The Behavior Control - Essay Example

Lecturer Management Introduction For a quality production of any employee in any organization, motivation is necessary. Dr. Elaine N. Aron (2010) defines the term motivation as the force which initiates, maintain and guide the goal oriented behaviors. Actually, it is motivation that affects, strengthens and perpetuates behavior of an individual. Naturally, human beings need to be motivated. This is essential because it is what helps the organization to achieve its goals particularly given that the management of such organizations adopt good tactics that will definitely propel the firm in totality. With this in mind, it is worth noting that these managers can choose from humanistic, outcome, need driven and goal oriented need class of theories appropriately (Duignan, P., 2009). However, this research paper will majorly focus on the use of behavior control and outcome control approaches in dealing with the employees. Question one The two control methods are different in many ways. Some of the differences between them include, but not limited to the following: i Whereas the outcome control view duty as a means, the behavior control view duty as an end. This means that, to a behaviorist, the way in which a job is done is primary to anything else like the outcome obtained as it is in the outcome control where focus in mainly vested on the kind of results obtained. ii The behavioral control is mainly focused on the motive behind an action while the outcome control emphasizes on the ultimate target of an action. This means that the former puts a lot of emphasis on how and what conditions are necessary for the success of a duty. On the other hand, the outcome approach is about the pull factors for the performance of an action. Question two Actually, any ideal organization need to be bureaucratic. And one of the principles it should adhere to is hierarchal order of management. This means that it should have a ladder of employees ranging from the subordinate, junior, senior to the top staff. Hence, it means that those placed lower in the hierarchy are directly answerable to those above them. In other words, the subordinates should be controlled and be directly answerable to their seniors. Practically, one of the ways of controlling them is through motivation. In order to do this, the manager needs to understand the behavioral theories of motivation like the Maslow’s, McGregor’s and the Herzberg’s. In doing this, they should be in a position of doing the following: i Understanding their needs We as humans, naturally need to be motivated. A good manager is the one who understands the type of employees he is dealing with. He should be able to understand their varied needs, abilities, interests, weaknesses and aspire to meet them appropriately. This is the first step in motivating and eventually helping to improve their productivity. He should understand that he is dealing with diverse individuals with diverse needs to meet. More importantly, the boss should understand that if their needs are not met, it will be very difficult to make them be in a better position of meeting their needs. As a good manager, he should clearly understand that the most important needs for the subordinate employees is money. All the subordinate staff in nearly all the organizations always consider money as their greatest demand. Obviously, they can not be paid more than the senior officers on top of them in the hierarchy. Therefore, in order to help them, they should be well remunerated to ensure that they get what may fulfill their wish because this is what is important to them. Hence, the first thing an organization’s management should do is to increase the salaries for these people. By this, they will feel recognized as an equally integral part of the organization. ii Use of rewards The best way to motivate the junior employees is through rewarding them appropriately. It is highly recommended to use incentives to manipulate their psychology. Even if there are other contrary methods of management like the use of threats, it is important for the managers not to intimidate the employees (Duignan, P., 2009). Definitely, this will act as a demotivating factor that will, instead of giving morale to them, will actually demoralize them further. Thus, their productivity will be interfered with and further thwarting the performance of the entire organization. So, instead of putting their efforts to help in achieving the set goals, they will develop the spirit of I don’t care and work tirelessly against the organization. Therefore, it should be in the primary list of the organization to ensure that all the factors that can act as motivators are upheld. Otherwise, if they are constantly suppressed though the carrot and stick policies, they will not feel as a respected part of this organization that is also integral for its success. iii Individual growth A good manager should understand the diversity of subordinates in the organization. He should be ready to treat them as unique individuals with unique needs to meet. This should put him in a better position to understand that it is actually important to give each and everyone of them a room to develop. This implies that for them to be more productive as expected, they should be accorded a conducive environment to help them to effectively do their respective jobs. They should be given room to grow, work and autonomously seek answers for the issues at hand without an unnecessary pressure from the management. In doing this, he should have sound knowledge of clarifying if ant of these subordinates fall in either the ascendant, indifferent or ambivalent categories. This will be the only surest way to make out and meet whatever need applicable for any of them and address them as required. Question three According to the behaviorists, the best way to handle employees is through the use of the behavioral control measures. This is why many industries have made a lot progress, a success usually attributed to a well informed use of the behavioral theories put forth by classical thinkers like Abraham Maslow, Herzberg, Doglous McGregor and others. Actually, it is these people who came up with behavioral theories of management: need, two factor and the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ theories. In this section, the research will look at the following three multinationals which have largely been commended for their use of this approach in management: The Coca Cola Company Coca Cola is actually one of the most successful multinationals globally today. Since its establishment, it has tremendously expanded over the years(Mark, P., 2000-03-16). This is mainly as a result of the wise use of a dedicated human and resource aspects that have been put in place to motivate its employees. Precisely, this has been made possible by taking the following steps: i Well enumeration According to the findings, Coca Cola is among the few companies where the management has properly studied its employees and come up with proper strategies to meet their needs. More specifically, being that it is among the corporations with so many subordinate staff, their needs have been properly understood. Hence, they are motivated through the giving of monetary rewards to help meet their demands(Mark, P., 2000-03-16). ii Identification and meeting of needs In this company, the employees are motivated through the use of incentives. All the employees in this organization are rewarded as per their needs. This is majorly based on the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory that states that the needs of employees should be met starting from the most basic to the most individual and fulfilling actualization needs(Mark, P., 2000-03-16). This makes these employees to satisfy their needs and feel contented with the management of this organization. This actually motivates them to do their best and deliver quality services to this organization. Barclays bank This is an originally European financial institution with very many branches in many countries today. It has hence become one of the most successful banks in the world today(OCarroll, L., 10 December 2011). To many, this kind of milestone has been achieved as a result of the adoption of the behavioral concepts which has of course been done in the following ways: i Use of incentives At the Barclays bank, the employees are being motivated through the use of rewards. No threats are used when dealing with them. They are largely motivated through the use of incentives which are awarded to them depending on the level of their expertise and experience(OCarroll, L., 10 December 2011). This makes them feel as an integral part of the organization hence doing their best to help it achieve its clearly outlined long and short term goals. Macmillan publishers This is a leading publishing company that has greatly achieved a considerably high degree of success in its growth. Similarly, this has also been attributed to its successes attained in the use of behavioral methods of management as explained below: i Employee supervision The management of this organization understands the nature of employees as was put forth by the McGregor when he proposed the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ theories of motivation. They have therefore, learnt to identify the employees that belong to each of these groups. They are then dealt with differently after being given special treatments depending on their perception towards work (Elizabeth, J., 2007). Whereas those who naturally like work are given a high degree of autonomy, the ones who subscribe to theory ‘Y’ are treated with a lot of care. Because they don’t like work and instead see it as punishment, they are closely monitored and given encouragements and anything that can actually motivate them to change their perceptions. Eventually, they come conscious enough to realize that they are equally an important component of this organization(Elizabeth, J., 2007). Hence, they join the well minded colleagues to help build the organization. This is a great step in helping this company to realize the set objectives. Question four Use of behavioral control Actually, it can be very easy for a manager in a restaurant tom make a good use of the behavioral concept in dealing with the junior employees in this organization. Precisely, it is very essential top use the need and two factor motivation theories when dealing with servers in this kind of an organization. To begin with, the understanding of the fact that the servers are junior staff in this restaurant will make the manager understand that it is his duty to ensure that they are motivated through better payment. At this stage, it is important to deal with their financial needs, a development that will act as a means of achieving higher needs in the hierarchy as they aspire to be identified with those on top of them like the manager himself. Besides, it will be important for the manager to identify the motivators and the hygiene factors. As Herzberg emphasizes, it is important for the manager to do away with any demotivator that may demoralize the employees. Instead, he should concentrate on the motivation factors such as incentives. Surely, they will feel recognized and work very hard towards the achievement of the organization’s goals. Use of outcome control On the other hand, the manager can still deal with the employees in a better way if he decides to put the job as a means to achieving better results. This will call for the use of goal setting cognitive concepts. As a manager, he should be ready to create an amply conducive environment that will help in achieving the individual goals set by each of these servers in line with the overall organizational goals He should therefore help them to set realistic goals that will be less strenuous to accomplish. Hence, he should make it possible to efficiently achieve these goals by helping them to counteract any proximity and difficulty that may act as an obstacle towards accomplishing these goals. If this is done, each and everyone of these servers will be motivated to offer their best to the restaurant. Question five Of course, behavioral control is the best approach that can be adopted to deal with the sales executives. Ideally, if well used, it is what will lead to a proper understanding of the conduct of the staff charged with the carrying out of duties in the sales department. As we all understand from the previous discussions, the changes in the behavior of the sales executives can be best understood if a proper reference is made in the behavioral control mechanisms. For instance, if we base an argument on Maslow’s need approach, for sure we will be in a position to understand that if the management understands the employee needs and satisfy them appropriately, they will be motivated to work so hard and improve the volume of sales. Hence, from this, the company will be able to increase the volume of its sales and eventually make a lot of profit, the sole aim for any organization. However, if the behavioral and outcome control mechanisms are combined, I think, it will be better. The understanding of the employees needs, abilities, interests and strengths and satisfying them appropriately, coupled with a proper analysis of the set objectives, will actually be best way to achieving the ultimate goals of any given business venture. Works cited Diana C. & M. Lepper (1995) Intrinsic Motivation and the Process of Learning: Beneficial Effects of Contextualization, Personalization, and Choic. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Duignan, P. (2009). Definitions used in outcomes theory. Outcomes Theory Knowledge Base Article No. 231 Elizabeth, J.(2007) Macmillan – A Publishing Tradition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. James L (1998). Understanding Employee Motivation. N/A June 1998, Vol. 36 Mark, P. (2000-03-16). For God, Country and Coca-Cola. Basic Books. OCarroll, L. (10 December 2011). Barclays boss reveals no jerks’ rule. The Guardian (London). Read More