Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................ 1
P 1.1: Compare and contrast the organization structure and culture of ASDA PLC to
that of British Airlines................................................................................................. 1
P 1.2: Explain how the relationship between ASDAs structure and culture impacts
on its performance..................................................................................................... 2
P 1.3: Discuss the factors which influence the behavior of ASDAs employees at work
giving relevant examples........................................................................................... 3
P 2.1: compare the effectiveness of the leadership styles used by the CEOs of ASDA
and British Airways..................................................................................................... 3
P2.2: Identify any organizational theory practiced at ASDA and explain how
organizational theory underpins the practice of management...................................4
P2.3: Evaluate the different approaches to management used by ASDA and British
Airways....................................................................................................................... 5
P3.1: What types of changes could ASDA engage in? Discuss the impact that
different leadership styles may have on motivation of ASDAs staffs in periods of
changes...................................................................................................................... 5
P3.2: Compare the application of different motivational theories with special
reference to ASDAs employees as Maslows hierarchy of needs, Vrooms
Expectancy theories and McGregors theory X and Y----. Which theory is most
applicable and why?................................................................................................... 6
P3.3: Evaluate the usefulness of a motivational theory for managers. How could a
theory like Herzbergs motivation theory be useful and relevant to the managers?. .7
P4.1: Explain the nature of the various groups that may exist among ASDAs staff
and how they may influence the group behavior........................................................7
P4.2: Discuss the factors that may promote or inhibit the development of effective
teamwork among the employees of ASDA Plc............................................................8
P 4.3: Evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within ASDA Plc........9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 9
References................................................................................................................ 10

Introduction
Business organizations in 21st century constitutes in a complicated way as they have to face
fierce competition in the marketplace. To manage these kinds of organizations are a complex task
for the managers of business organizations. People or employees are the most valuable assets of
business organizations and managing people in these organizations are the most difficult job. For
this reason it is essential to have better understanding about organizational behavior as it
describes about the organizational structures, cultures, motivation, leadership, group behavior
and team building and team functioning (Argyris, 1960). The structure and culture organization
have significant impact on the employees of the organization. Organizational structures and
culture can improve performance of employees if it can ensure proper communication and foster
innovation and invention. Motivation and leadership and approaches to management are also
essential to improve performance of business organizations.

Task 1:
P 1.1: Compare and contrast the organization structure
and culture of ASDA PLC to that of British Airlines
Organizational structure is the most fundamental element to build an organization.
Organizational structure is essential for an organization to make work specialization and
departmentalization, to ensure span of control and chain of command. There are various types of
organizational structures used by business organizations. These are pre-bureaucratic structures,
bureaucratic structure, functional structure, divisional structure, matrix structure, flat structure
etc. Apart from these organizational culture can also be different types. These are power culture,
role culture, task culture person culture etc (Hersey, Blanchard and Johnson, 1988).

There has been a significant difference between the organizational structure and culture of ASDA
Plc and British Airways. The organizational structure of ASDA Plc is formal hierarchical
functional structure as the organization has so many functional departments. On the other hand
the organizational structure of British Airways is divisional structure because of various division
of the organization. On the other hand the organizational culture of ASDA Plc is role culture as
the employees and top executive of organization has specific roles to perform. The organizational
culture of British Airways is more tasks oriented. The organization emphasizes more on the
completion of tasks that are assigned to the employees of the organization. Thus it is evident that
the organizational structure and culture of ASDA Plc and British Airways is not similar and there
is a great difference between them.

P 1.2: Explain how the relationship between ASDAs

structure and culture impacts on its performance
Organizational structure and cultures play a significant role to achieve the goal of the
organization. The organizational structure and culture of ASDA have great impact on its
performance. The traditional hierarchical functional structure at ASDA is useful to improve chain
of commands, span of control, work specialization, departmentalization and decentralization.
The structure and culture of ASDA also have significant impact on the employees of the
organization. Organizational structures and culture can improve performance of employees if it
can ensure proper communication and foster innovation and invention (Whiteley, 2002).
There are both positive and negative impacts on the performance of the organization by the effect
of the organization structure and culture of ASDA. The positive impact of the organizational
structure and culture of ASDA is that provides a boundary of functions and roles of the
employees and it also provides sense of identity to the employees of the organization (Whiteley,
2002). On the other hand the negative impact is that diversity of functions and roles sometimes
creates conflicts among the employees of ASDA. It may create a bad working environment for
the organization. Above all despite of the various negative impacts of culture and structure of
ASDA these are useful to create proper work environment for the organization.

P 1.3: Discuss the factors which influence the behavior of

ASDAs employees at work giving relevant examples
Behavior of employees at workplace in ASDA depends mainly on the reward system of the
organization, the structure and culture and the overall work environment of the
organization. The reward system of an organization involves monetary reward and nonmonetary reward.

Rationally the motive behind the work of employees in business

organization is reward. People work because they want to be rewarded. Thus the behaviors
of individuals at the workplace are largely influenced by the reward system of the
organization (Kreitner and Kinicki, 1998).
The structure of the organization is also a key determinant of behaviors of individuals at
because organizational structure determines the scope of behaviors of individuals at the
workplace. Structure of an organization defines authority and responsibility of employees
in the workplace. It shapes the nature of relationship among the people in an organization.
The behaviors of the employees of ASDA are also affected by its structure. The employees
of the ASDA are very cooperative and friendly because of its flexible organizational
structure.
The organizational culture of ASDA is also an influential factor that affects the behaviors
of employees in the organization. Organizational culture of ASDA is consisting of the core
value and belief of the organization. Thus the organizational culture of the organization is
to promote the value and belief of the organization. Organizational value and beliefs is the
guidance of employees behavior in the workplace (Whiteley, 2002).

Task 2
P 2.1: compare the effectiveness of the leadership styles
used by the CEOs of ASDA and British Airways

Leadership is the process of persuading, motivating, directing, and controlling employees to

perform their duties to achieve the objective of the organization. To direct and control the
employees managers of business organizations follow different leadership style. Leadership
style may be authoritative, democratic, coaching, paternalistic, and laissez fair. Autocratic
leaders are more power oriented and the communication is top down and there is formal system
of command and control on the other hand democratic leaders are more with the group as a
whole (Whiteley, 2002). Paternalistic leadership is a soft authoritarian leadership style. Laissez
fair leadership is the process of delivering more power to the employees to do whatever they
think best for the organization. Coaching is more employee focused leadership style.

The leader followed by the CEO of ASDA is more employees focused. The CEO of this
organization is Andy Clark. He focuses more on the innovative power of the employee to solve
the problematic situation of the organization (Impromptultd.com, 2014). The motto of this person
is that leaders are not born they are made, leaders need a good mentor, leaders should have the
capacity to keep pace with the change that happens in the business environment and leader have
to be a peoples person (Jefford, 2014). On the other hand the CEO of British Airlines is Keith
William. The motto of his leadership is motivating the employees of the organization to
compromise their own interest for the betterment of the organization and creating awareness
about the firms objectives. The leadership style of the CEO is more objective oriented and
analytical (Britishairways.com, 2014). On the other hand the leadership style of the CEO of
ASDA is more employees focused. Both of these is leadership style is effective because of the
nature of the business operation of these organization. As a retail organization the Success of
ASDA mostly depends on the performance of its employee. On the other hand the leaders of
British Airways should be more action oriented than employee oriented.

P2.2: Identify any organizational theory practiced at ASDA

and explain how organizational theory underpins the
practice of management
Organizational theory involves the formation, structures and leadership of the organization.
There are different organizational theories which are followed by the managers of business
organizations. As a retail organization ASDA the managers of ASDA practices some
organizational theories. Most widely used organizational theories are scientific management
approach, bureaucratic approach of Max Webber and the administrative theory. The
administrative theory is the process determining of work specialization, Authority and
responsibility, discipline and unity of command. The administrative theory was developed by

French management expert Henri Fayol. The organizational theory practice in ASDA is
Administrative theory (Wibbeke, 2009). There are fourteen principles of administrative theory.
These principles are specialization of work, unity of command, unity of direction, order, equity,
scalar chain, espirit de corps, stability of tenure, subordination of individual interest to group
interest, line and staff management, decentralization, initiatives, compensation package and
congenial workplace.

P2.3: Evaluate the different approaches to management

used by ASDA and British Airways
Management approaches of different organizations vary because of different important issues
that affect the managerial process of an organization. Management to implement various
decisions depends on various issues. These are different types of technologies involves in
managerial process, objectives of the organization, degree of complexity of tasks and the
timeframe of the project or task. There are various management approaches used by the different
business organizations. Some of the notable approaches to management are human behavior
approach, social system approach, decision theory approach, socio-technological approach,
management science approach, system approach and contingency and situational approach
(Shackleton, 1995). The use of these approaches depends on the nature and scope of the business
operation of the organization.
Proper approaches to management can improve performance of the organization. The approach
to management used by ASDA is System approach. The system approach is a combination of
part and subsystems and it is effective for organization which has a lot of department and branch
and it is an effective approach to management for ASDA. The approaches to management used
in British Airways are operational approach and contingency or situation approach. both of these
approaches are effective for the organization to improve performance and productivity (Wibbeke,
2009).

Task 3
P3.1: What types of changes could ASDA engage in?
Discuss the impact that different leadership styles may
have on motivation of ASDAs staffs in periods of changes.
As social entity business organizations faces different types social, economic, political

and environmental forces that forces business organizations to make changes in their
process and strategy. Organizational changes are a regular activity for business
organizations to cope with the changes in the business environment. Organizational
changes can be three types. These are business process reengineering, technological
changes and incremental changes. The process of analysis and design of process and
workflows within an organization is business process reengineering. On the other hand
the process of innovation, invention and diffusion of technology or processes is called
technological changes in business organization. Apart from this incremental changes are
adding to project using small and incremental changes instead of large jumps in business
operations (Anon, 2014).
Changes in the business process have great impact on the motivational level on the mind
of the employees of organization. In these circumstances leadership plays a crucial role to
improve the motivation of employees of the organization. As a retail organization ASDA
increases its span of business in incremental way. In the periods of changes the leadership
style of focusing employees plays an important role (Whiteley, 2002). Focusing
employees makes changes easier for the organization because it reduces barriers to
changes in the business effectively. Thus the leadership styles of ASDA have great
impact in motivation of staffs in the periods of changes the organization.

P3.2: Compare the application of different motivational

theories with special reference to ASDAs employees as
Maslows hierarchy of needs, Vrooms Expectancy theories
and McGregors theory X and Y----. Which theory is most
applicable and why?
Various authors and management experts developed different theories about the motivation of
employees in business organization. The main aim of these theories is to increase the
performance and productivity of the organization by increasing the motivations of the employees
of these organizations. Managers of different organizations use these theories to motivate their
employees. The application of these theories depends on the nature and scope of the business
organization. Some of the notable theories relating motivation are Vrooms theory of expectancy,

Maslows need hierarchy and McGregors theory of X and T (Schermerhorn, Osborn and Hunt,
2000).

Maslows need hierarchy theory is used to identify the layers of the needs of a person. This
theory suggests that people possess five kinds of need from primary physiological needs to self
actualization. On the other hand the McGregors theory of X and Y entails that there are two
kinds of workers in the workplace. One kind of workers requires strict monitoring as they dislike
working and they are idle. On the other hand other kind of workers is very active and enjoys
working (Schermerhorn, Osborn and Hunt, 2000). Vrooms expectancy theory entails that
motivational force that direct behavioral alternatives are resulted from perception of people that
effort will lead to performance and perception of people that performance will lead them to
desired result and the value of expected results to the people. To motivate the employees of
ASDA PLC the Vrooms expectancy theory is most applicable the theory focuses more on the
perception of employees.

P3.3: Evaluate the usefulness of a motivational theory for

managers. How could a theory like Herzbergs motivation
theory be useful and relevant to the managers?
Managers of business organization use different motivational theories to motivate their
employees. The usefulness of the motivational theories for managers depends on several issues.
Firstly the usefulness of the motivational theory mostly depends on the selection of right theory
for right context. In addition to that motivational theory is more applicable when managers
identify the problems of the employees clearly and takes action on the basis of the situation
(Whiteley, 2002). Herzbergs motivation theory entails that there are certain factors that causes
job dissatisfaction while other factors causes job satisfaction. Managers can uses Herzbergs
motivation theory when they clearly understands what are the factors that causes job
dissatisfaction for the employees and the factors that causes job satisfaction of the employees.
The usefulness of the theory depends on the managers clear understanding about the problems
of employees and identification of the proper solution to those problems (Robbins, 2001).

Task 4
P4.1: Explain the nature of the various groups that may
exist among ASDAs staff and how they may influence the
group behavior.
A group comprises with two or more people having a common goal. There are different types of
groups exist in business organization like ASDA. Among these groups some groups are formal
and some are informal. There are two kinds of formal groups exist in workplace. These are task
group and command group. The command group has a fixed position in organization and not
temporary in nature and the task group is formed in ASDA to complete specific motive and task.
Task groups are usually temporary in nature. In addition to this there are some groups exist in
ASDA which are not formed by the organization. These types of groups are formed by the
members of the organization. These groups are called informal groups. There are two kinds of
informal groups in ASDA. These are Friendship groups and interest groups. Friendship group are
comprises of intimate friends as they have common attitude, belief or age. On the other hand
interest groups are formed on the basis of intentions of the members to achieve a common
interest (Whiteley, 2002).
Various groups in ASDA have significant impact on the performance of employees in the
organization. The degree of impact by the groups in group behavior is not same. Informal groups
like interest groups and friendship has more impact on the group behavior. More importantly the
interest groups are the most important groups that have the great impact on the group behavior of
the employees as the group is formed to safeguard the interest of the employees in the
organization (Wibbeke, 2009).

P4.2: Discuss the factors that may promote or inhibit the

development of effective teamwork among the employees
of ASDA Plc.
Organizational teams are developed in business organization to increase productivity and
performance of the employees of the organization. Teamwork must be effective so that members
of a team can be motivated to achieve common goal of the team. There are some factors that
inhibit or promote the development effective teamwork among the employees of ASDA plc.

These factors are diversity, communication, leadership and teambuilding exercises (Wibbeke,
2009).

Teams are built by a diversity of cultures, talents and personality of the employees of the
organization. Diversity of employees promotes innovation and creativity and creates aware about
the teamworks. It is an essential factor for effective teamwork among the employees of ASDA.
Leadership style is also an essential factor that has great impact on the attitudes and working
mentality of the members of team. Clear and open communication also facilitates effective
teamwork. There must a strong communication network among the members of the employee to
build effective teamwork. Shared experiences and practices also develop effective team for
which team-building exercise is an essential tool (Wolski, 2014).

P 4.3: Evaluate the impact of technology on team

functioning within ASDA Plc.
Technology is the most influential force for the success of business organization in 21 st century.
Technology is dynamic. The changes so rapidly that nothing can be compared with its changing
nature. It is an essential force for the development of team functioning in business organization.
The use of technology by the members of team has both positive and negative impact. Proper use
of technology can improve team functioning. On the other improper use of technology can also
hinder team functioning (baily, 2014). Technologies such as email, computer, groupware and
mobile phones can improve the performance of the members of team at ASDA. It increases
productivity of employees who are engaged in a team inside the organization. There has been
some negative impact of using these technologies. The most significant negative aspect of using
technology is that technology creates information overload. Information overload creates a sense
of hesitation about the outcomes. For this reason proper selection of information can only ensure
expected performance.

Conclusion
Organizational behavior is an important area for the development of a business organization. It
encompasses the structures, process and systems needs to manage employees to achieve the goal

of the organization. Organizational structure is the most fundamental element to build an

organization (Luthans, 1977). Organizational structure is essential for an organization to make
work specialization and departmentalization, to ensure span of control and chain of command.
The structure of the organization is also a key determinant of behaviors of individuals at because
organizational structure determines the scope of behaviors of individuals at the workplace.
Structure of an organization defines authority and responsibility of employees in the workplace.
It shapes the nature of relationship among the people in an organization. Leadership is the
process of persuading, motivating, directing, and controlling employees to perform their duties to
achieve the objective of the organization. To direct and control the employees managers of
business organizations follow different leadership style. There are various management
approaches used by the different business organizations such as human behavior approach, social
system approach, decision theory approach and different motivation theory like Herzbergs
Hygiene theory, Maslows need hierarchy etc (Robbins, 2001).

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