Robert Nardelli was heavily criticized for his leadership style and methods he used during his tenure as CEO of Home Depot. Using your readings for this week along with outside research, describe his style of leadership and take a position on whether you feel his actions rose to the level of being unethical.
Write a 3-4 page APA formatted paper, using a minimum of three references,
Clearly describe Robert Nardelli’s leadership style in terms of Leadership Theory, incorporating the following theories within your paper:
Trait Theory
Behavioral Theory
Situational and Contingency Theories
State whether his actions were ethical or unethical.
Cite the text material and research that support your position.
Jorde-Bloom (1994, p.32) states, “The director is the key figure in establishing organisational norms that support or inhibit change” in a child care centre..
Discuss the role of the team leader in the change management process. In your response identify and discuss some “organisational norms” that need to be promoted to ensure a positive and effective process of change.
Your essay must use correct referencing in APA Style. Please refer to your student handbook for rules on plagiarism.
Your essay should show evidence that you have read widely on the topic beyond the supplied readings and text.
1. What is the distinction between insider trading and trading on inside information pursuant to U.S. securities law? Why is this distinction critical? Who can legally trade on inside information? Is such trading moral?
2. What is the distinction between horizontal and vertical restraints, as well as the Per Se and Rule of Reason doctrines, in U.S. anti-trust law pursuant to the Sherman Act? Why are these distinctions critical? How is it possible to reasonably and thus illegally restrain trade and commerce?
3. What is the difference between the disparate treatment and the disparate or adverse impact theories in civil rights laws in the United States?
You are the manager of Acme Fireworks, a fireworks retailer who sells fireworks, puts on ground display fireworks, and large aerial display fireworks. The company started in the owner’s garage two years ago and now has 15 employees that you manage. The company started as a sole proprietorship, and the owner has never changed the entity. The owner has informed you that the company has received inquiries from several large businesses wondering if the company could create several fireworks displays on a regular basis. The owner told the inquirers that the company could fill such display orders, and a price per display was agreed upon. It was discussed that most of the cost for a fireworks display is for skilled labor, insurance, and the actual service of setting off the fireworks. No other details were discussed. The owner is anticipating that new employees will need to be hired, but he is worried that if the large orders for fireworks displays do not continue, the company will not have the funds to pay the new employees. The owner is now considering changing the business entity, but he does not know what entity to form or how to form it.
The owner has asked you to do the following:
Determine if the contracts with the businesses will be governed by common law or the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and explain why.
Analyze whether the owner formed a contract with the businesses, and apply the five essential elements of an enforceable contract.
Explain the potential personal liability to Acme Fireworks if a spectator is injured by a stray firework from a fireworks display.
Discuss the different employment types and relationships relevant to agency law, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each type specific to Acme Fireworks.
Explain why Acme Fireworks should not operate as a sole proprietorship. Recommend a new business entity, and provide rationale to support your recommendation.
This assignment will assess the following learning outcomes:
– LO1 Analyse costs in business organisations contexts
– LO2 Apply cost estimation techniques in a range of business situations
– LO3 Evaluate cost and revenue information and costing methods for managerial decision-making
– LO5 Effectively communicate cost and revenue information in a decision making context.
ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS
Question 1
Bloomberg Company assembles three types of motorbike at the same factory: the 100cc Hero Honda, the 250cc Unicorn and the 1000cc Passion. It sells the motorbikes throughout the world. In response to market pressures Bloomberg Company has invested heavily in new manufacturing technology in recent years and, as a result has significantly reduced the size of its workforce.
Historically, the company has allocated all overhead costs using total direct labour hours, but now is considering introducing activity-based costing (ABC). Bloomberg Company’s accountant has produced the following analysis.
Annual Output (units)
Annual Direct Labour Hours
Selling Price(OMR per unit)
Raw material cost(OMR per unit)
Hero Honda
2000
200000
4000
400
Unicorn
1600
220000
6000
600
Passion
400
80000
8000
900
The three cost drivers that generate overheads are:
Deliveries to retailers – the number of deliveries of motorbikes to retail showrooms
Set-ups – the number of times the assembly line process is re-set to
accommodate a production run of a different type of motorbike
Purchase orders – the number of purchase ordersThe annual cost driver volumes relating to each activity and for each type of motorbike are as follows:
Number of deliveries to retailers
Number of set-ups
Number of purchase orders
Hero Honda
100
35
400
Unicorn
80
40
300
Passion
70
25
100
The annual overhead costs relating to these activities are as follows:
OMR
Delivenes to retailers
2400000
Set-up costs
6000000
Purchase orders
3600000
All direct labour is paid at 5OMR per hour. The company holds no stocks. At a board meeting there was some concern over the introduction of activity-based costing.
1. The finance director argues: ‘I very much doubt whether selling the Passion is viable but I am not convinced that activity-based costing would tell us any more than the use of labour hours in assessing the viability of each product.’
2. The marketing director argued: ‘I am in the process of negotiating a major new contract with a motorbike rental company for the Hero Honda model. For such a big order they will not pay our normal prices but we need to at least cover our incremental costs. I am not convinced that activity-based costing would achieve this as it merely average costs for our entire
production.’
3. The managing director argued: ‘I believe that activity-based costing would be an improvement but it still has its problems. For instance, if we carry out an activity many times surely we get better, costs are fixed and do not vary either with labour hours or any other
cost driver.’
4. The chairman argued: ‘I cannot see the problem. The overall profit for the company is the same no matter which method of allocating overheads we use. It seems to make no difference to me.’
Sentosa is expecting an upsurge in demand and considers that the excess capacity is temporary. Therefore, even though there is sufficient direct labour capacity to produce 50 000 sweaters, Sentosa intends to retain the temporary excess supply of direct labour for the expected upsurge in demand. A leisure company located overseas has offered to buy 15 000 sweaters each month for the next three months at a price of OMR 20 per sweater. The company would pay for the transportation costs and thus no additional marketing and distribution costs will be incurred. No subsequent sales to this customer are anticipated. The company would require its company logo inserting on the sweater and Sentosa has predicted that this will cost OMR1.000 per sweater. Should Sentosa accept the offer from the company? Justify your answer with calculation, evaluation and explanation.
Can you think of any examples where you experienced various culture types (Market, Clan, Adhocracy and Hierarchy culture) as a consumer to, or employee of, an organisation?
If so, what is your evaluation of the aligment between its corporate culture and strategy?
3. Activity: Structure and strategy
URL: BCG’s Yves Morieux view on OrganisationDesignx
Questions to consider:
Yves Morieux claims that structure follows strategy. Is this always the case?
Explain in your own words the main findings of Hawthorne Studies.
Based on Hawthorne studies, explain how norms and status exert influence on an individual’s behaviour.
9. Activity: Hertzberg’s Theory of Motivation
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ub8R5c6tkE
Questions to consider:
1. Explain the key concepts of Hertzberg theory of motivation.
2. Explain how would use the finding of the Hertzberg theory of motivation to motivate your workers in a fast food industry?
10. Activity: Lead and be the change
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv-QiSvuLLM
Questions to consider:
1. Have you experienced an emotional rollercoaster when faced with a radical change, as described by Professor Mueller-Eberstein in the video? Discuss how the Theory of Transition may be applied to your experience.
2. Can you relate Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model to Professor Mueller-Eberstein tips for successful change management?
11. Activity: Privacy Rights vs. Employee Tracking
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-mqdz-20Xs
Question to consider:
What is your view of this issue with protecting privacy rights of individual employees?
Please research a product liability case and share it with your classmates. Discuss the issues, including the hazard or damage caused by the product, and the compensation. No word limit
1) Select a warning label. Evaluate it with respect to general principles for design of warning labels. How could you improve the design?
Your response should be at least 200 words in length.
2) Select a control or display in your environment. Describe and evaluate it with respect to general guidelines for controls or displays. Should it be redesigned?
Your response should be at least 200 words in length.
3) With the adoption of GHS by OSHA, the problems associated with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) in many different formats will be solved. What other problems with MSDSs are likely to remain despite the standardized formatting?
Your response must be at least 400 words in length.
4) Discuss how cultural and literacy issues can impact the effectiveness of a HazCom training program. Suggest ways that these issues can be addressed.
Your response must be at least 400 words in length.
Advances in web-based technologies have increased the need for systems integration from multiple information sources. You are required to investigate one issue or challenge associated with the tasks of web-based systems integration.
Instructions
Your essay should be in sentence and paragraph format (no dot points) using your own words
700 word limit with a +/-10% margin. Essays that do not meet this word limit will lose marks.
Use Harvard referencing style shown in the style guide available on the library web site. (http://public01.library.uow.edu.au/refcite/style-guides/html/)
Your essay should develop a sustained and fully supported argument to support your position.
You are expected to use at least five (5) academic sources.