Emergence of Collaborate Workplaces. Organizations Are Increasingly

¶ … emergence of collaborate workplaces. Organizations are increasingly moving toward collaborative models instead of competitive models, which have an effect on how the physical work environment is designed to achieve the goal of collaboration (Mardesich, n.d.) Workplace flexibility and physical environments are important because they impact productivity, as well as a worker's ability to collaborate, share ideas, and innovate (Mardesich, n.d.). The typical cubical or multiple office environment is being changed by many organizations by providing only half walls and other open working areas to increase communication and collaboration between staff.

The working environment has a fundamental impact on human resource functions such as recruitment, retention, productivity, and ultimately on the organization's ability to achieve its business strategy (Mardesich, n.d.). Poorly designed offices may hamper an organization's profitability, through losses in productivity and by not attracting and retaining the right employees (Mardesich, n.d.). Workplace design should address physical and technological needs of workers with a goal of improving productivity and worker satisfaction (Mardesich, n.d.). Companies are also increasingly environmentally friendly and desire to create working environments that reduce waste and use sustainable products. Part-time telecommuting and sharing of workspaces are other ways companies can reduce waste and carbon emissions by having fewer employees commuting to work on a daily basis.

2. Discuss the most likely organizational design for Coco-Cola Company.

Coca-Cola is a global corporation operating in countries around the world. The Coca-Cola Company's organizational structure is most likely an international division structure (Business Insight, 2010). International division structures represent a more evolved form of organizational system because of the incorporation of specialized divisions for acting in foreign markets (Business Insight, 2010). The organization by division, as a rule, is based on one of the following criteria: production (product or service); product specialization (targeting specific groups of consumers); or consumer specialization of serviced territory (a regional specialty) (Business Insight, 2010).

The main advantages of international division structure are that it provides greater flexibility and quicker response to changes on the environment of the enterprise, aides in expanding the companies' borders, and the separate offices around the world become "profit centers" actively working on improving efficiency and quality of production (Business Insight, 2010). This key advantage for this type of structure is that it provides for the management of a diversified enterprise with a staff of hundreds of thousands in geographically remote units (Business Insight, 2010).

The disadvantages of international divisional structure are that a large number of managerial levels exist between workers and the managers of the production units, usually 3 or more levels and between workers and company management, 5 or more (Business Insight, 2010). The key relationships in these divisional structures are vertical, and therefore it creates problems such as delays and poor cooperation in addressing issues related to the units (Business Insight, 2010). There is often a duplication of functions at different "levels" and as a result a very high cost of maintaining the management structure (Business Insight, 2010).

3. From a job design perspective, how would you interpret what the seven employees of "The Coca-Cola Company say about the secret ingredients that make their jobs so refreshing?

Coca-Cola has increased the productivity and performance of its employees through the use of non-monetary rewards, such as recognition for a job well done and creation of challenging positions, which provides its employees with increased responsibilities for those who show initiative. Innovative and creative people, as you would expect marketing and brand employees to be, require different motivations than task oriented individuals. Coca-Cola values innovators and creates an environment for these employees that values innovative thinking process. The diversity of the global workplace is very valued by the employees as is the opportunity to work in different countries and learn new cultures. The employee's of Coca-Cola also enjoy making an impact on people's lives through the power of working for a large company with substantial resources ("Coca Cola," 2008).