Questions 11-7 through 11-9
MANAGEMENT sKILLs EXERCISES Leaming acthmes m this section are almed at helping you develop organizational change skms. Cases founder Jennifer Katrulya, initially worked out of her home How Huntington Hospital Introduced and struggled to teach herself about computer hardware as Electronic Health Records technology advanced and her business grew Despite having a background in accounting, not technology, she knew she "How Huntington Hospital Introduced Electronic Health needed a smoothly running computer system to meet her Records" (p. 273) and its related Challenge Case Summary clients needs. Katrulya persevered, began hiring employees, were written to help you better understand the manage- and opened an omce. She built BMRG into a successful firm ment concepts contained in this chapter. Answer the fol in handling the controlling activities (over that specializes lowing discussion questions about the Challenge Case to company's accounting functions at growing seeing all of a better understand how concepts relating to start-ups and midsized businesses across the United States change and stress can be applied in a company such as and in several other countries, BMRG stores the data online data from wherever so that clients can look up their fi 11-4 How dimcult would it be for a lowerlevel administra- they are located. tor to spearhead an effort to find new electronic appli- Katrulya's decision to go virtual followed developments cations for record keeping throughout Huntington and in the firm's growth. As investors referred businesses actually implement the changes? Explain. BMRG, she needed employees in locations convenien 115.Do you think that employees Huntington would those clients. However, setting up an office for each new tend to resist the efforts of this lower level administra- employee would have been expensive. Meanwhile, at the tor more than they would resist those of a higher level main omoo, some employees increasingly wanted to work administrator? Why or wtry not? from home. Katrulya also observed that more and more 116. What elements of the dange process at Huntington of the space she was renting was unoccupled. In addition, BMRG had been moving data and somware online and even- inthe case might cause organization mem- bers to experience stress? What could a change agent Bually found the technology that remote Virtual offices looked like a logical and practical do to help alleviate this stress? Be specific. Business Management Resource Group's place over a planned the transition lo virtual offices to take that time, shrani com Katrulya Virtual Offices omce space by half before eventually moving out. That way, until employees became comfortable with working Read whe case and answer the that follow. Studying from remote locations they had the opion to go into the case Nep you beter understand pany dange can be appled in a com tance Even resis Business Management Group and admits that she did not fully your Management Resource Group pate the human relations of employees ordinary accounting not change. Instead, she presented firm. Typically, this kind of busi- with her entire vision and expected them to be on board. ness rents office space, which projects an of Mability Howmver several and prosperity. There, aocountants and support stan work dhange process, only two of the stam members remained. together to meet with dients and propare reports BMRO has since rebuilt with employees who appreciate the in contrast, does not operate out of a brick-and-mortar work arrangement. office. Instead, the company's two dozen in their own locations Running virtual offices poses some management chal- and keep in touch lenges. Building toam spirit is harder from remote locatlons, at least addresses the problem by holding staff meetings twice a Year and sending employees Although BMRG is prospering today. Martina is full of challenges and stresses The company's where they can get better acquainted. Another challenge
