Chapter 7: Organization Change and Innovation

Complete set of links to companies

Kodak and Sun Microsystems are two companies that are mentioned in Chapter 7. View the companies’ web sites, and then answer the following questions:

1. Can you identify any organizational changes that have occurred in these organizations in recent years?
2. To what extent do these organizations’ web sites present information about organizational innovation?

Internet Exercise

In Chapter 7, Caterpillar is discussed as one company that suffered losses when it failed to anticipate and respond appropriately to changes in the early 1990’s (found on page 188 of your text). Access the Caterpillar web site, and then answer the following questions:

1. What forces seem to have been the major reasons for the changes that have taken place at Caterpillar in the last decade?
2. What areas of change have been involved (structure and design, technology and operations, or people)?
3. In your opinion, is Caterpillar today anticipating and responding to change appropriately? Why or why not?

Explore Further

Examine the web site of one of Caterpillar’s competitors, CNH Global. In your opinion, is CNH Global doing a good job of anticipating and responding to change, as compared to Caterpillar? Why or why not?