Work Block 2 Sept 24 - Oct 7

Context: Ikea – How did Ikea, a consumer products company, overcome its initial negative response to the ideas of the Natural Step? What is the mindset of business today and why is there so much resistance to change?

Please look at Chapter 4 of the book, “Ikea: Nothing is Impossible” and the

section on my old website that deals with organizational design -

Here is pdf case study as well

Questions:
i. What are the market trends that will support “Good” business?
ii. What are the main barriers in corporate life to becoming a “Good” business?
iii. What happens to the culture when a company starts to think of itself as a “Good” company?
iv. What is the power of having a common language to talk about these issues?

Work: Assignment 2 due October 7 We are going to look at your own environment and test out this different way of thinking. We are going to see the hidden costs of our current system - the waste issue. What are the real costs of going to work?

Prepare a short two-page report. What are your real costs of going to work, commuting time, child care, two cars etc? When you add up all your hours and costs what do you really make on an hourly basis? What are the real costs for your employer of having you come to work? Think about the use of space and energy? What are the societal costs of you going to work? Prepare a true cost for both sides and society. Now think about how costs are discussed in your organization? if you do not work conventionally think of a friend who does.

Here is a model that I took from the real life of a friend of mine - Ron.