Management Concepts Theory and Practice - Essay Example

Management Concepts Theory & Practice Question 4: How do the communication styles adopted by managerial leaders influence the degree of truthfulnessin organizational communication? Answer: The basic purpose of having any business is to earn a profit (or revenue); however this is not stated as the mission or vision statement of the organization ever. The organization strives to bring value to its customers, stakeholders and create an encouraging environment for the employees and workers. The aspect of learning is tied in closely with the organization since it has to seek future business activities, tasks and processes in line with the already completed research and surveys. Learning has to be the basic outcome of its activities and on those very learning principles, does the business survive. Now the imperative point to understand here is the fact that learning can not only be at the highest level, rather the knowledge management can even take place at the middle cadre and the special trainings help at doing their best as far as the lower level management is concerned. Managing an organization is also an important function which comes under the learning principles. It has case studies and best case scenarios to look up to whenever there is a problem or trouble at hand and it knows who the right person is to contact whenever there is some discrepancy within the system. Add to that the organization tries to keep its contacts, no matter in which capacity they are, at a maximal point and always keeps on increasing so as to become a socially active player within the relevant industry. The communication aspects of an organization run deep into its values and basis on which it is founded. So it is pretty much significant to state here that managerial leaders have to show a sense of truthfulness when the talk goes out loud concerning the aspects of truthfulness within their respective organizations. Within an organization, the communication can flow in one of three ways or in all the three directions. This means that these three directions pave the way for the ease of communication and there are as such no barriers to arise from the whole equation. The first communication flow is from top to bottom, which means that the communication starts from the top management and goes down towards the middle and lower management. It ensures that the instructions are easily made comprehensible for all and sundry who are within the middle and lower cadres and there are as such no discrepancies arising from this form of communication flow. The second form could be the one that starts from the lower or middle management and goes up towards the top management. A common example of this kind of communication flow is in the type of protests and rallies that arise at the lower level and the lower management wants to make sure that their voice gets heard courtesy the top cadre of the organization. The third communication flow could be in the kind of peer to peer communication and interaction. This means that the employees and the workers at the same level communicate within their own capacities and as such there are no hindrances arising from the whole communication matrix. Apart from this, within an organization the communication also flows in a formal as well as an informal manner. Where the communication is more formal and sophisticated, the interaction is usually done through paper and written requests whereas the informal talk is also called ‘grapevine’ and is mostly done in a casual manner without any such paper work to document the very same. Proper and smooth communication can only flow within an organization when there is complete understanding of the message at all possible levels. The barriers within the communication process should be removed as this is known as the “noise” factor in the whole communication matrix. Within an organization, the communication should always be of a formal nature so that there are no problems and grievances for all concerned. The management aspect also stems from the fact that its knowledge base is intact and knows what is required of it. This knowledge base has the role of continuously improving the systems and working methodologies. It also has the best available middle management employees who know the technical basis of running the organization and whose potential can largely benefit the sound workings of the company. Thus it is very important to understand that an organization which is willing to place the knowledge base at level with the top management when it comes to calling the shots (taking the decisions), is willing to experiment in a very proactive manner; one that can reap rich dividends in the near future. Now speaking from the truthfulness aspects, we witness the change subject to crop up within an organization every now and then and this is one thing that needs to be discussed with the employees and the workers in a head on fashion rather than keeping hidden from them since it is these people themselves on whom change would be implemented and they have to take the plunge to bring about new means and methods to their working basis. The change in the organizations’ strategies as well as structures guarantee that the company is present and willing to do more than just provide products and services to the end consumers. It wants to make the people realize that the company is there and wants to do its very best by tailoring its strategies in such a manner that can only benefit them nonetheless. After all, a company or an organization without the target people is nothing more than an office set up with employees and employers working for no one, at the end of the day. Also the fact that organizations need to evolve over a period of time is testimony enough for them to grow within themselves and thus adopt and hold on to a new path altogether, one that will be their torchbearer as well as reap rich dividends for them not only in the present times but also in the future. These strategies are so much in alignment with the future goals and tactical perspectives that they fulfill what is really expected of them, both in terms of short term expectations as well as the long run. Communication remains an important thing here since the managerial leaders must definitely outline the exact plan which would target the employees and the workers in the most effective manner possible. Planning is thus the key word here and for any multinational to succeed in the long run, it is of paramount significance to have a safe and sound plan ready and not only that but also be proactive in its approach towards the accomplishment of the plan nonetheless. The basis of all strategies and structural changes that usually happen from time to time is on the shoulders of the top management where they have to decide whether or not the adopted strategy be the source of light in the coming quarters or years for that matter. It is only upon their insistence to have the same within their ranks that the new strategic planning is done in the first place. If the top management is not ready, it is very difficult for the knowledge organization, which really is the middle management of present times, to do even an iota of struggle. The multinationals for that matter depend a lot on the parental concerns, which at times, might be located off shores and there is no easy access to them as well. But then again it is all about finding out what the goals of the real organization are and then following them like the textbook proverb. The structural changes usually happen from time to time and more so without even informing all and sundry but what is more important for the workers and employees within an organization is to know that these changes would bring in more revenue for the said multinational organization and in turn become the basis for their own respective well being and success in the industry, both financially as well as socially. Thus it is not only about just adhering to the structural changes on the part of the employees in the literal sense but also understanding that these changes would do some benefit or the other in a combined effect as well as that on a personal level. Then only is the approach developed which keeps the organization’s individual entities going and thus they remain satisfied no matter what kind of problems linger on their heads. Having said that communication aspects require a great deal of care and the truthful basis cannot be denied its due role in the whole scheme of things. The changing global environment demands that the multinational organizations are ready to change whenever the need so happens. They have to be on their toes all the time as well as carry out activities; both tactically as well as from the long term perspective that satisfies all the stakeholders and not just the consumers who receive their products and/or services. The organizational changes in terms of their strategies need to be chalked out with the facilitation of both the top management as well as the knowledge organization as they are the ones who actually have the much needed solid knowledge and information as to how the relevant strategies can be incorporated into the system of the organizations in the first place. The strategies are always drawn up whilst keeping the future in perspective while tactics usually change every now and then and are of short term nature. Hence it is the need of the hour to ascertain the exact combination of strategies and tactics and then carry them along well with what is needed by the organization, keeping in mind the short term and long term discussion. The bottom line remains the fact that the organization is bringing in changes for the people who are connected with it, in one way or the other and that the multinational organization is not bent upon satisfying its personal whims over an extended period of time no matter the same being true for fortnight duration as well. The role of a manager within such a context is a difficult one. This person has to take with him the whole company and mesh the different processes so that he could get instant results. He is a team leader right from the onset of his job. He needs to get work done from the different people who are working under him. The end result has to be a single goal, one that drives their efforts towards the financial success of the said organization. In doing so, the manager encounters a lot of hindrances, difficulties and hurdles. He has to face a lot of pressure from the top most management, the people who are senior to him even. He has to be accountable to the publics of the organization, which could include the customers and the stakeholders as well since the latter are the people who have invested within the company’s shares and they want a quick buck out of the whole investment drive. We need to define further how a job of a manager is made even more troublesome and how he copes up with the very same. With that, we will also touch subjects that bring attraction to the post of a manager in the first place. These could include his leadership traits, his team building tactics, getting the work done out of individuals who might have pretty different backgrounds and diverse educational capabilities, smoothening of the whole process of business management within several units spread across the company’s horizon, motivating the employees and being accountable for their tasks and activities, living up to the values of the organization and doing all that could be done in the honor of the very same and lastly, the manner in which he copes with the external factors which could come out of the blue and haunt the manager like anything. Effective managers know how to make use of their team members and during this while contribute in their own capacity towards team building. The role of a manager is one that evolves over a period of time and the pivotal thing here is to fathom that this is something which requires a balanced head on the shoulders and more than anything else a clear vision, deep insight into the relevant knowledge circles and expertise to back them all up. Effective managers also know how to cope up with the pressures that they get themselves and their team muddled into and how to get out of them in all fairness. These people thus focus on the strong points that they have learned from their past colleagues and best case examples are also something that they can touch upon in the long run. This provides them insight and understanding about their mannerisms in which they tackled pressure and faced external factors which can come right into the face of a manager at any time possible. The attributes and characteristics of a true manager include his understanding of the situation that he is working under, coming to terms with the pressures that he is going to face from time to time, taking short term objectives in the longer scheme of things, making the short term goals attainable in the whole equation and understanding that the long term strategy is only attainable once the short term goals are fulfilled and for that to happen, there is a dire need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the resources that are available at his disposal, the negativities attached with the whole process or the system that we are concerned with and any pressure that can come from the market, in terms of competitive activity or through the top management ranks. The manager lastly also has to make sure that he understands the deep rooted values of the organization and the same cannot be compromised no matter what happens. These need to be aligned in a proper fashion with the activities and tasks of the team that the manager is heading. It would be fair to comment that the managers have a lot going for them and it is their will and determination to bring out the best from the whole team and indeed the entire process that they are working upon. Now it is up to them how they understand the situation and how best they can cope up with the demands that the very situation entails of them and their team members. All said and done, managers have a responsibility to play within an organization, no matter how large or small it is. The end result has to be one that is geared towards the results that the manager can bring out with the available resources and the exploitation (in a positive sense) of the team members’ strengths. The communication styles that are adopted by this manager are something which needs to be properly studied before the same are actually incorporated as usually these are the things that bring about a little resistance within the environs of an office place. Now it is to the tact and brilliance of the manager who is also a leader in the related context of discussion as to how he copes with the pressure and the resistance thus shown up by the workers working under the auspices of the manager. Furthermore, organizational culture has got a lot of say as to how the people react to the impositions which are fed on to their respective capacities. It is without a shadow of a doubt that communication styles, no matter how effective they are, can bring about a serious outcry on the part of the employees but then again it is to the tact and calmness of a managerial leader with which he eases off the pressure and thus makes way for the new patterns within the organization. In the end, it would be proper to state here that if the managerial leaders are true to their jobs and know what they expect from the workers working under them, then it is duty bound on the part of these employees to be truthful about their work and apprise the manager as to where they have been lacking and what plus points have thus been achieved. It is to the surprise of one and all that truthfulness and coming out clean indeed works to everyone’s advantage at the very end since there is a strong desire to compete in a positive manner amongst the office place and then the goodwill aspect also crops up in a short while which is a sign that things have started to settle within the realms of an organization. Having said that, it is definitive to understand that not all the deeds of an organization be slated as clean and fair rather some of these are hidden from the common knowledge of even the workers who are working tirelessly upon them. Thus it is in line with the office level hierarchy and the same must remain as the case since there is no alternative for workplace discipline and ethics. The different communication styles can only work to the advantage of all and sundry when there is a genuine effort on the part of the managers to make their workers feel at ease with the changing trends, rising pressure regimes and so on and so forth. All said and done it is to the manager himself as to how best he can toe along the workers on those lines and till what extent he can drag them but in the name of a genuine organizational gain. Truthfulness does not cost much and it only pays at the end by building a strong rapport amongst the workers when one speaks of the managerial capacity and the ways in which a manager tries to build his own little empire within the organization. One should take note that this empire is one which gives equal opportunities of growth and giving back to the organization what they have learnt with the passage of time. BIBLIOGRAPHY Crampton, Suzanne M. (1998). The Informal Communication Network: Factors Influencing Grapevine Activity. Public Personnel Management Green, Thad B. (1999). Breaking the Barrier to Upward Communication: Strategies and Skills for Employees, Managers, and HR Specialists. Quorum Books Riggio, Ronald E. (2004). Applications of Nonverbal Communication. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Guarrero, Chris A. (1998). The Leadership Challenge. Security Management, Vol. 42 Heath, Robert L. (1994). Management of Corporate Communication: From Interpersonal Contacts to External Affairs. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Bragg, Terry. (2003). Dont Damage Your Career by Aggravating the Wrong People: In Business, Where Relationships Are Vital to Success, Style Matters as Much as Being Right or Wrong. Occupational Hazards, Vol. 65 Eisenberg, Eric M. (2006). Seeking the Spirit: Communication and the (Re)development of a "Spiritual" Organization. Communication Studies, Vol. 57 Varey, Richard J. (2001). Marketing Communication: An Introduction to Contemporary Issues. Routledge Word Count: 3,040 Read More