Introduction
A leader of an organization can take advantage of various tools that help develop a proper strategy for the firm’s further development. In the modern world, new business models and revolutionary industries emerge providing many challenges for executives. Systems theory allows one to observe an organization and identify internal and external factors affecting the company, thus, helping create structures that can function more efficiently. This paper aims to examine patterns, design, and strategy using an example of a real-life organization to illustrate the practical application of these approaches.
Business Model Discussion
Unarguably, businesses follow specific steps to develop products and services and receive revenue from customers. Business Model Canvas can be used to create a visual representation of the model that a company uses as a basis for operations. This tool allows describing the rationale for creating and delivering value to a firm’s clients. The behaviors within a company can be observed to identify a particular pattern, which can further be used to improve and reinvent processes. It should be noted that a company should have one business model, which can consist of various patterns (Ovans, 2015). Therefore, one establishment is capable of delivering value to individuals through different channels and using more than one approach.
Eight Metaphors
One of the critical methods that should be fostered in an organization is the ability to examine existing practices using different approaches, which were described by Morgan. According to Ortenblad, Putnam, and Trehan (2016), Morgan’s work on organizational theory offered a new perspective to executives. This is due to the fact that the approach provided by the author broadens the understanding of ways in which companies function.
These metaphors are defined as follows – organizations as machines, organisms, brains, cultures, political systems, psychic prisons, flux and transformation, and instruments of domination (Ortenblad et al., 2016). Thus, from Morgan’s point of view, a business should be viewed as a set of these figurative expressions, each describing a particular domain of operations.
Four Frames
Bolman and Deal offered an approach through which the organization’s leaders should observe their company by applying four perspectives. This component can be referred to as frames because each element can help gain valuable insight into the process that allows a company to function. While the authors of the strategy acknowledge the fact that businesses are usually complex and consist of various structures, they highlight four important domains – structural, human resources, political, and symbolic (Bolman & Deal, 2014). A leader should consider all four components when planning the organization’s operations because each one is crucial for proper functioning.
Structure refers to the organization within the company that helps it function. The political aspect involves a clear understanding of decision making processes and individuals that facilitate these changes. The symbolic frame requires an understanding of many intangible elements, making it difficult to evaluate objectively. This frame provides an insight into the actions that individuals take within the company. The human relations frame enhances the understanding of people and their motivation for work.
Implications for Companies
Morgan, Bolman, and Deal depict the importance of the environment for business. Additionally, several systems exist within one establishment and enable its functioning. From the perspective of a real-life organization, it can be concluded that the business model enhances the understanding of different components that contribute to efficient operation and delivery of value. This factor, in its turn, helps maximize revenue and develop new models that are more suitable for the current environment.
The frame that depicts the organization best is human resources. Based on this it can be concluded that the efforts of the company are directed at improving the capabilities and skills of individuals that work in the company. The value that is delivered by applying this frame can be seen by customer satisfaction, as employees are able to enhance the relationship with clients and thus help the establishment gain more revenue by retaining the interest of buyers. In addition, this perspective enables leaders to improve strategies for motivating individuals and improving the quality of their work.
The metaphor that can be used to describe this establishment is an organization as an organism. It is due to the fact that this theory emphasizes the importance of human relations. Additionally, from this viewpoint survival is the primary objective, which for a business is the ability to bring revenue (Ortenblad et al., 2016). This approach helps leverage the human interaction and connection of internal and external factors. However, viewing the company from only this perspective can be harmful because other aspects are left out. For instance, it is difficult to consider the political issue when thinking about the company as an organism.
Conclusion
Overall, leaders should apply different approaches to examining their organizations, which will enable adequate functioning and development. Morgan identified eight key features that can help develop a better understanding of the patterns that exist in a particular environment. Those consider all the aspects that contribute to the success of the operation, including transformation and relationships within the structure. The model offered by Bolman and Deal highlights four domains – structure, human resources, political relations, and symbolic.
References
Bolman, L., & Deal, T. (2014). How great leaders think: The art of reframing. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Ortenblad, A., Putnam, L. L., & Trehan, K. (2016). Beyond Morgan’s eight metaphors: Adding to and developing organization theory. Human Relations, 69(4), 875–889.
Ovans, A. (2015). What is a business model? Harvard Business Review.