OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Structural Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the structural frame
2. Apply the structural frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

As stated in the previous module, the situation I will be analyzing is the overhaul and
reconstruction of the mechanized lines in the outbound department. As an area supervisor
for the Home Depot, we went through changing standard practices, a complete warehouse
renovation and the expectations of providing feedback along the way. Throughout this
entire process we had to make sure to provide adequate training to all associates and find
a way to continue to push freight through the building despite the construction.

2) Describe how the structure of the organization influenced the situation.

The Home Depot is very structured in their everyday operations. With such a large
project and emphasis on remaining on schedule, this was no different. We were instructed
to shut down certain dock doors and move all of the freight and outbound trailer to
temporary doors. Each mech line was constructed and fitted for the newly vacant dock
doors. We were able to complete the construction in sections, so we did not lose any
productivity.

Along with sticking to a strict schedule, Home Depot is very insistent on

supervisor interaction with associates. During the entire process area supervisors were
required to give updates regarding the overall construction progress and the different
dock doors that would be moved during each phase. Slide shows were present during
each shift to document if the project was moving forward smoothly, but did not document
or inform very well of the hiccups that occurred along the way.

3) Recommend how you would use structure for an alternative course of action
regarding your case.

In an alternate course of action I would implement Mintzberg’s Five model. This

model would allow the entire warehouse to find their bearings throughout the

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 construction process. Without any formal strategy the construction process would
essentially stop all production and not allow for any freight to be processed
through the buiding. While Home Depot encouraged updates for all of the
associates during the process, using Mintzberg’s model simply continue to
operate, not have such a heavy focus on what is happening with the project.
All of the support staff would be included in the grouping of the entire
warehouse. With the construction company included the construction would flow
as if there was no third party company in the building at all. Management from
the construction may also join in meetings with other Home Depot managers so
each can stay updated on the state of the entire building.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Throughout the entire project it was a god idea to keep all of the associates
informed on how the project was going. I believe the bad should have been shared along
with good, as well. If associates are working in the building throughout any type of
project they have the right to know exactly how it is going to effect their pace and style of
work. This level of communication I would not have changed and may have even
amplified it to reflect a more accurate update of the process.
A major change I would have made during the construction process would be to
include construction management in the Home Depot meetings. The actual company
would be able to provide a more accurate account of how the entire project was coming
along. Also, when Home Depot managers were strategizing techniques of how to process
freight at a proficient pace, the construction company may have planned certain aspects
of the project in a different way, in order to accommodate associates better. While the
project eventually finished successfully, more communication between management from
each company and the associates would have proven to ensure everyone was on the same
page.

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 Reference or References