Text: Better Business s1

Video Title: Adaptive Organizational Design – CH2MHill Run Time: 2:54

Classroom Application: Assess student’s understanding of adaptive organizational designs and ability to apply solutions to manage the challenges of adaptive organizations.

Synopsis Kurt Workman, digital communications manager for CH2M Hill, discusses the company’s flexible organizational design and the positive effects of having such an adaptive enterprise.

Discussion Questions When most people think about work, they think about an employee sitting in an office working a traditional work schedule. However, in reaction to a more competitive, global environment and new technology, companies like CH2MHill are integrating more adaptive organizational designs.

1) What are the benefits of an adaptive organizational design for CH2MHill employees and for this company? 2) What can managers do to address the challenges of an adaptive work environment?

Quiz Question 1

According to Kurt Workman, a global company has to ______.

1. adopt a bureaucratic organizational structure to be successful 2. focus mostly on hiring people with niche skills 3. be production oriented 4. be flexible in its organizational design 5. impose strictures on telecommuting Answer: Choice 4

Explanation:

Choice 4: In the words of Kurt Workman: “: CH2M Hill has a very flexible organizational design. By it's nature as a global company, we have to be flexible in our organizational design.”

Choice 1: The text does not mention this.

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc publishing as Prentice Hall Choice 5: This is not true. In the words of Kurt Workman: “: CH2M Hill has a very flexible organizational design. By it's nature as a global company, we have to be flexible in our organizational design.”

Question 2

An adaptive organizational design is beneficial because ______.

1. it increases employee attrition 2. it eliminates risks pertaining to project deliveries completely 3. it helps accomplish standardization of functions 4. it helps organizations obtain market monopoly 5. it boosts creativity and improves employee efficiency Answer: Choice 5

Explanation:

Choice 5: An adaptive organizational design allows people to contribute more to the company. Besides improving overall efficiency, it also boosts creativity.

Question 3

Isis Inc. is a technology firm based in Omaha, Nebraska. It has a lot of teleworkers working from different locations all over the world. For instance, Sam works from his home in Orange County, California; Steve from his ranch in Texas; Sophia from Cairo. Despite their different locations, all the employees agree on one thing: they love working for Isis. In this instance, which of the following conclusions can be drawn about Isis Inc.?

1. Isis Inc. has a bureaucratic organizational structure. 2. Isis Inc. has a flexible organizational design. 3. Isis Inc. uses coercive power to gain compliance from employees. 4. Isis Inc. is in favor of outsourcing. 5. Isis Inc. is not a goal-oriented organization. Answer: Choice 2

Explanation:

Choice 2: Teleworking and flexible scheduling are likely to be practised by organizations that have flexible organizational designs.

Choice 3: This is unlikely to be true.