ULS – SAGESSE UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT 1- CASE STUDIES MGT 500 – FALL 21

NEJME AL BAHOUT – 202100896 DR. ZIAD HADDAD.

Date: 12 Oct 2021

Case 1 – Managing without Managers – Spotify Case:

1-13 Who undertakes management at Spotify?

There is no level of managers at Spotify, or hierarchy of management as known in the

traditional management in organizations. Spotify adopted a flat organizational structure,
management which is based on squads, chapters, tribes and guilds. Employees work
autonomously, and manage their work and duties…etc.

1-14 How could Spotify manage poor performing individuals or teams?

Do you think this is a problem at Spotify? Why or why not?

As there is no hierarchy managers and lack of head management, everyone decides for his
own based on the skills they have and the project especially in squads and tribes.
We could find a little traditional management at the level of Chapters, who are group of
people having similar skills but work in various squads, they link to traditional management
theory through clearer lines of management and responsibility for staff members, their
development, pay and progression.

We cannot ignore the fact that this kind of management encourages flexibility and
creativity, give the employees the chance to add from their expertise, knowledge and ideas
to the project or to the skills. However, this will lead to a problem in somewhere as some
employees will misuse the freedom given and will impose negative impacts on the
organization. Good management will be able to link the work and decisions, solve conflicts if
arises, monitor performance, evaluate employees, plan future long-term goals, define the
strategy, and the company mission…etc, especially when the organization grow bigger, the
need of balancing between innovative and creative culture vs the need of basic traditional
management will be highly needed.

1-15 Are there any similarities to traditional management at Spotify?

As mentioned earlier there is a little traditional management and is at the level of Chapters.
Chapters are group of people who work in various squads. They manage the staff and
structure through the organization, but with smother way, their management and
responsibilities are related to monitor the staff members, their development, pay and
progression.

1-16 Do you think that this approach to management would be effective within another
company?

All organizations must have an extent of basic management to be able to link departments,
plan for the future, monitor performance and growth of the company and employees.
I do not think that this kind of management may be applied to other organizations, as
Spotify has a different way of grouping people and departments. Some organization for
example production organizations, might need the work to be more organized, duties

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ULS – SAGESSE UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT 1- CASE STUDIES MGT 500 – FALL 21
NEJME AL BAHOUT – 202100896 DR. ZIAD HADDAD.

defined in a way that each employee knows his/her right and duties maintaining the
creativity culture and motivation through allowing the employees to partner in the decision
making, share their ideas and be evaluated rightfully.
The need for a well-structured linkage between department to avoid waste of resources,
avoid queue time between departments, solve conflict, monitor employees and help them
to recognize the importance of quality in product and process …etc

In the same time Spotify thinking of management can be used in some way, and is by
allowing employees to be somehow free to express their ideas, share their thoughts and
expertise, organize their duties, innovate and find the best ways in performing the tasks that
maybe easier, more effective and efficient.

Case 2 – Building a better Boss Case:

1-17 Describe the findings of Project Oxygen using the functions approach, Mintzberg’s
roles approach, and the skills approach.

The findings of Project Oxygen were a mix of roles and skills that the managers needed to
acquire to be better bosses and managers.
It focused on the management functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling to
achieve the organizational goals in the best way and with best end results.
They listed eight findings that managers need to focus on, these findings concentrated on
the importance of the mangers Interpersonal, informational and decisional roles that
Mintzberg elaborated, as well as the interpersonal, communication, time-management,
Diagnostic, conceptual and technical skills that the managers should have to manage
effectively and efficiently and be a great boss. It was clearly shown the importance of
managers having the interpersonal and communication skills to be able to provide coaching
and support to employees, listen to them and guide them, express interest in their well -
being. Managers to perform their interpersonal and informational roles in monitoring,
leading and controlling by providing time management, communication, interpersonal and
diagnostic skills to focus on the end results, define problems and solutions when employees
need guidance, delegate employees, help them prioritize their work, encourage them to
reach their long-term work goals, and to lead the team towards fulfilling the organizational
vision. In addition to that the manager should have the technical skills to understand the
employee’s problems, be able to diagnose it, solve the problems and take the proper
decisions and actions.

1-18 Are you surprised at what Google found out about “building a better boss?” Explain
your answer.

At first I was surprised that these are the findings that were needed to building a better
boss, as I found them simple and easy. But after going through the points that focused on
the importance of the manager’s functions, roles and skills that they must use to manage
the organization perfectly, I found these findings interesting and entail further insights to
each point.

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ULS – SAGESSE UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT 1- CASE STUDIES MGT 500 – FALL 21
NEJME AL BAHOUT – 202100896 DR. ZIAD HADDAD.

Managing employees and guiding them to give their best, but in the same time helping and
monitoring in a way that give a space to the employee to add his thoughts and feel free,
listened and recognized will increase the performance. Managers cannot do everything, so
delegation is also very important to help employees express their strengths and improve
their performance.
The focus on the employees and the ways that managers should act, in order to build a
relationship based on trust in the abilities and not being over managing. We all know how
employees are valuable assets to the organizations, helping them improve, add their skills
and expertise, being recognized and listened will increase the performance and lead to
better outcomes.
I believe that some managers should adopt Google’s approach to breakdown the hard-
traditional managing models that they follow which sometimes becomes demotivating to
employees and will lead to unexpected errors and poor performance.
Managers should not just focus on what they can do, they can benefit of what best an
employee can do to the company and what achievements can be done in using proper
interpersonal ,communication…skills

1-19 What’s the difference between encouraging managers to be great managers and
knowing what being a great manager involves?

Encouraging managers to be great managers is by pointing out the characteristics needed to

manage properly, providing data. How the culture should be, on what to focus to achieve
the outcomes.
How should the manager think, provide studies, a view of the management map.
Such encouragement is when Google found the best 8 finding to be a better management,
this can give the manager the view on how to manage better. What to look for and to check
what skills exist and what should be acquired.

However, being a great manager involves acquiring the skills needed to become better
manager, to be able to know how the roles and functions should be used. Is to find the best
ways in how to make things better, how to coach and provide guidance to increase
performance and fulfill the organizational strategy and vision. In the same time how to
encourage others to be part of the organization.
Google did not just give the findings and studies to managers, but they trained them,
provided sessions to help them acquire the skills needed to practice their roles and
functions and improve their managerial performance and thinking.

1-20 What could other companies learn from Google’s experiences?

Other companies may learn how important is to have flexible and good management
system. They will know the importance of training managers to acquire the necessary skills
to manage better and increase their performance which will result in increased employees’
performance and organization performance.
They would benefit to know the importance to coach and provide support to employees,
while giving them the space to be part of the company, share ideas, look for ways, express
their interests and achieve better end results. They would notice the importance of

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ULS – SAGESSE UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT 1- CASE STUDIES MGT 500 – FALL 21
NEJME AL BAHOUT – 202100896 DR. ZIAD HADDAD.

communication with employees, understanding their future goals and link between their
long-term goals and the company future vision. And finally how important for managers to
acquire the necessary skills to be a better manager.

1-21 Would you want to work for a company like Google? Why or why not?

Indeed, I would like to work with a company like Google, especially that this mentality
provides motivation for the employees. You would not feel like you are going to work if you
are interested in what you are doing, if your ideas are heard, if you are given the chance to
show your abilities and when the management is giving you the opportunity to look to your
long-term work goals and development. It values your efforts and hard work, provide you
guidance and training if needed. Even as an employee you would get the chance to work
with skilled managers, understand their way of thinking and gain knowledge, skills and
expertise of how to perform if you want to be a manager in the future.