Chapter 3 – Three Early Perspectives on Organizations and Communication – Blog #1
In the beginning of Ch. 3, our author states that “all thought is partisan.” I love this statement, because too often times we tend to hold to our beliefs, experiences, and perspectives as being inclusive of all others’ experiences and perspectives. Recognizing that our thoughts are only part of a whole is the first step to achieving cohesion and thus progress in the work place, as well as in our personal lives.
On p. 65, the authors discuss some history of our hierarchical organizational charts. I appreciate the reference to Ben Franklin’s almanac. Too many people today, in business and social settings, have an unusual sense of entitlement. A little reflection on statements such as the ones cited on p. 65 can help shake some of the unrealistic ideals people have when entering the work force.
In this same section, the authors mention the “classical theory of management.” It is indeed amazing how companies, today, still embody the top-down communication approach to business. This type of communication is not only supported by those within an organization, but it also supported by those outside. Customers outside an organization often rely on hierarchical rank/status when dealing with a pressing issue. When a customer is dismayed and wants to seek resolution, they typically ask for a manager or someone higher-up the management ladder. In retail, many times you’ll hear “lower-rank” employees express satisfaction in knowing they don’t have to deal with customer complaints. Theory aside, the reliance on top-down communication is prevalent among managers, subordinates, and customers.
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2 comments:
Hi jdmINT - Your perspective on the sense of entitlement of some in the workforce is a good one. While in my experience this is not pervasive, even a small percentage of this behavior can be detrimental to an organization. I also find your point about the classical theory of management in relationship to customer dissatisfaction to be an interesting one. Customers who are not happy with service will definitely seek communication with a higher authority, and if an organization has not arranged itself in some sort of hierarchy, this can be disastrous. And although the classical management approach works well in this case, I have generally not found it to be an effective form of management in my experience.
Thanks for your feedback Roy Hobbs! It does seem that the classical management approach works well in some situations, but certainly not all. In order to be successful, companies should probably evaluate themselves and request feedback from various employees, customers, managers, etc. to help determine what structure works best for everyone. I think companies also need to be open to change. Perhaps one managerial style will work at one point, but then it may need to evolve at another point.
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