Thursday, February 5, 2009
Organizational Culture - Section H
The culture of an organization can be powerful influence on one's success and satisfaction on the job. What dimensions distinguish one workplace culture to another? One theory that suggests that several dimensions exist at work. Adler and Elmhorst list eight dimensions listed on pgs. 64-65 in our text "Communicating at Work." Discuss in this blog which of these dimensions must exist in your future work situation for your individual success and satisfaction. Be sure to include your career/job aspiration and some details to how the dimension fits into your daily work life. Then, choose a dimension that you feel is your last choise and is a dimesnion that you do not feel particularly is necessary for your future plans. This blog post is due by the beginning of class on Friday, Feb. 6.
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There are eight dimensions that are said to distinguish organizational cultures. These include Sociability, Power distribution and job autonomy, Degree of structure, Achievement rewards, Opportunities for growth, Tolerance for risk and change, COnflict tolerance, and Emotional support. To be quite honest, I "don't know what I want to be when I grow up." However, I am majoring in business and will hopefully someday hold an important office position at a company of worth. Opportunities for growth must exist for me in my future job in order for me to be successful and satisfied. Without the hope for advancement within a company, that drive to make you work harder for more money and purpose, an undoubted feel of complacency would veil my potential. The least important dimension for myself would be emotional support. I do not need to rely on my superiors for comfort, that is what my friends and family are for.
ReplyDeleteAll eight dimensions are necessary for me to achieve satisfaction at the workplace. My career goal is to become an accountant at a small or medium-sized firm. I want to pass the CPA test to become a professional in the field of accounting. My top choice of the eight dimensions would have to be Opportunities for growth. I do not want to be stuck having the same job responsibilities for my whole career. I will be stimulated at work if I develop new skills and given new responsibilities. My last choice would be Tolerance for risk and change. Risk is not necessary if a company has been stable and successful for a long period of time. Change is needed sometimes, but it is not always necessary. Risks can help a company in the short-run, but in the long-term stability is key. Personally, I am not much of a risk taker. I will be a happy employee if I do have all eight dimensions.
ReplyDeleteAs a double major, I have a penchant for both accounting and psychology, but I do not have any specific career preferences beyond that. No matter which path I choose, though, my workplace philosophy remains unchanged. Being a minimalist by choice and finding little value in money, I am uninfluenced by achievement rewards and growth opportunities; I could not care less if I worked for minimum wage for forty years. What I do feel is important, however, is having sociability in small companies and emotional support in large companies; these qualities remind us that we are people working for other people in order to benefit another group of people altogether. The rest of the dimensions are just trivial aspects of design and objective found in any business or corporation.
ReplyDeleteI am currently studying Computer Information Systems major but as one of my side jobs I want going to become a instructor for teaching tennis. Sociability is my most important dimension for this job because my father also teaches tennis and it’s a family business right now. Being able to talk to him about our future lessons of the week is great because he is my father. Power distribution certainly my last choice of the eight dimensions because even though I sometimes teach with my dad I still am my own boss and charge my students with my own rates by the hour. I have nobody working above or below me, so power distribution is never a factor for this job.
ReplyDeleteAs an economics major having the 8 dimensions in my future employment is important for my success and satisfaction. The dimension that I believe that will give me this is the opportunities for growth. This is important to me because if I start at a low entry position in the company it's important to be able to work my way up. I don't want to be in the same position 10 years after I started working there. Knowing that I have the chance to move up in the company will give me better motivation to work. The dimension that would be least important for me would be the tolerance for risk. It is not always necessary to take risks especially if the company I will be working for is doing good. To be successful you can't always take risks and you need some sort of stability.
ReplyDeleteIn any business situation, it's always a positive to have Adler and Elmhorst's eight dimensions prevalent in your working experience. Some dimensions however, are more important and critical than others. Being a entrepreneurial studies major, I find some dimensions more crucial than others. I specifically would like sociability to be a existing dimension, where you are on a more personal level with your employees and co-workers. Also, I believe that achievement rewards is very important. Its good to know its accepted for you to accomplish tasks while being rewarded at the same time. This will hopefully will lead you to more success in your job. A last choice dimension, one that I don't think would be necessary for success is tolerance for risk. Sometimes taking risks can put you into trouble.
ReplyDeleteThe eight dimensions of culture which are indispensible to the success and satisfaction within the workplace include Sociability, Power distribution and job autonomy, Degree of structure, Achievement rewards, Opportunities for growth, Tolerance for risk and change, Conflict tolerance, and Emotional support. My aspirations in the job setting are to be a forensic accountant. Based on this job and my personality I feel that sociability, tolerance for risk and change, and emotional support are the top factors a company I peruse a job with must hold to be important. Sociability and emotional support are important to me because I need to be able to have confidence and trust among my co-workers whether job related or for personal reasons. Also, I believe tolerance for risk and change is very important as a forensic accountant because your manager has to be able to trust your instincts of cases of fraud, and support your ideas. The one dimension discussed by Adlerf and Elmhorst which I find to disagree with is degree of structure. I can’t be told to do the same thing every single day. That’s why in Forensic accounting you observe different cases involving fraud and forensics every day. These dimensions are very important in the culture of and organization, and determine satisfaction among employees.
ReplyDeleteWhile studying accounting and its job outlook, all of the dimensions look to be essential and complement with each other. If I were to select one that I did not see as important, it would have to be 'emotional support.' When I have something on my mind, I usually put myself to work in order to keep my mind busy. The need for having emotional support at the office would not be as essential as having 'achievement rewards.'
ReplyDeleteWhile making myself busier, I tend to be more productive, going above and beyond what is expected. By removing the emotional support, I have rewards, which can support me in a different way. Even if the rewards do not offset the emotions, then that is what family and friends are there to rely on.
As an accounting major with the career aspiration to be a certified public accountant, I believe that having all eight dimensions of organizational culture in my workplace would be ideal. It is very important for co-workers to have personal relationships, and to feel like "one big family," as described in the sociability dimension, along with the emotional support from one another. It is a necessity that there be a power distinction between management and lower level employees, and job autonomy allows employees to have freedom to make their own decisions. Accomplishments and growth opportunities are also very important because an employee needs to have a goal in mind when at work. A degree of structure also must exist in order for there for each person to have individual responsibility. Lastly, risk and conflict tolerance are vital for a company's well being. One dimension that I feel is not as important as the others are change tolerance because an accountant has day-to-day tasks, and change is not very common among this career.
ReplyDeleteAs an Accounting Major I feel that not all eight dimensions must exist in my future work situation in order for me to achieve success and satisfaction. The dimensions that I feel must exist are opportunities for growth and sociability. Although my major is Accounting, I do not want to just be an accountant for a company forever. I want to be able to move up in a company, which is why opportunities for growth are important for me. When I was working at Valley National Bank, there were no opportunities for growth for me; I was a teller and was going to stay a teller. This was unacceptable for me; I was bored after one year. Thus, I ended up leaving Valley National Bank for a job with a State Farm Agent.
ReplyDeleteAt this new job, I am a representative and have more responsibilities than I did at Valley. I also have an opportunity to move up at this job. When I graduate, my boss is willing to make a position for me at his office that has to do with Accounting. Now, I may not decide to stay at this job when I graduate but I do like the option. Sociability is also important for me because I have to be able to build a bond with my co-workers. It not only allows me to get to know my co-workers as individuals, but it will also help them get to know me and what I am about. A dimension that is not necessary for my future plans is Achievement rewards. The reason is because I am already driven in my career choice and do not feel the need to be persuaded with a reward to do my job better. Rewards would be nice but I do not require it in my future work situation.
As a marketing major, who has aspirations to one day be a NJ State Police Officer, I feel that Adlerf and Elmhorst's 8 dimensions are crucial in how i succeed at my profession. Sociability, Power Distribution and Job Autonomy, Degree of Structure, Achievement Rewards, Opportunities for Growth, Tolerance for Risk and Change, Conflict Tolerance, and Emotional Support make up the 8 Dimensions. Though I feel all 8 dimensions are all important in being a successful police officer, I feel a few are more important than the others. Sociability is important as for police officers are usually a close knit group of individuals. Partners must be even closer as for they watch each others back throughout the entire work day. Power Distribution is also important for as officers with higher ranks hold more power then lower officers in rank. Which makes Opportunities for Growth even more important so that successful people can climb the ranks and have more responsibility. One task I feel is less important is the Achievement Rewards, I feel that if you do your job well enough your reward will be the satisfaction of protecting your community.
ReplyDeleteBeing a marketing major, many of the eight dimensions of organization and culture are vital to the success and longevity of my career. Although all eight dimensions of organization and culture are crucial in becoming successful in the advertising and marketing field, some hold more true compared to others. Sociability, opportunities for growth, and tolerance for risk and change are what I find to be the most essential. Sociability is important because of the teamwork that is necessary to be competitive in the marketing field. I need to be able to be social with those around me. Opportunities for growth is important because in business you always want to move up and be more successful. Tolerance for risk and change is a fundamental part of marketing because you must take the risks to reap the benefits. Of all of the dimensions, I believe power distribution and job autonomy would be the least important because teamwork is imperative in marketing and job titles take away from the ease of working as one.
ReplyDeleteIn the workplace, almost all of the eight dimensions are important in my future work situation. In terms of my career aspirations, they will most likely lie within the marketing and advertising industry. Of the eight dimensions of organizational culture, the one that truly stands out in my mind as the most important and integral part of my future is the Sociability aspect. Sociability will allow me to interact with other employees and be involved with them on many different levels. Interacting with other employees will allow me to gain other ideas and beliefs and build upon other insightful bits of information. If I am feeling upset or tired from the day to day tasks in the workplace, others around me on the job can cheer me up and help me out with any problems that I am having. This connects with the emotional support dimension where my concerns will be sought out and responded to in a positive way. Although it is still essential in some ways, the least important dimension would have to be power distribution and job autonomy. As an up and coming employee I would not mind being looked down upon because of the different levels within the organization. When and if I ever do move up the different levels within my organization, I would expect to receive more respect and authority simply because of my maturity and loyalty, as well as the amount of time I had been with the company. Power distribution and job autonomy would also take away from the cooperative aspect of the workplace, and it would possibly take away from the sociability part of the company.
ReplyDeleteAs a business administration major, I have aspirations to be a top executive at a successful corporation. The dimensions that I feel are necessary in my future job are opportunities for growth, conflict tolerance, and sociability. Being that I want to be an executive someday and that you do not just get offered that position right out of college, the opportunity to move up in the company is necessary. Conflict tolerance is important to me because I want whatever organization I am working for understand when I disagree with an idea and that I am not disloyal if I do not agree with the company's every action. The third most important dimension to me is sociability. I want to be able to develop friendships with the people I work with because I believe that positive relationships between coworkers makes work more enjoyable and easier.
ReplyDeleteThe dimension that I feel is least important is achievement rewards because if you are performing your job well, then you have a better chance to get promoted and a promotion is greater than any other reward you could receive.
Being a finance major, with the aspiration of working for a pertinent firm on Wall Street one day, I believe Adler and Elmhorst’s 8 dimensions are crucial for an individual’s success within the workplace. However, in my opinion, some dimensions are found to be more significant than others. Examples of this would include opportunities for growth, achievement rewards, and sociability. An opportunity for growth is crucial for success because a person wants to know that diligence can help them achieve a higher position in the business world. Achievement rewards is important because an individual that goes above and beyond his or her duties should receive an incentive for their hard earned work. And lastly, I believe sociability is essential because co-workers will be able to network and share information easily, and at the same time, enjoys their time at the office. A dimension that I feel is not necessary would be emotional support. A person should never let their emotions interfere with their work. If someone is unhappy with work, they should talk to friends, family, or quit the job.
ReplyDeleteIn the future I hope to attain my own BMW car dealership and in this field of work, there are a couple of dimension that are necessary for me in accomplishing this goal. To even begin to achieve this goal there must be opportunities for growth. In order to become the head of any company you need to work your way up and this can only happen if there are opportunities for advancement within the ranks. You must be very sociable because it is through negotiation and communication that will allow you to not only sell cars and generate income but also be able to communicate well with superiors and subordinates. In this business one need to be sociable because through the use of good communication from all employees to customers is what will make your business succeed. Although management should show interest in the well being of there employees, I believe seeking out emotional support shouldn’t become a responsibility at work. One emotional support should come from friends and family back home. Using them as a shoulder to lean on will allow you to become a better and more effective worker.
ReplyDeleteI am currently a marketing major and psychology minor, I eventually plan on working for a magazine company. From the eight dimensions of organizational culture, I feel that they are all initially important but the ones I find crucial are opportunities for growth, achievement rewards, and tolerance for risk and change. First of all, I believe that there is no motivation in a job if you were to remain in the same position your entire working career; therefore, opportunities for growth is very important. Moving up in a company allows you to become noticed, perhaps by larger companies, possibly opening more doors to a greater successful life. Without being acknowledged, working for a company can become frustrating. Employees like to be praised when they are doing something right and many appreciate feedback on things they could be doing better. This allows achievement rewards to also be a great motivation and necessary. Finally, having tolerance for risk and change can lead to great success as well. In the marketing field, marketers have to take risks to hopefully grab the attention of people’s interest, which is constantly changing, hence my interest in psychology as well. All of the dimensions mentioned are all essential, as well as the other five, but if there were one that I believe was the least important it would be degree of structure. I am sure that when I do get into my career I will be well informed and prepared and there will be many others who could be more experienced and possibly have a better knowledge of my area and because of this I believe working together is acceptable, therefore the degree of structure would be my last concern in my workplace.
ReplyDeleteAs a business administration major, with plans to eventually own a business, I believe that Adler and Elmhorst's 8 dimensions are essential to look for in a company. I personally believe that the most important dimension would be the opportunity for growth. I know that I would never be able to take a job with no chance to advance further in the company. I feel that the opportunity to advance gives employees that extra incentive to work harder. I believe that the least important dimension is tolerance for risk and chance. While I do believe that both risk and chance should be used at times, I feel that they aren't always necessary, unlike the other dimensions.
ReplyDeleteThe eight dimensions are extremely important when trying to make it in the working world. As an accounting major, I hope to obtain my Masters of Accountancy and become a Certified Public Accountant. Sociability, opportunities for growth, and conflict tolerance are key dimensions necessary to achieve success and satisfaction in accountancy. The sociability dimension will help me to connect with my co-workers on a personal level. This will make work easier for both me and my co-workers. It will expand my horizons and open my mind to new ideas and concepts. It would help me network with people working in other firms; Networking is extremely important in the field of business. Opportunities for growth are something that is vital in accounting. I do not want to be stuck doing the same thing for the rest of my life. I want to move up in a company, rather than stay at an entry level job. I want to show responsibility and determination. I want to make a difference in the firm I work for. Through my hard work, I want to grow along with the company to higher and more challenging positions. When I go into an entry level job, I want to feel comfortable speaking up about problems I come across. I do not want to be miserable at my job. I would like to voice my opinion without being penalized. The dimension I feel is the least important is achievement rewards. An achievement should be rewarded with a simple “great job.” Accomplishing something at work should give a person enough of a reward. A formal reward from the firm should not influence how much of an effort a person puts into his work.
ReplyDeleteThe eight dimensions are important in any working environment as they distinguish organizations. Working with all eight dimensions present would be ideal but not necessary. Specifically to me I am a Computer Information Systems major and I am not exactly sure what I want to do but for the most part either in game design or networking. If there were two of the eight dimensions that I feel are most important to my future it would have to be sociability and opportunity for growth. This is because in past jobs I have worked in two different environments. One environment of which I worked employees did not know each other on a personal level and one which we did. The job where we had the sociability was more enjoyable and I did not dread going to work as much as I did at the other job. Also, I feel opportunity for growth is just as important. Otherwise you have the feeling that you’re at a dead end job with no new possibilities which can make someone only work hard enough not to get fired, instead of striving to improve to get a promotion or raise. These two I feel are the most important in the work place or in my future career yet having more would be ideal. As a least important dimension I would say achievement rewards only because I don’t think it is as necessary as the other dimensions. Having rewards such as praise and positive reinforcement are good especially when you go above and beyond the average worker, yet it would have to be my least important dimension.
ReplyDeleteBeing an accounting major, I know that accounting for a company will be a lot of hard work with long hours. So, of the eight dimensions of organizational culture, I believe that the most important one for me will be the emotional support. I feel that if I have support from both the company that I work for and my family, I would be able to stay strong and sane. If anything happens, I would know that I have people supporting me. The dimension that I believe will be the least important for me is a high degree of structure. I feel that if roles are too defined then no one will have a chance to stretch their creative muscles and help other co-workers, in other divisions of the company, which may be having a problem.
ReplyDeleteAll the of the eight dimensions of Organizational Culture are very important in the workplace. One that is especially important to me is sociability. Being able to communicate well with your coworkers will help to mold how your work week will take place. If you do not get along well with your coworkers and superiors, you will dread going to work and in turn not get the things done that you need to be getting done. Work can be stressful enough as it is, but if you do not have people around you who can help you when times get tough, work can be all the more stressful. I aspire to be in advertising. I have always said that I would love to be like Darrin Stevens from Bewitched and to be able to write jingles as my career. Where would Darrin Stevens have been without Larry Tate? Would work have been the same without his input and desire? Some may say that Larry Tate was really just nagging Darrin to get his work done, but without a friend like Larry, would he have? A risk like that is not worth taking, so being sociable is always a key aspect in having a career. One dimension I did not see myself as actually needing would be emotional support. I do not believe that it is the managers duty to actually reach out and ask about personal aspects of an employees life. If there is a personal problem with work, I see that as falling under Conflict Tolerance and that is something that I also feel as being absolutely necessary in the work place. In advertising, tolerance for risk and change is also necessary and important. Advertising is always a risk, but sometimes is it worth taking? You will never know unless you try it, so taking a risk is a big factor in advertising. Sometimes advertising is really a hit or a miss thing, so if you don't take risks you can miss out on something that is really great.
ReplyDeleteCurrently at Rider University I am double majoring in Accounting and Finance. My asparations after college would to become some sort of financial advisor in a medium size company. At this company I would believe Sociability is very important. I feel like without Sociability you won't be happy at work. If you're not happy at work their is no point of working that job at all. My number two would be Conflict Tolerance. I feel like this could be very important, because if you have an altercation with a boss or a co-worker you wouldn't want your job to be gone the next day. You need a work envirnment that is understand. Lastly I believe Tolerance of Risk is pretty important. Without risk your company can't grow and become what it potentially can. Risk is what makes companys grow, and if you will be fired for taking such risks. Then this company is not somewhere I would want to be. These are the three most important dimensions.
ReplyDelete-Eric B
According to Adler and Elmhorst, there exist eight specific dimensions that distinguish unique cultures among organizations. These components are sociability, degree of structure, power distribution and job autonomy, achievement rewards, opportunities for growth, tolerance for risk and change, conflict tolerance, and emotional support. These eight dimensions differentiate an organization’s culture and have a prominent influence among the employees and those who interact with the business. I plan on entering the field of risk management for a career, either with an insurance company or some other form of financial institution. In order to maintain success and be happy in my job, I feel two of these dimensions are absolutely necessary. The first would have to be opportunity for growth. The organization I join must be encouraging when it comes to expanding skills and responsibility. This concept is very important to me. I plan on continuing my education as far as I can take it, and I need a company that will back me up on such an endeavor. The second dimension I feel would be necessary is rewards for achievement. I consider myself a hard-worker, and I would like to be rewarded for my efforts. It does not necessarily have to be a monetary benefit, but I would even just appreciate a pat on the back for hard work. Who wouldn’t? I believe being praised for a job well done is important to stay motivated. My last choice in a dimension that I need in my career would be emotional support. Of course I want my employers to support what I am doing, but I feel that this is the least important dimension of all for me to be successful at my profession.
ReplyDeleteWorkplace cultures can differ vastly from company to company, as well as different sectors within a company. The 8 dimensions of workplaces that Adler and Elmhorst propose seem to cover all the areas that companies can very in. While no two companies can be the same, a worker can certainly find which areas he/she finds the most important, and what aspects of those areas does the company need to fulfill. I believe that my biggest category that I need to address is Job Autonomy. I cannot be in a job or even a field of a job that requires a worker to do the same type of work continuously. It is very important to me to find a job that will continuously challenge me, and show me new aspects of work that I have never seen before. I think above all, the fact that a job is continuously changing is the most appealing aspect of a job. I believe that Achievement rewards are another aspect that I look for in a career. I am not talking merely about getting respect or congratulations from superiors. I would like a job in which pay is determined on job performance, where every account that an employee takes means more to that person than just another account. I believe that people are enticed by a proper reward structure. My final aspect of workplace culture that I find the most necessary, is opportunities for growth. I believe that most people take this as a given in workplaces, however it is not. A lot of companies promote from the ranks, and take experience over performance, which of course leaves little initiative to its employees. That being said I would like to be in a company where it is possible to work your way up in a company and continuously challenge yourself on higher levels within a company.
ReplyDeleteThe dimensions that distinguish one workplace culture from another in my opinion are the way the main boss chooses to run his business and how the people interact with their work and if they like their job or not. The first dimension that is most important to me is defiantly sociability. I plan on getting a marketing job after school that involves a massive amount of teamwork and communication with my co-workers. Sociability is so important to me because this is the interaction between your co-workers and yourself. Could you imagine if you weren’t social at work, the days would just drag out longer and longer as they moved by until finally they would kill me from the inside out. I think sociability is the key factor that makes you want to go to work or at least lets you stop dreading it. The second most important dimension is an achievement award. If you’re working at the same job and working your butt off to your best ability, then I think, in my opinion that you should be rewarded. Also one day I would like to have a family of my own and for me to do that I would have to make a substantial amount of money and I would like to think I could do that with hard work. The last dimension that is important to me is the emotional support from the people I work with and my boss. I have a very big family and emergencies seem to pop up and awful lot and knowing that I had someone at work or a group of people that will be their to pull me back up on my feet takes major stress out of my life. The one dimension that I think that is my last choice is conflict tolerance. I’ve been taught to respect and listen to your boss and not to ever disobey. If I had a different idea I may pitch it but if it the boss doesn’t like it then it would be easy just to move on.
ReplyDeleteAll eight dimensions of organizational culture are imperative to my success in the workplace. My career goals are to work my way up in the promotional advertising sector of an international corporation. Traveling and working abroad are apart of my main aspirations. Sociability and Opportunities for Growth are vital to my success in the future. Being able to work with my peers on a personal level and as “one big family” will aide in my own personal success because it enables me to trust my coworkers and improve my work by asking for help and suggestions. Opportunities for Growth is also vital because having the ability to work my way up will keep me motivated and focused not just on the task at hand but also the further improvement of the company as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAs a finance major, i believe the top priority of our profession is sociability. The interaction between two or even multiple people can make or break a business. Once you set up a decent client base using this skill, the next most important is both conflict tolerance and tolerance for risk and change. With aspirations to work with people, managing their money and investments, these skills are vital to the job. When working in an environment such as the stock market where nothing is ever constant and various opportunities come and go, the ability to see risks worth taking is a necessary asset. Also when these risks turn bad, you must be able to recover and still make wise decisions. One aspect I don't see as important is degree of structure. When dealing with investments, many people may be involved or one person can control the entire portfolio. To me structure in the way isn't very important. Overall, interaction and the ability to adapt is the key to success in the field of finance.
ReplyDeleteBeing a finance and international business major I feel as though the 8 dimensions are vital to have in order to have a satisfying career. As an intern at football federation of Ukraine I feel that taking risks and the opportunity for growth are the dimensions I used most to have success in the work place. Without taking risks there is no change and without change there is no gain. That was my mentality coming into my role as an intern and it led me to success. I started off doing secretary duties and after speaking with my head manager requesting that I can do more for this organization if given the opportunity, I was presented with a high level of work. By taking risks it gave me the opportunity to advance in the organization. The dimension that I feel is least important is achievement rewards because if you are performing your job well, then your chance of promotion will increase.
ReplyDeleteYaro
I am a senior here at Rider and I will be graduating this May. I am continuing to look for a job, but with today’s economy, it has been very difficult and stressful. Every business culture is different. The dimensions of a business culture is soley decided on by the leaders/managers of the company. For me, I would prefer to work for a company that really cares about its employees. As Adler and Elmhorst put it, I would need Emotional Support. Another key characteristic I would prefer is Sociability. In the business world, it is important to work efficient in teams and I believe being on a personal level with your team will better the chances for success. One other key factor would be the Opportunity for growth. I would not be able to be efficient for a company if I knew I was not going to progress in the career path. One factor that I would not technically need is Achievement rewards. If I achieve my goals for the day/week/month/year, then that is rewarding in itself.
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