- TASK
A) Read the case study below:
SAR Health Services (SARHS) are part of a multi-national enterprise based in Switzerland. They
supply sophisticated diagnostic equipment to hospitals across Europe and have recently
entered new marks in Asia. SARHS’s relationship with its customers is based on high trust, high
quality products and in Europe on 24/7 servicing. The company employs around 3000 staff,
consisting of technicians, production, office staff (sales, marketing, distribution) managers and
Assessment Information/Brief
drivers.
SARHS puts particular emphasis on environmental education through staff training and
induction. New staff receive a half-day session on sustainability. In addition, monthly
departmental meetings in head office include a ‘green slot’ where updates and activities
regarding environmental sustainability are discussed. The organisation also runs an internship,
which has proved to be a useful source of ideas regarding green initiatives.
The company has gone through two reorganisations in the last 3 years. The most recent
involved shifting from a functional to a matrix structure. Managers however, have complained
that this last structural change confused authority and responsibility relationships.
Due to pressure on equipment budgets for healthcare organisations, and increasing
competition, SARHS senior management team is aware that it has to find ways of reducing
operating costs.
A decision has been taken to close one production site (Site A) and consolidate operations at
another (Site B), some 100 miles away, in 6 months’ time. During this time site B will be
redesigned, including the development of an ‘open plan’ office, which it is expected will reduce
energy costs. It is anticipated that the overall number of office and production staff will be
reduced by 5 -8%, but technical and sales staff numbers are expected to remain the same. **
The management’s aim is to decrease the company’s carbon foot print by a third by 2022.
A number of green initiatives are also planned to reduce costs, including:
Recycling and waste reduction
Encouragement to recycle by putting lids on waste bins to make recycling easier and providing
recycling bins to customers
Transport initiatives
Company drivers are to be provided with training in fuel efficient driving, with a bonus of 100
Euros twice a year for those who are found to be fuel efficient.
Home based working will also be introduced for the entire sales team, who will only attend the
Site B office for monthly meetings.
To be successful, the relocation and proposed green initiatives need to be fully supported by all
staff. Unfortunately, began to hear rumours about the planned changes. As a result, the
Managing Director brought forward his formal announcement and held a briefing meeting for
staff.
Having now heard about the plans formally there is a fair degree of anger and concern amongst
the workforce, with remarks from production staff such as “we’ve only just got over the last
change and now I might have to move” and “it’s going to cost me money to travel, that’s
effectively a wage cut” being typical. Some sales reps are however happy about the idea of
being home-based, as this will cut down their overall travel.
Re **: You are not expected to understand and discuss redundancy or consultation.
Assessment Information/Brief
B. Write a management report of 3,000 words (plus or minus 10%, not including the reference
list) which draws on theory and addresses the following:
1. Identify the factors that the management team might wish to consider before going ahead
with their plan.
2. Identify and discuss the people management issues that the management team are likely to
face in implementing the plan, explaining the reasons for this.
3. Develop and justify recommendations as to how to proceed with this project.
4. Identify the factors that the organisation may need to consider in order to build its change
capability.
