Organizations Parenting Style

By



ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my supervisors, friends and family, without their support this research study would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I adjudge that the entire content of this dissertation is entirely my own work; the content used in this dissertation has not been submitted before in any educational institution and represents my own opinion.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

In this research study, the study focuses on the parenting styles of the selected organization and the analyzed what it impacts on the performance of the business units of these organizations. For this secondary qualitative research method was chosen and interviews were conducted from the managers of the selected organizations. Thus, after analyzing it was concluded that decentralized style of organizational structure is best for improving the performance of the organizations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Corporate Centre1

SBU2

Parenting Style Theory2

Strategic Planning3

Strategic control3

Financial control4

Research Aims and Objectives5

Aims5

Objectives5

Organizations Selected5

Strategic Planning Companies5

Strategic Control Companies6

Financial Control Companies6

Research Questions6

Layout of the Dissertation7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW8

Organizational Theory and the Concept of Organizational Structure9

The Structural Perspective9

Complexity11

Formalization12

Centralization13

Organizational structure13

Hierarchical type of governance structures15

Linear - the organizational structure of staff16

The advantages of linear - Staff structure:16

Disadvantages linear - Staff structure:16

Divisional management structure17

The advantages of the divisional structure:17

Disadvantages of divisional structures:17

The organic type of governance structures18

Teamwork (cross - functional) management structure19

Corporate Centre19

Parenting Styles Characteristics:21

Role of parent21

Business role21

Organizational structure21

Planning process21

Control process22

Corporate value creation mechanism22

Activities of Corporate Centre23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY24

Secondary Research Methods24

Qualitative research method25

Interview questions30

Reliability and validity30

Ethical Concerns37

Literature Search38

Keywords Used39

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION40

Parenting styles of selected companies40

SWOT42

STC42

Imperial Group,43

Ferranti43

The General Electric Company,44

Impact of parenting styles on performance on businesses45

Analysis of the interview responses47

According to you, which parenting style is best for the performance of the business units?47

Why the companies which are practicing the strategic planning as their parenting style are not getting enough performance outcomes from their business units?47

Why the companies which are practicing the financial control as their parenting style are getting best performance outcomes from their business units?48

Discussion49

SWOT Analysis49

Summary58

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS60

Recommendations64

REFERENCES65

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Corporate Centre

The role and functions of the corporate centre performs in relation to operating units, is relevant today to the same extent as 10-15 years ago (Porter 1987, 59). Corporate centre helps the managers for determining the role, place and objectives of the head offices of their organizations (Pearson 1999, 65). Corporate Center (CC) can be described as a subdivision which is having authority interference in group companies (business units) and acting on behalf of the entire group with the interaction of shareholders, investors, and other external partners. Other names of the corporate centre are Management Company, central office, head office, headquarters, and the factory management. In this case, it is important to contract, and an authority on management / intervention in the activities of business units. The main task of the corporate centre is to increase the total cost of the holding companies compared with they are all working. According to the researcher, the role of the corporate centre is to plan and allocate resources, audit and monitor results and provide central services (Cavanaugh 1977, 99). The office can assist in ...