Case Study Assigned: UPS in India – Time to Shift Gears?
Overview
Access the full-length case study you have been assigned at the top of this page within your Case Studies eText. You are required to read and analyze this case study.
Your analysis must:
Describe the company’s organizational culture and present evidence from the case to support your opinion. At a minimum, include discussion about the company’s values, norms and artifacts, as it relates to their culture.
Describe the company’s organizational structure and present evidence from the case to support your opinion. At a minimum, the discussion should touch upon the building blocks of an organizational structure (specialization, formalization, centralization and hierarchy.
Discuss whether or not you believe the organizational culture and structure align with the organization’s ‘strategy’. Explain your rationale.
Provide a total of four findings of fact; 1 from the following four functional areas of business:
Management
Marketing
Finance or Accounting
International Business
Provide a full justification and recommendation for each finding of fact (minimum of 1 page each)
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
UPS in India: Analyzing Organizational Culture and Structure
Organizational Culture:
UPS is known for its strong organizational culture centered around efficiency, customer service, and employee empowerment. The case study highlights how UPS values customer satisfaction and goes to great lengths to ensure timely deliveries. Evidence from the case includes the emphasis on training programs for employees to uphold service standards, reflecting a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration among employees showcases a culture that values synergy and mutual support.
Organizational Structure:
The organizational structure of UPS in India appears to be characterized by a mix of specialization and formalization. The case mentions how different departments handle specific tasks, indicating a level of specialization within the organization. Moreover, the standardized processes and procedures for handling shipments suggest a formalized structure. Centralization is evident in the case through the mention of key decisions being made at the corporate level. The hierarchical structure is reflected in the chain of command from top management to frontline employees.
Alignment with Strategy:
The organizational culture and structure of UPS in India align well with the organization’s strategy of providing reliable and efficient delivery services. The emphasis on customer satisfaction and employee training supports UPS’s strategic goal of being a leader in the logistics industry. The structured approach to operations complements the strategy of maintaining consistency and quality in service delivery. Overall, the culture and structure are well-aligned with UPS’s strategy of operational excellence.
Findings of Fact:
1. Management: The case study mentions UPS’s focus on leadership development programs to groom future managers. Finding: UPS invests in talent development to ensure a strong leadership pipeline.
– Justification: Developing leadership skills among employees can lead to better decision-making, improved employee morale, and long-term organizational success.
– Recommendation: Continue investing in leadership development programs to nurture a pool of competent managers.
2. Marketing: UPS’s adoption of technology for tracking shipments and providing real-time updates to customers. Finding: UPS leverages technology for enhanced customer experience.
– Justification: Embracing technology can improve operational efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, and stay competitive in the market.
– Recommendation: Further integrate technology solutions to enhance customer engagement and service offerings.
3. Finance or Accounting: The case mentions UPS’s cost control measures to manage expenses effectively. Finding: UPS prioritizes financial stability through cost management.
– Justification: Efficient financial management can lead to profitability, sustainability, and investment opportunities for future growth.
– Recommendation: Continue monitoring expenses closely and explore avenues for cost optimization without compromising service quality.
4. International Business: UPS’s expansion strategies into emerging markets like India. Finding: UPS pursues global growth opportunities.
– Justification: International expansion can diversify revenue streams, increase market share, and reduce dependence on specific regions.
– Recommendation: Conduct thorough market research and adapt strategies to local contexts for successful international expansion.
In conclusion, UPS’s organizational culture and structure in India are well-aligned with its strategic objectives, emphasizing customer service excellence, operational efficiency, and growth opportunities in the global market. By continuing to invest in talent development, technology adoption, financial prudence, and strategic international expansion, UPS can further strengthen its position as a leading logistics provider in India and beyond.