Assignment: Organizing Memo
In this scenario, you are going to create one of the most important communication documents used in business: a memo. Even though we rely heavily on emails for business communication, when dealing with more formal situations (communicating with a potential client or upper management) the memo is often the best choice (memos are often sent as an attachment to an email). Memos are flexible documents. They can be casual and to the point, or they can be formal and informative. Naturally, for this assignment your challenge will be to create the latter.
You work for a Mr. Edward Harris, a very successful manager who has been in your industry for 35 years. He earned his MBA in the late 1970s and has made it a point to never take another college course again. However, because of his professional reputation, he has been asked to give a presentation for a management class at his alma mater on organizational/structural theories.
Naturally, he wants to come across as an expert but, he doesn't want to spend the time to do the research. As the person he depends on to make him look good, he comes to you for help in preparing his presentation. Write a professional memo to help prepare him (hint: You've worked for him for 10 years and no one has ever called him anything besides "Mr. Harris").
Make sure to at least:
- Research and describe how the scholarly literature deals with the functional and divisional approaches to structure
- Select an organizational structure theory and explain how the structure is designed to work by providing an example or scenario (make certain to address the theory's advantages and disadvantages).
- Discuss how culture is reflected in the chosen theory. What types of companies might choose it? Once chosen, how might the company's culture be affected?
Use at least four (4) scholarly or professional sources to support your position in addition to the sources provided in this learning plan. Do not use the text book as a primary source. Your memo will be 800 words long and in proper memo format (you can download a template from MS Office). Think about your audience and tone. Your reference page must be completed as an annotated bibliography.