Sunday, April 15, 2012
EQ test
Your Score: 44
35 - 44
You have slightly above average EQ - with room to grow! You are likely sensitive to the emotional climate of the people around you - your peers, friends, family and key clients. You are well aware of the effect your behavior has on others. Still, while you may be adept at tuning into others and their needs - you must remember your own! Don't be afraid to honestly communicate these difficult needs and feelings. The world is well stocked with martyrs - it doesn't need any more! Think also about your passion for work (or whatever constitutes your main roles in life - manager of people, doer of tasks, 'meeter' of clients' needs, etc). We spend countless hours in our given roles - sometimes without much joy or satisfaction. In the process we become tranquilized by the trivial. Sedated by the small details of life. Sure, the laundry needs doing, the groceries need getting, the kids need chauffeuring, the deadlines must be knocked off, but we also need to stop and remember what gives us great joy and meaning. If we fail to remind ourselves (on a regular basis), we risk becoming hostile and cynical. We lose our purpose. And this translates to a diminished ability to be effective, at ease and fulfilled. Areas to work on: Ask yourself: - What situations generally create tension and stress for you? How are you handling these situations? - What negative thoughts play over and over in your mind on a regular basis? Are these a true picture of reality? - Are you afraid to share your needs and feelings with others? Is it because you are taking care of everyone else - being a martyr - or acting 'the strong, silent type'? What 3 things give you the greatest meaning in your life? If you work on gaining clarity in these areas, you will move toward maximizing your full potential and finding greater effectiveness, happiness, and fulfillment in your life. As William James said: I have no doubt whatever that most people live, whether physically, intellectually, or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness... much like a man who, out of his whole body organism, should get into the habit of using and moving only his little finger... We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon, of which we do not dream.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Right Brain/ Left brain quiz!
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(12)Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Case Study : Forgotten Group member
1: Identify the 5 group development stage
First stage - (Forming) - Ice breaking starts here. (Introduction, team leader election)
- (In the case) A group was formed having Christina as the 'team coordinator' along with 4 of her members Diane, Janet, Steve and Mike in the first meeting.
Second stage - (Storming) - Brainstorming process takes place here along with different perception, opinions and ideas regarding the work.
- (In the case) As different group members have different personality such as Diane she's quiet, Steve being a business-like person, Janet being the reliable one, and Mike being absent due to his reasons.
Third stage - (Norming)- This stage is where responsibilities are being distributed among team members, and having a goal alongside working hard with each other.
- (In the case) Well assuming, the goal is set and responsibilities distributed; however with Mike not present, the team does not achieve a maximum potential of 'norming'.
Fourth stage - (Performing) - Having their workload done, and performing transcendentally in each of their part effectively best describe this phase.
- (In the case) All the team members including Mike handed in their part although he only hand in a rough handwritten note
Fifth stage - (Adjourning) - The phase wear the team fulfill its purpose and can be disbanded.
- (In the case) The project is done but based on the peer evaluation marks of each of the member might be different depends on how Christine sees it.
2. Identify and describe the causes if conflicts in the case
-> One of the major causes of the conflict revolves around Mike, as he has a different personality compare to the rest
-> Workload was distributed but not time management
-> Mike felt offended when there was a 'meet up' and he felt 'left-out'. (As a result of not resolving the problem earlier)
3. Suggest the approach to leadership best suitable for the case
->Country-Club Management approach
Assignment 3 : Of Theories and hierarchy
Limitations of McGregor's Theory X Theory Y
What is theory x?
-> Managers believe that most of the people are self-centered
-> Motivated by only physiological and safety needs
-> The team have negative elements (lack of ambition, creative ideas, problem solving skills, avoid taking risk)
-> Managers in this theory 'distrust' their employees, therefore leads them to be authoritarian
What is theory Y?
-> Managers set their trust into their employees
-> They believe employees have their own set of skills and perform well in one or many parts of the project/work
-> They also believe, the team would take responsibilities, risks, and are self-disciplined.(blank cheque)
-> Last but not least, most employees are motivated by the matter of needs which actually is as contrast as the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Limitations
->the methodology was flawed ( as his sample does not fall at both end of the extreme instead to be on a continuum of both)
->A company rather should not focus on one theory as the working environment requires both theory to be on the table. (One person can 'wear many hats' and if an employee is exposed and involve alongside learning the authoritarianism side of his/her leader, he would know more 'tricks of the trade'.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs .
(Physiological needs) -> Air, water, food, clothing, and shelter
(Safety needs) -> Physical, environmental and protection
(Social needs) -> Need for love, affection, belonging, and friendship
(Esteem needs) -> Internal esteem and external esteem
(Self-actualization needs) -> Urge of becoming what you are capable off, need for gaining more knowledge, experience, creativity and finding room to grow.
Limitations
-> Not all employees has the equivalent set of needs (most powerful unsatisfied need motivates the individual)
-> 'Starving artist' issue (basic needs not satisfied yet striving for fame and recognition)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bob Knowlton (Assignment 2)
Analyzing their roles
Bob Knowlton (team leader) - prefers, team collaboration, dishonest, conform, hardworking
Fester (a newcomer in the team)- Self-confident, Aggressive, Intelligent, prefers to work alone (not participative), grab every opportunity given
Jerrold (superior) - does not analyze, does not take concern, high expectations and expects good results
1) Discuss the reasons why what happened.
Bob Knowlton, a head project person with a team often get the job done. With his superior, Jerrold considers his work performance to be very competent and efficient. Alongside, came a newcomer named Fester who was a self-confident, experienced and intelligent person. With Fester on the same team under Bob Knowlton, team dynamics were starting to crumble and Knowlton felt his position was challenged and threatened. Fester also did not attend meetings and prefers not to attend them. At one presentation, Fester presented about a project given by Knowlton himself and performed transcendentally. Soon after, Knowlton praises towards Jerrold about Fester work but at the same time he begin to consider a new job at a new company.
Terms that affect these events.
- Did not take note off
- Does not take the initiative
- Does not voice out
2) Consider the personalities involved, especially Knowlton and Fester and the organizational characteristics.
- Knowlton resigned at the end although still have a bone of contention regarding Fester
- There was not much of a decision making approach between Knowlton and Jerrold when she brought Fester over to the firm.
- Fester being part of team, Knowlton felt his losing his identity. To add on, Knowlton felt that his power was being threatened.
- There were not much of Socialization although, Knowlton insisted Fester to attend the meeting
- Jerrold did not think twice on the the team dynamics when she put Fester under Knowlton's care, she was just seeking for equifinality. Also, as one part of the organizational works in teams, Fester was not a team-oriented person as he is more of a solo person which did not lead to value congruence.
3) Imagine yourself in the position of Dr. Jerrold at the end of the case, reflecting back over the events. Is there anything you could have done, on the basis what you knew or could have known at the time. that would have led to a more favorable outcome? State your reasoning.
If was Dr. Jerrold I think twice before taking in Fester as hiring him could be a double- edged sword situation. One of them leads to team disorientation such as Bob Knowlton's case, however; the other end is if such person is hired in the near future, communication between peers and subordinates are harder to coordinate as one or a few of them prefers to work or take a bulk of work for themselves. Although, it seems like a benefit to the other
team members, but if they wanted to be part of it, that particular individual would be a loggerhead. However; if Knowlton has already resigned, I would ensure his resignation would not be as water under bridge instead understanding and learning why did he resign under such short notice.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
continue tutorial week 2+
Which of the 3 approaches (functional, Meaning-Centered, or Emerging Perspectives) to organizational communication do you think better describes organizations? Why?
Functional approach - understanding organizational comm by describing what msg do & how they move (main 5 surveillance, correlation, transmission, entertainment, and mobilization)
Describe a circumstance you have observed when organization communication influenced effectiveness.
(no experiences) but as customer I see many organization communication
Monday, January 30, 2012
Presentation 1 (MCH 208)
Presentation 1 : Strategic organization communication
Introduction :
What expectations does each of these generational groups have about life and about organizations?
- The older generations ( Gen X and Baby boomers) does more hard work and focuses more on autonomy than empowerment
- Views retirement as a whole new chapter in life
- Generation Y, however, does work smartly and much more innovative, practices empowerment
- Prefers to communicate with people, through text messages, IM, emails than face-to-face
What messages and experiences have contributed to those expectations?
- For the Gen X and Baby boomers working without the 100% of the aid of technology, requires them to work harder.
- Companies excels on getting good employee, by ensuring their employers and managers make use of their power
- Generation Y gradually grows up with technology aiding them in performing their jobs better
Over what issues are the 3 groups likely to have conflicts? Why?
- Over technology/media issues
- How spoiled the Generation Y are (library, large variety of food)
Main course
To which if any of the three generational groups do you belong?
- Generation Y
(Reasons : Technology, environment, people that I mingle with)
How do your expectations and experiences similar to theirs?
-Freedom
-Innovative, creative and sociable
- Involvement and commitment and getting the same amount of output aswell
Over what issues are you likely to have conflicts with members of the 3 groups? Why?
- The generation gap issue
* Fashion
* Media(s)
* Education
* Problems handled
Are the strategies chosen by Generation Xers appropriate to the situations they face? Generation Yers?
-Generation X strategies would not be agreeable towards Generation Y. (Due to technology, ideas, exposure, and experiences)
-The common ground between these 2 generation is technology, the communication and how they carry it out is different
What effects are their strategies likely to have on their relationships with their supervisors in traditional firms? With their co-workers? With their subordinates? Why?
- Generation X prefers more of an autonomy approach than collaboration. Having less informal communication with co-workers and subordinates.
- practices closed system (organizations that lack of input communication making it difficult to make good decisions & stay current needs of society)
-Generation Y prefers more of *set of a work-life value* and collaboration. Therefore, the message structure is much more different.
- practices open system (focuses more on customers need/wants)
Conclusion
-Different generation has their own methods to communicate, handle work, present and manage
-Adaptation and respect people's choice should be present as nobody wants to get on the wrong side of anybody in the workplace
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Week 2 tutorial (Continued)
Question 2 : Describe the culture of the same organization
Based on my personal opinion, the culture of the organization various differently when the franchise are in different part of the world. For example, a country like Malaysia, the staff and manager must adapt to the culture there, wearing decent clothing, food served which are halal and no pork, also language used must include the local language.
Besides that, the advertisement and use of language should be carefully checked as it might offended the local people due to the interpretation of message sent by the organization.
Question 3 : Debate whether or not we should view communication as the fundamental organizational process
With communication, an image of a company can be maintained. Thanks to the P.R department, a company's reputation can be rapidly increased and any accident can be damaged control. As for the H.R department, their job is too recruit people and ensure the employer and employees get along well which and where communication is taking place
Week 2 tutorial (question 1)
Question 1 : Describe an organization that you know well. Identify message functions and the structure of that organization.
The organization im describing is McDonald. Its a fast-food franchise that its restaurant can be found in mostly every country in the world. In the restaurant they send messages on orders of food by using computers, food ordered on the menu are being key in the system sending it to the kitchen where the cooks will take care of the order.
Besides that, message from the organization to the society are frequently communicated through various medium such as flyers, television commercials, and their website. This frequently happens when there is discounts, new meals, new items on the menu, and promotion on certain food . This is the organization chart, taken from http://www.theofficialboard.com/org-chart/mcdonald-s
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