Class Activity-3 Oreanirational Theory and Desien (M) Dated: 21-03-2023 For several years, Colgate-Palmolive Company, which manufactures and markets pervonal-care. household, and specialty products, used a global geographic structure of the form ilivstrated in fxalbit. 6.6. Colgate has a long. rich history of international irvolvement and has relied on regional divisions in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Far East, and the South Pacific to stay on the competitive edge. Well over half of the company's total sales are generated outside of the United States. The regional approach supports Colgate's cultural values, which emphasize individual autonomy, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to act locally. Each regional president reports directly to the chief operating officer, and each division has its own staff functions such as human resources (HR), finance, manufacturing, and marketing. Colgate handled the problem of coordination across geographic divisions by creating an internationol business development group that has responsibility for long-term company planning and worldwide product coordination and communication. It used several product team leaders, many of whom had been former country managers with extensive experience and knowledge. The product leaders are essentially coordinators and advisors to the geographic divisions; they have no power to direct, but they have the ability and the organizational support needed to exert. substantial influence. The addition of this business development group quickly reaped posithe results in terms of more rapid introduction of new products across all countries and better, lower-cost marketing. The success of the international business development group prompted Colgate's top management to add two additional coordinating positions-a vice president of corporate development to focus on acquisitions, and a woridwide sales and marketing group that coordinates sales and marketing initiatives across all geographic locations. With these worldwide positions added to the structure, Colgate maintains its focus on each region and achieves global coordination for overall planning, faste product introductions, and enhanced sales and marketing efficiency. Question: How executives at Colgate-Palmolive overcame some of the problems associated with geographic structure