Characteristics of the Entrepreneur
This clip explores the personal characteristics of the "typical" entrepreneur, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with operating a small business.
Seasonal Demand
This clip notes that one of the more challenging aspect of managing working capital is seasonal demand.
Overcoming Communication Problems
In some cases, there are communication problems that arise due to an organizational structure that limits the free exchange of information. Communication problems can also result when employees are subjected to a steady stream of criticism from sup...
Performance Appraisals
A very important, yet often neglected aspect of managerial responsibility is performance appraisal. Simply stated, appraisals measure how well an employee is accomplishing assigned tasks. They also provide a means for communication between managers ...
Origins of Total Quality Management
The origins of the Total Quality Management philosophy can be traced back more than half a century to the work of W. Edwards Deming. In working with Japanese engineers and scientists to rebuild Japan's industrial capacity following World War Two, De...
Operational Efficiency Case Study: General Dynamics
General Dynamics' Convair Division produces weapons for the military. Under pressure to increase efficiency, the company instituted "just-in-time" production in 1990. In addition, Convair installed an automated warehouse system and began training wo...
Organizational Re-Design: Mercy Hospital and Medical Center
To operate more efficiently in the increasingly competitive world of health care, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center instituted a massive organizational re-design called Care 2000. In Mercy's former design, the simplest tasks were parceled out to a m...
Organizational Design and Change
Like Hospitals everywhere, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center has had to deal with drastic changes in a business environment that has become increasingly competitive.
Organizational Culture and Quality
In the 1980's, the issue of quality became so critical that an entire philosophy of management--known as total quality management, or "TQM,"--evolved. It was based on the notion that, ultimately, corporate success rests on quality. The impact of thi...
Organizational Design and Diversification: Fluor Corporation, The
To implement its diversification strategy, Fluor Daniel adopted a highly flexible, diversified network organizational design that aligned separate business units with a wide variety of engineering and construction markets.