Read the scenario below and answer ALL the questions that follow.$$

$$

$$

Organisational Culture at Cutting Edge Tech

Cutting$-$Edge Tech is a rapidly growing technology company that has been recognised for its cutting$-$edge products and innovative approach to problem$-$solving. The CEO, Mrs Edwina Shabalala describes Cutting$-$Edge Tech$$s organisational culture as "collaborative, innovative, and customer focused and views it as a crucial factor for the company$$s success. However, as the company expanded, it encountered challenges related to maintaining a cohesive organisational culture. Mrs Shabalala noticed that as new employees join from various backgrounds, the cultural alignment within the company has started to weaken. Cultural differences started becoming evident in the various departments. The Research and Development department for instance focused on creativity and experimentation, whilst the Finance department followed a more structured and risk$-$averse approach. The company$$s leadership is concerned that the cultural differences across departments are leading to misalignment in goals, employee dissatisfaction, and inconsistent performance.

Moreover, an internal survey revealed that employees have different perceptions of the company$$s values, which has led to misunderstandings and a decline in morale. Some employees feel disconnected from the company$$s mission, while others are unsure about what behaviors are encouraged or discouraged. Mrs Shabala decided to bring in an external consultant to help realign the organisational culture. The consultant began by analysing the elements of Cutting$-$Edge Tech$$s culture, the functions it serves, the levels at which it operates, and the types of culture present in different departments. The consultant also considered various theories on organisational culture to develop a strategy for fostering a more unified and effective culture.

QUESTION $3$

FRESHNESS is a new grocery store that seeks to adhere to the TQM principle of continuous improvement. Taking into consideration the TQM principle of continuous improvement, write out a detailed strategic plan for FRESHNESS that will assist them to effectively uphold and implement the principle of continuous improvement.