A Working Plan for Managing Changes at the Jackson Plant

Group Member: Jin, Ruihua

                                                                        Zhang, Jiawei

                                                                Zhang, Pengtao

Course: Management Information Systems (63.601)

Instructor: Diane Vacarra

May 1, 2014

A Working Plan For Managing Changes at The Jackson Plant

Executive Summary

        Jackson plant of our company is facing reorganization from highly centralized system to decentralized structure. It works like a test experiment and prerequisite of rebuilding a new plant in the same city. As an appointed general manager of Jackson plant, I find out several problems to be solved, such as administrative problem, limited management, and control power problem. Also, I come up with alternative solutions and recommendation to overcome those obstacles and consolidate our strategy.

Content

1. Situation Analysis

        It is necessary for me to show my opinions about the Jackson plant to top management. The situation I am in is not good for the changed plan. I have to report them in advance.

        Jackson plant is an old unit of the Rose Company. This is a plant operated in a highly centralized and functional type of manufacturing organization. Most of the employees in Jackson plant used to follow the counterpart in headquarters. To reorganize this structure, employees are  required to report to me instead of their functional vice presidents. Currently, three of the vice presidents decide to cut off their relationship with functional counterpart, while the other four prefer keep dotted line relationship with their staff. If organizational structure is changed, they would be unadaptable.

        Jackson plant had been unsatisfactory for several years, which is a disadvantageous issue for my work. The reason is that employees prefer the change that can bring benefits. But the poor business condition won’t allow me to pay abundant salary to my subordinates. My orders may not work for subordinates. This will be a big obstacle of the changed plan.

        New methods of manufacturing and mixing materials are introduced into our company. Employees may be unfamiliar with. To determine whether the decentralized operation could increase company’s profit, top management decides to implement the changed strategy on Jackson plant.

        As Jackson plant is an old, established units of the Rose Company, employees will be comfortable to follow the manager whom they are familiar with. I might be a stranger to all the employees in Jackson plant. This situation is slightly adverse for me to carry out my plan since a qualified manager should be a team player.

        I was an accounting executive in the controller’s department of the Rose Company, the knowledge of management for me is insufficient. I lack of ample experience on the management position. Top management assigned me as general manager of Jackson plant, so that I need to take charge of the management and administration of all functions and personnel. Even though I take over this new role, it seems like a challenge for me.