XCG The Excellent Consulting Group Communication from Art: Thank you for your report on the strategy analysis of Whole Foods Market. Now, we need to move ahead to the next part of this project. ABC Company and Whole Foods Market have decided they want to do an Organizational Diagnosis to determine how various aspects of Whole Foods Market are aligned, such as inputs, resources, productivity, throughput effort, outputs, performance, strategy, etc.
They want to know if there are any significant issues at Whole Foods Market and how these issues might affect its integration into ABC Company.
Required Reading: Download and read this white paper by Falletta about OD models. Salvatore Falletta, President and CEO of Leadersphere, has written a white paper that reviews several commonly used models of organizational diagnosis.
You will use several of these models in conducting your integrative Case project. The relevant part of this paper in terms of this class is the first 31 pages. The last part of the paper (pp. 32-43) deals with the theoretical foundations of the Burke & Litwin model, Falletta's Organizational Intelligence Model; reading that is optional. We are not covering Falletta's Organizational Intelligence Model. Falletta, S. V. (2005) Organizational Diagnostic Models: A Review and Synthesis. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.iei.liu.se/fek/frist/723g16/files/1.120328/Orgmodels.pdf Falletta provides an overview of Open Systems Theory (OST) in his paper (pp. 8 & 9). Keep in mind that OST is not an OD model, but rather a basis for most of the later models.
For a deeper understanding, go to the following optional reading and read about systems, systems thinking, and organizations as open systems. You will see that businesses are not unlike living organisms: they depend on the environment for sustenance; they comprise multiple, mutually dependent parts; and they affect the environment in the course of their daily activities. Open Systems Theory provides valuable insights into organizations. Optional Reading: Systems Thinking and Learning Organizations (n.d.). National Defense University. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt1ch4.html Review Case Analysis since it is so important in this final course.
The purpose of a Case is to show that you have thought critically about the subject matter that you are learning and to make an argument for a Claim about the specific situation in the Case Assignment. Stephen Toulmin has developed an Argument Methodology that is very useful in Making a Case.
To review Case Analysis and Toulmin's Argument Methodology, go to Making a Case. Case Assignment There is some disagreement in the Executive ranks as to which OD method or model should be used. Some executives have familiarity with a couple of models, but it seems to be only based on what they have read or heard about. You need to explore some models and determine their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately recommend which one is best for Whole Foods Market.
As part of making that determination, you will also need to identify several critical issues facing Whole Foods Market. The executives want you to include the 7S model, the Congruence Model, and the Burke-Litwin Model in your analysis. Pick three or four more models to include for a well-rounded group of OD models.
Prepare a report in which you include the following:
A brief overview of what each of the six or seven models you are analyzing does.
Clearly identify the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Identify and discuss two or three issues that Whole Foods Market is facing. Determine which model you think is the best one to use.
Recommend which model to use. Make a Strong Case. Explain why your selection would be the best choice, and how the recommended model can be used to help diagnose the issues you have identified.
This should be a 5- to 7-page paper (not including Title Page and References).