Integrated Core: Management

MGMT 300-11

SPRING 2022

Ben & Jerry's

Group 4

Members

James Balbi

Samantha Colella

Sara Deek

Carlos Marzan

Muskan More

Kris Skotek

April 22, 2022

How the organization is structured

The organization is structured so that a CEO leads it with the help of a board of directors

and advisors. The CEO oversees the organization's operations and is involved in every part of the

decision-making part of the organization. The CEO needs to keep an eye on the operations due to

the organization's industry. To better manage the organization, the CEO is helped by a board of

directors and advisors. Each director and advisor on the board is allocated a role to play and are

answerable to the CEO. The directors run the different departments within the organization, and

the advisors advise the organization on different matters to improve its performance and obtain a

competitive advantage. Below the directors are the managers who lead different teams in the

organization(Edmondson). This ensures that productivity is considered and achieved. Below the

leaders are the regular employees who work on the frontline. The organizational structure of this

organization is functional, meaning there is the flow of information both upwards and

downwards without hindrances. The functional structure implemented in the organization is also

of great significance as it improves the effectiveness of both the organization and the employee

since the employee is allowed to perform in the areas where they are most skilled. It also ensures

that all the departments of Ben & Jerry's are well managed and collaborate, hence ensuring

increased productivity.

The decision-making process

The decision-making process is one of the most significant aspects of a business. Literary

businesses are run by individuals making decisions. In the case of Ben & Jerry's, all the

employees of the organization are involved in the decision-making process, which gives every

employee the chance to make contributions. However, the final decision is made by the CEO and

the board of directors. The CEO plans, organizes, staffs, leads, and controls the team via the
execution of the decisions made. This increases the organization's effectiveness and the success

of the organization(Mehta). The organization needs to involve every employee in the decision-

making process since most frontline employees interact with the organization's customers and

thus understand what they want. The decision-making process of the organization involves seven

main steps the definition of the problem, the identification of the limiting factors, the

development of the potential alternatives, the analysis of the alternatives, the selection of the best

alternative, the implementation of the decision, and the establishment of an evaluation and

control system.

Mechanistic or organic

Over the years, the company's organizational structure has grown from being organic to

mechanistic. Therefore, the current organizational structure makes the organization mechanistic.

Over the years, the structure has moved from being controlled by the owners to being based on a

centralized network. This also makes it easy for the organization's management as it is easier to

manage a mechanistic organization. There is a well-defined hierarchy from the top management

to the employees, and the top management mostly makes the organization's decisions

(Edmondson). The change in the mechanistic structure can also be identified as a result of the

change in the complexity of the company's environment.

How the organization manages changes?

The organization has a change management model that is in place to help it to handle

change. This model ensures that the company does not lose track in the course of the change.

This model also helps the top leadership connect the business strategy to action, thus increasing
the organization's success (Mehta). There is also effective communication on change hence

reducing the change resistance.

 Bibliography

Edmondson, Brad. "Why Does Ben & Jerry's Have Such Loyal Customers?" Campaign US,

Campaign, June 11 2018, https://www.campaignlive.com/article/why-does-ben-jerrys-

loyal-customers/1289573.

Mehta, Stephanie. "This Key Metric Is How Ben & Jerry's Measures Success." Fast Company,

Fast Company, January 7 2019, https://www.fastcompany.com/90287777/this-key-

metric-is-how-ben-jerrys-measures-success.