[assignment 1 – decision analysis]Ford Australia’s decision to cut 440 Jobs – July 2012 | AUTHOR: | | SHAUN VICTOR PICKERING | |
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 2 PART 1 - Modernist Analysis 3 1.1 Environment 4 1.2 Social Structure 6 1.3 Technology 8 1.4 Culture 9 PART 2 - Symbolic Interpretive Critique 11 2.1 Environment 11 2.2 Social Structure 12 2.3 Technology 13 2.4 Culture 14 PART 3 - Postmodern Critique 15 3.1 Environment 16 3.2 Social Structure 17 3.3 Technology 18 3.4 Culture 19 CONCLUSION 20 REFERENCES 21
INTRODUCTION
Ford Australia is one of the leaders in Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry. However as the industry continues to suffer from foreign pressures and competitive disadvantage, so too has Ford Australia. This analysis exercise aims to better understand Ford Australia’s recent decision to ‘sack’ over 400 workers from their Geelong plant. Through referencing and applying theories from three predominant perspectives of organization theory, it is hoped that the cause and effect of Ford’s decision can be better understood and defined. First the decision will be analysed through modernist interpretation and further critiqued through application of symbolic interpretive theories and finally, post-modern ideologies.
PART 1 - Modernist Analysis
Unlike other organization theorists, modern theorists believe the best way to gain complete knowledge of the organization is to understand the how and why they function a certain way. Furthermore, they use diagnostic tools to pinpoint problems and understand how functioning can be influenced by different environmental conditions (Hatch & Cunliffe 2006).
The modernist perception of organization theory can be described to encapsulate many intricate and differing ideas of various theorists on a variety of facets in organization functionality. Despite the differentiations,