21 Mar 2012
Sundown Bakery
Aysha Alaidarous
Aysha Alaidarous
200915870
Case Study One
BUS-207-004
03 March 2012
Draft One
Chapter 2:
1-
How do changes in the demographic makeup of Sundown Bakeries reflect
transformation of the larger workforce? Consider the following dimensions of culture as
you describe the impact of culture on communication within the company: high and low
context style, individualism and collectivism, and power distance.
The Changes in Sundown Bakery motivated the owner to expand and maximize the
products. Although there are no specifications regarding the type of food served in the
shop but there might be link between the type of food sold & the culture diversity. The
culture of Sundown’s was diversified where the regional manger would only
communicate through letters or notes (high context culture) which resulted in employee
isolation. As the owners were so busy in running their financial part of the company,
they were not able to follow up the human relations needed for the employees that is
highly required in cases where dealing with multi-cultured staff. None of the employees
were originally from the states, and have different cultural background so the manager
should be very particular in dealing or communicating with different attitudes and
different views of power distance.
2-
How would you describe the early organization culture of Sundown? How has the
culture changed as the company grew?
The Sundown bakery early organization culture was fairly small family owned business.
As the company grow, the owners didn’t know how to run a big company, the financial
planning was set, unlike the staff relations and communication that was needed to keep
the employees happy. The business moved from high sociable business to less freedom
environment with high power distance. The emotional support was omitted and the
achievement rewards was not accounted.
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Aysha Alaidarous
200915870
Case Study One
3-
BUS-207-004
03 March 2012
Draft One
What advice would you give to Sundown’s management team about how to
maintain the most effective culture in the face of the company’s growth?
I suggest that the Sundown’s management take in consideration the humanistic
communication approach along with the expansion. Better communication results in
higher success and growth. The most effective culture therefore is to be the low context
culture away of individualism with lower power distance. Emphasize on the social
orientation to achieve long term orientation.
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