Oracle and Machiavellian Philosophy - Essay Example

 Oracle and Machiavellian Philosophy The Prince is among the important literature that can be related to organization performance. Niccolo Machiavelli, the author, contributed towards the scientific revolution in the early times. According to the scientist's, he emphasized on sovereignty and power. In his entire career, Machiavelli has been focusing on the finish line and with less attention to ethics, religion or morals. In his literature, he shows that how the prince is governing is distinct dramatically from how society expects the prince to govern. The purpose of the rule was the expansion and safety. Machiavelli's ideas are contrary to the current standards of business. As a result, The Prince seems to be a controversial book. The book aim was to analyze and explain the strategies that can be used to retain power and how to implement power as one is pursuing a greater goal. Hence, the book is about leadership, and it can be applied to a business executive in the current market. Machiavelli suggests that companies should completely leave ethics as they pursuit their self-interest or urges companies be very compassionate with their clients and every stakeholder involved in the business. The point of view is seen in these remarks from The Prince, "and it has to be noted that men must either be pampered or crushed…" (Machiavelli 10). The author claims that these are the only alternatives as corporation's objectives are to keep their customers, suppliers and employees in the highest regard. As a result, those hold will in turn maximize their loyalty to the company and harm the company; hence, increase its productivity. Hence, the options mean that the company cannot pamper its stakeholders though it should hold them and have a pummeling attack. However, Machiavelli suggests that the attack should be very tactical as they stakeholders can easily revenge against the companies due to the little damage the attack may cause. For instance, when a firm increases it prices by few cents, the consumers may want to fight back by making many complaints towards the company or deciding not to buy the goods. However, on the other hand, when a firm increases the prices at the higher range, the consumers will be surprised but still purchase the goods as they do not have any choice. The company is dedicated to creating quality products and services and as a result, the company has introduced unified process automation systems, services and products. Its goals are to have products and services that will ensure that they give automated systems integrated with diverse business analytic functions for the consumers. Oracle has focused on “pampering” all its stake holders. The key stakeholders that the company has placed them to the center of their operations are the customers. Oracle has implemented a Led-innovation strategy that ensures that the company all its services and products are aligned with the consumers’ requirements contrasting the internal company goals. Before introducing any product or services, the company tends to research on the customer’s needs. For its standards, the company has implemented the ethical principle of honest that is upholding the high standards for the Oracle Corporation. The principle provides honesty for the corporations and its employees as they deal with partners and stakeholders along with the company's customers. The company has embraced the ethical business ethics of honesty and with this code; the company gives its customers information openly as they balance the need for privacy and confidentiality. For its employees, Oracle promises competitive career opportunities, benefits, and wages. The company has kept its promises and pays its employees according to their agreement and as a result, the company holds is among the best-paying company and holds workers with good expertise and skills. Moreover, the employees also give health insurances to their employees. As for their suppliers, they are part of their business; hence they are expected to prosper with the company (Oldham 9). Therefore, Oracle has followed Machiavellian philosophy through pampering its stakeholders especially their customers. Oracle has not had any conflicts lately with any of their customers neither has controversial topics. Therefore, the implementation of Machiavellian has seen Oracle continuing being successful with every relationship it has with the suppliers, customers, and partners. Machiavellian argues that the first opinion formed of the intelligence of the ruler base on the men quality that is around him. When the men around him are loyal and competent, then the leader is considered wise as he can keep them loyal and recognize their competence. In this case, the author is emphasizing the significance of leaders involving themselves with quality people. Good leaders are supposed to select the best employees available in the labor market as it is very important to have the best expertise to interact with the customers. Often, the customers tend to associate with the company’s workers first. Hence, it makes the workers the company’s face. When workers show good qualities towards the customers like being knowledgeable about the services and products they are selling, the customer will likely have a good experience. Additionally, loyal employees that do not speak ill of the company makes it seem that they are well practicing their business ethics. Therefore, outstanding business ethics will have the business leader be praised for their good leadership. Oracle is known for hiring individuals with the best expertise and skills in the labor market. The company believes in the "one equal three" theory that emphasizes on having one worker who is as productive compared to three "good" workers. Oracle pays their employees hourly or annually approximately 18, 000 pounds per year. The salary is basis is not similar as the pay frequency, for instance, the worker with an hourly pay rate may have his salary but also have a weekly assignment to a weekly payroll. The company gives high salaries in retaining and luring only the most excellent talent. Following the higher wages, the company is also able to give much more pleasant working experience for the employees. Thus, Oracle workers ensure that the company customers get treated with fairness and utmost respect. Oracle workers ensure that the customers are given enough information and quality services due to the enough wages. Most of the Oracle employees’ benefits are unheard in the retail industry. The employees are aware of this; thus they remain to be loyal to the firm. Oracle’s Machiavellian tactic implementation has helped the company towards its success. Following its positions being filled with only employees with good skills and expertise, Oracle has reached a loyalty level that its key competitors cannot reach. The company’s rate of turnover is less than 4%; thus it means that almost every employee is very experienced in their positions and gives their best in their service. The company requires doing everything in its power in maintaining healthy relations with its suppliers, employees, and customers. “A man who is made a prince by the favor of people must work to retain their friendship” (Machiavelli 34). Moreover, Machiavelli continues arguing that it is possible for the prince as the individuals ask not to get oppressed. Machiavelli quote does have a less tyrannical and lighter meaning when compared to the most for Machiavelli point of view in the book. Here, the author explains that when a company is successful due to support and favors, the firm needs doing everything in its power in maintaining a good relationship with the employees, suppliers, and the customers. Through maintaining a healthy standing with the stakeholders, a firm ensures a continued solid and growth foundation. According to the author, marinating the friendship may not be hard as long as the stakeholder’s rights get protected. One of the thing that is significant every person is their freedom in a corporation. Allowing stakeholders to make their decisions along with having a micro-managing structure, firm tend to be very powerful. Moreover, giving the employees freedom can is a good way to create good relationships. The employees are let sometimes to work remotely, identify their vacation allowances and set their hours. According to Machiavelli, this is not only important to the workers but also benefits the companies (Schaeffer 2). Moreover, involving employees in decision making makes them feel more involved in the company and crowd more ideas to help the company to perform much better. Hence, they are given a sense of ownership to the company and work as if it were their company. as a result, it is important to consider Machiavelli philosophy in this case. Oral Corporation is a global technology firm that manufactures both software and hardware systems. The company also offers data storage services through cloud computing services and wide database development. The company is the world leader various business technology industry segments where the firm offers both software and hardware solutions. Despite other competitors like IBM giving some products and services, Oracle focuses on providing solutions. At various segments, it is the leading brand with some its products being preferred by the consumers. Its limited brand number significantly forces the consumers to decide to purchase the product. Moreover, their philosophy or objective of developing products and services that provide solution to the consumers makes the brand have more sales (Curtis 24). However, with many choices the consumers are likely to forego the product and make a choice instead and purchase the product or service. In this case, Oracle does not follow the Machiavelli philosophy of giving the consumers freedom and not oppressing them. Taking the customer's right of deciding the products that will be best for them to purchase, Oracle id oppressing the consumers. However, despite its oppression nature, this tactic has proven to be significant to the company. Each year, the corporation sales continue maximizing, and the number of customers also increases despite the competitive market. IBM brand is also growing as it is being manufactured to compete with Oracle directly alongside other competitors. Hence, ignoring Machiavelli philosophy has also helped the company to gain more profit and be more productive. As a result, this brings the question what is much more powerful? Love or Power?. According to Machiavelli, many would like to be both feared and loved but now that it is difficult for both of them to get combined, it is better for one to be feared tan being loved. He realizes that both being loved and being feared can be strong and affect someone's loyalty towards a company. Even though both emotions can pose same effect, it is not possible for a corporation to get both of the emotions. Machiavelli argues that is better the leader to be feared than being loved as he argued that men are "..ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers…; while you treat them well, they are yours” “..but when you are in danger they turn away” (Machiavelli 54). Hence, this means that people only focus on their interest; hence they show love though deep down people are inherently bad. When everything is good, individuals can sacrifice anything for those they love, however, when faced with danger, they forget about love and save themselves. On the contrary, if the prince is feared then men will always be loyal as they will fear punishment as should they be disloyal or stray. Oracle had disregarded Machiavelli philosophy and focused on giving good for every stakeholder. For instance, the company gives their employees high wages and benefits, along with long-term commitments with the suppliers. Hence, by being loved, Oracle has managed to be very successful and gain more profits as it has become more productive. The current corporate executives of today should make routines that may directly affect many people. To be successful, the CEO or the "Prince" should be able objectively to identify and evaluate every option, tactics, and strategies that are available for the corporation success. It comprises weighing the decision's negative consequences against the positives. Then, from here action can quickly be taken for the benefit of the company. The Prince gives relevant and important insight for the modern executives even though the ideals may not be always applicable. Work Cited Curtis, Bobby. Practical Oracle Database Application. New York: Apress, 2014. Internet resource. Machiavelli, N & George B. The Prince. London: Penguin. 2003. Print. Oldham, R. “ Machiavelli’s The Prince: A Modern Executive.” Machiavelli’s The Prince: A Modern Executive. 2011. Schaeffer, Chuck. “An Oracle Strategy Update and Review: Update from Oracle Industry Analyst World 2013." CRM Research, 2015. Available at http://www.crmsearch.com/oracle-strategy.php Date of Access 20th November 20, 2015 Read More