Homework Questions for Week 4. Reading questiones.

Reading Questions
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 Homework Questions for Week 4
* Renault-Nissan: Synergies
 • Are these two different companies?
• To what extent are they similar?
• To what extent are they different?
• Name at least five ways that Nissan and Renault benefit from their collaboration (as mentioned in the document)
 Renault-Nissan is an auto-making alliance of the two companies that work as partners, and they have separate brands and identities 
There are similarities as the engines are commonly used by cars from both companies. There is reliance on the Alliance Common Process or Alliance Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) that is based on the production system of both companies. There is also Cross production across Renault and Nissan plants. 
 However, there are different in management cultures as Nissan is based in Japan and Renault is based in France, which means there is greater emphasis on trust in NissanBenefit from the collaboration
• Increased profitability and market capitalization
• Expansion of the portfolio of advanced technologies
• Manufacturing standardization
• Cross production
• Expansion of product line-ups
• Cross-cultural management
* Excerpts from Saxenian, A. 1996. Regional advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128.
• Define organizational inertia either by quick research or through your understanding of the reading
• Why did HP/Intel organize their businesses into small product divisions? Why not organize the company in some other way?
• Describe how HP and Intel helped to promote informal communication through:
• Management styles and
• The physical environment/layout of their offices
• Why is communication important for innovation? You can answer from the reading or any other source. Feel free to give you own thoughts.
Organizational inertia means rigidity in actions and is associated with resistance to change where the organization performance is tied to its past. This may have a negative effect on long-term success if the organization fails to innovate and adapt. Saxenian points out that HP/Intel preferred small product divisions that awed the sustaining to be flexible and responsive to emerging business needs. The small semi-autonomous business units took full responsibilities such as product development, marketing, engineering and manufacturing, where there are fewer bureaucratic structures. The decentralized organizational structures were associated less with hierarchy and status than before.
HP and Intel managers promoted a management style that was focused on individual motivation, professional autonomy, and improved employee benefits, as well as work environments where there was teamwork, participation and openness.The physical environment/layout of the offices moved away from emphasis on status differences and an individual's position, which made it easier to interact and share ideas. These physical environments were less formal and there was more open communication.
Open communication is important to share ideas in an environment where there is flexibility and versatility, and it is easier to collaborations w with different stakeholders .This is most possible in a decentralized industrial structure, where there is sharing...