Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Management Global 13Th Edition Robins Solutions Manual Full Chapter PDF
Management Global 13Th Edition Robins Solutions Manual Full Chapter PDF
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
It’s been said that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. It
has also been said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. These
two sayings emphasize the importance of goals. Organizations want people who can
get things done. And goal-setting is an essential component of long-term career
success. How can you be better at setting goals? Here are some suggestions:
1. Identify what you’d like to do or achieve in important life areas such as career,
financial, education, family, physical, public service/community involvement, and so
forth. Focus on your most important broad goals.
2. Make your goals actionable. Although having broad, visionary goals is important,
you need to set smaller goals with more specific, achievable actions. Use the
s.m.a.r.t. approach. This means you write goals that are Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Relevant (or Realistic), and Time trackable. Using this approach forces
you to set goals that aren’t just daydreams or that are unrealistic.
3. Make your plans for reaching those goals. Setting goals is important, but so is
deciding how you’re going to achieve them.
4. Determine how you’ll measure progress toward your goal. You need to think
about how you will know you’ve achieved a goal.
5. Review your goals periodically. As your life and career circumstances change,
change your goals to reflect that.
128
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
Planning is one of the four functions of management. Fundamental information
about managerial planning is presented in this chapter; the text discusses the
nature and purposes of planning, strategies for effective planning, and
contemporary planning issues.
131
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
1. In the traditional approach, planning was done entirely by top-level
managers who were often assisted by a formal planning
department.
2. Another approach to planning is to involve more members of the
organization in the planning process. In this approach, plans are
not handed down from one level to the next, but are developed by
organizational members at various levels to meet their specific
needs.
Talk About It 2: Take one "challenge" and discuss how managers could address it.
132
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
is the process of gathering information about competitors that
allows managers to anticipate competitors’ actions.
2. Competitive intelligence is not corporate espionage – much
competitor-related information is publicly available. Purchasing
access to databases as well as searches on the Internet can
provide key information.
3. Global information can be garnered through subscriptions to news
services.
4. Managers should ensure that information gathering is legal and
ethical. The theft of proprietary materials or trade secrets is
illegal, and delineated by the Economic Espionage Act.
8-1. Explain what studies have shown about the relationship between planning and
performance.
It should be noted that one cannot say that organizations that formally plan always
outperform those that don’t plan. However, studies have indicated that formal planning
is often associated with positive financial results. Generally, performance is also higher
in those organizations where planning is present. And, when higher performance is not
the result of formal planning, often the reason is due to something in the external
environment. Finally, studies indicate that at least four years of formal planning are
necessary before performance is affected. (LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of
planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8.3 Will planning become more or less important to managers in the future? Why?
Planning will become more important to managers in the future because of the
uncertainty in an increasingly dynamic environment. Changes constantly occur in both
the general and specific environments of organizations, and many of these changes take
place rapidly. Planning helps managers cope with the uncertainty by forcing managers to
look ahead, anticipate change, consider the impact of the change, and develop
appropriate responses. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in planning, AACSB:
Analytical thinking)
8-4. If planning is so crucial, why do some managers choose not to do it? What would
you tell these managers?
133
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
Managers may choose not to devote time to planning because they do not know how to
plan or feel that they do not have the necessary time. Others may say that planning is a
waste of time that the future is going to happen whether or not they plan. However,
these reasons do not discount the importance of planning. Every manager should
engage in planning. (LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of planning, AACSB:
Analytical thinking)
8-5. Explain how planning involves decisions today that will have an impact later.
As managers plan, they make decisions that influence how activities are organized, how
employees are managed, and what control mechanisms are implemented. As managers
look to the future by planning, the decisions they make as they plan will have an impact
on their other managerial activities. (LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of planning,
AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-6. How might planning in a not-for-profit organization such as the American Cancer
Society differ from planning in a for-profit organization such as Coca-Cola?
The process of planning is similar, but the content of the plans will differ. The types of
objectives that are established and the plans that are formulated will be influenced by
the fact that a not-for-profit organization does not have profit as its major objective.
However, a not-for-profit organization must devote efforts and resources to planning how
to raise funds and to recruit volunteers to achieve its mission. (LO: 4, Discuss
contemporary issues in planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-7. What types of planning do you do in your personal life? Describe these plans in
terms of being (a) strategic or operational plans, (b) short- or long-term plans, and (c)
specific or directional plans.
Students’ responses to this question will, of course, vary. Students may mention their
planning to meet educational and career goals. Encourage your students to think about
their everyday lives and the types of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly planning they do.
(LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations might have and the plans they use,
AACSB: Reflective thinking)
8-8. Many companies have a goal of becoming more environmentally sustainable. One
of the most important steps they can take is controlling paper waste. Choose a
company—any type, any size. Imagine that you’ve been put in charge of creating a
program to control paper waste for the company. Set goals and develop plans. Prepare
a report for your boss (that is, your professor), outlining these goals and plans.
It should also be stressed to students that plans must be accepted by top management
as well as employees at lower levels if it is to be effectively implemented. Have students
discuss the difficulty of implementing a plan such as this across levels. How could
students increase buy-in of the plan? How would such a plan be ultimately evaluated to
determine its success? Using criteria discussed in the previous question, have students
check that their goals match the SMART format. (LO: 3, Compare and contrast
approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
Students are asked to assess an event that happened at a Safeway store in Hawaii
where a couple was arrested and their young daughter detained because of a suspected
theft of $2.50 in sandwiches. The couple acknowledged their mistake and provided a
reasonable explanation for the event. The store manager, on the other hand, claimed he
was following company policy when he called the police. Was this overkill on the part of
the manager or was it just a case of following company rules and procedures? How did
this affect the company’s image? This exercise could be a short written assignment or
serve as a group activity in class.
8-11. What do you think? Was this a good business decision for Safeway?
8-12. What potential ethical issues do you see here?
8-13. If you were the store manager, what would you have done in this situation?
Obviously, students may have their opinion on the matter, but should be able to provide
support for their stance on the issue. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in planning,
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning)
Students are provided with eight suggestions for effectively setting goals. They are then
asked to determine goals for five years from the present. In addition, they are to set
personal and academic goals to be achieved by the end of the current college term.
Ensure that students’ goals are specific, achievable, and measurable. (LO: 3, Compare
and contrast approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Reflective thinking)
Students are provided with eight suggestions for effectively setting goals. They are then
asked to determine goals for five years from the present. They are given the scenario
where they are managers in a grocery store. In this exercise, they are required to
describe how they would set goals for their position including the examples of goals for
the jobs of butcher, cashier and bakery manger. Ensure that students’ goals are
specific, achievable, and measurable. (LO: 3, Compare and contrast approaches to goal
setting and planning, AACSB: Reflective thinking)
135
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
WORKING TOGETHER: TEAM EXERCISE
In groups of three to four individuals, students tackle planning and goal-setting for a
public school system moving to a four-day week. Students should be able to clearly
identify strategic and operational plans. Goals associated with the plans should be
specific, achievable, and measurable. (LO: 3, Compare and contrast approaches to
goal- setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
MY TURN TO BE A MANAGER
• Practice setting goals for various aspects of your personal life, such as
academics, career preparation, family, hobbies, and so forth. Set at least two
short-term goals and at least two long-term goals for each area. (LO: 3, Compare
and contrast approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Reflective
thinking)
• For the goals that you have set, write out plans for achieving those goals. Think
in terms of what you will have to do to accomplish each one. For instance, if one
of your academic goals is to improve your grade-point average, what will you
have to do to reach it? (LO: 3, Compare and contrast approaches to goal-setting
and planning, AACSB: Reflective thinking)
• Write a personal mission statement. Although this may sound simple to do, it’s
not going to be simple or easy. Our hope is that it will be something that you’ll
want to keep, use, and revise when necessary...that it will be something that
helps you be the you you’d like to be and helps you live the life you’d like to live.
Start by doing some research on personal mission statements. There are some
wonderful Web resources that can guide you. Good luck! (LO: 3, Compare and
contrast approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Reflective thinking)
• Interview three managers about the types of planning they do. Ask them for
suggestions on how to be a better planner. Write a report that describes and
compares your findings. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in planning,
AACSB: Analytical thinking)
• Steve’s and Mary’s suggested readings: Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto:
How to Get Things Right (Metropolitan Books, 2009); Peter F. Drucker,
Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices (Harper Business, 1974); Peter
F. Drucker, The Executive in Action: Managing for Results (Harper Business,
1967); and Peter F. Drucker, The Practice of Management (HarperCollins, 1954).
(LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
136
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
(LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations might have and the plans they
use, AACSB: Analytical thinking) (LO: 3, Compare and contrast approaches to
goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking) (LO: 4, Discuss
contemporary issues in planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
• What does it take to be a good planner? Do some research on this issue. As part
of your research, talk to professors and other professionals. Make a bulleted list
of suggestions. Be sure to cite your sources. (LO: 3, Compare and contrast
approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
• In your own words, write down three things you learned in this chapter about
being a good manager. (LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of planning,
AACSB: Analytical thinking) (LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations
might have and the plans they use, AACSB: Analytical thinking) (LO: 3, Compare
and contrast approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical
thinking) (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in planning, AACSB: Analytical
thinking)
8-14. Could an organization even plan for this type of situation? If yes, how? If
not, why not?
This situation epitomizes the importance of understanding environmental uncertainty.
When the Livestrong Foundation announced it could no longer defend its founder, it was
a defining watershed moment, one not easily predictable given previous circumstances;
however, a company’s plans should remain flexible in the event of sudden, unexpected
obstacles. Students should be able to explain how a firm develops specific plans, but
builds in a degree of flexibility to those plans. (LO: 1, Define the nature and purposes of
planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-15. How would goals be useful in this type of situation? What types of goals
might be necessary?
Goals are important in situations of this type – especially short-term goals. An
organization’s quick response to the volcanic eruption will lessen the negative impact of
the delays on shipping, communication, travel, etc. All three situations (BMW, global
137
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
airline, and the Kenyan flower grower) would set both strategic and financial goals.
Specific strategic goals would assist each organization with how it adapts to the air traffic
delays, while financial goals would attempt to lessen the financial hit each organization
suffers. (LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations might have and the plans they
use, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-16. What types of plans will be useful to Livestrong? Explain why you think these
plans would be important.
A sudden, unexpected event such as the loss of an organization’s founder would call for
several different kinds of plans. Though long-term plans would be in place, some
flexibility in those plans would probably be necessary. Students should be able to
identify the importance of short-term plans in handling the situation. Again, flexibility
would be key. Additionally, students may point to operational plans to provide specifics
on certain areas of an organization and directional plans that ensure flexibility during the
crisis. (LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations might have and the plans they
use, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-17. What lessons about planning can managers learn from what Livestrong has
endured?
Students should grasp the importance of flexibility with the planning process.
Environmental uncertainty is the expectation and not the exception; therefore, rigid
adherence to any plan could create challenges for managers. The ability to quickly
adapt to a crisis is also critical as it enables managers to assess a situation and work
with his or her team to overcome the obstacles. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in
planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
Shifting Direction
8-18. What role do you think goals would play in planning the change in direction for the
company? List some goals you think might be important. (Make sure these goals have
the characteristics of well-written goals.)
Goals play a substantial role in an organization’s planning for situations requiring
coordination of resources. In this case, the goals for Garmin are driving its direction to
form new partnerships in order to remain active in the GPS market. Garmin’s planning
should follow the SMART format introduced by Drucker. In addition to being written,
have students suggest ways that the goal can meet the qualities of S (specific), M
(measurable), A (attainable), R (relevant), and T (time bound). (LO: 3, Compare and
contrast approaches to goal-setting and planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-19. What types of plans would be needed in an industry such as this one? (For
instance, long-term or short-term, or both?) Explain why you think these plans would be
important.
138
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
Planning involves defining the organization’s goals, establishing an overall strategy for
achieving those goals, and developing a comprehensive set of plans to integrate and
coordinate organizational work. Determining a direction for Garmin considering that
most cell phones now have a GPS function involves both a long-term and short-term
goal. Have students think of short-term plans involving relationships with car
manufacturers and then long-term plans on product development in other areas. In
addressing the importance of these plans, have students think of the possibility of
Garmin competing in other markets. (LO: 2, Classify the types of goals organizations
might have and the plans they use, AACSB: Analytical thinking
8-20. What contingency factors might affect the planning Garmin executives have to do?
How might those contingency factors affect the planning?
Three contingency factors that affect the choice of plans are: organizational level,
degree of environmental uncertainty, and length of future commitments. A decision this
important will ultimately be managed by the top executives at Garmin. Therefore, at the
top organizational level, the planning will be strategic in nature. As functional aspects of
the decision start to manifest themselves, lower-level managers will be engaged in
operational planning. Second, environmental uncertainty that will affect the planning
process in that new technology, changing customer demands, or a myriad of other
unexpected occurrences could cause the executives to rethink the company’s direction.
And third, the time frame for contracts with partners and introducing new products is
important. Students might think in terms of a five-year plan, but shorter and longer plans
are also possible if properly supported by the students. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary
issues in planning, AACSB: Analytical thinking)
8-21. What planning challenges do you think Garmin executives face with continuing to
be the global market leader? How should they cope with those challenges?
A plan involving such a fundamental change in products would be quite challenging.
Very likely, not all the executives will agree on the ultimate direction of the company.
Reaching consensus on what new products should be introduced and the features of
those products could be a difficult process. In addition, once agreed, others (partners,
stockholders, and customers) may view the direction of the company in a negative
fashion – in other words, executives might face some scrutiny. Students should be able
to identify the importance of effective communication throughout the organization once
the plans and goals are set. Getting buy-in from others will facilitate the plan’s
acceptance by constituents. (LO: 4, Discuss contemporary issues in planning, AACSB:
Analytical thinking)
With a turbulent economy and high levels of uncertainty, planning and strategic planning,
in particular, present difficult challenges for managers. The article “There Is No
Alternative to…” provides an interesting contemporary approach to planning in an
uncertain economy. Scenario planning was pioneered by Royal Dutch/Shell to
anticipate global changes. The article looks beyond scenario planning in which
“everything” is in a state of flux. The article can be found in FastCompany, Issue 60,
July 2002, page 106 (By Ian Wylie). A link to this source is
[http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/60/tina.html].
139
Copyright © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
— Onko niillä aseita?
— Ja Siltasaaren herrat.
— Hei, onpa meillä nyt jo kättä pitempää! Joka miehelle ase. Ihan
tämä joukko nyt jo näyttää sotaiselta.
— Ja mielellään tekeekin.
— Hei hulinata, onko kahvi valmis? Voi jumaliste, jos nyt olisi litra
pirtua!
— Kaaja sinä ämmä kahvea kuppiin, tässä tulee, pojat, kuuma yö!
— Missä Kustaa on?
Joukko hätääntyi.
— Eläköön vallankumous!
— Suutari Ripatti.
— Kannatetaan.
— On, on.
— Mikä se on?
— Viekää helvettiin!
— Tunnustetaan.
— Mäenpään isäntä.
— Kannatetaan.
— Onko se päätös?