- My own personal theories to help me better organize ideas I am learning or already have in mind.
I have three personal theories that I believe which is instrumental in understanding how organizations work and should be governed. Among the three theories, human relation theory is the most important management theory because the theory focuses on human beings who are the most valuable resources of the organization. According to human relation theory, employees are motivated to work hard if their social factors are put into consideration. The social factors that the theories that are integral in this case include personal attention, encouraging employees to work in groups, better wages, and ensuring employees are satisfied with the jobs they are doing. Therefore, employee satisfaction enhances productivity. Other important theories that have influenced my understanding of good leadership include bureaucracy and theory X and Y. Both theories have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Answer the following questions
- A good organization should have proper structures that indicate the flow of information.
- A skilled manager must have three important interpersonal skills (technical, conceptual and human skills)
- A leader always leads the way, show the way, and guide the people to the preferred destination.
- When someone wants to be influential in the organization, he or she must understand to pull the people around them. Win their trust and convince them you have their interest at heart.
- We need mental models
A mind map
A good mind map should show the direction which the organization needs to take to achieve the set organization goal. A good mind map should also have organization employees in mind and show the employees the right direction that they should take to achieve the set organization goal.
- Answer the following
- What Burke attributes to an increase in productivity at Hawthorne
Burke indicated that worker productivity increases if the organization meets the psychological stimulus of the employees. Employees if all the psychological needs are met, and this only takes place if there is constant communication between the employees and the managers.
- The Hawthorne studies identified autonomy as one of the motivators of employee
Performance. What is it, and how does it help people stay satisfied in their job?
Hawthorne experiment identified important predictors of job satisfaction as being recognized by the firm for the recognition that an individual has placed, involving the employees in the decision making process, and appreciating the effort of each employee.
Where do you see evidence of the Human Relations movement today?
Human relation movement is common in a successful organization where employees are united together to demand an increase in minimum wages or good work environments. Unlike in the past, where the focus was on productivity, modern society guarantees employee satisfaction as the key to achieving the set organization goals.
(D). Hawthorne Studies Impact
- Use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to examine the personal needs of someone on your team or that you supervise.
Since I am at the lower level of management, I interact mostly with people within the same rank. As a result, the personal needs of my best friend are basic needs that include food, shelter, and clothing. Once these needs are met, my best friend’s next need is safety, which is mainly associated with the security of the place he stays and works. Therefore, my best friend is more concerned about basic and safety needs.
- Explore ways to increase their motivation, satisfaction, and productivity
One way to increasing employee satisfaction is to prioritize and reward talents, ensure there is flexibility in the jobs that the employees perform, and encourage communication within the organization. Other ways include proper training and allow the employees to shape their role without interfering with the work that they perform. Promote good health by ensuring the working condition is favorable and fit all the employees and, lastly, promote career advancement because most employees get satisfied if the organization supports their career growth.
- Answer the following group discussion questions
What made Taylor’s Scientific Management so popular during his time? What was his downfall?
The theory became so popular because at the time, most people who motivated with what they get in return. It was a piece-rate where employees were assigned duties to perform, and once an individual is done with what they are doing, they can move to the next job. As a result, there were individuals who were motivated with what they get as a return from the assigned duties.
The downfall of the theory
The theory forgot the psychological wellbeing of the employees and made people work like machines. For instance, people worked without rest time, and this leads to increased job dissatisfaction.
Taylor embodies the structural frame. Why do you think this was his dominant frame?
The theory was mainly concerned about the organization systems and not human beings who are the most integral resource of any organization. The structures were common because most managers believed that with good structures in place, employees are meant to follow the laid structures.
- What are the pros and cons of the Structural Frame?
Advantages
Employees are quite conversant with what is expected of them because they spend most of their time perform doing the same job.
Disadvantages
There is a lack of flexibility if the laid organization structures are to be followed in the organization. Again, a lot of time is wasted as employees are expected to follow the laid organization structures instead of focusing on the work they perform. Employees are also forced to do repetitive jobs that lead to the monotony of work and boredom.
F.
- From a power perspective, why are first-line supervisors more vulnerable?
They are more vulnerable because they directly deal with the people who require understanding the people and the problems that they face at their workplace.
- What can first-line supervisors do to gain more power within organizations? What are the sources of power they can leverage to increase power? Give an example?
Work closely with the employees because the power is with the employees. This includes building trust with the employees and winning their hearts as one way of gaining power and control from them.
- Why do the authors think you need to be conscious of this frame in order to be an effective leader?
It is important not to consider the organization structure alone but also focus on the people. Being people conscious is the key to achieving organizational goals.
- How my organization works
My organization uses the bureaucratic theory of management, where employees are required to follow the set rules and regulations. Rules and regulations are made at the top of the organization, and employees are expected to strictly adhere to set rules.
The observation made about my organization reveals that a lot of emphasis is placed on strict adherence to the set rules and not increasing employee satisfaction.