SBenegaL

Category: Organizational Behavior

  • Work Teams and Groups 2

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on work teams and groups. In today’s byte, we continue this discussion and understand some of the aspects of group behavior further.

    There are 4 important topics that are extremely relevant to the functioning of the group. We shall define these in the current byte.

    1. Norms of Behavior: These refer to the standards that a work group uses to evaluate the behavior of its members
    2. Group Cohesion: Refers to the “interpersonal glue” that makes members of the group stick together
    3. Social Loafing: Refers to the failure of group members to contribute personal time, effort, thoughts or other resources to the group
    4. Loss of Individuality: Refers to the social process in which individual group members lose self-awareness and its accompanying sense of accountability, inhibition and responsibility for individual behavior.
    We shall discuss these in greater detail in the next few bytes.

  • Work Teams and Groups

    In the last byte, we looked at how communication technology is playing a role in work-place communication. In today’s byte, we begin our discussion on work teams and groups.

    Let’s begin with simple definitions of these two terms:

    1. Group – could be two or more people with common interests, objectives, and continuing interactions
    2. Work teams – could be a group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common mission, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable


    From the above definition it would be interesting to note – all work teams are groups, but all groups are not work teams.

    It would also be good to understand an ideal benchmark – the following table highlights some characteristics:

  • Communication – Communication Technologies & Behavior 4

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on looking at how communication technology affects behavior. In today’s byte, we continue this discussion.

    Thus long we have been talking about modern communication means. These means however could push people to miss their social interactions – they would be working through their system all the while! Their social needs thus could be unmet – this would mean absence of the small talks; they would try to get to the point of discussion right away.

    Managers could increase their effectiveness in communication by making note these simple pointers:

    1. Strive for completeness in your message
    2. Build in opportunities for feedback
    3. Do not assume you will get an immediate response
    4. Ask yourself if the communication is really necessary
    5. “Disconnect” yourself from the technology at regular intervals
    6. Provide opportunities for social interaction at work.

    With this byte, we complete our discussion on Work Place Communication.

  • Communication – Communication Technologies & Behavior 3

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on looking at how communication technology affects behavior. In today’s byte, we continue this discussion.

    The new technology also enables the mangers get into multiple activities simultaneously – today’s managers can simultaneously make a phone call, reply to emails or even work on memos. These kinds of activities are called polyphasic activities. These activities allow the manager to multi-task; however the advantages are only to a certain extent. The diversion of attention across the various tasks/activities could quickly end up reducing effectiveness. We have discussed in depth about some cues into multi-tasking in the article here.

    It could eventually turn out that constantly focusing on multiple tasks could become a habit, and this would make it psychologically difficult for an individual to let go of work.

    Modern technology provides speed in execution and this makes people less patient with face-to-face communication too. Extrapolated, the inherent nature of a quick communication using modern technology could build up expectation of higher speed in other forms of communication! It is important to keep a good balance and understand that one might not like to be pressed to make choices just because there is a communication system available.

  • Communication – Communication Technologies & Behavior 2

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on looking at how communication technology affects behavior. In today’s byte, we continue this discussion.

    As mentioned in the last byte, it is clear that the modern communication means break the implication of hierarchy etc. In a group interaction settings too – this acts as an equalizer for the participants. The charismatic or higher status members have equal power as that of another member with a less power/authority. So it is possible that better decisions might emerge out of these discussion where everyone is on an equal footing, however it has also been found that computer-mediated groups take longer to decide, i.e. reach consensus compared to the face-to-face interactions.

    The ease of access to information at the click of a button also has another implication to the decision maker (let’s call a manager). This could just create a potential overload of information! The manager would now need to be more selective about the information accessed through these technologies!

    Another issue that arises through the use of this technology is the danger of intruding into the personal lives – managers can no longer get away from their offices unlike in the past – through modern technology they are more accessible to their coworkers, subordinates of bosses. The pleasure of an 8 to 5 job is not present any more!

  • Communication – Communication Technologies & Behavior

    In the last byte, we looked at the various technologies that were available today. In today’s section, we begin our journey looking at how Communication Technologies affect Behavior.

    Most of the technologies we discussed over the last couple of bytes form part of Information Communication Technology (ICT). ICT refers to the various technologies such as electronic mail, voice mail, teleconference, and wireless access which are used for impersonal communication. These technologies provide faster, more immediate access to information that any earlier technology. This instant exchange makes the concept of schedule and office hours irrelevant in the modern world – these considerations are less relevant if not completely irrelevant. Thus these technologies have an important influence on the behavior of people using these technologies.

    It is given that almost all forms of computer-mediated communication are impersonal in nature – the sender interacts with the machine (not a human being) and the receiver also interacts with the machine (not the human sender). As discussed earlier – flaming is definitely an issue in these cases. The tact, grace, etc are all lost and there is no element of interpersonal communication that would prevent the managers from being blunter when using ICT!

    The nonverbal cues that one relies to decipher a message is absent in the new technologies – gesturing, touching, facial expressions, eye contact are all missing so the emotional elements of message gets difficult to assess. Through Video Conferencing and the use of smilies in these communication means to certain extent this reduces – but there are still a lot of gaps present!

    It would be interesting to note, that the cues to the positions of power also disappears in the use of emails!

  • Communication – Information Technology 2

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on the various communication technologies. In today’s byte, we continue this discussion further.

    Continuing our discussion on the use of email in workplace communication, it is also been seen that the absence of face to face communication in emails could make some people feel much less inhibited when using email and could end up using e-mail and end up sending “caustic” messages! These emails containing caustic messages could also be called “flaming” email – given that these message have a hostile, abusive, or bullying content in them.

    Another technology that is available today is the “voice mail system”; these enable users to retrieve messages from remote locations! Fantastic right? However, timely retrieval of these messages is important – in case these messages are not retrieved in time – it could either be outdated (a message that you cannot act on given the delay in reading it). It is extremely possible that employees with a problem early in the day would feel upset with the slow response for their queries over the voice mail!

    Fax Machines are another piece of the marvel of information technology age – where immediate transmission of documents etc is possible. But with the increasing power of emails the use of these machines is slowly on the decline.

    Cell Phones we know today are completely a common place phenomenon – these permit communication while away from the office and commute too. With smart phones, the power of cellular communication is no different from a wired desk based communication! While the power of cell phones can provide us seamless connectivity, one would need to be careful about the use of cell phones while driving!

  • Communication – Information Technology

    In the last byte, we briefly looked at written communications tools generally used in an organization. In today’s byte, we look at communication technology in a bit more detail.

    Information technology that uses computers as a medium for communication is no more a tool that is built for the technical specialists – it has moved on to develop ability by which today’s managers can directly access information at the click of a button! Databases and ad-hoc queries are today commonplace – and these empower the manager with tremendous information that could help intelligent business decision making.

    Internet penetration is not just limited to just the access of databases – Electronic mail or simply e-mail that we so commonly use today is an extremely powerful tool. Face-to-Face or telephonic conversations are synchronous in the sense that they require both the sender and the receiver of the communication to be available at the same time; however e-mail frees up the requirement. The sender could leave a message and the receiver could access it at his/her own convenient time and reply. It also reduces the time-delays that are associated with the postal mail and has the potential to provide an immediate reply.

    If one is to choose between face-to-face communication and electronic mails – the preference; research shows, varies with the nature of the decisions and may depend on the complexity and content of what needs to be communicated.

    We shall continue this discussion further in the next byte.

  • Communication – Written

    In the last byte, we looked at how modern technology is redefining the communication, before we look at these technologies in a bit more detail; it would be interesting to look at and classify written communication where internet could easily play a role and taking them online. This blog deals with such written communication:

    Written communication tools in a work place could be one of the following classes:

    1. Forms
    2. Manuals
    3. Reports
    4. Letters
    5. Memorandums
    We shall try to briefly look at what role each of these performs:
    Forms typically find uses when there exist some predefined characteristics of the process need an input from the person interacting. Forms typically have a pre-defined number of fields that reduces the need to actively engage someone else from the work environment. Manuals detail out the policy and process and how they need to be functioning. Reports generally provide a status update of the activities executed. Letters and Memorandum are generally used for a more formal yet personal communication in organizations. Letters are formal communications often with people outside the organization, while memo are used inside the organization,

  • Communication – Advent of Modern Technologies

    In the last byte, we looked at Positive Healthy Communication, in today’s byte; we look at how the concept of communication is changing with the advent of modern technologies.

    Thus far in we have discussed how nonverbal behaviors act as important cues in establishing trust in a work setting amongst colleagues, however increasing use of modern technology seems to be complicating the reception of cues which would generally happen in a face to face conversation. This is not to state that modern technology used in communication should be avoided – it is an essential feature of today’s management style. It is really hard to imagine a work place today without access to internet, telephone, etc!

    It is not just the reaction time that gets reduced by the use of such modern technology, it also helps reduce costs if effectively designed and applied to use – One could easily think of how much a supply chain company like – FedEx could save by shifting the tracking of calls from a physical scheme to an internet based tracking!

    Today’s business managers have access to more communication tools than ever before and it is important to get an understanding on the use, influence of these technologies in the workplace – this could enhance the effectiveness of the work itself! In spite of all benefits it would be also interesting to look at the role of information technology in actually addressing the ethical issues at work!