Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Spread of Delta Variant Complicates Companies’ Office-Return Plans

July 28, 2021

Yesterday, the CDC announced that vaccinated Americans should once again wear masks in indoor public places. This reversal of course from guidelines established just two months ago comes as the Delta variant spreads across the country. As a result, companies that intended to bring their employees back into the office in the coming months are now reconsidering their reopening plans.

For instance, Apple hoped to bring staff back into its corporate offices by September but have now pushed that Continue reading →

Operations Management, Global, Ethics, Human Resources, Office Culture, Coronavirus, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management

Companies Seek to Strike a Balance with Hybrid Offices

July 1, 2021

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When the pandemic hit the U.S. last year, millions of Americans suddenly went from commuting to the office every weekday to working from home on their laptops. While it was difficult for some people to adjust to this abrupt change, many others became accustomed to remote work quickly, and they would very much like to continue doing just that. As a result, a number of companies are experimenting with “hybrid offices” in which employees come in a couple days of Continue reading →

Management, Motivation, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Remote Work, Scheduling, Coronavirus, Organizational Structure, Pandemic, Workplace culture

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management

[VIDEO] The Shifting Debate Over How College Athletes Should Be Paid

April 2, 2021

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As the NCAA March Madness tournament enters its final stages, politicians and labor advocates have reignited a debate about compensating college athletes. This video takes an extensive look at the discussion as it currently stands and how possible legislation could change matters in the future.

Questions:

What is the NCAA’s reasoning for not compensating student athletes?
Do you think NCAA athletes should receive compensation for participating in college sports? Why or why not?

Motivation, Ethics, Human Resources, Compensation, Sports, Entertainment, Education, College

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions

New Players Flocked to Golf and Tennis in 2020

March 16, 2021

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The pandemic took a major toll on entertainment and recreational facilities as everything from theaters to gyms were forced to shut down or drastically alter their operations. Although golf courses and tennis courts initially closed in March and April 2020, they soon reopened and welcomed all sorts of new players looking for socially distanced outdoor activities. From June to December 2020, rounds of golf in the U.S. grew by 75 million compared to the same period in 2019, representing a Continue reading →

Marketing, Product Development, Sports, Promotions, Entertainment, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Contactless service

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Companies Keep Pushing Back Their Office-Reopening Plans

February 11, 2021

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As last year came to a close and news about Covid-19 vaccinations became more optimistic, companies across the country hoped that a quick vaccine rollout would allow them to reopen offices as early as spring 2021. That rapid rollout still has not come to pass, though, causing many businesses to push back their office-reopening plans until September at the earliest. In the meantime, millions of employees will continue to work remotely until the pandemic is finally under control.

For example, Continue reading →

Ethics, Human Resources, Work Environment, Coronavirus, Organizational Structure, Remote working, Pandemic

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Uber and Lyft Nearly Shut Down Service in California Last Week

August 24, 2020

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In 2018, California’s Supreme Court ruled against a delivery company that classified its employees as independent contractors. This landmark decision was followed two years later by official legislation that required businesses throughout the state to turn contracted staff into full-time workers or else face legal action. The most prominent targets of this new law were Uber and Lyft, the rideshare giants that employ tens of thousands of people as independent contractors.

According to consumer advocates, drivers for Uber and Continue reading →

Ethics, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Startups, Uber, Lyft, Legal, Organizational Structure

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] The Robot Revolution Has Arrived

August 20, 2020

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As companies across all industries look for ways to reduce contact between employees during the pandemic, many are turning to automated labor as a way both to stay safe and trim costs. This video looks at how advanced robotic technology could change workplaces in the long term while also examining the potential limitations of automation.

Questions:

Why are many companies investing in automated labor during the pandemic?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of automation?

Operations Management, Ethics, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Labor Relations, Health, Automation, Coronavirus, Organizational Culture

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 12: Labor Management and Unions, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Videos

Managers Start Scheduling Meetings in Video Game Worlds

August 11, 2020

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For many Americans who have been working from home for six months, each day can seem like the same procession of Zoom meetings and email exchanges. As a result, some professionals have had trouble scheduling meetings with new clients who don’t want to add another video chat to their already packed calendars. For example, a Brooklyn-based ad executive named Lewis Smithingham tried for weeks to set up a meeting with an investment analyst only to receive a string of postponements Continue reading →

Management, Entrepreneurship, Entertainment, Video Games, Telecommuting, Coronavirus, Networking, Organizational Culture

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

[VIDEO] The Evolution of Open Offices

March 6, 2020

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Last year, we looked at how open office plans can discourage communication between employees despite claims about their supposed collaborative benefits. This video explains the history of open offices and how modern workplaces often fail to live up to the standards of the past due to concerns about cost.

Questions:

How do modern open office plans tend to discourage communication and collaboration between employees?
Do you think more companies should create open office plans based on the principles Continue reading →

Motivation, Human Resources, Open Offices, Work Environment, Office Culture, Office infrastructure

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Videos

More than 1,600 CEOs Left Their Jobs Last Year

January 21, 2020

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For many people in business, reaching the position of chief executive officer (CEO) means that they’ve finally made it to the top of their profession. And life is certainly sweet for most CEOs: Disney’s Bob Iger, for instance, took home nearly $50 million in compensation last year. But with all of that money and power comes great responsibility. If these top managers fail to live up to a company’s expectations, they might not get to enjoy their lofty positions for Continue reading →

Management, Ethics, Compensation, CEO, Company Culture

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 7: Management & Leadership, Chapter 8: Organizational Culture and Structure