The
Excellent Consulting Group
Communication from Art:
Thank you for your report on the strategy
analysis of Whole Foods Market. Now, we need to move ahead to the next part of
this project.
ABC Company and Whole Foods Market have
decided they want to do an Organizational Diagnosis to determine how various
aspects of Whole Foods Market are aligned, such as inputs, resources,
productivity, throughput effort, outputs, performance, strategy, etc. They want
to know if there are any significant issues at Whole Foods Market and how these
issues might affect its integration into ABC Company.
Required Reading:
Download and read this white paper by
Falletta about OD models. Salvatore Falletta, President and CEO of
Leadersphere, has written a white paper that reviews several commonly used
models of organizational diagnosis. You will use several of these models in
conducting your integrative Case project. The relevant part of this paper in
terms of this class is the first 31 pages. The last part of the paper (pp.
32-43) deals with the theoretical foundations of the Burke & Litwin model,
Falletta’s Organizational Intelligence Model; reading that is optional. We are
not covering Falletta’s Organizational Intelligence Model.
Falletta, S. V. (2005) Organizational
Diagnostic Models: A Review and Synthesis. Retrieved January 15, 2014, fromhttp://www.iei.liu.se/fek/frist/723g16/files/1.120328/Orgmodels.pdf
Falletta provides an overview of Open
Systems Theory (OST) in his paper (pp. 8 & 9). Keep in mind that OST is not
an OD model, but rather a basis for most of the later models. For a deeper
understanding, go to the following optional reading and read about systems, systems
thinking, and organizations as open systems. You will see that businesses are
not unlike living organisms: they depend on the environment for sustenance;
they comprise multiple, mutually dependent parts; and they affect the
environment in the course of their daily activities. Open Systems Theory
provides valuable insights into organizations.
Optional Reading:
Systems Thinking and Learning Organizations
(n.d.). National Defense University. Retrieved fromhttp://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt1ch4.html
Review Case Analysis since it is so
important in this final course. The purpose of a Case is to show that you have
thought critically about the subject matter that you are learning and to make
an argument for a Claim about the specific situation in the Case Assignment.
Stephen Toulmin has developed an Argument Methodology that is very useful in
Making a Case. To review Case Analysis and Toulmin’s Argument Methodology, go
to Making a Case page.
Case Assignment
There is some disagreement in the Executive
ranks as to which OD method or model should be used. Some executives have
familiarity with a couple of models, but it seems to be only based on what they
have read or heard about. You need to explore some models and determine their
strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately recommend which one is best for Whole
Foods Market. As part of making that determination, you will also need to
identify several critical issues facing Whole Foods Market.
The executives want you to include the 7S
model, the Congruence Model, and the Burke-Litwin Model in your analysis. Pick
three or four more models to include for a well-rounded group of OD models.
Prepare a report in which you include the
following:
A brief overview of what each of the six or
seven models you are analyzing does.
Clearly identify the strengths and
weaknesses of each model.
Identify and discuss two or three issues
that Whole Foods Market is facing.
Determine which model you think is the best
one to use.
Recommend which model to use. Make a Strong
Case. Explain why your selection would be the best choice, and how the
recommended model can be used to help diagnose the issues you have identified.
This should be a 5- to 7-page paper (not
including Title Page and References).
Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated on the
following seven points:
Precision – Does the paper address the
question(s) or task(s)?
Breadth – Is the full breadth of the
subject, that is, the Keys to the Assignment, addressed?
Depth – Does the paper address the topic in
sufficient depth and include the background reading and other background
resources as references?
Critical thinking – Is the subject thought
about critically, that is, accurately, logically, relevantly, and precisely?
Clarity – Is the writing clear and are the
concepts articulated properly? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the
primary means of responding to the questions or are points conveyed through
excessive use of quotations?
Organization – Is the paper well written?
Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work?
Are headings included in all papers longer than two pages?
Referencing (citations and references) –
Does the paper include citations and quotation marks where appropriate? Are the
references from the background reading and assignment present and properly
cited? Are all the references listed in the bibliography present and referred
to via citation?
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
You may use a simple diagram to highlight
important factors. However, do not use the diagram in lieu of valuable analysis
(or to take up valuable writing space) – it should be in addition to your 5-7
pages of analysis.
Just because you have written the minimum
five pages does not mean that you have adequately covered the topic. Err on the
side of writing more rather than less.
Choose the data you use carefully. Is it
relevant and important?
Include a cover page and reference page, in
addition to the 5-7 pages of analysis described above.
Include headings within the paper.
Cite and reference all sources that you use
in your work, including those that you paraphrase. This means include citations
and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than five words, and citations
for that information which you have “borrowed” or paraphrased from
other sources.
