In order to illustrate how internal and external factors impact the four functions of management -planning, organizing, leading, and controlling- our team has chosen General Electric (GE) Company as an example. GE has been in business since the year 1890, when the company began operating under Thomas Alva Edison (inventor of the incandescent light bulb). Since then GE has growth and mature as one of the greatest multi innovator firm in business history, in addition GE has become an international company expanding its products and services around the world.
Therefore we will explain how external and internal factors like globalization, technology, innovation, diversity, and ethics at national and international level will impact the way GE managers apply the four functions of management. In addition we will talk about how delegation helps GE managers to minimize and manage these factors.
First factor globalization, "Is the increasing interdependence, integration and interaction among people and corporations in disparate locations around the world" (Wikipedia 2007, p.
An original Edison light bulb from 1879 from Thoma...
English: Young Saudi Arabian woman wearing Islamic...
General Electric1).
GE has established its business in 59 countries in all five continents of the world; in addition they keep innovating with products and services which adapt to the specific needs of other countries.
GE web site illustrates its business expanding with an example of the contract obtained with the Saudi Arabian electric company. GE will provide nineteen GE frame 7FA gas turbine generators which will be used to provide electric energy to different territories of the Saudi population. In addition GE will offer, "Technical advisory services, customer on-site training and performance testing" (GE Web Site 2007). Therefore, the four functions of management -planning, organizing, leading, and controlling- will have their individual impacts due to GE's globalization.
Planning will have to be developed by a team compose of Saudi Arabian electric company managers and GE managers, therefore differences...