InfoTrac Exercises

Chapter 1 The Changing Nature of Management & Foundations of Learning Organizations

1. New rules of engagement for crisis management.

(Corporate Dossier)
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2007 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd..
The Economic Times, Oct 6, 2007 pNA
Record: CJ169524561

Abstract:  Executives are moving quickly to stem damage to their companies' reputations by issuing swift apologies to customers and citizens alike.  Several large organizations such as Dell, Apple, Mattel and BP have faced crises in recent years and their executives’ responses to the problems have been key to these organizations maintaining their dominant positions in the marketplace.  Several key theories are used to analyzed the actions of the executives in dealing with crises. Openness, speed of message delivery, and anticipating problems were seen to be key to maintaining the firm’s reputation.

1. How has the willingness of business leaders to explain problems publicly changed in recent years?
2. If a company that you did business with was facing a crisis, how would you expect to be communicated with? (in what form would that communication occur)
3. What steps can an organization take to prepare itself for crises?  Do you feel that this is a worthwhile use of time and company resources? 

 2. Introducing women to intrapreneurial thinking.

(PERSPECTIVES: News and Views of the Current Research-Technology Management Scene)(women entrepreneurs in science and technology) Peter Gwynne.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2005 Industrial Research Institute Inc.
Research-Technology Management, July-August 2005 v48 i4 p4(2)
Record: A133911140

Abstract: Science, and the development of new technologies, is essential for the future of North America.  This article notes that “scientists in general, and women scientists in particular, have very little experience in entrepreneurship--the type of thinking essential not only for successfully starting new companies but also for providing the risk-taking, disruptive, "intrapreneurial" ideas that help to provide new technical opportunities for established corporations.”  A lack of role models and support for female scientists are cited as key contributors to this situation.   Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology, Inc. (WEST), a nonprofit organization, was spawned to address the needs of women in science.  The organization has also started to focus on a mentoring methodology called “matrix mentoring”--a combination of peer mentoring and more traditional expert-type mentoring, to address the needs of women.

1. What can an organization/country do to assist large groups of the population to better contribute with their educational training?
2. What benefits would you expect to get from joining an organization such as WEST?
3. What can men do to help utilize the human capital in women that is currently not being used?  How would this benefit our society?