Internal Environment of LSO's

Question 1

Developing a positive corporate culture

Answer 1

Element of corporate culture
Values and practises
Symbols 
Rituals, rites and celebration
Heroes

Question 2

Ways to develop corporate culture

Answer 2

Employee rewards/recognition to reinforce effort and performance.
Social/informal gatherings
Office set up/businesses environment/space
Recruitment to fit skills and culture

Question 3

Examples of policies

Answer 3

Dress code/uniform
Occupational health and safety-heavy lifting, hazard clearing
Breaks/Leave- annual leave, paid break, maternity leave etc.
Bullying/harassment/anti discrimination
Phones and social media

Question 4

What is a policy

Answer 4

A policy is a rule, regulation or guideline that is put in place to ensure not only that both managers and employees act responsibly around the work place but also ensures their safety and well being. An example of a policy is anti discrimination stating that all managers and employees must treat each and every single employee with respect and not discriminate against any one with different coloured skin, religious beliefs or gender.

Question 5

Step 1-Policy Development

Answer 5

Pressure exists for the policy to be written or changed

The pressures come from any external or internal sources such as government, managers or even social pressures.

Question 6

Step 2-Policy Development

Answer 6

Research is conducted

When coming up with a new policy their is no point starting from scratch if their is another company that already has the same outline of the policy that could just be adapted for you business.

Question 7

Step 3-Policy Development

Answer 7

Stakeholders are consulted

This stage allows stakeholders the chance to hear about the new policy and therefore voice their opinion on the matter and perhaps make changes.

Question 8

Step 4-Policy Development

Answer 8

A draft policy is written and circulated for comment

This stage allows any flaws in the policy to modified.

Question 9

Step 5-Policy Development

Answer 9

The policy is finalised and communicated to the stakeholders

This is the stage when stakeholders are informed about the new policy. The methods or communicating include, stakeholders receiving their own copy of the policy or holding a meeting

Question 10

Step 6-Policy Development

Answer 10

The policy is reviewed after a period of to same if needed, the policy may be revised

The best way to test the policy is to see it in action. A manager would need to recall the reasons why the policy was created then they would review the policy and see if it’s achieving its goal.

Question 11

Why are policies important

Answer 11

Policies are important as they provide clear expectations of behaviour for employees and managers, protection for stakeholders for example customers and shareholders that actions are more likely to be lawful then ethical and consistency in actions of employees and with LSO’s often having thousands of employees this is important for quality and service

Question 12

Policies that reflect ethics

Answer 12

Some business may have certain policies that could also be said to be of ethical value such as Ethical Sourcing which ensures the safety and well being for all employees

Question 13

Management Structures

Answer 13

Functional- structure
Divisional-geographic/product/customer
Matrix

Question 14

Functional structure

Answer 14

Involves grouping employees together according to the tasks or jobs they will perform.

CEO
Marketing/finance/operations/HR/R&D

Question 15

Divisional Structure

Answer 15

A divisional structure groups employees together according to divisions that may be geographical or customer, product or process focused.

Question 16

Customer structure

Answer 16

The grouping of jobs and people according to the customers being served for example, whole sale or retail

General Manager client services
Corporate client/private client/government client

Question 17

Geography Structure

Answer 17

The grouping of jobs and people according to their location for example regional or state, national or international

Global Manager
General manager Asia/general manager Europe/ general manager North America

Question 18

Product structure

Answer 18

The grouping of jobs and people based on single products or services. An organisation that produces a range of products, such as Cadbury or schweppes may group activities according to whether they produce confectionary products, soft drinks, I’ve cream or dairy products

General Product manager
Confectionary/soft drinks&afraid juices/biscuits

Question 19

Ethics

Answer 19

They are rules or regulations that are put in place to ensure fairness and honesty, respect for people, conflict of issues and financial management within the confines of a company. All companies have different ethical values but a lot may already be used or altered in some way to fit the business.

Question 20

Social Responsibility

Answer 20

Is the obligation made by a business to go above and beyond what is required by law to benefit the community and its surrounding environments. Being socially responsible also ensures the wellbeing of all managers, employees, customers and shareholders and provides to the greater good of the society.

Question 21

Matrix

Answer 21

A matrix structure is similar to both the divisional and functional structure in the way it is set out the only difference is that there is maybe 2 or 3 functional structures within the business perhaps for business with multiple products may have a fictional structure for product A and another for product B.

Board of directors
Product A-marketing/HR/R&D/operations/finance
Product B-marketing/HR/R&D/operations/finance

Question 22

Fairness and honesty

Answer 22

States That:
Managers must obey laws and regulations.
Customers expect managers to tell them the truth and to not be deceptive.
Employees expect to be dealt with honestly and fairly.
If a promise is made to an employee they are expected to honour this promise.

Question 23

Respect for people

Answer 23

States that:
Sometimes a business may gain knowledge of an employee acting unethically towards a fellow employee in the workplace. This can place the business in a difficult position as the employee may be be crucial to the operations of the business.
Other times employees may be placed in difficult position by other employees playing a practical jokes on a younger employee.

Question 24

Conflict of interest

Answer 24

Is when a person takes advantage of a situation or piece of information for his or her own gain rather than for the employees interest
Things such as corruption undermines the integrity of the business if it is left unchecked it may infiltrate the workplace culture.
What begins as a small incident, to which most people turn a blind eye may soon develop into corruption on a grand scale.
If so organisations image can be severely damaged.

Question 25

Financial management

Answer 25

All financial documentation are fair, honest and upfront and that their are no messing with the book for personal gain.

Question 26

The social report

Answer 26

May also be referred to as a corporate social responsibility report, social audit or sustainability report.
The report details what an organisation has done and continues to do to address the social and environmental issues that are relevant to the organisation
Measures the success and failure of the organisation fulfilling its social responsibilities.

Question 27

Functional structure advantages and disadvantages

Answer 27

ADVANTAGES
A defined carrier pathway for employees.
The possibility of a large degree of task specialisation.
Efficient use of resources.
The provision of good opportunities for skill and knowledge development.

DISADVANTAGES
Lack of flexibility and cooperation due to it beuqacratic nature.
A narrow department focus, as opposed to a broader organisation.

Question 28

Divisional structure advantages and disadvantages

Answer 28

ADVANTAGES
Increased flexibility.
Focuses on result.
An help to develop senior managers.
Enhanced horizontal communication.

DISADVANTAGES
Duplication of resources.
Potential to promote divisional rivalry
Divisional goals may take priority over organisational goals.

Question 29

Matrix structure advantages and disadvantages

Answer 29

ADVANTAGES 
Increased flexibility.
Enhanced teamwork.
Enhanced communication.
Pooled experience/moreover problem solving.

DISADVANTAGES
Mixed messages(dual chain of command).
Duplication of resources.
Overall objectives can be lost.

Question 30

Corporate culture

Answer 30

Corporate culture is the shared values, beliefs and behaviours expressed by managers and employees within an organisation. Official corporate culture is often expressed in formal documentation such as objectives, policies, procedures and information published on the website whereas unofficial or real corporate culture are unwritten rules or ways employees behave including they treat fellow employees.