Bennett's Machine Shop - Organizational Theory

            
             Pat Bennett, feeling disenchanted with his employment, began to use his education to develop his personal business of repairing automotive motors. Eventually, his efforts resulted in a multi-faceted corporation with the capabilities to perform complete engine rebuilds, automotive repairs, and aerospace contract work. His employee complement grew substantially within a few years; by and large, he had a capable workforce at his disposal. All things being equal, Bennett's Machine Shop, Inc. should have been a flourishing business. Unfortunately, major mismanagement issues were present that involved questionable transactions between businesses, employee development, division of authority, accountability, resistance to change, record keeping, and unnecessary financial risk. As a result of multiple oversights at all levels, including top management, Bennett's Machine Shop, Inc. soon found itself in a dire financial crisis. .
             Keywords: training, centralization, decentralization, empowerment, accountability, resistance to change, force for change, fiscal planning.
             Introduction.
             In the case study, Bennett's Machine Shop, Inc., Sharplin tells us the story of Pat Bennett, a man who likes to rebuild engines and has dreams of owning a machine shop. Bennett's story is not uncommon. Like most graduates, he entered the workforce and later found himself disillusioned with his employment choices. So after terminating his employment with a chemical plant, Bennett found employment with the Stubbs-Overbeck, Inc., "a petroleum refinery engineering firm" (Jones, 2013). Bennett continued to "feel inadequate" at his current job until his employer needed a position to be filled; working a theodolite machine which Bennett was familiar with (Jones, 2013). .
             It was during Bennett's time at Stubbs-Overbeck, Inc., that he began to slowly acquire what he needed to build his own business. Within three years of graduating from college ('75) and doing side work on other people's cars; Bennett leased his first space and set out to conquer his dream of owning his own machine shop.