Question

How you choose to organize your people can have a dramatic affect on your organization's level of success. Like most clothing, one size does not fit all. Each organization needs to be created taking into account factors like size, industry, geographical scope, rate of change and many others.

Scenario

Scenario 1 – You're the lead in a small high tech startup that is developing a new type of plastic that is made from natural animal and plant oils.

Scenario 2 – You are also the lead but this business is a chain of 6 BBQ restaurant locations in SW Ontario that is looking to expand across Canada through selling franchises.

Deliverables

For Scenario 1, describe your organizational choices and why you would make them.

For scenario 2, describe your organizational choices and why you would make them.

(In each case keep in mind what roles need to be filled, how many employees you will likely have, how folks will work together, share information, where they will be located, how business decisions will be made and who reports to whom. Are you more vertically oriented or more horizontally oriented and why.)

In your opinion, which scenario would be easier to implement in a real-world scenario? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

In Scenario 1, a small high tech startup would benefit from a horizontal organizational structure. In Scenario 2, a chain of BBQ restaurants expanding through franchises would benefit from a vertical organizational structure. The ease of implementation depends on the specific circumstances.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Scenario 1, as the lead in a small high tech startup, the organizational choices would depend on the specific needs and goals of the company. Since it is a small startup, a more horizontal organizational structure would be suitable. This means that decision-making would be more decentralized and employees would have more autonomy. This type of structure allows for quick decision making and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

In Scenario 2, as the lead of a chain of BBQ restaurants looking to expand through franchises, a more vertical organizational structure would be appropriate. This means that there would be clear hierarchies and chains of command. This is because franchises often require a standardized approach and centralized decision-making to maintain consistency across locations.

In terms of which scenario would be easier to implement in a real-world scenario, it would depend on various factors. Scenario 1 might be easier to implement as it is a small startup and there is more flexibility in designing the organizational structure. However, Scenario 2 might be easier if there is already an established system and processes in place that can be replicated across franchises.