An Overview of Organizational Behavior

Identify several concepts and characteristics from the field of organizational behavior that this case illustrates.
What advice can you give Tony? How would this advice be supported or tempered by behavioral concepts and processes?
Is it possible to find an “ideal” place to work? Explain.

Answers:

In O’Grady Company, these following are the concepts of Organizational Behavior field which is practiced and followed: The organization was decentralized so that it is allowing their managers considerable autonomy and freedom then it would helping in build their innovation for its company. The work culture was very conducive, the organization was more informal in approach as the job had met personal goals and expectations perfectly, the quality of work-life was high. The corporate culture was easygoing and friendly that could be proven by their communication way in this company, each other are considered to build together’s chemistry to be more professionally in their close relationship. Such a kind of ‘right on target’ in appreciating its employees so it definitely would make loyality of their employees; build supportive leadership style; and also high employee motivation.

While Reece Enterprises is totally different compared to O’Grady. Contrary, Tony experienced different cultures at Reece Enterprises. This organization is bureaucratic in approach, with low motivation and centralized structure. Top managers here apparently didn’t worry too much about who did a good job and who didn’t. They seemed to promote and reward people based on how long they had been there and how well they played the never-ending political games. There was no harmony and cooperation from peers, superiors, and subordinates. Practically, I could say that Reece Enterprises tends to tightly hold loyality in bureaucracy while O’Grady Company tends to hold professionalism in kinship.

Tony should be patiently in facing all of these circumstances, because the old one might be the better one for him but the new one which providing the new ambience and circumstances with so many obstacles in it (that 180 degrees contrary than the old one) would make him more stronger than before and more experienced as a employee so that he could more understanding people in the future (his fellow friends, manager, subordinates) and would make the better version of him day to day. I chose this additional reference of the Holy Qur’an that is Al-Baqarah verse 216: “Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”

It is a new challenge so try to consider it is as your new diary and try to make beautiful story inside, even if it would not be the same as what we expect, but if we believe then it will be. Trying to out from our comfort zone because the situation and condition force us for this, and also do not forget to always surround ourselves with the positive vibes so everything will goes well and work properly. He has to be grateful of what he got now, because not all of ex-employees of O’Grady have found work replacement too.

Tony has to be accepting this kind of work circumstances which is totally different from the past and also trying to adaptate with these all. Change in is a continually process in any organization, probably the present organization has not identified the importance of change yet. But in long run, organizations have to come through change–it is unavoidable. Tony should observe the norms and culture of the new company and should try to bring change in the new organization by interacting with its top management. He should educate and propose the top management about how significance is motivation inside, the quality of work-life, decentralization system, and etc. These initiatives may put Tony in trouble, but what is called with the change, then it should be slow down and steady, it could not be instant like you are watching magic, right?

The terms ideal place is so diverse one another according his/her perspectives and goals. But it might be, it is somewhat difficult to find an ideal workplace because in this world era change is unavoidable, even sometimes we are who create it. Organizations without change can not survive in this competitive world. The change could be initiated either by the managers or the employees. Then, there is no workplace that may be ideal for all the time or throughout the career as change is persistent. One should judge the competitive advantage of change and train oneself for change. An employee should always change himself according to the circumstances, develop his skills and knowledge to meet the change, and mentally prepared for change to cope up with transition phases.

Explain the events in this case in terms of perception and attitudes. Does personality play a role?
What should Susan do? Should she fire Jack or give him another chance?
Answers:

An problem experience with the law and a short stay in prison had made Susan realize the importance of honesty and hardwork. Henry Clarkston had given her a chance for her, and Susan had made the most of it. Then, Susan also gave a chance to Jack perceiving the result from her own story. In this case Susan attributed her attitude and situation to Jack and hoped that he will also may come up in the organization in a similar way. This is referred to as attribution (means understanding of the self-behavior or others based on the perception of self-inside). Certainly personality plays a role day-to-day life. Individual perceptions, attitudes, behavior, habits etc. form a personality of an individual, which influence the behavior at workplace.

Workplace behavior is a pattern of action by the members of an organization that directly or indirectly influences organizational effectiveness. Performance behaviors are the set of work-related behaviors the organization expects the individual to display and fulfill the psychological contract. There are disfunctional behaviors e.g.: theft, sabotage, absenteeism, turnover, and violence. Organizational citizenship entails behaviors that make a positive overall contribution to the organization.

Everything had gone well properly as long as nobody knew about Jack’s history (besides from the wallet incident, which may not have involved any theft at all, it may be caused by its owner’s careless, right? Who knows.). Then the clerk had mentioned Jack’s record to others, and one case happened that is money went lost and a co-worker witnessed that Jack had been in that place, at the end several people wanted Jack to be fired? It sounds like some people want Jack fired due to his background not his behavior on the job, while maybe someone either took company’s money to frame Jack for the theft for he/she to take the money for his or her own interest. If I could be guess, the person who could be suspected of the petty cash theft is the new personnel clerk, which should not be revealed it all.

Talking about this case is kind of related with stereotype. Jack has bad past, came out of prison and now working for Clarkston Industries. Not only made a lot of friends, but also had been doing very well at the company. When everyone in the company knew about his past, people made lots of bad assumptions about him. People immediately assumed he was a thief after some of the employee’s personal items were stolen. Not only did not have any idea what Jack actually went to jail for, but they have been stereotyped him as a bad person. It is not right to judge people directly, especially from their past. Stereotypes are usually wrong and can be unfair. People can change their lives around and they deserve second chances. It is not fair to fire an employee, without established evidence.

I chose this additional reference of the Holy Qur’an that is Al-Hujurat verse 216: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.”
And this is another reference of the Holy Qur’an that is Al-Furqan verses 70-71: “Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.”
In these verses tells about when someone has repented sincerely, then his/her past evil deeds will be written off. God who not only as the highest degree of everything but as the owner of this universe, is willing to forgive someone who had been realized his/her fault and who oriented to the goodness for the next step in his/her life. Why do we, who is still and will always need God’s help, are not willing to forgive others? Think again.

What need theories would explain why Lemuel Greene was unhappy despite his high income?
Greene seems to have drifted into being a teacher. Given his needs and motivations, do you think teaching is an appropriate profession for him?
Answers:

Based on McClelland’s theory of growth need, the needs are divided into three parts, such as the need of; need for the power; and need for affiliation. The need theory explains that the high income is not the suitable parameter to satisfy all the need of the employee (person) in the organization. In this case especially, Lemuel Greene was unhappy from his job despite their high income. By the McClelland’s need theory, it is clear that Greene’s achievement need and need for power are not fulfilled and satisfied them according to their high income. He desires to do higher on teaching, to solve complexity, carry out a challenging project—by helping ground worker successfully, and develop a better manner to do his process.

In my personal opinion respond to this case, teaching is the appropriate profession for Greene because first, his need for achievement is doing better in developing a better way to help others in writing and solving complexity of the problem. Secondly is needs for power, like influencing people in how they should behave in writing behavior. These all are the needs that grow up his motivation in teaching.

What mistakes has Alex already made in developing a team-based organization?
If Alex were to call you in as a consultant, what would you tell him to do?
Using the organization chart of Evans RV Wholesale Supply and Distribution, describe how you would put the employees together in teams.
Answers:

In Alex team-based organization, there are mistakes that he has already made in. First, this type of decision is actually can not made it quickly done, in fact, in planning there should be these step:
Make decision and prepare for the implementation. Before decision making, he should discussed it with the top management to establish the leadership for the change, developed a steering committee (SC), and conducted a feasibility study. This is important to ensure the work processes within the company are conducive to team use.
Prepare the implementation.

This includes: clarifying the mission, selecting the site for the first work team, preparing the design team, planning the transfer of authority, and drafting the preliminary plan.
Of course I’ll try to repair his company based my view on the company disadvantages (that I’ve already explained it in number 1). Alex should have taken all of these steps before deciding to switch to a team-based organization.

Alex seems to have all of the company activities so that all decisions are walk through him and he has to be able to organize the company. This can have positive and negative effects on the company, both of them. The positives are, it can make changes quickly so every decision will be determine practically. The negative is that it has only one person who making all the important decisions for the company which is very risky because there are no checks on what he is doing and less input from others. That will be a good next step for Alex instead of completely restructuring the way the company run. He should not just switch to a team-based arrangement; I feel that he may not realize what it may cost the company to completely restructure. If he wants to create a team-based company then he better change the upper management structured.