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Ben & Jerry's Through the for Frames of Bolman and Deal Essay

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Case #1 – Ben and Jerry’s David Allard Organizational Behavior October 7, 2012 This essay focuses on the case of Ben and Jerry’s – Keeping the Mission(s) alive and its relationship to Bolman and Deal’s four frames model for leadership. “Formal roles and responsibilities minimize distracting personal static and maximize people’s performance on the job” (B&D 47). Ben and Jerry’s had a strong structure in terms of employee roles, marketing, production, and product placement frameworks and the company brought in revenues from every profit avenue in the super premium ice-cream industry, but the structure was not built to support growth. The main criteria of organizations structure states that organizations exist to achieve …show more content…

Competitive pay ensured that physiological needs were met for all (Theroux, 8) (B&D 124). The companies 5-to1- compensation rule aligned with a concept of “sharing the wealth” (B&D 146). Ben and Jerry’s prevailed in supporting their employee’s needs and morale but failed in investing in human capital for organizational success. “As products, markets, and organizations become more complex, the value of people’s specialized knowledge and skills increases” (B&D 148). The 5-to-1 compensation rule prohibited the company from paying competitive wages to the most qualified employees changing this rule could crush morale. Sound political frameworks represent individuals and interest groups whose goals and decisions emerge from bargaining and negotiation in jockeying for their own interest (B&D 194). Ben and Jerry’s decision making was overseen by an all encompassing moral agenda – Ben’s shareholder power enforced the agenda. Lacy must handle scarce company resources under this moral agenda. The opposition of “businesslike” and “socially minded” factions between the top level executives was not discussed under an open forum. Ben maintained position power as part of an overbound system (B&D 203, 205). As Lacy has the ability to influence the distribution of power and open up a forum for interest groups. A more businesslike political framework will allow for

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