The technological and digitalization processes and changes in the world have necessitated firms operating in different industries to introduce transformations with the intention of ensuring they operate for a long period without dissolving. The reason is that failing to develop and implement changes would make the firms obsolete. An Post is one of the entities operating in the mailing industry that has been forced to make changes to its organizational design to ensure it meets the current customer demands and continues operating in a competitive industry.
A new organizational design in An Post would facilitate the transformation from a mail company to a fully-fledged e-commerce organization. Installing digital tracking processes that allow clients to trace the status of their package would give customers the confidence that the executive team is concerned about the needs and satisfaction of its clientele base.
Restructuring the organizational design would not eliminate the human dimension in the organization. Rather, it would incorporate capital-intensive methods, without eliminating the need for a workforce to interact with its clients (Daft, Kendrick, and Vershinina, 2010, p. 27). Automated service and system that allows an enhanced customer service would affirm An Post engages in a sustainable service both in the short-term and in the long-term. An Post’s objective while serving the customers is to satisfy their current needs while incorporating the new technological changes in the industry.
An Post’s new organizational design is intended to change the brand’s market positioning which would attract and retain the attention of new and existing clients. The introduction of sub-brands in the company has transformed and refreshed the identity the firm has had amongst its clients, while it focuses on the perceptions and feedback the customers have about the organization (Kamp, 2019, p. 287). The inclusion of two sub-brands in the product line of the company would increase its market coverage. The marketing and strategic team at An Post intends to position the firm as a provider of different services at an affordable price, considering the e-commerce concept while availing the amenities.
Restructuring An Post will affect its ability to exist in the future. Changes in the external environment such as government regulations and industrial factors forced the facility to close down more than 150 post offices. The development and implementation of a new strategic plan would help prevent such occurrences in the long run. The strategic team has the responsibility of foreseeing the future and developing innovative and realistic financial plans that will generate profits for the organization both in the short-term and in the long-term (Daft, Kendrick, and Vershinina, 2010, p. 78; Ode and Ayavoo, 2020, p. 215).
The ability to solve problems despite the challenges and changes taking place in the internal or external environment is a true indication that the strategic team has invested in the right areas. This makes it easy to prevent potential possibilities of the firm closing down.
Corporations go through significant changes contributed by internal and external forces. According to Cummings and Worley (2014, p. 67), organizational changes in a firm contribute to the resilience levels an entity develops. It ensures a business can formulate solutions when it faces challenges since the management team comprises individuals with the relevant skills and expert knowledge to understand and facilitate the change process. A new organizational design that has gone through a restructuring process will enable An Post to become a modern firm that meets the current and future needs of the potential and existing clients (Bloom et al., 2019, p. 1653).
Arguably, it is the responsibility of the marketing department to promote and advertise to the market that the company has introduced changes in the delivery of services (Barron, Pered and Stacey, 2017, p. 192; Wrigley and Straker, 2016, p. 11). This will help clients know that An Post is still operational and will meet their needs.
Reference List
Barron, A., Pereda, A. and Stacey, S. (2017) ‘Exploring the performance of government affairs subsidiaries: a study of organization design and the social capital of European government affairs managers at Toyota Motor Europe and Hyundai Motor Company in Brussels,’ Journal of World Business, 52(2), pp. 184-196.
Bloom, N. et al. (2019) ‘What drives differences in management practices?’ American Economic Review, 109(5), pp. 1648-83.
Cummings, T. G. and Worley, C. G. (2014) Organization development and change. 9th edn. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Daft, R. L., Kendrick, M. and Vershinina, N. (2010) Management. 10th edn. Hampshire: South Western Cengage Learning.
Kamp, B. (2019) ‘Restructuring for service business development: insights from a machine tool manufacturer,’ International Journal of Business Environment, 10(4), pp. 281-305.
Ode, E. and Ayavoo, R. (2020) ‘The mediating role of knowledge application in the relationship between knowledge management practices and firm innovation’, Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 5(3), pp. 210-218.
Wrigley, C. and Straker, K. (2016) ‘Designing innovative business models with a framework that promotes experimentation,’ Strategy & Leadership, 44(1), pp. 11-19.