Organization’s structure

The Module 5 background materials discussed the importance and process of strategy implementation. Four different organizational components were shown to be critical to successful implementation. With this information, we are now ready to begin completion of the final step of Strategic Planning ? that of strategy implementation and strategy control.
Your assignment is to find information about the following organizational components discussed in this module as they relate specifically to the Kraft Foods Company. Do your best not to speculate, but to find factual information concerning the topical areas below. The following list of questions may help you focus your search (Source: Obtaining information about organizational components critical to implementation (adapted from Aaker, D.A. (2001) Developing Business Strategies. Wiley):

Structure

What is the organization’s structure? How decentralized or centralized is it?
What are the lines of authority and communication?
What are the roles of teams, committees, and task forces?
Systems

How are budgets set?
How is planning done?
What measures are used to evaluate performance?
People

What are the skills, experience, and knowledge of the firm’s employees?
What is their depth and quality?
What are their attitudes about the company and their jobs?
Culture

What are the company’s values and are they widely shared and accepted by employees?
What are the key norms of behavior?
What are some significant symbols?
What is the dominant management style?
How is conflict resolved?
Keys to the Assignment

Step One. Review the questions above and do some research to see where you could find answers to them. You may not be able to answer all of the questions, but try to find at least one source per component that addresses most of its characteristics.
Step Two. Create a 3-4 page list of sources and indicate what information each one provides for each component. Evaluate each source in terms of its objectivity, reliability, and truthfulness.