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Managing Organizational Behavior In all organizations

In all organizations, regardless of size, it is important for management to create a safe and nurturing environment for all employees. To create this type of environment management needs to understand: employee behavior; organizational culture; the need for diversity; a formal code of ethics; strong communication; and how to promote and manage change.

Managing Organizational Behavior In all organizations, regardless of size, it is important for management to create a safe and nurturing environment for all employees. To create this type of environment management needs to understand: employee behavior; organizational culture; the need for diversity; a formal code of ethics; strong communication; and how to promote and manage change. Analysis The first step is to understand employee behavior and to manage that behavior. The behavior of employees within and organization is called "organizational behavior." To manage organizational behavior, an organization needs to focus on hiring, maintaining, developing and utilizing the skills of their human capital. In addition to maintaining quality employees, it is important for an organization to monitor and manage employee interactions with their coworkers and their customers. By understanding these interactions and the skills of each employee, manager is able to place employees in positions they are best suited for. Placing the best employee in the best position allows the organization to develop and grow using the strengths of each employee. This also promotes positive behavior amongst employees which ultimately will result in strategic advantages for the organization (Hitt, Miller & Colella, 2006). The second step is to create a culture where employees want to work and are empowered to make decisions. To do this, the culture of an organization should be developed from the top down. Management should outline the expectations of "shared values, beliefs, and norms that influence the way employees think, feel, and behave" (George & Jones, 2005, p535). These expectations inform, guide and motivate employees to participate in activities which are best suited to help the organization grow. This culture often becomes a way of life for the employee as well. Often employees find themselves acting outside of the organization as they do inside. Indirectly, employees represent their employers when this culture becomes a part of their daily lives. Whole Foods Market is a prime example of both organizational behavior and organizational culture which thrives internally and externally. Whole Foods Market believes that each employee of the organization is a key member supporting and promoting organizational growth. Teams meet frequently to discuss their objectives and to recognize the work of fellow team members. Employees are driven to succeed in their personal goals with full support by management. They are also encouraged to have fun with their jobs and coworkers. The culture that has been created at Whole Foods Market is that of openness, honesty, support, and simple enjoyment. This culture flows over to their customer service as well. Customers can see that employees enjoy what they are doing and where they are working and are pulled into the culture. Many customers are return customers, not because of the products and services provided, but because the behavior of employees and the culture created are inviting for both employee and customer (www.wholefoodsmarket.com). Diversity within an organization provides a competitive edge for organizations that embrace diversity. Having a diverse human capital means having a well mixed base reflecting men and women, different age groups, and different cultural backgrounds. This diversity in human capital provides a variety of views on the overall needs of the organization and what options are available to obtain them. With organizations moving to global levels, it is important that they understand the needs and wants of their employees and customers in foreign countries. The best way to do this is to consider what motivates those employees or customers to work and to buy products. Diversity within an organization can help to ensure process and product development takes this information into consideration. Organizations may also use diversity committees to motivate employees of specific gender and/or nationality to develop a culture within a culture. HSBC has a number of diversity committees throughout the World. Some teams are within a site, some within a state, and others span the globe. My manager is the president of the Latin American Diversity Committee; and though more than half of the committee is located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, she does work with committee members in Mexico, Central and South America. This committee meets twice a month to discuss how they can contribute to the growth of the organization as well as increasing knowledge throughout the organization on what it means to be Latin American. Each diversity committee covers some form of education for the organization once a year and growth opportunities for the organization on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Organizations need a formal code of ethics to ensure employees are positively representing the organization to fellow coworkers, customers, and any contacts outside the organization. The concept of ethic is that a person is not performing a function or service to improve their status without regard to how their performance affects those around them. This policy will outline what is what the organization deems right or wrong on all topics which have ethical and/or moral implications. Code of ethics policies are based on how people are treated as human beings regardless of gender, age, color, or background. Maintaining confidentiality of personal information and providing support or products based on the customer's needs and not the personal goals of the employee will also be addressed. In most circumstances, behavioral expectations and diversity are two topics specifically addressed in the code of ethics policy. To ensure employees throughout the organization, regardless of their level, require constant communication as well. Communication from upper management down is key to ensuring all employees are in the same frame of thought as upper management. Providing clear and strong communications, with no room for interpretations, will ensure the organization is providing everything employees need to act in the best interest of the organization. This information can come straight from upper management or from a line manager. Regardless, the information needs to be clear and direct. At a prior employer, communication was not provided often. Directives and goals for the organization were not clearly stated or followed up on. This left employees wondering "what now?" When management did finally come out with a communication, it was usually too lat to correct the damage that may have already occurred. Had information been communicated early, any potential issues may have been provided. The final step is promoting and managing change within the organization. Change is an important part of organizational growth. Sometimes, however, change is viewed as a negative process by employees instead of a positive one. Though change can be due to negative responses from customers, the process of change should be a positive act. Change is usually implemented to enhance a process or product. The end result is to provide enhanced services or products to increase customer satisfaction and/or to increase organizational standing. Managers should ensure that they closely follow steps needed to ensure a smooth and positive change is completed. This type of change will allow employees the opportunity to buy into and support the change that is occurring. A big part of this process is providing communications to all employees or customers being affected in a timely manner. The communications should detail the effective the change will have on employees, if any, and outline the steps that will be taken to ensure the change is implanted as quickly and smoothly as possible. Once the change has been implemented, management is then responsible for continuing to motivate employees to perform at new levels based on the change that occurred. When implemented properly, organizations will find that employees will support changes more readily and on an ongoing basis providing strong human capital for the organization. Summary All the aspects of organizational management above are important for organizations to not only survive, but to grow, in the current global business world we are in. Ensuring each aspect is managed appropriately will provide growth opportunities for the organization and employees within the organization. Organizations like Whole Food Markets and HSBC have developed programs to ensure each aspect is managed, monitored, and adjusted when needed. Keeping an eye on these aspects has permitted both organizations to adjust to surrounding changes and continually enhance their workforces. References Hitt, M., Miller, C., & Colella, A (2006).Organizational Behavior: A Strategic Approach [University of Phoenix ebook]. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2006 from University of Phoenix, Resource, MGT/344 – Organizational Behavior and Ethical Responsibility. Website: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource.asp George, J., Jones, G.(2005). Understanding and Managing Organizational Behavior [University of Phoenix ebook]. Pearson Education, Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2006 from University of Phoenix, Resource, MGT/344 – Organizational Behavior and Ethical Responsibility. Website: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource.asp Whole Foods Market. Retrieved April 20, 2007, from www.wholefoodsmarket.com HSBC. Retrieved April 21, 2007, from www.connect.us.com [ return to top ]