Assignment
For this Critical Thinking Assignment, you have been asked by IKEA to make a suggestion for an organizational chart that IKEA can consider to better support its international strategy. Let's assume that some top IKEA executives like and want to keep the current structure. (See
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/this-is-ikea/company-information/index.html#organization for this structure.) However, recently there has been pressure from a few IKEA leaders to consider that the company must become more innovative in its approach to global expansion.
To complete the new proposed organization structure, review the IKEA case study from Chapter 8 of your textbook. Then review some additional information about IKEA on the internet. Also, review the organizational design elements in this week's module lecture. Make sure you fully understand the concepts presented in Chapter 9 of the textbook.
Decide what you think would be the best organizational structure for IKEA at this point in time, based on the strategy implementation concepts presented in this course. Be aware that you will need to substantiate your recommended organizational structure changes, or justify your recommendation to keep the current structure.
Then use the internet to find a free software program that can be used to develop an organizational chart (or you may choose to develop the organizational chart in Word using these instructions). Potential organizational chart software options include Gliffy, SmartDraw, and Lucidchart.
Include the following elements in a well-written paper:
• Introduce the thesis of your paper (what you will be presenting).
• Introduce your organizational chart(s).
• Discuss and explain how you determined that this structure should be implemented by IKEA.
• End with a summary statement of the highlights of your paper.
Your paper should meet the following requirements:
• 4-5 pages in length, not counting your reference page(s), which you must include.
• Formatted according to APA style guidelines.
• Include citations from the textbook in support of your position, as well as citations from at least two additional outside, credible sources. Be sure to include a reference page formatted in APA style.