BUMGT5980: Managerial Decision-Making Case Study - Rio Tinto

This report presents a case study on managerial decision-making, focusing on communication challenges within the Rio Tinto organization. It begins with an introduction outlining the importance of effective communication in a business environment, followed by a detailed problem background and definition, which identifies lack of teamwork and the use of latest technology as key issues. The report then generates potential solutions, including management strategies, staff training, and feedback mechanisms. These solutions are evaluated using an affinity diagram, leading to the selection of an implementation plan that includes force field analysis and a detailed action plan with timelines and resource allocation. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of evaluating the implemented plans and adapting to the modern workplace's distractions to enhance productive listening and improve overall communication effectiveness.

Running head: MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
Managerial decision-making:
A case study of communication problem in Rio Tinto
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
Problem background............................................................................................................3
Problem definition...............................................................................................................4
Solution generation..............................................................................................................6
Solution evaluation..............................................................................................................7
Implementation and action plan...........................................................................................8
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................10
References..........................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
In a business organization, communication has an important role to be played that helps
to fulfill the requirements of the clients and fulfill the goals of the organization. It also helps to
motivate employees that lead to give more production in the organization. Effective
communication is essential for development of an enterprise. In this perspective, it becomes
important to analyze the issues with the help of analysis tools and techniques and generate
solutions so that it can be helpful for the organization to mitigate the issue. In the present study,
communication problem in Rio Tinto has been selected as the case study.
Problem background
Williams (2017) stated that communication serves as the foundation of every facet of a
specific business. Hence, it can be stated that effective communication is the developing block of
an enterprise by which several benefits can be obtained. Communication can keep the foundation
of motivation. In addition, it assists the employer understanding the process of performing the
job as well as enhancing performance whether it is not according to the standard. The
significance of effective communication is considered as developing block of a successful
business organization.
On the other hand, communication can promote motivation through informing as well as
clarifying the staffs regarding the tasks to be done as well as the way that are performed.
Communication can be performed in the procedure that assists in addressing as well as
evaluating the alternative actions (Joseph, 2017). Communication has an important role in
altering attitudes of the individual where a well informed person can have a better attitude
compared to the less informed person.

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Although there are several benefits of communication in a business organization, there
are several challenges faced by the organizations in order to communicate with the stakeholders
and colleagues in the workplace. Emerging technologies have led major change in
communication process of the organization. Apart from these, communication as well as political
environment of the organization, cross cultural communication and ethical issues in
communication process are the major challenges in business organization.
Problem definition
Definition of a problem is the most significant step of a business organization. The major
stage is comprehension of the issue in detailed way as required to solve. On the other hand, it is
important to understand the procedure to overcome the challenges. The main purpose of the
stage is understanding the issue in detailed way as required in order to solve it effectively.
Culture of the organization, either positive or negative can be concerned with the decisions,
actions as well as communications (Williams, 2017). It can be reflected in the process that is
involved. The tools that are available for defining the problems are root cause analysis as well as
value chain analysis. On the other hand, in order to understand the issue as well as avoid
complexity and analysis, it is important to understand the procedure as well as simple tools of
5Ws technique of questioning as well as SWOT analysis.
5W S Analysis
What Lack of team work
Wher
e
Rio Tinto
When During working hours and especially communicating with stakeholders

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Who Staffs of the organization
Why Use of latest technology, cross cultural communication and ethical issues
SWOT Analysis
Strength Weakness
 Effective channel to understand the
demands
 Number of staffs
 Infrastructure
 Lack of understanding the demands
 Differences in the targets
 Groupism amongst staff
 Lack of cooperation
 Management style
Opportunities Threat
 Grow business internationally
 Use of latest technologies
 Emerging technologies
 Lack of proper training
Table 1: SWOT analysis
(Source: Created by author)

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Looking at the SWOT as well as 5Ws analysis of Rio Tinto organization, the main cause
of the organization is seen due to lack of cooperation and use of latest technology in the
organization (Rasubala & Matthews, 2017). The issues of negative culture need to be treated as a
dynamic issue. On the other hand, as negative organizational culture generally occurs with the
change of management as well as the ongoing basis. The data generated in SWOT can be utilized
in order to develop a solution for increasing strengths as well as scopes and reduce the detected
weakness and threats.
Solution generation
Piga (2016) mentioned that after identification as well as definition of the issue, the next
stage is developing the process that will be helpful to solve the issue and assist the organization
in moving from the present state of affairs to the desired state. Apart from this, the tools
available in the solution can be helpful in divergent thinking as well as desired to be creative. In
order to mitigate the issues faced in the organization, some strategies can be taken that would be
helpful to manage the process.
 Role of management
 Focus of the
organization
 Promoting staff
 Follow rules
 Following channels of
communication
 Training for the staffs
 Team work
 Motivation
 Efficiency
 Staff feedback
 Mentoring
 Complaints channel
 Suggestion box

6MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
Table 2: Brainstorming
(Source: Created by author)
Highlighting the key issues as well as pinpoints the main areas for action would be
helpful for the organization. Understanding the attitudes existed as well as existed in the process
can assist the staffs to be motivated. On the contrary, it is important to develop smart decisions
that can be helpful to mitigate the risks (Jones et al., 2016). The smart decisions can be helpful in
making smart decisions that will assist to improve business communication. In addition,
checking and ensuring the requirements of the audiences can be helpful to measure to find out
whether the employees have received as well as understood the key messages for deliver. In
addition, leveraging the resources of communication can drill down for understanding the
process of working in several locations, divisions. In addition, it is helpful to demonstrate
commitment for change. Improvement of communication can be helpful to measure the symbol
of change and will be valued by the staffs. On the contrary, beware of the measurement without
committing to follow the process (Azarian, Fatlaki, & Nouri, 2016). In addition, driving
accountability can be helpful to measure that is to be done. Measurement of communication is
one of the great ways for evaluating the communication works or not. In addition, it helps to fix
the right track of involving the employees.
Solution evaluation
The major focus is evaluating different potential solutions in short as well as long-term
effectiveness in order to assist in reaching the desired state. The stage focused on the divergent
thinking that locates the issue at the centre and focus on the peripheral resources in order to make
coverage of the process. Convergent thinking can be helpful for locating the issue at the centre

7MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
of focusing and collect the peripheral resource. In order to evaluate the technique, it is require to
create an affinity diagram (González & Frumkin, 2018). An affinity diagram can be helpful to
use the simple technique of developing the diagram. In addition, it can be helpful to detect the
issue as well as assess the best possible solution produced with the help of divergent thinking
process.
Figure 1: Affinity diagram
(Source: Created by author)
Hence, time as well as budget is available as the best solutions for implementing effective
communication process in the organization. In addition, performing a situation analysis can be
helpful to assess the present situation and stand in terms of communications. It is required to
collect and analyze the related information with the organization (Austin & Pinkleton, 2015). In
order to collect as well as analyze the related information with the organization. Brainstorming
HRM
/Training
Proper training to develop
Effective plan for using
the techniques
Organization
al Design
Make processes
democratic and
transparent
Regular feedback in
communciation
Suggestion Box
Establish a channel for
effective eommucnaition
Collaboration
Recognising
contribution of staff
Promote staffs that
performs well
Developing effective
teams

8MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING
with the staffs and conducting the surveys as well as emphasize the focus groups can assist to
perform situation analysis. Defining the objectives as well as overall communication plan makes
the process specific, measurable as well as realistic. In addition, it is important to understand the
objectives and the results that are essential to adjust performance (Siddiqi et al., 2016).
Development of written communication plan will take some efforts as well as makes the process
effective. The major tool for successful delivering the process to the key audiences can assist to
develop mutually beneficial relationship.
Implementation and action plan
The tools that are available for the solution implementation are force field analysis and
What If Scenario. In the present context, forced field analysis has been used. The forced field
analyst helps to discuss as well as assess the types of sources (Foster, 2018). The procedure
analyses the type of forces like driving forces as well as restraining forces. The tool can be
helpful to deploy the change in Rio Tinto.
Lack of effective communication is caused by poor management and communication
skills as well as self-servicing nature of the person. In the business organization, it is important to
focus on the roles as well as autonomy of the employees in the organization. The objective of the
study is implementing employee-centered program for developing communication. In this
perspective, it is required to develop an effective communication plan (Williston, 2015). The
project plan should have a specific date to start and finish. In addition, budget of the project plan
need to fulfill the organizational demands for consultation fees as well as other expenses.
The steps involved in the project are evaluation of the competencies. Development of
theoretical frameworks as well as development of employee-centered leader as well as practical

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testing is important for the process (Meneses et al., 2016). In addition, evaluation of the process
and feedback can assist to develop social skills and self-leadership along with participation. It is
important to develop effective mindset among the members of Rio Tinto. Reviewing
performance as well as feedback can be helpful to improve the procedure.
On the other hand, one of the best practices for internal communication is the plan that
should fulfill the primary criteria. An internal communication plan can articulate the function
that is qualified to achieve the business outcomes for the enterprise. An internal communication
plan has the benefits over the process (Lovato et al., 2016). The communication plan would be
helpful in providing a clear roadmap for consistent communication with the staffs so that they
feel informed regarding the goals for the organization. In addition, it would help to take proper
action for the plan.
Task Name Duration Start Finish
Implementation of
communication plan
57 days Mon 22-10-18 Tue 08-01-19
Finding the loopholes 1 day Mon 22-10-18 Mon 22-10-18
Selecting communication strategy 3 days Tue 23-10-18 Thu 25-10-18
Creating layout 5 days Fri 26-10-18 Thu 01-11-18
gathering resources 6 days Fri 02-11-18 Fri 09-11-18
Formation of the Plan 8 days Mon 12-11-18 Wed 21-11-18
Selection of the Appropriate
Techniques for implementation
2 days Thu 22-11-18 Fri 23-11-18
Deploying the plan 9 days Mon 26-11-18 Thu 06-12-18

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Evaluating the plan 5 days Fri 07-12-18 Thu 13-12-18
Analysis & Interpretation of the
plan
5 days Fri 14-12-18 Thu 20-12-18
Findings of the issues 6 days Fri 21-12-18 Fri 28-12-18
recommendations for improving
the process
7 days Mon 31-12-18 Tue 08-01-19
Table 3: Action plan
(Source: Created by author)
It is important to evaluate the plans for organization and implement in the organization.
As the modern workplace is full of distractions is considered as the biggest barriers to the
productive listening (Williams, 2017). However, elimination of the differences in perception that
makes the organization recruiting right individuals on the job would be helpful to mitigate the
issue. On the other hand, it is important to understand internal communication plan that helps to
develop the procedure that would be helpful to understand the goals of the business and
communication goals. It is important to accomplish the process and understand the process of
trying to accomplish with the communication strategy.
Conclusion
It is the responsibility of interviewer making sure that the interviewee has command over
the written and spoken language. There should be appropriate induction program so that the
policies of the organization are clear to all the staffs. There should be appropriate trainings
conducted for the required employees. Use of simple language can be helpful for the

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organization. Moreover, use of simple as well as clear words should be focused. Use of
ambiguous words as well as jargons need to be avoided. Reduction as well as elimination of
noise levels can assist.

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References
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managing effective communication campaigns. Routledge.
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Foster, A., 2018. A Communication Plan for Organizational Effectiveness in a Youth
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