Question 1.
What would you do to address the teamwork problems that are apparent at “Craft Collective”? Write your response as a series of recommendations. Ensure that you refer to appropriate theory to support your findings.
Problems facing Craft Collective group is the lack of proper use of the management functions. There is lack of proper planning, organizing, leading and control at all levels of the group. In every business started by any group,there must be a clear definition of the business. For example, the business should be clear on the specific products being produced. Nevertheless, there should be proper planning of the activities being carried by each member. In the case of Craft Collective, there is the lack of proper planning and co-ordination of activities. For instance, the objectives of the group are not clear hence they are not attainable in the long run. Although the group claims that the main aim of their business is not to make money, this is an irony since at the end money becomes anissue.The group lacks a code of ethics that should define what each member needs to portray when carrying out their duties. Ideally, this is the reason each person is presenting his or her view without following any protocol.
Furthermore, any business to function well there is a great need for division of work and specialization which lacks in Craft Collective. According to classical management theory model by Henry Fayol, division of work plays a great role in reducing the effort of any worker or group thus developing familiarity and practice.On the other hand, specialization helps a group of people to divide themselves with respect to the areas they are talented(Fayoland Gray, 1988). In doing so, the group can increase efficiency since everyone is can deliver his or her best.
Moreover, Craft Collective lacks chain of command that entails proper leadership and management of any group. For any business to succeed in attaining its goals and objectives,there is a great need for various management levels. The business unit should be subdivided into various departments or section in which each section should have a leader in order to foster smooth flow and co-ordination of activities.
Finally, the group lacks a good plan on how to run the most crucial its main business function. Production function is very vital for any business entity since it is supposed to provide quality products in good time in order to ensure that customers get quality goods hence their satisfaction. In several occasions, retailers supplied by the Craft Collective group have complained after receiving faulty goods from the group. The main cause of this problem with respect to the designers is due to failure to take time to produce quality products. On the other hand, Craft Collective does not respect contract agreements with its retailers. As a result, in several occasions retailers have complained about the failure of the group to deliver products within the provided timeframe thus inconveniencing the operation of the retailers
Recommendations
In order to solve its problems, Craft Collective needs to define their business clearly and hence choose leaders to manage the entire group. Through their leaders, the group will be able to sit down and come up with clear and attainable goals and objectives.The objectives should act as a guide for the group in performing their day to day activities. Through the deliberations, the leaders should come up y to with a proper method of monitoring the day to day operations of the entire group. Through regular monitoring, the group will identify any problems early in advance hence able to correct the in good time. In so doing, the group will work with respect to the guidelines hence in the end attaining the goals and objectives.
In addition, there is a great need for the group to divide its operations to various departments. Division of work in a business plays a great role in enhancing efficiency. Ideally, this is because different members of the business are posted to areas of specialization.Through the division of the work, members will be placed to areas where they can function well without difficulties. Creating various sections of the business will help the group to improve the production and supply sections that have a serious problem. Nevertheless, through the divisions members will deliver their best hence improving the performance of the entire business(Schermerhorn., 2005).
Furthermore, Craft Collective needs to come up with a code of conduct for governing the progress of the Business. Code of conduct provides business with a clear way of doing things since it defines what is expected for each member when carrying out their duties and responsibilities. With a well-defined code of ethics, the group will carry out its operations without problems (Sen, 2008).
Finally, it is recommendable for the group to have a precise chain of command. There is a need for the group to have levels of management through which information should flow smoothly. The flow of information should be two ways, that is: information should flow from the top management level to the bottom level and vice versa. Smooth flow of information would enhance efficiency in the groups operation hence improving their performance.
References
Fayol, H., andGray, I., 1988. General and industrial management. London: Pitman.Montana, P. J., andCharnov, B. H., 2000.Management (3rd ed.). Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's.
Reddy, P., Appannaiah, H. R., andSathyaprasad, B. G., 2010.Business management (Rev. ed.). Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House.
Schermerhorn, J. R., 2005. Management (8th ed.). New York: J. Wiley.
Sen, M., 2008.Business management. Jaipur, India: Oxford Book Co..
Statt, D. A., andStatt, D. A.,1999. Concise dictionary of business management (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
