FMC, Aberdeen, green river discussion on Organizational Behavior - Essay Example

FMC, Aberdeen, Green River: Discussion on Organizational Behavior In its company profile, FMC Corporation describes itself as “one of the worlds foremost, diversified chemical companies with leading positions in agricultural, industrial and consumer markets.” (FMC, 2005) Indeed, in the most recent survey of the top 50 chemical producers in the US, FMC Corporation ranked 28th in terms of profitability. (Tullo, 2005)In this essay we will analyze the possible challenges in organizational behavior and management in two of FMC’s manufacturing locations: Green River and Aberdeen.

FMC-Aberdeen The FMC Aberdeen facility employs a hundred people, producing one product line, and catering to one customer in the defense industry. The Aberdeen facility has been receiving a lot of attention these days since the unusual operating procedures being implemented there has resulted in dramatic increase in production and cost. Bob Lancaster, who was tasked to build and operate the facility, said that the central belief that guides Aberdeen’s organization and management is a participative-management system on the principles of trust, involving self-directing work teams that would eliminate fear from all employees.

(Clawson, 1990) An employee is assigned to a team where a team leader is selected by the members - no supervisors or managers. The teams decide on all matters among themselves concerning their work as long as they get their task done.Green River There are significant differences between Green River’s organizational behavior and management to those of Aberdeen’s. For instance, the people employed here are more than 1000 and have a worker’s union where Aberdeen has none. The facility is also charged with 100 products, which is being distributed worldwide in contrast to latter’s single product line.

Both facilities cater to very different industries - one, defense, the other, chemicals. And finally, while Aberdeen is a start-up facility, Green River has been operating since 1948. Challenges Aberdeen and Green River facilities share the same FMC corporate guidelines, independence in running their sites, and operating values and systems. Thus, the success posted by Aberdeen’s organizational behavior is a challenge for a bigger facility like Green River. The structure and management approach adopted by Aberdeen, which is basically based on trust, might pose a great risk to a larger organization that must cater to a diverse product lines.

The Aberdeen concept espouses the elimination of fear among its employees and mistakes are considered learning opportunities. Green River must consider if it is willing to trade the stability of the huge infrastructure which has been in place and tested for years to a system based on faith. Technical problems also abound, like how the work area at Green River has a closeted design that it would be hard for workers to interact. The challenge that face Aberdeen, on the other hand, is the prospect of diversification, where a bigger number of workers are needed.

Whether the current operational behavior could be maintained and whether the management can handle the weight of individualism contained within a large organization – those are problems that are to be dealt with. ReferencesClawson, James G., (1990). FMC Aberdeen. University of Virginia Darden School Foundation FMC Corporation (2005). Business Overview. Retrieved April 27, 2006, from http://www.fmc.com/BusinessOverview/tabid/781/Default.aspxTullo, Alexander H., (2005, May 16) Top 50 Chemical Producers.

Chemical and Engineering News, 83(20), 17-21