Organizational Behavior Chapters 13-16, Coursework Example

Chapter 13

What levels of conflict may be present when individuals embrace the attributes of the diversity competency but those attributes are not shared by coworkers?  Explain.

The levels of conflict may imply the concerns of interpersonal (within an individual), intrapersonal (between individuals), intragroup (within a group) and or intergroup (between groups)have their preferences of competency in the diversity culture Either of the population status may include a variety of conflict issues and events such as interpersonal styles, negotiation strategies and diagnostic processes of behaviors in an organization. A demonstration of subordinates’problem solvingon work stress, fulfilling skill set, quality of locus control is imperative to the competency attributes in the diversity culture. From the demonstration of employee-relations approach, theelements of behaviors can improve co-work work performance by watching how a skilled employee do his/her job as in an influencethe balance of role conflicts that usually occurs in organizations.

Reread the Teams Competency feature on IBM’s cross team workouts.  What levels of conflict were addressed through this conflict management approach?  Explain.  What interpersonal conflict-handling styles are illustrated? Explain.

Intergroup conflicts were addressed through this conflict management approach at IBM’s cross-team workouts.  The issues of raw materials, financing, and sales that hinders their ability to allocate resources within departments, which causes communication barriers between teams, departments, divisions, and top managements between first-level managers.  Intergroup refers to personality and behavior disputations toward to a member within a group. The personality and negative behavior characteristics may display distrust, rigidity, a focus on self-interest, failure to listen, and the like.

At IBM, they created a Market Growth Workshop as an incentive for cross-team employees to deliberate on inter/intrapersonal issues and resolve on the area of weakness of each person or each group. Thus, IBM adopted a interpersonal conflict-handling style, the task interdependency in which refers to the interrelationships required between two or more groups in achieving their goals. IBM senior officers would require managers and employees to take accountability to attend the workshop as they see it is necessary to improve on operation processes.

Give personal examples of (a) approach-approach conflict, (b) avoidance-avoidance conflict, and (c) approach avoidance conflict.

In an approach-approach conflict situation that I once experienced was that I had two deciding alternatives of two projects, which both are of top priority that needs to be complete by due dates. One task requires a serious research for my group project, while other requires a serious research for my own thesis. However, both are for academics. The positive outcome for the first project is that I used the information pertaining to my thesis, while my thesis will reduce my time doing research on a different subject. I decided to use my group members’ partial projects to help my thesis on the same subject being discussed in my group project.

In an avoidance-avoidance conflict situation, my personal experience at an employment was that I had to choose to commute one hour and half distance to work or take a commute local train to work. the negative outcomes for both alternatives was that I would get too tired to drive a long way and or get too anxiety to watch other disrespectful drivers or that I may be too tired to hear people talking across the seats of the train cars or walk-by people bumped into my seat to wake me up.  Either way, I do not get any peace in this avoidance-avoidance approach.

I had this Approach-avoidance conflict experience at my previous place of employment. What is good about the old job is the pay, which it was very good, but the job description of a namable job title was too lame, and too easy and I felt I am not learning anything out of the job and felt that there is no hope of career advancement. Anyone who learned my job title, they would think that is a prominent job, but they do not know what is behind the job title.

Chapter 14

Review the Diversity Competency feature entitled “Chubb’s Business Case for Diversity”.  In what three ways do you agree and/or disagree with this business case for diversity?

The demographics of each ethnicity group do make a great contribution to an organization based on their keen talents and expertise in the area of where it can show sustainable returns for the organization. Thus, I do agree on how demographics can contribute to the organization and to the community. The buying power yields market growth is not always true as it is said.

I have this believe that it has something to do with diversity, because for that reason is because of marketing drive–the products is what attracts consumers the most, the positioning of a product, and how the product present to the consumer is what sells, diversity is an extra bonus to the marketing a product. Hence, I would rather for my own organization to focus on product life cycle instead of marketing ethnicity of my product. Lastly, I do agree with the business imperative context, the concept of productive employees with diverse talents does enable the valuation of diverse customers.

Review the “Shoes for Crews Reduces Risk and Uncertainty” Change Competency feature, then visit the company’s website at www.shoesforcrews.com.  Has this firm effectively communicated how its shoes help to reduce safety risks and uncertainty for employees and firms?  Explain.

Shoes for Crews has communicated effectively on how its shoes help to reduce safety risks and uncertainties for employees and firms if there is a slip-fall accident including broken bones.  This inception program has reduced 81% by 90% of Shoes for Crews staffs wearing them. The slip/fall related claim (s) is below 75%. A further research is still undergoing for more hypothesis for slip-resistance durability on other companies.  The company offers safe, comfortable and style for everyone and there is no other shoe company can compete on shoe-resistance durability shoes.

What are three differences between evidence-based management and political decision making?

Evidence-based management is a design for your own eyes only and cannot duplicate or replicate any information pertaining to decision-making process and restrict a number of leaders to have an access to the course of action information.  Any type of qualitative research to gather evidence is reserved to a safe place. In contrast with political decision-making, inwhich, describes a personality learned behavior that learns the situational tactics, i.e., goals, interests, and values of population’s demands.  The political decision making can be share to its members of all of government programs and services and take inputs from the public to make changes to make a generalized decision.

Chapter 15 Fedex

What aspects of differentiation and integration are illustrated in this case?

The aspects of differentiation and integrationare the stakeholders’ growth and merged company profit growth.  Top officers replaced with different skill set and manager leadership marketing style and the stakeholders were the friends of friends of Kinko’s family and friends. Which, it is difficult for most companies that do not have strong network platform. A home office supplies and equipments was not provided anywhere before this company. So, consider that FedEx is a frontier for home office business that needs supplies for personal and business use.

What concepts of vertical design are highlighted?

Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability is one of the concept of vertical design to exercise the acceptance of authority to make decisions, whilst lower level people takes the responsibility of actions and willing to hold accountable for any business discrepancies .A highlighted span of control concept is an explication of organization design, by holding size constant and narrow spans of control to more hierarchical levels.

What is Fedex Office and Print Services’ business strategy?  That is, how does it compete in the printing services industry?

Organizational retrenchment strategy and merger and acquisition strategy were the plans that FedEx Office service used in implementation to execute the actions of marketing home office supplies and equipments. The only thing that is competitive is the quality of the standardized information technology system that can take as many servers nationwide and globally efficient and effectively.

Chapter 16 Wegmans

Using the values listed in Table 16.1, describe the culture of Wegmans.

A good reputation, result oriented, and competitive, and professional growth is the goal of Wegmans grocery store. A role modeling, Teaching, and coaching employees on customer services and build an efficient customer relationship with the store representatives. This is in order for customer to feel comfortable to ask questions that concerns them and enjoy their shopping experience to the maximum.

What is the primary source of Wegmans’ culture?  How has Wegmans been able to sustain the culture? Go to www.wegmans.com and search under “About Us.”

The primary sources are integrity, respect, care, empower each employee with success. According to the Wegman’s highest standards of customer excellence, not excluding the decision-making process on work performance, and provide quality of benefits to the customers and to the company as well.

What are some threats to sustaining Wegmans’ culture?  How can these be overcome?

Employees may not adhering company’s policies and guidelines on customer service relations, turnover may occur due to conflict of interest or not demonstrating an ability to adapt to Wegman’s philosophy and culture. Employees may did not report on any issues that is vital to the store and causing customer to be distraughted with the service rendered.  The threats may resolve through one-on-one meeting or a group meeting on a topic relating to customer service relations. A presentation on how to attack problems more effectivelyand regain customers’ satisfaction and customers’loyalty respectively.  Employees may participate in incentive programs in order to improve professional communication skills and gain the valuation of self and for the company.