University of Maryland

BMGT 346 – Management and Organization Theory

Week 1 – Discussion

To respond to the Discussion, click on the blue hyperlink in the Topic area.
Discussion Instructions
Please refer to the Discussion Grading Rubric and the module, Discussions for details regarding
how your performance will be assessed. NOTE: Please be certain to read the entire discussion
assignment since, in some cases, there is more than one question to discuss, respond to, or
address. Ensure that you have answered the entire question.

Initial Post
This week's discussion is a case analysis of Smithfield Custom Furniture developed specifically
for this course. Your posting should answer the questions posed using this week's course
materials to support your answers. It is important to write concisely and to follow the detailed
instructions provided below. Include in-text citations and references in a reference list.

Case Discussion
SMITHFIELD'S CUSTOM FURNITURE
It is 1901. Alicia Smithfield, daughter of the founder of Smithfield Custom Furniture, just
inherited the company. She is the only surviving heir to the furniture empire her father built.
Headquartered in upstate New York, the company has grown significantly over the past 60 years.
Began in a shed built next to his log cabin, Jonas Smithfield's quality furniture developed a huge
following among New York City's wealthiest residents.
After being educated in the best business schools in Europe and America, Alicia has run the
business side-by-side with her father for the past 15 years. When there were many issues
confronting the business, a tree being felled took an unexpected route and brought Jonas' life to a
surprising end.
The company had just moved to a facility large enough to house its workers: 10 carpenters; 5
furniture designers; 5 wood finishers (varnish and dye experts); 10 machine operators to assist
with the various equipment needed to cut the wood into various designs, polish and sand the
wood; 5 mechanics to keep the vehicles (5 trucks) and boats (7) that transported wood from
upstate New York and Canada to the work area in good repair; 15 lumberjacks who cut wood in
nearby areas and moved it downriver by boat or over the rugged highway by truck; and 5 office
personnel who assisted with filing, invoicing, drafting and responding to correspondence,
handling customer inquiries, and performing other necessary office functions. More than half of
these employees were hired in the past 5 years.

Alicia's Big Issues

The major issues confronting Alicia Smithfield are these:
(1) The furniture manufacturing functions are very disorganized. It is not clear how to best
organize these functions. For example, the varnish and dye experts each use a different method to
complete their tasks.
(2) The production schedule is a mess. It is not clear which projects should be completed first to
ensure products are being delivered to customers on time.
(3) The lumberjacks, both cutting trees down and shipping them by truck or boat, differ on the
best methods to perform these tasks.
(4) Tempers are flaring as a result of the disorganization. The office, clerical, and support
workers are rude to each other and can't seem to act as a cohesive work unit.
(5) While the company is financially successful, as it has grown from a small family-owned
business to a large and complex enterprise, the organizational structure has not kept pace. Few
formal rules exist, and the keeping and maintenance of records are haphazard.
(6) Employees are feeling overworked and losing satisfaction in the work they are doing. They
believe their basic needs are not being addressed.

Alicia's Proposed Issue Solutions

Alicia Smithfield is familiar with all of the contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among
others) to the management theory you have read about this week. She has decided to hire six (6)
of those contributors to management theory from the week's readings as consultants. (We shall
now refer to those contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among the others) in this
week's readings as "consultants.")

Each of the six (6) consultants selected will be assigned to solve only one of the six (6) issues
listed above. Alicia's problem is that she is unclear as to which of the six (6) contributors selected
from the week's reading to be her consultants are best matched to solve each of the six (6)
specific issues listed above.

Your Task for Your Initial Post

You are to answer four (4) of the above-mentioned six (6) issues identified by Alicia Smithfield.
Specifically, she has asked you to recommend a consultant to solve four of the six issues
confronting her. You have been requested to explain to Alicia why you selected the four
consultants you chose to solve each of the four selected issues. Each consultant will solve one of
the four issues you identified that particular consultant to address. You must explain the major
contribution/idea of the consultant selected and how that contribution/idea applies to the
specific issue you have recommended that the consultant solve. You must identify the school
of thought that each consultant represents.
Note: You may not use any of the individuals in the readings to solve more than one of the four
(4) issues. If a person you select is deceased, do not let that inconvenience stand in your way.
You may still use that individual to solve a specific issue.
For research associated with this discussion, you must use course materials only. You must
provide in-text citations and references for each of the four (4) issues you select.

Format for Your Initial Post

Use the exact numbers and corresponding headings for your initial post for each of your 4
selections. For example, one student's post may be numbered 1, 3, 5, 6; another student's post
may be numbered 1, 2, 4, 5; and so forth. Any four of the six issues listed that a student selects to
answer will be acceptable.
1. Manufacturing Functions are Disorganized
2. Production Schedule is a Mess
3. Lumberjack Disagreement Methods To Cut Trees/Load Boat
4. Tempers Flare among Office Support Staff
5. Lack of Formal Rules/Record-Keeping Processes
6. Basic Needs and Job Satisfaction Overlooked
Two Options for Your Required Replies to Classmates
Option 1 is that you find a consultant selection made by a classmate to address a specific issue,
as identified by the issue number and description, with which you disagree. You must state why
you believe a better consultant should address a particular issue that differs from your classmate's
response. You must state the major idea associated with your choice and why that idea applies to
the issue more appropriately. Your reply must be supported with course materials, in-text
citations, and references.
Option 2 occurs if you agree with all of a particular classmate's consultant selections. In that
case, you must address one of the remaining two (2) listed issues that your classmates did not
answer. You will explain which consultant you think could best address that issue, the school of
thought that individual represents, and explain how that individual's major contribution or idea
applies to the specific issue you selected. Your reply must be supported with course materials, in-
text citations, and references.
Note: You may use either Option 1 or Option 2 for each different classmate to whom you
respond.

Instructions for Responses to Classmates' Posts

A response posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph. Word totals for these posts
should be in the 75–150-word range. The goal of your response posts is to extend discussions
already taking place or pose new possibilities or ideas not previously voiced. Your goal should
be to motivate the group discussion and present a creative approach to the topic. Do not merely
agree or disagree, repeating what a classmate stated or what you have already stated. Explain the
'why or how' with supporting evidence and concepts from the course material. Include in-text
citations and associated references within a reference list.
 How to Do Well in Discussions
 Make your initial post responding to the above questions by Saturday, 11:59
p.m. EST.
 Comment on at least three of your classmates' posts by Tuesday, 11:59 p.m.
EST.
 Posting late may lose you points.
 Respond to the specific questions posed in the discussion.
 Be sure to base your initial post and responses on course materials, and other
scholarly sources.
 Write clearly and proofread; errors can lose you points.
 Quality of posts, citations, frequency, and timeliness of posts all factor into your
discussion grade.
Participation Rubric
Hello Professor and Class!
Issue 1: Disorganization in Furniture Manufacturing Functions
Consultant: Frederick Taylor
Frederick Taylor's principles of scientific management can be applied to address the
disorganization in furniture manufacturing functions. His emphasis on standardizing processes
and identifying the most efficient methods aligns with the need for a clear and organized
approach. Taylor's expertise in optimizing work methods and improving efficiency would help
streamline the manufacturing processes, ensuring consistency and effectiveness among varnish
and dye experts.
Issue 2: Production Schedule Mess
Consultant: Henry Gantt
Henry Gantt's contributions to management, particularly the Gantt chart, can be instrumental in
resolving the production schedule issue. Implementing Gantt charts visually represents the tasks
and timelines, clarifying project priorities and deadlines. Gantt's focus on visualizing work
progress aligns with the need to organize the production schedule effectively.
Issue 3: Disagreement Among Lumberjacks
Consultant: Max Weber
Max Weber's bureaucratic model emphasizes clear hierarchical structures and well-defined roles.
Applying Weber's principles would help organize the lumberjack functions, establish a
transparent chain of command, and define standardized procedures for tree cutting and shipping.
Weber's approach to formalization and clear authority lines would address the lumberjack's
disagreements.
Issue 4: Poor Interpersonal Dynamics
Consultant: Elton Mayo
Elton Mayo's Hawthorne studies highlighted the importance of social factors in the workplace.
Mayo's human relations principles can be applied to address poor interpersonal dynamics. Mayo
emphasized the significance of social interactions and employee satisfaction. Implementing
strategies to improve communication and teamwork would enhance the overall work
environment.
Issue 6: Employee Satisfaction and Overwork
Consultant: Douglas McGregor
Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y provide insights into employee motivation. To
address employee satisfaction and overwork, applying McGregor's Theory Y, which assumes that
employees are motivated and seek responsibility, would involve empowering employees,
recognizing their needs, and fostering a positive work environment (McGregor, 1960).
McGregor's approach aligns with addressing the fundamental needs of the workforce.
By assigning each consultant to a specific issue based on their expertise, Alicia Smithfield can
benefit from a comprehensive and tailored approach to address the multifaceted challenges
facing Smithfield Custom Furniture.

Reference

McGregor, D. (1960) The Human Side of Enterprise. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.