Alcan Operates Based on the Case Facts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcan Operates Based on the Case Facts - Essay Example It is one of the world famous cutting-edge enterprises having a remarkable combination of skilled and talented workforce with advanced technology, innovative products, as well as a decidedly focused customer-culture. The enterprise has operating facilities across 61 countries with a work force of about 68,000 employees. The organization takes the leading position in production of raw materials, fabricated products and primary metals. Its four principal business groups include Bauxite and Alumina, Primary Metal, packaging and the engineered products. The four business groups are the main revenue contributors for the organization (Binet, GUALARD, and JACLOT, 2000). The associated products of the business groups include Aluminum sheets for beverage cans, automotive systems, mass transportation markets, personal care industries and the pharmaceutical products. The enterprise is involved in creating and selling of a variety of products, which include bauxite, automobile iron, sheet ingot, aluminium recycling services, forging stock. It is extremely vertically integrated having eight mines and deposits, a transport network with ports and facilities, seven alumina plants, 26 aluminium smelters, 17 laminated products plants, 12 electric power plants, seven alumina refineries, 180 packaging materials plants and 49 engineered products plants. Organizational Structure. ... His services are shared at the bottom of the ladder. The senior management in Alcan Company is made up of a CIO and four associates. These associates include: Strategic IT-Program director, Chief information-security- officer director, performance-management director, and the Enterprise Architectural director. At the bottom of the ladder, two services that are shared exist. One service is for the application, and the next is for infrastructure. All these are directed towards the senior management. In the centre of the ladder, there are different business groups of IT Directors. In this organization, the policy of decentralization ensures that each group is headed by an IT director normally referred to as VP. This director is concerned with the management of the IT in his specific group. He is also accountable for the top management of his group (Dube, Bernier, & Roy, 2009). Normally, the four IT VPs reports 75% of their group to the top management. They also report a 25% of their gro up to the CIO. These directors, therefore, are responsible in attaining the global objectives of the company. On the other hand, the shared services act as the business group internal consultants. Challenges Faced by Alcan Organization. Alcan organization like any other large organization is faced with various environmental, economical, social as well as technological challenges. Environmental challenges. The greatest environmental challenges affecting Alcan Organization are sustainable raw material development, industrial waste, air emissions, and water. These challenges have affected this company since laws requested organizations to change procedures and equipments so as to meet standards imposed to them. This change was to cause any company a substantial amount of money. The