ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND BUSINESS ETHICS

This research assesses AOL Time Warner and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in relation to selected concepts of organizational theory and business ethics. Netscape, now a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, serves as the external frame of reference company for the assessments of AOL Time Warner and IBM.

Selected Concepts of Organizational Theory and Business Ethics

Within the context of Strategy, Organizational Design, and Effectiveness, the concept providing the framework for the assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM is Porter's Competitive Strategies. Within the context of Organizational Structure, the concept providing the framework for the assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM is Functional, Divisional, and Geographic Designs. Within the context of Organizational Size, Life Cycle, and Control, the concept providing the framework for the assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM is the Balanced Scorecard. Within the context of Contemporary Trends in Organizational Design, the concept providing the framework for the assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM is Structural Designs for Global Operations. Within the context of Issues with Globalization, the concept providing the framework for the assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM is Westernization (Americanization) of Cultures.

The assessment of AOL Time Warner and IBM

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team structures are highly important in the exercise of control over creative activities associated within scientific research or creative-oriented organizations.á The cross-functional structure is an overlay on the functional structure that creates temporary teams of organization members. More equal team member participation equates to greater organizational success.á Thus, one characteristic of successful cross-functional teams is that they are participative in nature, and allow their members free and equal access to communications.á Divisional structure refers to a hierarchical organization wherein each division (focusing on specific products or specific markets) is responsible for all or most of its functional activities. Geographical structure refers to an organizational design that focuses on the geographic location of operations. Geographical structures include units that may be responsible for both functional and divisional operations within a geographic region. The organizational design approach followed by AOL Time Warner is both divisional and geographic. Using the AOL ISP and Portal as an example AOL establishes geographic sub-organizations based on global regions. AOL Australia or AOL Canada, as examples, provid
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Approximate Word count = 2258
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)