Reference no: EM133679929

The major issues confronting Alicia Smithfield are these:

1. The furniture manufacturing functions are very disorganized. It is not clear how to best organize these functions. For example, the varnish and dye experts each use a different method to complete their tasks.

2. The production schedule is a mess. It is not clear which projects should be completed first to ensure products are being delivered to customers on time.

3. The lumberjacks, both cutting trees down and shipping them by truck or boat, differ on the best methods to perform these tasks.

4. Tempers are flaring as a result of the disorganization. The office, clerical, and support workers are rude to each other and can't seem to act as a cohesive work unit.

5. While the company is financially successful, as it has grown from a small family-owned business to a large and complex enterprise, the organizational structure has not kept pace. Few formal rules exist, and the keeping and maintenance of records are haphazard.

6. Employees are feeling overworked and losing satisfaction in the work they are doing. They believe their basic needs are not being addressed.

Alicia Smithfield is familiar with all of the contributors (e.g., Weber, Gilbreath, Taylor, among others) to the management theory you have read about this week. She has decided to hire six (6) of those contributors to management theory from the week's readings as consultants.

1. Explain to Alicia why you selected the four consultants you chose to solve each of the four selected issues. Each consultant will solve one of the four issues you identified that particular consultant to address.

2. Explain the major contribution/idea of the consultant selected and how that contribution/idea applies to the specific issue you have recommended that the consultant solve. You must identify the school of thought that each consultant represents.