Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Final Paper of Group 3-K31
Final Paper of Group 3-K31
Final Paper of Group 3-K31
Group 3
Submitted by:
Ang, Camille
Menor, Maureen
Salita, Bea
Reyes, Mikaella
Verga, Triccia
Zehethofer, Juliana
Group 3
Submitted to:
Regina C. Dy, PhD.
Submitted on:
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
Group 3
Chapter 1
Organization Overview
Internal Environment
This part should contain at least the following: You can do this part by paragraph. This is just a
suggested format. You can do this part through storytelling in paragraph form. No need for the
bulleted headings.
● Logo
● Picture of the building of the office (from the street) and another picture inside the
office/s
Inside View:
Street View:
● Product/s or Service/s Description (if there’s a price list,t you can include it here as well
as pictures of what the products or services are)
SWIFT Management Consulting Services OPC is a consulting firm
started by CPAs with more than twenty (20) years of professional experience in
different facets of accounting, finance, and taxation. In 2005, SWIFT expanded
its area of expertise to provide the following professional services:
Strategic Planning:
Information Technology:
● Mission and Vision (if the company does not have these statements yet then you can help
formulate with them)
Vision
We see ourselves as the firm of choice by Philippine businesses for their
management consulting needs that can provide exceptional professional service
without sacrificing the highest ideals of integrity and professionalism.
Mission:
In order to achieve our vision, we recognize the following
commitments to our stakeholders:
● To God – Perform professional service that will glorify God and contribute to the
goodness of the business environment.
● To Our Clients – Provide optimal solutions on their general and specific
consulting needs in a timely and cost efficient manner that will cultivate
long-term growth and meaningful business relationships.
● To Our Employees – Create a challenging working environment that will push
them to hone their skills to their fullest potential for both their personal and
professional advancement.
● To the CPA Profession Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and
integrity as required from a CPA professional.
● To the Government – Participate in the creation of a good business environment
through proper compliance and facilitation of good governance.
● To Our Partners and Owners: Deliver a reasonable return for the capital employed
that enabled the firm to operate and perform excellent service
● Organizational Chart
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
Group 3
Internal Analysis
● Explain all the functional departments present in the organization
○ 3 DEPARTMENT
■ Head (Big companies held by the 2 bosses)
● Not given to the accountants etc.
● The Head Department consists of the 2 bosses who handle big
responsibilities. They are in charge of handling big companies
because their standards and capabilities are fit for that role.
However, they are not allowed to give this to other employees or
other accountants given its technicalities. Although as Head
Department, it is evident that they have management skills and
leadership that helps motivate other workers to achieve their goals.
■ Head Admin
- The Head Administration is essential to the efficient execution of
administrative duties within a company. Rechecking contracts is
one of their main responsibilities. Each contract is carefully
examined and verified for authenticity and completeness to make
sure that every relevant detail is included and that the terms and
conditions are in compliance with the company's regulations and
legal requirements. This focus on detail reduces the possibility of
mistakes or inconsistencies that can cause problems in the legal or
financial realms. The Head Admin also serves as a contact between
the company and its customers. They keep open lines of
communication with their clients, giving them status updates and
responding to any questions or issues they may have. The Head
Admin contributes to the growth of strong connections and raises
customer satisfaction by keeping clients informed and involved.
Overall, the head administrator's duties include client coordination
and contract overseeing, both of which are essential to an
organization's effective operation and success.
■ Employees / Accountants
- In Swift Management Consulting Services OPC, employees and
accountants are essential collaborators in work delegation. They
are tasked with working closely with client businesses, visiting
them on-site to deliver accounting services and carry out their
duties. They report back to their shifts within the company after
finishing their duties, offering their findings and insights.
Additionally, they are skilled in managing international companies,
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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○ Employees
■ Strength:
● Networking and building connections
○ Employees and accountants typically deal with a variety of
parties through their job, including clients, coworkers, and
experts from other businesses. They increase their exposure
within the sector and have access to a wide range of
knowledge and viewpoints by actively interacting with
others.
● Strong communication skills
○ Employees and accountants hone their ability to express
ideas, explain financial concepts, and provide results or
suggestions in a simple and understandable manner through
their frequent interactions with clients, colleagues, and
superiors. They can develop connections with clients, win
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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■ Weaknesses
● Complexity in bigger companies
○ While the employees and accountants might be excellent at
handling the finances of small to medium-sized enterprises,
they might run into difficulties when dealing with the
volume and complexity of larger corporations. Large
corporations frequently have complex financial
arrangements, numerous subsidiaries, extensive regulatory
requirements, and vast financial resources. The employees
and accountants of Swift, given that it is still a small firm,
might lack the specialized knowledge and resources needed
to manage these intricate systems and processes.
● Not exposed to big problems or risks
○ Employees and accountants may not have much experience
handling serious issues or high-risk scenarios involving big
sums of money.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
● Lacks
communication to
other
employees/account
ants
Political
● Here are some recently issued set of revenue regulations set by the BIR which
concerns the firms within the industry such as,
○ RR No. 2-2023 issued back on April 19, 2023 which specifies that the
original copy of the government receipt should be included as
confirmation of payment of DST or documentary stamp tax on certificates
issued by government agencies.
○ RR No. 4-2023 issued on May 4, 2023 which further mandating to file tax
returns through e-FPS or electronic filing and payment system.
○ RR No. 5-2023 issued back on May 5, 2023, foreign dividends earned by
domestic firms are free from income tax.
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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Economic
● According to findings in July 2020, due to the rising COVID pandemic situation,
around forty percent of the firms disclosed in their survey were pushed into a halt
of all activities. this, of which half of the forty percent was due to the decree of
the government and the other half was voluntary. And not only that, but
approximately fifteen percent of the reported firms claimed to have permanently
closed. And Swift Management Consulting Services OPC is not exempt; they
were also put on hold. And luckily, unlike other less fortunate firms, the firm was
able to operate once again once the pandemic threats began to slowly decrease.
● Consequently, due to the boost in demand of products and companies concerned
with safety during the pandemic such as Green Cross, the firm had an increase in
demand which helped the firm quite a lot during the pandemic.
Social:
Technological:
● Website : swiftmcs.com
● Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Swiftmcsrsm/
● Email : info@swiftmcs.com
● Connecting with clients through email, messenger, landline, and cellphone
numbers, as do most businesses in the industry.
● Announcements and promotions posted through Facebook; utilization of
mainstream social media like facebook also seen throughout the industry as it
reaches a wider and more mature market in comparison to other platforms like
twitter, instagram often used by younger generations.
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
Group 3
Ecological:
● Across industries there has been an increase in awareness for sustainability, the
same holds true for businesses in the management and consulting service industry
like Swift Management Consulting Services OPC. As environmental concerns
become more apparent, organizations are placing greater importance on
sustainable practices. Given this, businesses should prioritize its implementation
to secure the benefits ecological sustainability presents. Firms that uphold
environmental sustainability could widen their clientele to those seeking to
actively implement eco-friendly strategies, thus increasing demand for their
business services. Shifting consumer preferences to environmental consciousness,
expands the market of consumers that prefer businesses that demonstrate
sustainability commitments. Businesses who do not adapt could face a decline in
demand from companies that are aligned with sustainable practices. Such firms
may experience challenges in attracting clients and maintaining a competitive
edge. Furthermore, a lack in adaptation to ecologically sustainable practices could
lead to a negative public perception towards the industry many typically associate
with “conservativeness” and “old-fashioned.”
Legal:
● For Swift Management Consulting Services OPC and like firms within the
industry to operate, they have to go through the process of registering their
business with the BIR, and as such, they are required to submit the BIR Form
1903 together with the supporting documents to the RDO, or Revenue District
Office. The list of supporting documents are as written below:
○ SEC Certificate of Registration (or License to Do Business in the
Philippines for resident foreign corporations)
○ Mayor’s Permit or application for Mayor’s Permit (must be submitted
prior to the issuance of the BIR Certificate of Registration)
○ Contract of Lease
○ Other documents to be submitted if applicable:
■ Certificate of Authority (if Barangay Micro Business Enterprises
(BMBE) registered entity)
■ Franchise Agreement
■ Proof of Registration/Permit to Operate with BOI, PEZA, SBMA,
or BCDA
● And after the submission of the documents the firm must pay both the annual
registration fee which is five-hundred pesos and the Documentary stamp tax for
thirty pesos.
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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Chapter 2
Data Collection – Interviews and Observations of Key Stakeholders
needs such as compensation, food, and a place to work. For compensation, they
make sure that they receive the right and just salary for the work they do in the
company. Second, if they are on a hectic schedule, Swift provides them with a
stock of foods that can help them focus on their work. Lastly, speaking of a place
to work, Swift made sure that every employee would have their own cubicle, for
them to feel comfortable and safe. Upon our observation, we can see what they
really meant by the word "family,” because they are not just taking care of the
physical health of their employees but also their mental health, which can affect
the company but more importantly individually.
2. What are the key factors for their employee performance?
Swift Consulting Management Services OPC incorporates three critical
components of employee performance: measurement, training, and exploration.
Based on the interview, they determine whether employees are putting in the
required 8 hours of work, which means they test them and ask for documentation
of what they did, or they submit a report on a daily basis. They do it to see if staff
are working hard enough and how quickly they can complete tasks. Second, once
a month on Saturdays, their supervisor gathers training to assess employees'
capabilities and to enhance their skills so that they can utilize them for purposes
other than work. Next, because they are a firm of several accountants who service
various businesses, they send their accountants not only to fulfill their job
requirements but also to learn more about the business so that they can apply for
it. The administrator will be the one to ask them what they learned while they saw
the pros and cons of other businesses. As we ponder on this, we can see that they
have well-established critical variables in terms of employee performance, which
results in the success of the firm.
2. How do they ensure that they comply with “protecting” the environment and
society?
Swift Consulting Management Services OPC implements waste
segregation through designated disposal bins and obtains required permits to
ensure compliance with environmental and societal protection. They provide staff
training to encourage environmental stewardship and efficient waste disposal
practices. Swift Consulting Management Services OPC implements a waste
segregation system employing specialized disposal containers and guarantees
rigorous adherence to licenses to uphold their commitment to environmental and
societal protection. Additionally, they hold thorough staff training that emphasize
respect for the environment and effective waste management techniques.
Summary: As we went through the first interview process with our first
stakeholder, Mr. Marlon Menor, we realized a lot and discovered how companies can
truly take the word "company" seriously. From the first stakeholder, we saw how
financial issues should really be studied and reported well because a minor issue can be
the reason a business encounters problems or, much worse, cause the business to fail. For
their employees' well-being, as stated by stakeholder one, they treat them not just as
employees but as their families, implying that they are not solely concerned with profit
but also with how their employees are affected by the multiple workloads and their
overall situation. Finally, in terms of their social well-being, they ensure that they remain
socially and environmentally responsible. They have waste management systems within
the firm and engage with organizations that share the same purpose as them, which is
helping not only individuals outside the business but also the environment. Through the
implementation of waste segregation, the acquisition of licenses, and the provision of
staff training on environmental stewardship, they assure compliance with environmental
and societal protection. We learned about just a portion of what Swift Management
Services OPC contributed during this initial interview since the second stakeholder will
contribute the other half.
the concerns and issues of individuals and with them, take action to address the
problem. An example of a concern that arose through this practice were concerns
for the lack of training certain individuals, however, it was resolved once the
concern was able to be communicated.
2. How do they ensure that they comply with “protecting” the environment and
society?
Driven by their overarching goal of making a positive impact, SWIFT
actively engages in outreaches and collaborates with organizations like Tax Help
Philippines. By actively participating in such projects, SWIFT ensures that it is
well-prepared to navigate both the business environment and the broader society.
These projects serve as eye-openers for the company's employees, inspiring them
to contribute to the betterment of society and encouraging their involvement in
community development and growth. Through these experiences, employees gain
a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by communities and are motivated
to make a difference by enhancing their skills, resources, and influence. By
fostering a sense of social responsibility and empowering employees to engage in
meaningful initiatives, SWIFT strengthens its connection to the community and
actively works towards the overall development and well-being of society.
3. Do they have any concerns with their community?
By collaborating with tax help, SWIFT upholds an advocacy centered
around assisting others and contributing to society. This is reflected in their
inclusive and welcoming attitude, as they provide a platform where individuals
can seek guidance and ask questions related to financing, completely free of
charge. By removing financial barriers and offering their expertise without any
cost, SWIFT aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation,
has access to valuable financial knowledge. This approach promotes inclusivity
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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Chapter 3
Constructing of the Issue and Key Outcomes
Issues
● Fast turnover of rank and file
Swift Consulting Management Services OPC is a small company who render services
such as consulting, accounting, reporting, and advising. If you will look at their
company's structure again it is composed of the owners, head accountant, two admins,
and 4 employees as of the moment. They have their own assigned tasks, however, Swift
is still in need of employees since they have a lot of clients to report to. Back then they
had 10 employees but then some of them were fired and some filed their resignation
papers. Since then, Swift keeps on encountering problems in terms of shortage of
employees in which the root problem lies on how the management handles its employees
which results them to act in such behavior. This was also noticed by the group as we hear
that owners relay the situation to the admins and they will be the one to report instead.
This situation is opened by the group to the partner company in which our intervention
proposal will be seen as we go along with this study.
○ Relational space: How you deal with your groupmates and your partners in a
harmonious manner
In dealing with these two in relation to the problem at hand we will face them at
different levels since for the group everyone can speak freely and for the partners
we have to use limited words and speak professionally. For the group, before we
dive into the main problem everyone asks what they notice since the very first
time we spoke to the partner. Everyone is free to share and hear in which the
group decided to arrive at this main problem because for us it is obviously seen
and experienced by them. After we came up with the problem we planned the step
by step process which will be discovered as the study progresses. As for the
partner, we asked them respectfully and shared what we noticed. They advised us
and we somehow also advised them but as a student who is basing everything on
this study. Comparing the space in each relation we managed to put and depend
on the situation and the environment that we are working on im which we can say
we successfully executed everything well.
○ Conceptual space: How you think about your desired outcomes through theories
and frameworks learned in class or in your own research.
As we said earlier, we thought of a step by step progress on this study in which
our desired outcomes will vary. We have to perform those steps well in order for
us to receive the outcome that we and the company wanted to have. The outcome
that we are talking about was also based on the framework and theories that we
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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will use in which will expound the study and discover more of the things we are
missing out. Since we keep on talking about the word outcome, of course the
group wanted to discover what is the main issue of the company and help them
with the study we are making. It will be a plus plus for each side since we
managed to do the study well and for the partner to fix the issue and solve what is
the problem they keep on encountering. But then again this will only be a success
if theories, and frameworks are chosen and used well and both sides are working
together.
○ Experimental space: How do you plan and actually implement your interventions?
The group plans on implementing those interventions by three steps which are
first brainstorming, share the overall study, and apply what is needed. To explain
more, for brainstorming since the group really don't know what is with the partner
company they have to meet at the center regarding everything. The reason is to
make sure everythings was reported truly and the group respects the privacy that
the company wanted to have. After sharing the information needed the study
made by the group will somehow make everything clearer as we are using
different and trusted frameworks that are sure to help them. Lastly, the application
since we are with them on discovering the issue of course we will also be with
them as we shared the solution both may arrive. In which this solution can also be
found in this study.
Chapter 4
Literature Review
Framework
I. Behavioral
○ Behavioral management theory
The individual behavior, motivations, and social interactions are the
primary focus of the behavioral theory of management. This theory is based on
the idea that managers would see employees as valuable assets to achieve goals
and will have a greater understanding of the human side of their workforce. It
demonstrates the human relations component of management and how employee
motivation may influence productivity and efficiency.
SWIFT would benefit from these theories to keep their employees from
resigning, and will make them more productive and motivated resulting in a
positive work environment.
○ Maslow’s Hierarchy
As stated in a study, nowadays workers who cooperate with the drive to
accomplish extraordinary results utilizing enhanced organizational strategies are
generally acknowledged to be at the core of any productive and successful
corporation.
necessities for human living such as food, water, shelter, sleep, and general
bodily well-being. This also includes providing a safe and comfortable
work environment, offering fair compensation and benefits packages, and
promoting a healthy work-life balance.
4. Esteem Needs: Esteem needs refer to the need of recognition, respect, and
self worth of each individual. Having to be able to be recognized for your
accomplishments, provided by constructive comments, and provided
chances for growth and development can help boost the employees
self-esteem. These requirements help to raise morale, promote work
satisfaction, and drive people to stay with the company.
II. Financial
○ Activity-based budgeting
According to an article by Jeff Schmidt (2018), businesses often utilize
one of four types of budgets: incremental, activity-based, value proposition, or
zero-based. For the current year's budget, incremental budgeting makes a
percentage adjustment to the data from the prior year. When cost drivers are
consistent, it is straightforward and commonly employed. With activity-based
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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budgeting, input needs are calculated based on output goals. Budget items must
provide value to the company, which is the main goal of value proposition
budgeting. The premise of zero-based budgeting is that each department's budget
must be justified and begin at zero. Swift Management should prioritize
activity-based as there is a lack of financial planning and budgeting.
Activity-based budgeting is a method that incorporates capacity- and
activity-based ideas into budgeting. With the intention of integrating the
concept into the planning and budgeting processes, it originated as an extension of
activity-based costing and management. Basically, activity-based budgeting
entails building a detailed model of an organization's operations, procedures,
assets, and capacity. The foundation for creating plans and budgets is provided
by this approach (Hansel, 2010).
In the case of Swift Consulting Management Services OPC, which
currently lacks financial planning and budgeting, activity-based budgeting can be
highly beneficial. Swift Consulting Management Services OPC can develop a
thorough awareness of its operations, procedures, and resources by using this
strategy. By matching its financial resources with its operational needs, Swift
Consulting Management Services OPC will be able to create plans and budgets
that are more precise, efficient, and effective. They will have the framework it
needs through activity-based budgeting to allocate resources effectively, make
wise choices, and meet its financial goals. Activity-based budgeting is a strategy
that builds on activity- and capacity-based ideas and applies them to budgeting.
With the intention of integrating the concept into the planning and budgeting
processes, it originated as an extension of activity-based costing and management.
A significant aspect of activity-based budgeting is its explicit integration
of capacity planning into the organization's processes. This method of budgeting
is computer-based, which has the benefit of making model calibration as the
business environment changes easier (Hansel, 2010). Rerunning the model, for
instance, can highlight the need for extra labor during a specific week if there is
an unanticipated increase in demand. Adopting this approach can help quick
management, which excludes minor expenses and lacks budgeting. Swift may
proactively foresee possible problems like capacity gaps and plan accordingly by
utilizing activity-based budgeting. The model can advise using temporary
employees at a lower cost than paying them overtime in the event of increasing
demand. By incorporating capacity planning into the budgeting process, Swift is
better able to make educated decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and respond
to changing conditions while keeping an eye on necessary spending.
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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● Master budget
Master Budget is a primary financial planning tool for the company
that serves as a comprehensive document, which encompasses a full fiscal
year that includes lower-level budgets like sales and labor budget. As well as,
cash flow forecasts, financial statements, and a financial strategy (Sullivan, 2023).
Having a master budget helps in the decision-making of how and when to spend
it. According to Mia Sullivan, the master budget consists of different building
blocks which are: Sales budget, Labor/Hiring budget, Overhead/general
administrative budget, Cash budget, Budgeted financial statements. Taking
into account these components helps monitor the financial performance of the
company (2023).
First of all, the sales budget of SWIFT must be crucially analyzed to
prevent overlooking the whole budget. The sales budget is a projection of
expected sales volume, which is influenced by variables such as past sales trends,
the state of the economy, competing actions, and more. Analysis of the anticipated
cash receipts from these sales is essential (Principles of Accounting, 2021).
Furthermore, SWIFT’s service must estimate both the expected sales for the year
and the past sales in order to ensure the budget effectiveness. The time and pattern
of the cash collections must also be considered.
Secondly is the Labor/hiring budget that establishes the structure for
budget staffing requirements and expenses. This also encompasses employee
salaries, benefits or incentives, and all associated costs related to human
resources(Principles of Accounting, 2021). As mentioned in the interview with
the stakeholders, SWIFT implements training and other collaborations for the
well-being of the employees. They also give assistance to their staff especially
during the pandemic, wherein they provide accommodation to assure their safety.
All of these are considered in the Labor budget that must be looked into the
master budget.
The third master budget component that SWIFT must take into is the
Overhead/general administrative budget includes various components such as
rent, utilities, insurance, legal fees, depreciation on office equipment, supplies,
maintenance costs, travel expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses that do not
have specific product or service codes assigned to them (Tamplin, 2023). The
company overlooks the small supplies that they use which causes problems in the
budgeting process most importantly it affects the profit goals that need to be met.
Fourth essential component is the Cash Budget. Any business needs
access to cash since doing so is essential to meeting its financial responsibilities
on schedule. Even very successful organizations may experience cash constraints
caused by payment delays or unforeseen capital expenses. Fortunately, The cash
budget provides the means to proactively manage and avoid prospective
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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● Functional budget
Individual budgets created for particular organizational activities or
functions are known as functional budgets. The precise financial plans for
numerous departments or areas, such as sales, production, marketing, human
resources, and so on, are the main emphasis of these budgets. The master budget
is divided into functional budgets that detail the operational goals, resource needs,
and anticipated results for each department or function. They offer a more detailed
and focused perspective of the organization's financial plans and activities. The
master budget serves as an overarching financial strategy for the business by
providing an aggregate summary of all functional budgets. Contrarily, functional
budgets are specialized spending plans created for single tasks or activities that
are included in the overall master budget (Gariganti, 2020).
Individual budgets created for particular tasks or activities carried out by a
corporation are referred to as functional budgets. For numerous departments or
divisions, including sales, production, marketing, human resources, and more,
these budgets offer comprehensive financial strategies. The exact objectives,
available resources, and anticipated results for each functional budget are
highlighted. Functional budgets are used to divide the master budget, which
serves as the overall financial plan, into particular goals and strategies for each
department or function. They offer a more thorough and in-depth perspective of
the budgetary needs and performance standards of every division within the firm
(Subho, 2016).
For example, Swift can benefit from functional budgets by preparing
specific budgets for each functional area such as sales, production, and
marketing. The sales budget would outline the sales targets and revenue
projections for a given period. The production budget would detail the production
requirements, including materials, labor, and overhead costs, to meet the sales
Humanistic Management Swift Management Consulting Services OPC
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targets. The marketing budget would focus on the planned marketing activities
and associated expenses to support the sales efforts.
By having functional budgets in place, Swift can effectively allocate
resources, monitor performance, and assess the financial impact of each
department's activities. It enables better coordination and alignment of goals
across different functions, ensuring that the overall master budget is supported by
well-defined plans and targets at the functional level. Functional budgets provide
a roadmap for each department to contribute towards achieving the company's
financial objectives while maintaining cost control and efficiency.
Chapter 5
Planning the ART
ACTION RESEARCH FOR TRANSFORMATION
- After correctly assessing the circumstances, the organization must take the
necessary measures. The corporation should not leave the situation unresolved
because it may have an impact not only on the management's performance but
also on the company's economic and financial performance. As a result, we might
conclude that the action is significant since it has a domino effect on everything
that a corporation has. Acting on what is required is also something that must be
considered because if you do not act with proper background information, the
company's effort will be wasted and, even worse, the problem or issue will
continue to grow, which instead of having effects that are already in hand, the
company will find difficult to solve, causing them to give up and close the
company. So this is also the portion where management and personnel will
collaborate to satisfy each other's demands and reach the goals they both set for
the company.
3. Continuous monitoring and improvement
- The task does not end with action since you will never know if the activity
done was successful in resolving the problem. So this is the final step that
the organization must take to ensure that the problem has been resolved
and that everything is within management's control. Monitor the
company's solution to evaluate if it is already satisfactory or if
management should consider adjusting it because it must adapt to the
performance that the employees provide. Because the company must
continually remain operational, there must be more room for
improvement; consequently, improvement must always be considered, and
you will never give up on this. Once those three steps are successfully
managed by management, behavioral concerns will no longer exist.
5. Take notes on the activities you took so that the organization can identify
where the company can improve more.
II. Budgeting
In line with the framework of activity-based budgeting, creating a comprehensive
budget for the company’s operations, procedures, assets, and other activities are essential.
As an action research for transformation, the group proposes Swift to consider all
expenses for activities. As compared to the traditional budgeting they are currently
utilizing, activity-based budgeting delves further by utilizing prior budgets to determine
how much a company will spend in the current year (Korn, 2021).
1. List all the activities connected to each cost.
- Identify all of the many tasks that result in costs for the Swift company.
These jobs cover a broad variety of duties like customer meetings,
managing bills, producing financial reports, doing audits, training staff
members, and more. Each of these operations entails an own set of
charges, which may be directly or indirectly connected to the business's
overall costs. It is crucial to comprehensively identify each one of the cost
drivers as these are like building blocks that contribute to the total cost of
a particular operation. For instance, some typical cost drivers include the
total hours employees work, the number of vendors involved, the amount
of time machines are used, or the space required for a process. These
factors directly influence the overall cost and understanding them is vital
for accurate budgeting and cost management.
2. Determine the baseline of units needed for each action.
- The baseline refers to the essential or standard amount of each activity
required to fulfill the objectives of the firm. To determine this baseline for
every activity, you must take into account historical data, industry norms,
or any pertinent information that assists in estimating the frequency of
each activity during the budgetary period. For instance, if the firm has
historically handled an average of 50 invoices per month, this figure could
be utilized as the baseline for the "Processing invoices" activity. The
baseline serves as a foundation for constructing a realistic budget that
aligns with the firm's goals and past performance.
3. Calculate each activity’s cost per unit.
- Once Swift has identified the activities and established their baselines, the
subsequent step involves figuring out the cost per unit for each activity.
The cost per unit represents the expenses incurred for executing one
instance of that specific activity. This cost encompasses both direct
expenses like labor and materials, as well as indirect costs such as
overhead and administrative expenses that are linked to the activity. To
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calculate the cost per unit for each activity, you may need to carefully
examine financial records and appropriately allocate costs. The predicted
number of times each activity is anticipated to be done within the budget
period (Step 2) is multiplied by the cost per unit you obtained for each
activity. You reach the anticipated total cost for each task by doing this.
This thorough method of budgeting enables a more precise estimation of
costs, which improves the firm's resource allocation and decision-making.
Other than the activity-based budgeting, the group takes into account the
functional budget where it prepares specific budgets for each functional area such as
sales, production, and marketing. The following are the procedures that the group
considered in implementing functional budget (Based on Solid Ground Consulting, n.d.):
1. Clarify the strategic direction and multi-year plan. It is essential for
Functional budgeting to have the planning process, and as it’s extension,
budgeting processes have to begin with it for it to have better strategy.
2. Identify the functional areas for the budget. Always remember that an
organization can track the expenses at the level of detail when budgeting has
taken place. Swift tracks all the Program, Management, and Fundraising activities
that have been implemented.
3. Develop a detailed one-year functional budget. As a management tool, this
detail is important and will also assist in the development for second- and
third-year budgets in the plan. Moreover, in order to meet the expenses needs of
the budget, the organization must add the revenue sources. In the first year, fresh
options and opportunities can be added after taking into account the current
revenue reality.
4. Develop a more simplified first year budget with summaries of both revenues
and expenses. This initial budget is quite short and straightforward. Any extra
revenue should be put into a "reserve" expense section so that it balances. Never
should the balance be negative. (Drawing from the reserve is an alternative
method to reflect spending funds from prior years.)
5. Extend the budget to the out years of the plan. In the second and third (and
more, if necessary) of the strategic plan, this includes estimating the expenses of
implementation. Summarizing the expenses for the consecutive years will be
easier when the details have been worked through the first year. Swift must give
importance in this part of the process to keep track of all the predictions that will
be made in the development of the numbers. The basis of the details for the
fundraising plan (program descriptions, outcomes, strategies, etc.) are from
several predictions. Tracking those details from the very beginning can help better
understand the information as it is folded into the plan document.
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Group 3
6. Allocate revenues to cover all of the expense areas. In making sure that one
organization has adequate unrestricted money is by allocating the revenues to
specific expense areas or if the right restricts money it is in the case of a highly
restricted budget. By doing this process is through allocating the revenues that
have specific restrictions to the expenses laid out in the plan. Once everything has
been distributed, the more arbitrary process of distributing the funds from the
regions where donor intent will influence outcomes will begin.
II. Budgeting
To evaluate the proposed action research transformation plan on budgeting, Swift can use
a budget analysis where they review and track the budget monthly and annually (Lee,
2023). Once Swift has settled on a budgeting approach and timeline, closely monitor the
company's budget by keeping an eye on financial data. To make tracking easier, they can
use technology such as computer applications. Throughout the whole operation, it is
crucial to monitor both expenses and income. Swift has to make sure that they pay
attention to the exact details necessary in your budgeting strategy. Some budgeting
approaches may require itemizing income and spending. They may learn a lot about the
business's financial situation and make wise decisions for the future by carefully
monitoring the budget. After settling on a precise time range for the budget, thoroughly
examine the data the firm has provided. Determine whether the company's costs exceed
its income and investigate the causes. If more money is being spent than earned, they can
come up with ideas for reducing spending or increasing revenue. This budget analysis can
serve as a starting point for securing more funds, whether in the form of a loan or by
luring outside investors. Swift may make decisions to enhance the company's financial
status and accomplish its objectives by carefully reviewing the budget.
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Gantt Chart
I. Behavior
given by the
staff.
II. Budgeting
Identify the
functional
areas for Swift will be
the budget tracking all
activities that
has been
implemented
and identify
the functional
areas for
budgeting
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Group 3
Develop a Employees
more will develop a
simplified simplified
first year budget with
budget with summaries.
summaries They will be
of both thoroughly
revenues checking the
and balance
expense
Chapter 6
Critical Reflections
Masid-Danas (SEE-EXPERIENCE)
During the course of this Action Transformation Research Plan, the group took on the
responsibility of developing suggested solutions for 2 important issues Swift is currently facing:
behavioral and budgeting. The group understands the idea of “see-experience” or conscious
experience throughout this process of thinking of an approach that entails extensive study that
were relevant to the issues. The group takes on the notion of “see-experience” using the
knowledge obtained from the interviews with the stakeholders to comprehend the problems more
thoroughly. Regardless of not implementing the suggested solutions, the interaction with the
stakeholders and learning from their conscious experiences taught the group a lot. It turned out
that having empathy for individuals who are experiencing the problems personally can provide
important insights and direct the group to more practical solutions. The group’s observation
through interviewing those who are working currently at Swift is an enlightenment on the
situation which helps the group more in creating a sustainable and essential solution. The group
was able to prepare for issues based on the interviews and comprehend that more than just
theoretical frameworks are required for a successful resolution. It requires appreciating the role
of the person and how their thoughts, feelings, and experiences interact with those of the
organization. The group gave special attention to comprehending the conscious experiences of
workers and important decision-makers during stakeholder interviews. Through these
interactions, the group saw the behavioral and budgeting issues, which gave important insights
into the organization's dynamics.
The group was able to better comprehend the underlying causes of the problems at hand
thanks to these observations, which also helped the proposed solutions reflect the actual
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difficulties experienced by Swift. The group continually used the "see-experience" approach to
make sure that the suggested solutions were based on the conscious experiences of the
stakeholders, increasing the possibility that the identified problems would be effectively
resolved.
Suri-Nilay (ANALYSIS-REFLECTION)
After consciously experiencing, the group has identified 2 problems seen in the
organization. With careful deliberation and analysis of Swift’s internal workforce, there were
Behavioral and Budgeting problems. As the group processed the internal problems that the
organization faced, the process of evaluating the situation was made. It is essential to assess
problems found and identify its causing roots to be able to derive possible solutions. It is vital to
create a healthy environment in the workforce in order to have the quality workmanship that the
organization is aiming for. With great teamwork and a proper environment, this will result in an
enhanced work ethic. These factors must be observed as well for an organization to avoid other
complications. The behavior of the organization’s staff needs to give attention to, because this
has an affect toward one's coworker and environment. Moreover, the behavior can also affect the
business’ performance in the long-run especially when it has negative effects. Making sure that
the staff’s own actions and principles will be applied in the work, this must also focus on how it
will impact others and the organization. Furthermore, the budgeting of the organization is also
vital due to how the growth of a company relies on this. When money or budget is involved, one
must also realize that this is related to trust. As money is a powerful asset, risk is also involved in
this. With that, taking into account every detail of each transaction inside the organization must
be looked at.
At some point, the group realized that there are issues that are inevitable because in the
end, this will result in more improvements in an organization. Mistakes can possibly be a new
innovation of long term solutions that can be utilized in the future. However, it is also important
to note how we can still avoid such problems by observing proper implementations in the
organization.
Taya-Kilos (COMMITMENT-ACTION)
Throughout the planning and implementation of our proposed frameworks for behavior
and budget changes, authenticity towards the company was crucial in navigating the
complexities of organizational change if “committed action” or a commitment to action could be
implemented. Expected to be met with skepticism from employees and management, the group
had to approach with actions towards a commitment to understanding the needs and concerns of
all stakeholders and employees involved. We persevered to maintain a strategy to provide
continual assistance in order to foster a positive work environment upon implementation, aiming
to strike a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Authenticity aided in
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Group 3
establishing trust with the organization because as students, the group lacked the authority and
experience that field professionals might have. However, our genuine concern for the company's
well-being and dedication to implementing our research and subsequent proposed action
resonated with them. Moreover, we learned that genuine commitment from leadership was vital
for successful implementation. Encouraging open, communicative relationships between
managers and employees by conducting seminars on health and well-being, and fostering
connections with external organizations all aided in building a more harmonious and motivated
workforce open to the implementation of change. Additionally, the insights gained through the
budgeting processes allowed us to provide meaningful recommendations for efficient resource
allocation.
Overall, the research, conceptualizations, and implementation of our frameworks for the
transformation of Swift demanded a commitment to practicing and maintaining critical thinking
and authentic engagement. It was a transformative experience for the group, enabling us to
appreciate the complexities of organizational dynamics to drive positive change. We are fulfilled
knowing the potential impact our research could have on Swift’s future success
Were you able to achieve your outcomes on flourishing or improving the well-being of your
key partners? What about the well-being of the group as you tried implementing the ART?
The group first found it difficult to offer solutions to our chosen partner company for
three reasons: the age gap, the professionalism they have, and the existing rules they already
have that would be influenced by our suggested framework. Since we are in what is known as
generation Z, we tend to think based on what we experience in the current world, whereas
company members prefer to think based on their past experiences and already have a strong
opinion if they encounter problems or concerns at work. As for the second issue, because we are
only students and the people we are coordinating with are practically all accountants, we need to
discover the correct language and actions to communicate with them. Finally, the presence of the
regulations they already have means we cannot fully apply the answers because they are out of
our control. We can only discuss it with them and let them decide if what we offer is indeed
beneficial to them.
Despite these problems, the group and the organization were nonetheless able to achieve
the anticipated outcome at the end of the study. Yes, we encountered an age divide, but the
partner company communicated with us in a way that we could also grasp. They did not allow us
to experience the gap that we feared because they communicated with us effectively and treated
us as partners who assisted them in resolving an existing problem. In terms of professionalism,
they not only let us adjust but also advised us that this was simply a practice run for what we
would become in the future. They claimed they couldn't completely change the regulations, but
they could improve them because they noticed our suggestion and thought it was worth a shot.
So, with this, we were able to attain the blossoming and improvement of our essential partners,
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and we can confirm that not only they, but also our group, improved. Speaking of the group, as
we implement the ART, we truly are united in the planning and execution of the ART, so we did
not find it difficult to work with because we have the same goals.
Reflect as well on how your group dealt with the key stakeholders of your partner
organization and how they responded. Were you able to create an authentic and trustful
relationship?
The group may evaluate and commend themselves highly because we were able to
complete the study while under pressure. Because one of us was only familiar with the partner
company, everyone thoroughly researched their history and how they function in the
organization. Everyone demonstrated their efforts and gave their time to go over this study,
which demonstrates how successful the study is. Returning to the original question, the group
experienced some obstacles along the way, but when the group discussed it and solved it
together, there were no existing difficulties encountered.
Due to three factors, the group and the partner company were able to establish a genuine
and trusting connection in a short amount of time. First and foremost, all of the sensitive
information that the company gave us was kept strictly secret and was only used for this study,
for which the company is really grateful. We did not harm their reputation among other
companies in the same industry. Second, we are not only connected because of the study; we
were able to have a group chat with them, and they are always advising us whether we achieve
something or have a period. Finally, we felt what they said when they claimed "we treat everyone
like family" and that we are always welcome to visit their office whenever we have free time.
For the group, our relationship with the partner company was truly true and trustworthy.
Synthesis:
The group's goal is to achieve the intended result through a rigorous and
all-encompassing strategy. To do so, they acknowledge the importance of maintaining an open
mind and aggressively seeking thoughts and perspectives from all relevant parties, considering
the ART process applied. This all-inclusive approach is based on the recognition that a
comprehensive awareness of the problem's context is critical for making well-informed
judgments.
By encouraging diverse perspectives, the group aims to transcend any potential biases or
limitations inherent in singular viewpoints. Engaging with varied vantage points offers the
opportunity to discern nuances, underlying complexities, and potential interconnections that
might otherwise remain obscured. Such comprehensive comprehension is instrumental in
illuminating the broader landscape of the problem, facilitating a deeper grasp of its origins and
implications. And with an informed and holistic understanding of the situation, the group
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proceeds to conduct a rigorous analysis of the available strategies. They meticulously evaluate
each option, considering its merits, drawbacks, and potential outcomes. This systematic appraisal
allows them to weigh the feasibility, practicality, and impact of each strategy against the specific
context of the problem at hand.
Finally, the group's approach to reaching the intended result is based on transparency,
rigorous analysis, and educated decision-making. They are set to solve the problem with a
well-rounded and successful strategy by embracing multiple perspectives, meticulously
examining alternative techniques, and selecting the most viable solution. This commitment to
thoroughness and discernment enables the group to make meaningful progress toward their goal,
encouraging a good influence and paving the way for successful outcomes, which we may say
acts as the key to achieving the study's must-achieve aim.
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of Needs: Results from Construction Operational Workers in São Paulo City, Brazil.
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https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.174-177.2339
Subho, S. (2016, March 19). Functional budgets in Management Accounting (with diagram).
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nctional-budgets-in-management-accounting-with-diagram/73975
Tamplin, T. (2023). General and administrative expense budget: Fixed & variable. Finance
Strategist.
https://www.financestrategists.com/accounting/budgeting/the-general-and-administrative-
expense-budget/#:~:text=The%20following%20elements%20go%20into,product%20or%
20service%20code%20assigned.
Taormina, & Gao, J. H. (2013). Maslow and the Motivation Hierarchy: Measuring Satisfaction of
the Needs. The American Journal of Psychology, 126(2), 155–177.
https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.126.2.0155