Managerial Functions & Roles

The problem in this case is concerned with Eastman Kodak losing its market share in film products to lower-priced economy brands. Over the last five years, in addition to being brand-aware, customers have also become price-conscious. This has resulted in the fast paced growth of lower priced segments in which Kodak has no presence.

Overall Strength: in general, the article provides structure to a concept that is very intangible by: (a) describing the nature and the functions of control; (b) segregating the MCS into categories: core control system, organizational structure, and organizational culture; (c) illustrating how to apply the control model (satisfied my approach) (d) provides a basis for designing and evaluating the system. The manner, in which the model is presented, with its use of figures, further emphasizes the structure of the model. See below on further emphasis on parts (a) -(c).

Kodak hired Fisher as its CEO in 1993, so that he can bring innovations in the company, and maintain the company’s financial position. In order to bring transformation in Kodak, Fisher started introducing new technologies in the products of Kodak. In order to bring transformation, Fisher believed that innovations and development is the best way to bring advancement in Kodak. He also changed the organizational structure from vertical to horizontal integration. Though Fisher tried his best to transform the company, but he failed and could not bring modification in Kodak and then

3. What advice would you give Hudson concerning long-term management of Kodak’s “networked” IS organization?

The problem in this case is Kodak's steadily eroding market share and shareholder value in the film rolls market. This is especially undesirable given the fact that the market has been growing at a tepid 2% annual rate and the steadily increasing threat from competition. Kodak needs to come up with a strategy for corrective action so as to arrest this decline, regain market share and increase share holder value. Kodak's strategy is to reposition itself by targeting a new segment of price sensitive customers and re-segmenting the super premium customers’ space by including a wider segment of special occasion customers.

Kodak is continually evaluating our sustainability priorities and aligning our focus with our current business model. Through observation and participation in various industry groups and

Question “1”: Roles and activities of a manager (explain one theory by linking with the case study):

The four functions of a manager are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. These are key elements that managers must understand to run a successful organization. I will view each concept as well as their roles to acknowledge how these functions have been related to my personal experience in the work environment. Behind the scenes of a manager, they spend an equal amount of time planning so that he or she can successfully achieve the leading and controlling functions. These functions are standard for any industry that is striving to maintain a strong organization. While reviewing this paper, try to think of the four functions as a method that is established to build on each other. The four functions must be performed efficiently, and when done correctly, an organization will reap the accomplishments from a well-defined plan. My own experiences of how the four functions operate illustrates that each role requires a manager to devote time and patience in order to ensure that the main principles are achieved.

When making changes to its organizational architecture, Kodak should have designed it with following characteristics in mind: 1) assignment of decision rights, 2) methods of rewarding individuals, and 3) structure of systems to evaluate the performance of both individuals and business units (Brickley, 2009, p. 341). When changing organizational architecture, it is very important to keep in mind that the three components of organizational architecture are interdependent and need to be coordinated (Brickley, 2009, p. 350-1). Simply stated, the company did not implement a rewards method and performance evaluation system (e.g., the MAPP) at the same time it began changing assignment of decision rights (e.g., restructuring into 17 new departments). When one component is changed, the other components should be changed too. Holding employees accountable while simultaneously implementing a decentralized decision making approach would have helped Kodak to improve the effectiveness of the change in architecture. The company had a stranglehold on the industry and was set it its own company

The option can revamp its line of attack to surpass current expectations. Though this option has a high level of risk, if successful, would implement a drastic change to Kodak’s strategy and overall performance for the good of company leaders, employees, and stakeholders. The new CEO will be evaluated after one year by leaders, employees, and stakeholders.

In general, Kodak has done well in the innovation implementation. This paper mainly discusses the innovation system within the group also influence the innovation

Planning provides a guideline for the members of an organisation to carry out their tasks according to the set objectives. The absence of planning can create ambiguity within the organisation.

The Eastman Kodak Company was established in the 1880’s as a film business, set on establishing its brand name in the marketplace through customer-focused advertising and growth through research and development and low cost mass production. The founder, George Eastman, described Kodak’s competitive philosophy by commenting that “nothing is more important than the value of our name and the quality it stands for. We must make quality our fighting argument” (Gavetti, Henderson & Giorgi, 2005).

Background Eastman Kodak Company, headquartered in Rochester New York, was founded in 1889. The corporation, now multinational and focusing on imaging and photographic equipment, posted revenues in excess of $6 billion in 2011. During most of the 20th century Kodak was dominant in the photographic film industry in 1976 it held 90% of the market but began a downward slide once the Internet, digital cameras and computer processing grew. By 2007, Kodak ceased making a profit and in January 2012 filed for bankruptcy protection and ceased making cameras, video cameras and began to focus on the corporate digital imaging market (De La Merced, 2012). In evaluating Kodak's corporate strategy from the mid-1980s onward, we find that there four major management paradigms in place during this transitional period:

3. Decision-making. The process of control is complete when corrective actions are taken. This involves making right decisions as to what types of follow up actions are to be taken. This will lead to accomplishment of organisation objectives. According to W.T. Ierome, "Control is needed both to simplify the making of subsequent decisions and to ensure the realisation of the objectives implicit in the original long-range policy decisions" .