Case Study Cyber Software, Inc.
Planning and Organizing
Cyber Software, Inc. is a medium size manufacturer of cyber protection software products. The company has gross sales of 20 million dollars. Expenses are approximately 8 million dollars leaving an after tax profit of 10 million dollars per annum. Some of their major clients include local retail businesses as well as state and municipal governments. One medium sized client is the Baltimore City Government. Yesterday, the city found that their website was hacked and credit card information provided to pay water, sewer, real estate tax, and parking tickets was accessed. It was suspected that the hacking was part of the recent attacks by Russian cyber thieves.
Joseph Jackson is the CEO and owner of the corporation. Fortunately for Jackson the company was able to respond quickly and only 275 people were affected by the hacking. However, this was a wake up call for Jackson. He knew that if he was to continue growing the business he would have to develop better software as well as fast clean up procedures for the victims. Jackson felt it was imperative that the company always remain on the cutting edge of the industry so that his customers felt safe and trusted the company's work. He took pride in the fact that the company has been capable of keeping his client's information safe. In reaction to the break in at the City, and wanting to keep their business moving forward, Jackson decided that he would set up a separate division to work on new program development and a third division to focus on victim clean up and damage control. The third division he thought would provide a good selling point to potential new clients as none of his competitors offered this service.
The new development division required the hiring of four new program developers with extensive cyber security background. They all had good skills and some had actual experience in helping to uncover a few cyber thieves in the Target incident. They were creative and motivated to help protect people from having their property stolen. Knowing the nature of programmers Jackson did not structure the new development division so their progress or program approach was left to the programmers. In fact Jackson, in general, tried to keep the company as a whole free from a bureaucratic or structured environment. A year into the project the four programmers began to diverge so much in their programming approach that it became extremely expensive and in some ways they were wasting resources by covering similar ground. Nobody could agree as to which course was most effective.In the client customer service division two programmers were hired as well as two experienced credit specialists, and two paralegals. Further, the division's lack of structure has allowed a few strong personalities to emerge and the individuals cannot seem to get along. Like the new development division, customer service seems to be spinning their wheels in developing standard procedures and credit protection help for victims.
Also, both divisions were pulling people from their existing clients to help work on the project. Jackson knew that interfacing with ongoing work would help but it was ad hoc and disturbing existing work. Jackson could see that he would have to rethink his position on structure and "free" work environment if the company was to continue to grow.
It was time for an organizational structure and plan. A review of the budget revealed that the company could afford to allocate $1,500,000 to the operation of the two divisions before they have a sellable product. Existing salaries and expenses are at $750,000. This means that they have one year to get viable projects on the market.
Instructions
Case Study #1: Planning and Organizing
A management plan is a model that demonstrates how an organization operates on a day-to-day basis as well as over the long run. A management plan includes numerous sections that cover various aspects of the business.
In this assignment students will take the role of the consultant creating a mini-management plan that focuses on those aspects of the business related to planning and organizing. The management plan is a report and as a consultant you are required to help Joseph Jackson, the leader of Cyber Software, Inc., solve his organizational problems. The mini-management plan is a professionally written document that will be given to Joseph Jackson. In writing the plan, you must use the terminology learned in the course. As a consultant, you are not defining terms using a dictionary but you must explain and describe concepts and ideas so Joseph Jackson understands what you mean and how to implement the plan. The plan is not one in which the consultant tells Joseph Jackson that he should do this or do that or he needs to do this or do that but present in an action-oriented manner./Students are expected to make connections between the facts of the case study and concepts, theories, and ideas presented in the course material.
The mini-management plan will structure the entire company and will cover Joseph Jackson's organization's mission, vision, structure and culture.
Students will read the case study provided that focuses on the planning and organizing and respond to the following requirements.
Resource that will help you develop the mini-management plan:
How to Make a Management Plan
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/effective-manager/management-plan/main
Management Plan Example
https://wakenature.wordpress.com/resources/management-plan-examples/
Required Elements to Include in the Management Plan:
• Write from a consultant's perspective;
• Use at least three references from the course material and at least three outside resources.
• Provide a brief management history of Cyber Software, Inc.;
• Create mission and vision statements that align with what Joseph Jackson envisions for his company;
o Discuss why the mission and vision statements are appropriate for Cyber Software, Inc.;
o Discuss other aspects of the planning phase that impacts Cyber Software, Inc.;
• Create an organizational structure that aligns with the vision of Joseph Jackson
o Structure the entire company;
o Explain why the structure is the most appropriate structure for Cyber Software, Inc.;
o Discuss why other structures are not appropriate;
o Illustrate the structure with an organizational chart with names, job titles, and direct reports;
• Create an organizational culture that aligns with the vision of Joseph Jackson and his new organization structure;
• How will the new organizational structure and culture affect the planning and organizing facet of Joe's business and prevent future mishaps;
Required Formatting of the Management Plan:
• This management plan should be presented in a professional manner using single space, double-spaced between paragraphs.
• 5-7 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.
• Title page with your name, the course name, the date, and the instructor's name.
• The use of headings is required;
• Use APA formatting for in-text citations and reference page. You are expected to paraphrase and not use quotes other than in identifying the mission statement and vision statement.
• In citing sources, the page number/paragraph of the cited source must be provided;
• Write in the third person as the consultant;
• Submit paper in the Assignment Folder.