Business Analysis Report: Addressing Problems at Thrive Consultancy

This report presents a business analysis of Thrive Consultancy, examining internal problems and proposing solutions using the Job Demands-Resource (JD-R) theory. The report begins with an executive summary outlining the potential for misunderstandings in a business setting and the need to solve problems. It reviews relevant literature on business problems, highlighting the impact of internal factors, policy changes, and managerial decisions on organizational success. The JD-R model is introduced as the theoretical framework, emphasizing the importance of job demands, resources, and employee well-being. The methodology involves qualitative analysis, using employee interviews to gather data on their job satisfaction, the impact of workplace changes, and their concerns. Findings reveal employee dissatisfaction with changes in working hours, the removal of the coffee machine, and a decline in overall morale. Recommendations include prioritizing employee well-being, involving employees in policy decisions, and addressing the negative impacts of recent changes to improve employee morale and organizational performance.

Business Analysis
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Business Analysis
Executive summary
In most business settings there exists different people from different backgrounds, when
people from different backgrounds are gathered at a place; there is a likelihood of some kind of
misunderstanding amongst them, resulting to various business problems. The purpose of this
report is to recognize and solve these business problems using a theoretical framework. Business
problems arise due to certain issues that are mostly brought about by some kind of
misunderstanding among various parties in an organization. This report will consider business
problems of Thrive consultancy.

Business Analysis
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Overview of literature on the topic 2
(a). Literature review on previous empirical work found regarding business problems
(b). Theory to be used to investigate the business problems
i). Concepts and elements of the theory
Ii). Justification on why the theory helps to solve business problems
Iii). Managerial decision statement and corresponding research objectives and
research questions based on the theory and literature regarding the business issues
3. Methods and results 3
4. Findings of the analysis 4
5. Recommendations and Conclusion 5

Business Analysis
1. Introduction
This report will look at some of the business problems that Thrive consultancy
experiences. Thrive consultancy has been in operation for about a decade and a half now offering
three main services; Human resource consulting, Advertising/marketing consulting and strategic
planning. Business problems do occur in various business organizations. Despite it being a
common thing among business organizations, it is always the way that an organization handles
its business problems that will determine its future (Adomian, 2013 p.90).
Based on the nature of this organization, certain aspects about the operation and some
internal affairs have been changed and this has been noted to have a great influence on the way
things have been running lately .Working hours have been changed and this has greatly affected
the flexibility of work. Moreover, coffee machines have been removed and this is a concern for
some employees. Discussion will be presented to address problems.
2. Overview of literature on the topic
a). Literature review on previous empirical work found regarding business problems
Scholars and great academicians have proven time and time again that the growth and
survival of a business greatly depends on both internal and external factors (Bakker &
Demerouti,2014 p.45).Many times, however, people tend to put so much emphasis on external
factors and forget about some internal affairs that can bring a business to the ground. These
internal affairs range from a number of things such as management problems, relationship status
between the various staff in an organization, some crucial policies that govern and oversee the
day to day activities in an organization among others.

Business Analysis
Statistics have shown that about 60% of the companies and organizations that have recorded a
great deal of failure have been due to a change in some of their important policies that govern the
day to day activities of the organization. When some important and crucial policies are changed
within an organization, then people are affected since they are not used to the new policies which
could be even much strict than the ones they are used to (Boxall & Macky,2014 p.67).
A study conducted on some businesses and organization that have failed has revealed that there
is a common similarity among all these firms. Some of the most common share characteristics by
these failed firms are that they are all related to decision-based characteristics of the managers
and some owners of this organization, among these decision based-characteristics are
inflexibility, lack of a visionary nature, lack of fundamental management skills among others.
(Zikmund,Babin,Carr, Griffin, 2013 p.210).
Despite all these threats that these various business problems bring with them, there is a way to
solve and deal with such problems in case they arise. Quite a number of means have been
proposed, models and theories have been developed to deal with these various problems. First
and foremost, the most fundamental rule that should be applied in business problem solving is
that the process of problem solving should be proactive rather than reactive (Braine & Roodt,
2011 p.65).The process should not cause further rifts among the various individuals in an
organization; rather it should in line with its ultimate goal of ensuring a mutually respectful
relationship among the parties involved.
The narrowing process for instance is among one of the possible ways of resolving
problems in an organization. The diagram below shows a pictorial representation used for
problem solving in organizations and other forms of business entities.

Business Analysis
Fig1.Narrowing technique (Demerouti & Bakker, 2011 p.87).
b). Theory to be used to investigate the business problems
i) Concepts and elements of the theory
The theory that would be applied to investigate these business problems that are greatly
affecting Thrive Consultancy Company is the Job Demands-Resource theory: Taking stock and
looking back. The job demands-resource (JD-R) model was introduced about a decade and a half
ago and it has not only been used and applied into business issues of management but has also
acted as a source of inspiration to so many business organizations well-being (Demerouti &
Cropanzano,2010 p.67).

Business Analysis
Fig 2. Job demands-resource model (Demerouti & Cropanzano,2010 p.167).
ii).Justification on why the theory helps to solve business problems
Studies conducted by various scholars all over globe have shown circumstantial evidence
on how this method can be used to solve various business problems. The studies have proven to
be some kind of relationship in three most important elements of this model, these elements are;
job demand, resources and well-being of not only employees but also all staff and overall
stakeholders in an organization (Evans & Lindner,2012 p.78).
This model has also proven beyond reasonable doubt that personal initiative has an effect of
positively influencing employees work engagement. Personal initiatives play very big role in
promoting employees well-being and maximum use of organizations’ resources as depicted by
this model.

Business Analysis
Furthermore, job crafting and gain spiral is one of the most useful components/elements of this
model. Originally JD-R model was specifically involved in a top-down preservative of job
designs in an organization. It was at this very level where the human resource department and
management in collaboration were actively involved in employee’s performance and welfare
issues.
iii). Managerial decision statement and corresponding research objectives and research
questions based on the theory and literature regarding the business issues.
Looking at various aspects regarding business problems discussed above, there are some
key component managerial statements that can be made (Guest,Isaksson,De,2010 p.56).The
research objectives as depicted therein were to find out the key business problems affecting
Thrive Consultancy Company. The objectives were met by carrying out interviews on five
participants; the interview was successful since all five participants boldly raised the concerns
they had.
Form the look at all these issues, it is a managerial call to ensure that he/she engages employees
in all issues that affects them. Various policies are made and implemented in the course of
running an organization but they should not be made without involving the persons that are
directly or even indirectly affected by these policies.
Most importantly, the JD-R model clearly depicts that employee well-being is very crucial and it
should be given the highest priority (Hakanen & Roodt, 2010 p.71).The model mentions some of
the important aspects that facilitate the solving of business problems and possible ensuring
employee well-being and welfare.

Business Analysis
3. Methods and results
Qualitative analysis is a special and unique kind of securities analysis that is often
concerned and makes use of unquantifiable information to predict certain happenings and also
provide solutions to them (Hofmann & Klinkenberg,2013 p.67).This unquantifiable information
may comprise of management expertise, employees issues and complains, strengths and
development of previous researches among others.
The information herein was obtained by conducting an in-depth analysis on various employees
regarding to some key factors affecting them. Certain questions were asked in regard to the
information that was targeted to be obtained from these employees.
Findings of the analysis
Based on the three questions asked to the five employees regarding to issues affecting them, the
following is a summary on how each of them responded.
1. How happy are you in your job
Each of the employee said were happy with their job further went ahead into giving an extra
compliment, the first participant for instance said that the supervisor is nice but she doesn’t do
her job really well, she delays in responding to very important emails and also too busy to even
guide and oversee what they are doing at work (Klir, 2013 p.43).
2. How have the changes at work affected you and/or the office in general

Business Analysis
Participants complained about the issue of flexibility, they could no longer work from home and
this was really affecting them. Working hours were also not convenient to the employees.
Funds have also been cut; the common office kitchen had no free coffee, regular biscuits and
milk (Lencioni, 2010 p.109).This issue has really frustrated employees, their self-esteem and
level of motivation is low because of this issue.
3. Is there anything you would ask us to know
Employees are really frustrated and are so worried if the company even cares about them
anymore. The issue of taking away the coffee machine sunk so deep into the employees and
some were even wondering what would be next after the coffee machine, maybe the printer or
they would even start charging for parking. These were very emotional feelings from among the
employees.
The table below shows the various changes and ratings that were generated from the employees
comments obtained from the interviews conducted (Liebowitz, 2013 p.40).
Change conducted Comments provided by
employees
Motivation reduction rating
Out of 10
Changes in working hours -Employees were
complaining regarding the
flexibility of working hours
-Employees were paying
extra costs to have their kids
7/10

Business Analysis
at child care
Removal of the coffee
machine
-Employees brought their
own coffee machines
-Employees thought that they
were not being cared for
-Employees thought that extra
changes would be introduced
such as parking charges
9/10
Based on ratings derived from various comments by the participants in the course of the
interviews, a graph can be developed to show the relationship between the variables involved
therein.
Fig 3.Graph on relationship between the variables involved (Ragsdale, 2014 p.87).

Business Analysis
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
CONFIDECE
W. HOURS
COFFEE
The above diagram is a line graph developed from the ratings derived from the comments made
by each and every participant in the interview. There are three aspects that are rated and these are
changes in working hours, removal of the coffee machine and the general confidence of the
employees on the system.
4. Recommendations and conclusions
Looking at the complaints raised in the in-depth interview with the five participants then
it is clear that they feel they are not being well taken care of (Schaufeli & Taris,2014
p.128).Certain changes were made by the management that were totally unfavorable to the
employees and their general wellbeing. Working hours were increased, this greatly affected the
flexibility of work since people could no longer work from home, removal of a coffee maker
from the kitchen was another change that was not positively taken.