Organizational Behavior

Concepts In Organizational Behavior

Understanding organizational behavior is a key concept in today's world. Once one understands the key concept, this will aid one in the understanding of issues concerning individual employees' interpersonal relationships within the organizations. Interpersonal relationships between the employee and management are one of the most important relationships one will nurture during one's business career. Managers interpersonal relations can be influenced by a number of learned behaviors, including social factors and beliefs. While managers have to be able to be flexible, creative, and have a willingness to change to new innovative ideas, they must also be aware that their actions affect all facets of the organization. Managers must be cognizant of the fact that they have a great deal of influence over employees and that they must use this influence in a positive manner (Lewicki, 2002). While management is looking at performance and quality improvement, they must approach all changes with caution. Employees are very cynical when it comes to change. Change can come in many forms. The natural resistant reaction to change comes from the fear of not knowing and future planning.

While the mission statement may stay the same, change must occur along the way to improve and streamline the process of the organization. An example of a recent change took place this month within the department of corrections is the change to the Washington administrative code (WAC) this was a major change to all levels of management, employees and inmates the (WAC) are the laws that govern inmates. There was no notice to lower and mid-levels of management in the change to the laws prior to laws going into effect. With no notice to the change in laws and policy the employees felt left out, and angry and resistant to the change along with the fear of what was to be expected of them. In short, the upper management choose the course of change that maximizes their expected outcome.

Organizational culture and diversity is very prevalent in today society. With the shortage in new employment applications a prospective employee can be more selective when accepting a job. The employee may question if this job will meet the need and expectation of an organizational culture. The employee will want to know if the employer has the same-shared beliefs and values. The employee wants to know if the employer supports workforce diversity. Sociability may not only be limited to the employee but also to management. The department of correction supports a diverse workforce in accordance to the current law. Within the departments workforce one will find the organizational culture. Within the department meetings are not uncommon for a number of employees to get together on their off time and have a discussion about non-work related subjects. Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see management during work to sit and have lunch with a line staff employee and have a discussion about work and non-work subjects. Although this happens less often then the average peers getting together on their off time. Many managers practice a policy of not to fraternize with line staff employees'. My belief is that when managers and employees of all levels are brought together it will enhance work performance and productivity.

While a manager may have a choice to fraternize with a line staff employee, he or she does not have a choice on communication. Communications are all around us, one uses them in his or her day- to- day living and one the job. Communication is one of the foundations to interpersonal relationships. John O. Morris, a Management Communications Consultant consolidates this problem into a single statement called the Morris Maxim. It states, "Communications problems grow much faster in any organization than the organization itself grows" (Morris 3). The need for better communication between managers and employees is an ever-increasing problem. In the 1800's organizational communication came from the top to down the hierarchical spoke in a straight forward to the point reminding with clear precise open communications messages to the mid-level and line staff one the policies, and objectives of the organization. Thus helping keep roomer and the grape vine information to a minimum. There are many forms of communication. The key to understanding communication is to be able to communicate between cultures, race, and generation along with many other characteristics. In my workforce today the department of corrections is very diverse with employees. The management needs to be able to communicate effectively to each employee because inadequate communications can be a leading pit fall of the organization. Communication is a process of sending and receiving feedback. The way one sends and receives feedback may vary from the employee to employee thus trying to eliminate the chance of misinterpreted communications. One way the department of correction communicates with its employees is face-to- face. When a manager meets face-to face with an employee to discuss an issue he or she is also using non-verbal body language. Both the manager and the employee can interpret the body language. Non-verbal communication can convey the expression of each individual.