SOCI110 Case for Module 6 - Acetate Department

Daft 7e pp. 231-234.

 
Names of Group Members
 
 
 
 
 
 

Instructions

  1. Form groups of 4 to 6 students each.
  2. Individually, read the case on pages 231-234 in the text; this will take most people less than 10 minutes.
  3. Using one discussion sheet write the name of each group member in the list above; return that sheet at the end of class.
  4. In your group discuss the questions that follow.

Discussion Questions

1.  Analyze the Acetate Department's technology, before and after the change, in terms of task variety and analyzability.  Where would you place the original Acetate Department in Perrow's framework (routine, nonroutine, craft, or engineering)?  The new Acetate department?  What implications do departmental technologies have for formalization, centralization, staff qualifications, span of control, and communication/coordination?

2.  Use the table below to describe the technology and other characteristics of the old and new Acetate Department.  How well do structural characteristics of the department (old and new) fit the technology (old and new)?
 

Old Acetate Department
New Acetate Department
Goals    
Authority structure    
Type of technology (using Woodward's typology)    
Organization structure (mechanistic/ organic)    
Team versus individual    
Interdependence (how do employees depende on each other)    
Tasks (routine/nonroutine)    
Specialization of tasks by employees    
Standardization (how varied are tasks & products?)    
Expertise required    
Decision-making (centralized/decentralized)    

3.  Why didn't the department's innovations improve output and performance?

4.  Given that the department cannot "turn back" its investment in new technology, what would you recommend the department do to improve output, absenteeism, and the judgment of operators?