Premium Essay

Productivity Dilemma

In:

Submitted By vickvalentine
Words 475
Pages 2
Productivity dilemma
Productivity dilemma
Abernathy’s productivity dilemma describes businesses trade off between two strategic goals: efficiency and innovation. Efficiency is a result of exploitation, there utilizes existing knowledge and capabilities, resulting in stable and efficient performance. Innovation or adaptability is a result of exploration, which creates new knowledge, enabling organizations to innovate, and adapt to changing conditions.
Paul s. Adler highlights that Abernathy sees the productivity dilemma on a one-dimensional spectrum, where businesses choose between short-term efficiency and long-term adaptability (Adler et al., 2009 p. 99-100, 104, 109).
Strategies
Only the most important strategies, from the article, will be covered, because of the paper’s words limitations.

O’Reilly and Tushman, 2008 highlights the strategy of structural ambidextrous designs to overcome the productivity dilemma. Structural ambidextrous enables businesses to sustain both exploration and exploitation, there increase efficiency and simultaneously innovates. If e.g. one subunit explores and another exploits, so the subunits are highly differentiated but loosely coupled (p. 101).
Brunner et al., 2008 presents the strategy of deliberate perturbation for businesses, there are in mature process. Deliberate perturbation is where organizations intentionally re-introduce variance into mature processes to sustain learning and knowledge creation through exploratory interpretation (p. 104).

Theoretically it makes sense to use the strategies mentioned above to overcome the productivity dilemma, but it is difficult to find the right balance between efficiency and adaptability in the real world. There is not ‘one’ right balance for all businesses. The right balance depends on the business internal structure, core capabilities, industry, suppliers etc. Changes

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Analysis of Ethical Dilema

...Analysis Of An Ethical Dilemma From Current Events Analysis of Ethical Dilemma from Current Events Karen Perion Grand Canyon University Analysis of Ethical Dilemma from Current Events “A dilemma is a problem that requires a choice between two options that are equally unfavorable and mutually exclusive” (Burkhardt, 2008, p. 118). Ethical dilemmas involve conflicting moral debates. People deal with dilemmas daily; whether or not they realize it. Deciding between two different jobs, figuring out which party to attend on the same night, or giving a patient pain medication knowing they are addicted are dilemmas one might be faced with. Knowing how to overcome and work your way through a dilemma is the expectation. I found an article in The SUN discussing a mother, Kerry, injecting her eight year old daughter, Britney, with Botox and giving her body waxes to make her a superstar. Every three months, Britney watches her mother prepare needles of Botox and fillers to be injected into her face (Pearce, 2011). Kerry, who is a beautician, buys these products online and injects them into her daughter’s lips, forehead and around her eyes. Britney also receives body waxes in hopes her hair will stop growing once she reaches puberty. Kerry says the reason she does this is because her pageant-daughter is destined to become an actress, model, or singer one day. Ethically, this could damage her daughter. The insecurities, self-esteem, and body image issues could be detrimental...

Words: 340 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Doctors

...Doctors Without Borders Crystal Stophel ETH/316 August 6, 2013 Leslie Ann Dunn Doctors without Borders According to “Medecins Sans Frontieres”(2013). “Doctors without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) works in nearly 70 countries providing medical aid to those most in need regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation”. This international medical humanitarian organization was established in 1971 by doctors and journalist. There are several reasons MSF provides medical aid to those in need. Epidemics, malnutrition, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare are some of the reasons the MSF would provide help. The organization also advocates in situations where issues are neglected. The MSF reserves the right to bring attention to any situation that the organization sees as abuse or neglect. MSF operates independently and are separate from any political, military, or religious affiliations, and remains neutral. The MSF evaluates certain areas to determine how great of a need there is in that particular area before opening a program. Since the MSF operates independently, funding for the organization comes from private, non-government sources. In 2009, MSF had 3.8 million individual donors and private funders worldwide. (“History and Principles”, 2013) Ethically the MSF believes it not only important to help one in a time of need, but also to advocate for one in need. They believe no matter race, religion, or political affiliation everyone deserves...

Words: 882 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

4222-304

...physical, financial or sexual. My responsibilities under the duty of care are to ensure I do everything within my job role to ensure this happens. The level of this is dependant on who is under my care a higher duty would be needed for clients with a limited ability to care for themselves. Sometimes conflicts and dilemmas can arise when carrying out my duty of care. Sometimes the client’s rights go against our duty of care as in they have the right to privacy but it’s our duty of care to safeguard them from any dangers. If we were to have concerns about any type of abuse this would override the clients right to privacy because in this instance our duty of care is stronger. This has a dilemma of making the client feel we took our duty of care too far. But although our duty of care overrides the clients right to privacy, their right to privacy still exists and only agencies that must know should be told. Another example is risk taking and balancing risk, it is a clients right to have opportunity to experience situations that may be a risk to the client in order to learn about potential danger but our duty of care is to keep them safe so there is a conflict. The dilemma is if an accident happened a parent/ agency may feel we did not protect the client. However If we do not let the client expose themselves to risks we are taking our duty of care to seriously but if we are exposing them to danger that is beyond their ability then we are not taking our duty of care serious enough...

Words: 673 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Polarity

...Paper Polarities and polarity management We have all encountered stubborn problems that never seem to go away. These situations are not really problems waiting to be solved, but instead dilemmas in need of management. We all face dilemmas in our personal and professional lives. These are ongoing, unsolvable issues and unfortunately are unavoidable. According to Johnson (1998), Polarity Management is an insightful way to understand and succeed in mastering some of life’s most complex situations. Polarity management is a method of dealing with complex situations by looking at all aspects of the situation.  Seidler (2009) describes polarity management as a model that helps us deal with all dilemmas in life.  This approach facilitates the consideration of all perspectives to a situation, thereby avoiding the one right-answer approach. The most comprehensive decisions seek the advantages of all alternatives to a situation.  When encountering a challenging condition, we must first determine if it is a problem we can solve, or an ongoing polarity/dilemma that must be managed. Johnson (1998) suggests two questions for determining whether an issue is a problem or polarity: 1. Is the issue an ongoing challenge? 2. Is the dilemma opposite points of view interdependent? For every dilemma there exist polarities - interdependent opposites we need to consider in order to create an optimal solution to an issue. These opposing views do not function well independently.  In fact...

Words: 1548 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Don T Stop Believing Research Paper

...Alisa Ali Dr. Jennifer Gliere Introduction to Music 5 December 2016 Final Project: Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” Journey is an American rock and roll band that was formed in 1973. It consists of guitarist and backing vocalist Neal Schon, bass player and backing vocalist Ross Valory, keyboard player and backing vocalist Jonathan Cain, drummer Steve Smith, and finally the leading vocalist Arnel Pineda (The Band). The band’s first album was released in 1975 but it was not a big hit. The following seven albums were not so lucky either. “After 1978, when big-voiced, feather-haired lead singer Steve Perry joined Journey, the group became a dominant force in what’s sometimes derisively referred to as “corporate rock”” (Murray). Hence, many contend that the band only became famous when Perry joined. However, it was only their eighth album, 1981’s Escape, which gave the band its popularity with its three top hits: “Who’s Crying Now”, “Don’t Stop Believing”, and “Open Arms”. Their next album, known as 1983's Frontiers, heightened their popularity even further and received number 2 on the album charts. The band was even given a contract with NFL Films for a documentary on the group members. The band broke up in 1984 and it wasn’t until 1995 that they reunited again. Additionally, the lead singer was replaced in 1998 and again in 2006 (Smith). Hence, this band was not a very stable one. However, they still had hope and were determined to make the band a success. The hit “Don’t Stop...

Words: 1190 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Phl 458 Week 1 Dq 1 & 2

...# 1) Think of a moral or ethical dilemma you have faced where every choice seemed unsatisfactory. What did you ultimately decide and why did you choose that decision? Being a newly certified correctional officer I have learned the “policy and procedure” way of doing things from the academy, but now I am seeing the “hands on” way of doing things from the more seasoned correctional staff. To say the least some of the ways are completely opposite. One of the main dilemmas I have been faced with is “whether or not to give out inmate request forms” to the inmates if they ask for them. This may seem like an open and closed question, but it really isn’t. See according to policy and the inmate handbook, the only way for the inmates to communicate or request anything is through the inmate request form. This includes but is not limited to signing up for classes, chapel services, medical call outs (sick or well), laundry changes or request, etc. This list really goes on! This is where I am happy to give the form out as long as I have them, because I understand that point. However I have several fellow officers who will tell them “I don’t have any request forms!” Even if they have a stack of them sitting within arm’s reach. I believe this is wrong. I feel that though the inmates made poor decision that landed them in my care and custody, they are still human beings, and should be treated as such, therefore if they need a request form they should be given one. # 2) What do you do when...

Words: 510 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Gaming: Ethical Dilemma

...positive contribution to our society? I strongly believe it is crucial that we determine if gaming has an actual positive effect in our society or it is just an absolute disruption to our ethical views in life. I truly think that it is the latter but it is important that we take a look on different aspects of gaming as a whole before we can conclude upon it. 2.) Is there an ethical need for new regulations in gaming as a whole? It is critically important to review all the regulations that were put on gaming to identify if new regulations are necessary. With the affects that it has in our society, we need to determine what’s missing as far as regulations is concerned. 3.) When does gaming recreation becomes an ethical dilemma? When I hear the word ‘gaming’ I personally always associate it with ‘betting in monetary terms’. In my opinion, some of us never really think of gaming as recreation...

Words: 372 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Ethical Dilemas

...Workplace Ethical Dilemma Workplace Ethical Dilemma Paper Michelle Cortez BSHS/332 Workplace Ethical Dilemma Paper Ethical Dilemma is when a situation occurs with a workplace, organization, or between family members. Ethical Dilemmas usually occur when people do not seem to agree on things that are being changed or to be changed within the workplace, organization, or family. I once worked at a retail store about four years ago where I was a cashier during the day shift. I worked there for a little over three years and I got to know quite a bit of people from the community that would go in all the time to shop. When I started working at the store I was told to NEVER accept any gifts from the customers because it was against store policy. When you are hired you are told the policies, rules, and regulations of the company. You are to follow these to make sure that you are doing what the company is asking of you. Like all other company’s you are asked to please follow these rules and do your job. As I started to go in and do my job, I noticed that there were some customers that would go in all the time and give the other cashiers a hard time. Until one day they came to my register and the first thing that jumped into my mind was, “OH NO HERE THEY COME”. I was so nervous because I just wanted to do my job and make my customers happy and have a good experience at this store. As they put their items on the conveyer belt they started to look at me and...

Words: 1251 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Professional Dilemma

...Professional Dilemma Vanessa Rodriguez Ethics in Criminal Justice CJA/324 October 23, 2012 Christopher Manning Professional Dilemma According to Dictionary.com dilemma is defines as a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternative and any difficult or perplexing situation or problem (Dictionary.com 2011). The nature of the student’s recent dilemma faced in the student’s personal life is her current employment. The students’ current position is a floor person which handles a number of presses daily, providing operators with proper materials needed to run daily for each press running such as correct tape, labels, bags, boxes, palletizing, shrink-wrapping, and given her team breaks and lunches. The student is responsibly for weighing and regrinding her own material, daily log in for production, and number invoices at the end of the day The company the student works for has offered her the position of Label Room Supervisor as the current employee is retiring at the end of June 2011. The Label Room Supervisor requires more hours from the student, more contact with upper management, and human resources. The student needs various training in the new computer system, shipping and receiving, ordering numerous materials for different parts of the plant. The pay amount would stay the same, with no additional benefits, hours would increase, and an additional day of work. This position holds...

Words: 753 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Intro to Business

...An Ethical Dilemma Rosette L. Steward BMGT 110 University of Maryland University College   In today’s rapid face paced society, many Americas encounter ethical dilemmas throughout the workforce. An ethical dilemma is a situation where there is a mental conflict between morals and imperatives. Most of the choices faced in a dilemma are bad so an “ethical” one is when you have to consider your mortality. Please read further to see how Jan will handle her dilemma. Jan’s Ethical Dilemma Jan is faced with the ethical dilemma of knowing that JLT Cincinnati goes off of seniority when faced with downsizing. She is aware that Steve will most likely not get an accountant position in the new LT Wichita corporate office. Being as though the announcement won’t be make for a couple more weeks, Jan should inform Evelyn of the changes that are about to occur. Giving Steve a heads up about the corporate decision gives him to time to adjust fire and gainfully search for employment elsewhere. As a person in Jan’s position the ethical decision would save a family from heartache and worry. Employees’ Roles/responsibilities in Ethical Situations There are several factors that can tribute to employees’ not operating ethical in the workplace. The first one being an “individual” factor. Some people believe that their ethical choices are driven by circumstances. These same individuals however don’t realize that...

Words: 388 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Management Something to Do

...C H A P T E R Operations and Productivity 1 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. The text suggests four reasons to study OM. We want to understand (1) how people organize themselves for productive enterprise, (2) how goods and services are produced, (3) what operations managers do, and (4) this costly part of our economy and most enterprises. 2. Possible responses include: Adam Smith (work specialization/ division of labor), Charles Babbage (work specialization/ division of labor), Frederick W. Taylor (scientific management), Walter Shewart (statistical sampling and quality control), Henry Ford (moving assembly line), Charles Sorensen (moving assembly line), Frank and Lillian Gilbreth (motion study), Eli Whitney (standardization). 3. See references in the answer to question 2. 4. The actual charts will differ, depending on the specific organization the student chooses to describe. The important thing is for students to recognize that all organizations require, to a greater or lesser extent, (a) the three primary functions of operations, finance/accounting, and marketing; and (b) that the emphasis or detailed breakdown of these functions is dependent on the specific competitive strategy employed by the firm. 5. The answer to this question may be similar to that for question 4. Here, however, the student should be encouraged to utilize a more detailed knowledge of a past employer and indicate on the chart additional information such as the number of persons employed to perform the...

Words: 3148 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Research Methodology

...INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ASSIGNMENT - I Submitted to: Submitted by: Prof. Dinesh Khurana Sweta Singh 14PGDMHR44 2014-2016 Q.1. Does the opening vignette in the beginning of this chapter require research? Why/why not? In case your answer is yes, what type of research would you advocate to EEE? Yes, it does require research and explanatory research is required for EEE as a detailed and thorough findings are to be aimed at. Q.2. You are a business manager with the ITC group of hotels. You receive a customer satisfaction report on your international hotels from the research agency to which you had outsourced the work. What or how will you evaluate the quality of work done in the study? Customer satisfaction report should focus on issues like what are the services with which customers are not very satisfied. So this can be seen through the revenue generated from various services. Also which hotel among the group of hotels customers find the best. Whether the revenues generated from the hotels match the results of the survey. If research shows any particular aspect that customers feel is missing in the group of hotels. Q.3. A lot of business magazines conduct surveys, for example the best management schools in the country; the top ten banks in the country; the best schools to study in, etc. What do you think...

Words: 555 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Analysis of Group Behavior in Organizations- Nursing Homes

...Introduction The goal of nursing home is to provide the best care for the people as well as nourishing the spirit of the residents and staffs in a similar manner. It is also true that nursing homes are places that undergo regular changes where residents and workers come and go, equipment are modernized frequently; staffs adopt new ways of delivering better care, and new regulations are introduced. Nursing home organization are home-based health care and social services, by formal and informal caregivers using appropriate technology within a balanced and affordable continuum of care (Mitchell, 1989). Thus, to improve the performance of nursing home organization means adapting to changes and learning the new ways of service delivery as a team and as an organization. In response to interest of nursing home in a research focusing on the group behavior of their organization, it is appropriate to develop a survey on patient safety. Patient safety becomes a critical component of home-based health care quality. As nursing home organizations continue to work towards improvement of their services, there is a need to recognize the importance of establishing a safety culture. Achieving the safety culture requires an understanding of the values and what is important to the organization, as well as appropriate attitude and behavior related to patient safety. A safety culture is a product of group values and patterns of behavior determining their commitment to an organization’s management...

Words: 2172 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Meeting Increased Demand Smartly

...general populace. Currently the company is equipped to accomplish 12,000 tests per period and has just been requested to increase productivity by 50%. To accomplish this increased workload and still maintain a profit margin, the management staff will need to generate solutions to meet the growing demand. Meeting Increased Demand Smartly BSE Veterinary Service current provides a specialty capability to the meat supplier and farming community. The service provided is the testing and identification of potential disease or infection within the herd. This service is not only vital to the sustainment of healthy farming community but ultimately the elimination of food contamination which could have detrimental affects upon the society which relies upon the food produced. Currently BSE Veterinary Service is equipped to support the testing of 12,000 tests per period. However with the growing demand and difficulties with the beef herd, they have been tasked to increase their services by fifty percent. This has the potential to be a hardship for the company, management team and the employees to not only keep up with production, but ultimately show a positive profit margin. There are many avenues in which the company can tackle this task, but the Rational-Decision Making Model has a potential to resolve their respective dilemma. By using the Rational Decision-Making Model, BSE needs to first identify the problem (Bauer, 2012). This has been established...

Words: 921 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Case Study Leman

...STUDENT NAME: ANAS ASWAT BIN YAHYA ID STUDENT: 2014415066 COURSE: OPERATION MANAGEMENT CASE STUDY 1: LEMAN ETHICS CASE STUDY 2: VENUS PAPER PRODUCTIONS CASE STUDY 3: MORTON AEROSPACE LECTURER: DR. ALWI SHABUDIN SUBMITTED: 19.12.2015 Case 1: Leman Ethics 1. Identify and discuss the major issue(s) in the case. i) Leman’s dilemmas on unusual opportunity vs. ethics of Leman’s organization. ii) Leman’s proposal to make-to-hold arrangement, with result approximately 10% saving. 2. What are the key facts of the case? i) Perjawa Steel is one of the distributors ii) There is a luxurious treatment offered by the Perjawa Steel on the trip iii) Perjawa Steel is taking an advantage on the trip by giving the luxurious treatment to the buyers. 3. What is the main problem in the case? i) The ethical problem is as opposed to the process in determining the best solution for the best operation management. 4. What alternatives should you consider when addressing this problem? i) Same proposal should be addressed to other distributors. ii) The balance between the right ethical conduct and the personal interest in that come to conflicting Leman in making wise decision. 5. How would you decide on the issue? i) The decision making should be based on the economic viability and...

Words: 1747 - Pages: 7