Excite Landscaping.
ACTIVITY TWO
Excite is a landscaping / manufacturing firm that designs and constructs urban landscapes for suburban Councils. Over the years they have also designed and developed a range of products that they then use in their projects. Subsequently, Excite advertise as a ‘one-stop shop for all urban landscaping needs’. For example, one department designs and constructs irrigation components (including fountains); another department provides chemical analysis of soils and water, and research and match the in-planted floriculture to the different urban natural and human environments. Excite also owns the Nursery that supplies these plants.
Excite have an efficient IT system that keeps all the projects ‘packaged’ and trackable.
However, it is of concern to some in management that Excite lacks a competitive ‘flare and vision’ in their designs. For example, a recent suburban contract to beautify some parkland and include a skate park for children came under heavy criticism from rate-payers when the design was deemed to be boring, unchallenging for the children, and out of sync with the young, vital and sport-focused suburb. Excite had to spend considerable funds redesigning and re-doing aspects of the park.
Recently, another similar organisation has begun to make inroads into this small but lucrative market. Their efficient, futuristic outlook in terms of design is attracting attention from other institutions that need quality landscaping such as schools and businesses in the industrial zones.
Further to that, the increasing shortage (and cost) of water is impacting the suburban councils, who are having to re-think the affordability of their landscaping options. This is a problem for Excite as they depend significantly on the irrigation component of their company for their income.
Excite is having to reconsider their structure and product offering in order to maintain their market share. It has been suggested that they consider out-sourcing some of their work – eg the irrigation as this is now an unreliable aspect of their business. They are concerned that changes may also require them to look closely at their loyal, hardworking workforce.
Summary of ten perspectives
i.Biological
-- evolution, life-cycle
ii.Institutional
– conformity
iii.Rational
– planning
iv.Contingency
– situational, flexible
v.Resource
– financial? Human capital?
vi.System
– holistic view, inter-relationships
vii.Postmodern
– challenges conventional business models
viii.Psychological
– how people feel? Fear?
ix.Political
– power
x.Cultural
– organisational culture
Questions:
1.Identify the primary forces for change at Excite.
2-Are they external or internal forces?