Saturday 18 August 2012

Organizational Structure

Organizing is the function of management which follows planning. It is a function in which the synchronization and combination of human, physical and financial resources takes place. All the three resources are important to get results. Therefore, organizational function helps in achievement of results which in fact is important for the functioning of a concern. According to Chester Barnard, “Organizing is a function by which the concern is able to define the role positions, the jobs related and the co-ordination between authority and responsibility. Hence, a manager always has to organize in order to get results.
A manager performs organizing function with the help of following steps
     1.   Identification of activities - All the activities which have to be performed have to be identified        first. For example,quality control, inventory control,recording information etc. All these activities have to be grouped and classified into units
  1.  Organizing the activities - In this step, the manager tries to combine and group similar and related activities into units or departments. This organization of dividing the whole concern into independent units and departments is called departmentation.
  2. Classifying the authority - Once the departments are made, the manager likes to classify the powers and its extent to the managers. This activity of giving a rank in order to the managerial positions is called hierarchy. The top management is into formulation of policies, the middle level management into departmental supervision and lower level management into supervision of foremen. The clarification of authority help in bringing efficiency in the running of a concern. This helps in achieving efficiency in the running of a concern. This helps in avoiding wastage of time, money, effort, in avoidance of duplication or overlapping of efforts and this helps in bringing smoothness in a concern’s working.
  3. Co-ordination between authority and responsibility - Relationships are established among various groups to enable smooth interaction toward the achievment of the organizational goal. Each individual is made aware of his authority and he/she knows whom they have to take orders from and to whom they are accountable and to whom they have to report. A clear organizational structure is drawn and all the employees are made aware of it.
Organization
    It is a mechanism or structure that enables different groups of people to work together effectively.Organization establishes the pattern of relationship by giving duties and responsibilities to the individuals.It coordinates all the activities of individuals to achieve common goals of an enterprise.Proper organization facilitates the effective use of the manpower and easy administration.



Organizational Structure 
           An organizational structure consists of activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision, which are directed towards the achievement of organizational aims. It can also be considered as the viewing glass or perspective through which individuals see their organization and its environment.



    An organization can be structured in many different ways, depending on their objectives. The structure of an organization will determine the modes in which it operates and performs.Organizational structure affects organizational action in two big ways. First, it provides the foundation on which standard operating procedures and routines rest. Second, it determines which individuals get to participate in which decision-making processes, and thus to what extent their views shape the organization’s actions.
    The structure of one industrial organization differs from that of another organisation and it depends upon
1.Size of the organization
2.Nature of the product being manufactured
3.Complexity of the problems being faced



Few commonly known types of organizational structures are
  1. Line
  2. Functional
  3. Line and Staff
  4. Matrix
Line Organization

It is the most oldest and simplest method of administrative organization. According to this type of organization, the authority flows from top to bottom in a concern. The line of command is carried out from top to bottom. This is the reason for calling this organization as scalar organization which means scalar chain of command is a part and parcel of this type of administrative organization. In this type of organization, the line of command flows on an even basis without any gaps in communication and co- ordination taking place.



Merits
  • Simplest
  • Unity of Command
  • Better discipline
  • Fixed responsibility
  • Flexibility
  • Prompt decision
Demerits
  • Over reliance
  • Lack of specialization
  • Inadequate communication.
  • Lack of Co-ordination
  • Authority leadership

 Functional Organization

It has been divided to put the specialists in the top position throughout the enterprise. This is an organization in which we can define as a system in which functional department are created to deal with the problems of business at various levels. Functional authority remains confined to functional guidance to different departments. This helps in maintaining quality and uniformity of performance of different functions throughout the enterprise.

Merits
  • Specialization
  • Effective Control
  • Efficiency
  • Expansion
Demerits
  • Lack of co-ordination
  • Conflicts
  • High costs
  • Difficult in fixing responsibility
Line and Staff Organization

Line and staff organization is a modification of line organization and it is more complex than line organization. According to this organization, specialized and supportive activities are attached to the line of command by appointing staff supervisors and staff specialists who are attached to the line authority. The power of command always remains with the line executives and staff supervisors guide, advice and council the line executives.

Merits
  • Expert advice
  • Better co-ordination
  • Training
  • Unity of Action
  • Balanced decisions
Demerits
  • Assumption of authority
  • Line and Staff conflicts
  • Lack of sound advice
Matrix Organization

In matrix organization  people who have similar skills will be gathered together to work on particular assignments. So for instance, all engineers may be working within one particular engineering department, and be under the same management - but these engineers will no doubt be assigned to a number of different projects, and have to report to different project managers during the process of completing the project. Hence, every engineer within the workplace will have to work under a number of different managers in order to get their own particular job done. 

Merits
  • Development of skills
  • Higher Efficiency
  • Optimum utilization of resources
  • Better decisions
Demerits
  • Increase in workload
  • High operational cost
  • Absence of unity of command
  • Complexity
Importance of Organizational Structure

 Organization structure is like the framework of an organization. Organizational structures imply formal relationships with well defined duties and responsibilities. It also implies to the hierarchical relationships between superior and subordinates within the organization. It helps in coordinating various tasks and activities that are assigned to different persons and departments. Organizational structure helps in having set of policies, procedures, standards and methods of evaluation of employee’s performance. It should be developed as per needs of the people in the organization. 
      To conclude I can say that Organizational structure plays significant role in effective and efficient functioning of organization.


Wednesday 8 August 2012

Company Profile

BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE (BMW)



1.Origin

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916 by Karl Friedrich Rapp. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW producesmotorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands.


BMW Headquarters in Munich, Germany 


2.History

BMW was established as a business entity following a restructuring of the Rapp Motorenwerke aircraft manufacturing firm in 1916. After the end of World War I in 1918, BMW was forced to cease aircraft engine production by the terms of the Versailles Armistice Treaty. The company consequently shifted to motorcycle production in 1923, once the restrictions of the treaty started to be lifted, followed by automobiles in 1928–29.
        The circular blue and white BMW logo or roundel evolved from the circular Rapp Motorenwerke company logo, from which the BMW Company grew, combined with the blue and white colors of the flag of Bavaria. The logo has been portrayed as the movement of an aircraft propeller with the white blades cutting through a blue sky.The first car which BMW successfully produced and the car which launched BMW on the road to automobile production was the Dixi, it was based on the Austin 7 and licensed from the Austin Motor Company in Birmingham, England.
        The controlling majority shareholder of the BMW Aktiengesellschaft since 1959 is the Quandt family, which owns about 46% of the stock. The rest is in public float. BMW acquired the Hans Glas Company based in Dingolfing, Germany, in 1966. It was reputed that the acquisition was mainly to gain access to Glas' development of the timing belt with an overhead camshaft in automotive applications.Glas vehicles were briefly badged as BMW until the company was fully absorbed.In 1992, BMW acquired a large stake in California based industrial design studio DesignworksUSA, which they fully acquired in 1995.In July 2007, the production rights for Husqvarna Motorcycles were purchased by BMW.BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise.
        In June of 2012 BMW was listed as the #1 most reputable company in the world by Forbes.com. Rankings are based upon things like “people’s willingness to buy, recommend, work for, and invest in a company is driven 60% by their perceptions of the company and only 40% by their perceptions of their products.”

3.Milestones

1910-1920
1916 - Establishment of BMW.
1921-1930
1922 - Company relocation and new beginning.
1923 - BMW R 32 – the first BMW motorcycle.
1931-1940
1934 - Aero-engine manufacture becomes autonomous.
1936 - Establishment of the “Shadow Plant” Allach.
1941-1950
1941 - BMW in World War II.
1942 - Forced labour at BMW.
1945 - Reconstruction difficulties.
1945 - The Munich plant is dismantled.
1951-1960
1951 - The BMW 501. The first post-war BMW automobile.
1961-1970
1961 - The New Class makes a breakthrough.
1967 - New location: the plant group Dingolfing.
1969 - Motorcycles to Berlin.
1971-1980
1971 - BMW Kredit GmbH.
1972 - BMW starts up in South Africa.
1972 - The founding of BMW Motorsport GmbH.
1973 - The BMW headquarters and the Museum.
1973 - Worldwide creation of sales subsidiaries.
1981-1990
1985 - BMW Technik GmbH.
1987 - BMW starts up in Regensburg.
1991-2000
1994 - BMW goes to the USA.
1994 - Acquisition of the Rover Group.
1998 - Rolls-Royce comes to BMW.
2000 - The Eberhard von Kuenheim Foundation.
2000 - The BMW Group establishes a new trajectory.
2001-2010
2001 - The MINI – Premium in the small-car segment.
2003 - Rolls-Royce Plant Goodwood.
2003 - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars launches new Phantom on the market.
2004 - The BMW 1 Series – Driving pleasure for the compact class.
2005 - The Leipzig Plant starts up production.
2007 - Opening of BMW Welt.
2007 - Takeover of the Husqvarna brand.
2007 - Strategie Number ONE.
            In autumn 2007, BMW Group adopts the Strategy Number ONE with its four pillars: “Growth”, “Shaping the future”, “Profitability” and “Access to technology and customers”. It aligns the BMW Group with two targets: to be profitable and to enhance long-term value in times of change. The mission statement up to the year 2020 is clearly defined: the BMW Group is the world’s leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility.

4.Vision & Mission

Vision:BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics. A vehicle that previews tomorrow’s driving pleasure using today’s technology.
Mission:To make BMW Group the world’s leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility.
Slogan: Sheer Driving Pleasure.






5.Awards & Recognition


The numerous international awards won by BMW underline its success and help them to innovate further. 

International Engine of the Year 2009.

The "Grüne Lenkrad" for environmentally friendly technologies.

The "World Green Car of the Year" award for the BMW 118d. 

The "Auto 1 von Europa" from the magazine "Auto-Bild".

The "Paul-Pietsch-Preis" from the magazine "auto, motor und sport" for especially innovative developments

 in the car industry.

The "Goldene Öltropfen", The "Innovationspreis" from "AutoScout24" 

First place in "Top Auto".

The "Autorevue Award" for innovation, The "Große Österreichische Automobilpreis".

The "Green Heroes" award for six of our models from the British magazine "What Car?" 

are just some of the titles that acknowledge BMW. 

6.Products

Cars 






   Motorcycles


Bicycles




7.Financial Performance and other figures








8.Plants/Locations

















9.Corporate Social Responsibility


  
10.References


  • BMW group Website
  • Wikipedia
  • BMW Motorrad website
  • Different Country websites of BMW
  • Annual Report of BMW 2011