Functional Area Interrelationships
The type of collaboration is determined by the organizational structure which can either be vertical or lateral collaboration between the different levels of management (Ciabuschi et al., 2011). An analysis of the Baderman Island hotel reveals the two levels of collaboration operating within the different levels of management. The resort is headed by a CEO and managed by the Boardman Management Group (BMG) also responsible for the various strategic functions. The CEO reports to the Board of Resort Management chairman and liaises with the Resort Board of Directors. Each unit works independently and is headed by its general manager reporting directly to vice president. This then implies a lateral collaboration at the top and middle management levels. On the other hand, more vertical collaboration is presented by the lower levels of the resort’s hierarchy for the employees under the general managers. The decision making and collaboration between the employees and the management are highly vertical. Here the senior management through vertical collaboration works closely with the juniors to facilitate effective day to day activities of the resort.
The action plan in this case implies that lateral collaboration is more effective at the top level management while the vertical collaboration are more viable for lower level management (Strategy, 2013). To ensure that each of the three hotels is effective in its service delivery on the basis of its clients’ needs and unique services it has on offer; each restaurant under the leadership of its manager operates independently. The manager working closely with all the departments in their branch directs and oversees all activities. Collaborations with all the departments, employees, and other stakeholders are paramount. Consequently, all the restaurants are under a common executive meaning collaboration between the BMG and the individual branches is inevitable to ensure decision making is participatory.
The Baderman Island Resort organization utilizes lateral collaboration at the top level management while the vertical collaboration is more viable for lower level management. The vertical and lateral collaborations structure aims to ensure that each of the three hotels is effective in its service delivery on the basis of its clients’ needs and unique services it has on offer while, at the same time, decision making is done in consideration of all the levels of service delivery.
References
Ciabuschi, F., Dellestrand, H., & Kappen, P. (2011). Exploring the Effects of Vertical and Lateral Mechanisms in International Knowledge Transfer Projects. Management International Review (MIR), 51(2), 129-155.
Strategy Session 7: Generating a Plan of Action: TOWS – SWOT Analysis: Exercise 1: An Action Plan for Robin Hood1. (2014). South-Western.
