization has learnt about its clients, quality of services offered (The Muse 2010). Success is basically all about an organization knowing through experience, about its strengths and weaknesses; and after establishing these factors it will be able to make the necessary changes, learn how to adapt to these changes and evaluate its progress in the new environment (The Muse 2010). When setting goals different factors should be looked at in by the organization’s management; these include; the current condition of the market, results of the previous business year (that’s if they are set yearly), emerging trends in the motorbikes manufacturing world, overall performance of employees in the organization, customers expectations and the size of organizations (small companies can not set their goals comparing themselves with international companies) (Chadwick 2001). HD Cycles recognizes intrapreneurship as very imperative factor in the organization since it reflects a significant number of skills in the management sector i.e. adaptability, persuasion and goal setting (The Muse 2010). They are different ways that HD Cycles Company promotes this in the organization; one of the ways is learning to recognize and acknowledge credible contributions by both organizational members (employees) and customers. References Allan, M (2011). What are the Differences between Management and Leadership? Wall Street Journal, Management. Retrieved on 26th August 2013, from http://guides.wsj.com/management/developing-a-leadership-style/what-is-the-difference-between-management-and-leadership/ Chadwick, I (June 30, 2001). An Overview of the British Motorcycle Industry and Its Collapse: British Motorcycle Manufacturers. Retrieved on 26th August 2013, from http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/ Cherry, K (2013) Three Major Leadership Styles: Lewin’s Leadership Styles. Retrieved on 26th August 2013, from http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/leadstyles.htm Harwell (November 11, 2009). The Seven Biggest Challenges of a Manager: Make It Clear. Retrieved on 26th August 2013, from http://blog.makingitclear.com/2009/11/11/managerchallenges/ The Muse (October 27, 2010). The True Measure of Business Success: Forbes. Retrieved on 26th August 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2011/10/27/the-true-measure-of-business-success/ Read More