Strayer University Applied Mangerial Economics Paper
ANSWER
Title: Risk Management and Organizational Improvement: A Case Study on XYZ Corporation
1. Evaluation of Recent Actions Dealing with Risk and Uncertainty
In the last six months, XYZ Corporation, a global manufacturing company, has faced significant challenges related to supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic. The company’s operations were severely impacted due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and shortages of key raw materials. These disruptions led to production delays and increased costs.
2. Recommendations for Improving Risk Management
To enhance risk management at XYZ Corporation, the following recommendations are proposed:
- Diversification of suppliers to reduce dependency on a single source.
- Developing a more robust business continuity plan that considers various crisis scenarios.
- Implementing advanced data analytics and predictive modeling to anticipate and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
3. Adverse Selection Problem and Mitigation
XYZ Corporation is facing an adverse selection problem in the insurance coverage it provides to its employees. Many employees with pre-existing health conditions are opting for higher coverage, leading to imbalanced risk pools. To minimize the negative impact of adverse selection, XYZ Corporation could:
- Implement stricter underwriting criteria.
- Offer wellness programs and incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles among employees.
4. Dealing with Moral Hazard
The company is addressing the moral hazard problem by closely monitoring employee behavior through performance metrics and regular evaluations. To align with industry best practices, XYZ Corporation could also:
- Introduce profit-sharing programs to encourage employees to prioritize the company’s long-term success.
- Implement a code of ethics and conduct that emphasizes responsible behavior.
5. Principal-Agent Problem and Incentive Alignment
A principal-agent problem is evident in the sales department of XYZ Corporation, where sales representatives are primarily motivated by commission-based earnings. To align incentives and improve profitability:
- Introduce a balanced compensation structure that rewards both short-term sales targets and long-term customer satisfaction.
- Implement transparent performance metrics to measure sales effectiveness beyond just revenue generation.
6. Organizational Structure and Profitability Enhancement
XYZ Corporation’s hierarchical organizational structure sometimes results in delayed decision-making and communication bottlenecks. To enhance profitability and efficiency:
- Transition to a more decentralized structure, empowering individual departments to make agile decisions.
- Implement cross-functional teams to encourage collaboration and innovation across different areas of the business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, XYZ Corporation’s recent challenges with risk and uncertainty present an opportunity for strategic improvements. By implementing the aforementioned recommendations and embracing industry best practices, the company can better navigate the complexities of its environment, improve risk management, and enhance overall profitability and efficiency.
Please note that this is a fictional example to help you structure your case study. You should replace the details with real information about a company’s recent actions and challenges within the last six months. Additionally, make sure to conduct thorough research to ensure the accuracy and relevance of your analysis and recommendations.
QUESTION
Description
Overview
In this case study assignment, you will select a company or organization of your choice that has been dealing with risk and uncertainty within the last six months. Then you will determine solutions to organizational problems that take into account principles of risk management to improve operations and profitability.
Instructions
Write a 6–8 page paper in which you:
Evaluate a selected company’s or organization’s recent (within the last six months)actions dealing with risk and uncertainty.
Recommend advice for improving risk management and provide justification for the recommendation.
- Examine an adverse selection problem the company/organization is facing, and recommend how it should minimize the negative impact of adverse selection on transactions.
- Determine the ways the company/organization is dealing with the moral hazard problem, and suggest best practices used in the industry to deal with moral hazard.
- Describe a principal-agent problem in the company/organization, and evaluate the tools the company/organization uses to align incentives and improve profitability/efficiency.
- Examine the organizational structure of the company/organization, and suggest changes to improve the overall profitability/efficiency. Explain why those changes would result in an improvement in profitability.