Link to my video cv is as follows..........
The Classroom Metamorphosis:Foray into business world
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Organizational Structure
An organizational structure consists of
activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision, which are
directed towards the achievement of organizational aims. It can also be
considered as the viewing glass or perspective through which individuals see
their organization and its environment. Organizations
are a variant of clustered entities. An organization can be
structured in many different ways, depending on their objectives. The structure
of an organization will determine the modes in which it operates and performs. Organizational
structure allows the expressed allocation of responsibilities for different
functions and processes to different entities such as the branch, department, work group
and individual.
Organizational structure types
Pre-bureaucratic structures
Pre-bureaucratic
(entrepreneurial) structures lack standardization of tasks. This structure is
most common in smaller organizations and is best used to solve simple tasks.
The structure is totally centralized. The strategic leader makes all key
decisions and most communication is done by one on one conversations. It is
particularly useful for new (entrepreneurial) business
Bureaucratic structures
Weber gives
the analogy that “the fully developed bureaucratic mechanism compares with
other organizations exactly as does the machine compare with the non-mechanical
modes of production. Precision, speed, strict subordination, reduction of
friction and of material and personal costs- these are raised to the optimum point
in the strictly bureaucratic administration.”
Functional structure
Employees
within the functional divisions of an organization tend to perform a
specialized set of tasks, for instance the engineering department would be
staffed only with software engineers. This leads to operational efficiencies
within that group. However it could also lead to a lack of communication
between the functional groups within an organization, making the organization
slow and inflexible.
Divisional structure
Also
called a "product structure", the divisional structure groups each
organizational function into a division. Each division within a divisional
structure contains all the necessary resources and functions within it.
Matrix structure
The matrix
structure groups employees by both function and product. This structure can
combine the best of both separate structures. A matrix organization frequently
uses teams of employees to accomplish work, in order to take advantage of the
strengths, as well as make up for the weaknesses, of functional and
decentralized forms. Weak/Functional Matrix: A project manager with only
limited authority is assigned to oversee the cross- functional aspects of the project.
The functional managers maintain control over their resources and project
areas.
- Balanced/Functional Matrix: A project manager is
assigned to oversee the project. Power is shared equally between the
project manager and the functional managers. It brings the best aspects of
functional organizations. However, this is the most difficult system to
maintain as the sharing of power is a delicate proposition.
- Strong/Project Matrix: A project manager is
primarily responsible for the project. Functional managers provide
technical expertise and assign resources as needed.
Flat Organization Structure:
The flat structure is common in small companies
(entrepreneurial start-ups, university spin offs). As the company grows it
becomes more complex and hierarchical, which leads to an expanded structure,
with more levels and departments.
Team
One of
the newest organizational structures developed in the 20th century is team.
In small businesses, the team structure can define the entire organization.
Importance of Organization structure
- Structure gives members clear guidelines for how to proceed. A clearly-established structure gives the group a means to maintain order and resolve disagreements.
- Structure binds members together. It gives meaning and identity to the people who join the group, as well as to the group itself.
- Structure in any organization is inevitable -- an organization, by definition, implies a structure. Your group is going to have some structure whether it chooses to or not. It might as well be the structure which best matches up with what kind of organization you have, what kind of people are in it, and what you see yourself doing.
For further info you can refer to the below video
Creative Problem Solving
Creative problem solving, a type of problem solving, is the mental process of searching for a new and novel creative solution to a problem, a solution which is novel, original and not obvious.
Most of
the times, when we face a problem, first thing that comes to mind is how
difficult will it be to solve the problem? Thus we make an assumption
that the solution would be very tough to find out. The mantra for
creative problem solving is to free our mind from all the inhibitions
and be innovative and creative.
Process Stage
|
Steps
|
Explore The Stage
|
Objective Finding (identify the goal, wish or challenge)
|
Fact Finding (gather the relevant data)
| |
Problem Finding (clarify the problems that need to be solved in order to achieve the goal)
| |
Generate Ideas
|
Idea Finding (generate ideas to solve the identified problem)
|
Prepare for action
|
Solution Finding (move from idea to implementable solution)
|
Acceptance Finding (plan for action)
|
Evolution of Management Thoughts
The evolution in management theory over the last century is the history of the constantly changing role of leaders in organizations. As organizational leaders evolved from the carrot-and-stick wielding owner-managers of the earlier Industrial Era to the modern day managers of the 21st Century, the impact of individual leaders on organizations became progressively important. Whereas early managers could rely on authority and strong-arm tactics to reach their goals, managers in our time are challenged to set personal examples by living the values and principles they wish their followers to achieve.The Evolution is as follows
Taylors Scintific Manage
Taylor's four principles are as follows:
- Replace working by "rule of thumb," or simple habit and common sense, and instead use the scientific method to study work and determine the most efficient way to perform specific tasks.
- Rather than simply assign workers to just any job, match workers to their jobs based on capability and motivation, and train them to work at maximum efficiency.
- Monitor worker performance, and provide instructions and supervision to ensure that they're using the most efficient ways of working.
- Allocate the work between managers and workers so that the managers spend their time planning and training, allowing the workers to perform their tasks efficiently.
Taylor's four principles are as follows:
- Replace working by "rule of thumb," or simple habit and common sense, and instead use the scientific method to study work and determine the most efficient way to perform specific tasks.
- Rather than simply assign workers to just any job, match workers to their jobs based on capability and motivation, and train them to work at maximum efficiency.
- Monitor worker performance, and provide instructions and supervision to ensure that they're using the most efficient ways of working.
- Allocate the work between managers and workers so that the managers spend their time planning and training, allowing the workers to perform their tasks efficiently.
Taylor's four principles are as follows:
- Replace working by "rule of thumb," or simple habit and common sense, and instead use the scientific method to study work and determine the most efficient way to perform specific tasks.
- Rather than simply assign workers to just any job, match workers to their jobs based on capability and motivation, and train them to work at maximum efficiency.
- Monitor worker performance, and provide instructions and supervision to ensure that they're using the most efficient ways of working.
- Allocate the work between managers and workers so that the managers spend their time planning and training, allowing the workers to perform their tasks efficiently
Henry Fayol's 14 Principle were these
Max Weber's Bureaucracy is as follows
Elton Mayo:Founder of Human Resource Concept
Hawthorne effect:
The Hawthorne effect (commonly referred to as the observer effect) is a form of reactivity whereby subjects improve or modify an aspect of their behavior, which is being experimentally measured, in response to the fact that they know that they are being studied, not in response to any particular experimental manipulation.
This finally Resulted in evolution of Human Resource
System Approach:Main contributors–Johnson, Churchman,Kenneth, Boulding& RosenRelated to organisation system is defined as – “An established arrangementof components which leads to accomplish of particular objectives as perplan”All Organization are Open system
Thanks...
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Management Styles - Theory X and Theory Y
Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation created and developed by Douglas McGregor at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the 1960s that have been used in human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational communication and organizational development. They describe two contrasting models of workforce motivation.Theory X and Theory Y have to do with the perceptions managers hold on their employees, not the way they generally behave. It is attitude not attributes.
Some basic differences between theory X and theory Y managers functioning is as follows
So which Management style is better
Theory X is the view that traditional management has taken towards the workforce. Many organisations are now taking the enlightened view of theory Y. A boss can be viewed as taking the theory X approach, while a leader takes the theory Y approach. With the onslaught of B2B social media, and the break down of formal business approach, business is also being conducted more around Theory Y than old school Theory X.Thursday, 15 August 2013
Muhammed Yunus and the Grameen Bank
Muhammad Yunus was born in 28th June, 1940 in the village of Bathua, in
Hathazari, Chittagong, the business centre of what was then Eastern
Bengal. He was the third of 14 children of whom five died in infancy.
His father was a successful goldsmith who always encouraged his sons to
seek higher education. But his biggest influence was his mother, Sufia
Khatun, who always helped any poor that knocked on their door. This
inspired him to commit himself to eradication of poverty. His early
childhood years were spent in the village. In 1947, his family moved to
the city of Chittagong, where his father had the jewelery business.
In 1974, Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist from
Chittagong University, led his students on a field trip to a poor
village. They interviewed a woman who made bamboo stools, and learnt
that she had to borrow the equivalent of 15p to buy raw bamboo for each
stool made. After repaying the middleman, sometimes at rates as high as
10% a week, she was left with a penny profit margin. Had she been able
to borrow at more advantageous rates, she would have been able to amass
an economic cushion and raise herself above subsistence level.
Realizing that there must be something terribly wrong with the economics
he was teaching, Yunus took matters into his own hands, and from his
own pocket lent the equivalent of ? 17 to 42 basket-weavers. He found
that it was possible with this tiny amount not only to help them
survive, but also to create the spark of personal initiative and
enterprise necessary to pull themselves out of poverty.
Against the advice of banks and government, Yunus carried on giving out 'micro-loans', and in 1983 formed the Grameen Bank, meaning 'village bank' founded on principles of trust and solidarity. In Bangladesh today, Grameen has 2,564 branches, with 19,800 staff serving 8.29 million borrowers in 81,367 villages. On any working day Grameen collects an average of $1.5 million in weekly installments. Of the borrowers, 97% are women and over 97% of the loans are paid back, a recovery rate higher than any other banking system. Grameen methods are applied in projects in 58 countries, including the US, Canada, France, The Netherlands and Norway.
Differentiating factors for Grameen Bank:
- Conventional banking is based on collateral, Grameen system is collateral- free.
- Grameen believes that all human beings, including the poorest, are endowed with endless potential.
- Conventional banks are owned by the rich, generally men. Grameen Bank is owned by poor women.
- Conventional banks look at what has already been acquired by a person. Grameen looks at the potential that is waiting to be unleashed in a person
- 97 per cent of Grameen Bank's borrowers are women.
- There is no legal instrument between the lender and the borrower in the Grameen methodology.
- In case of death of a borrower, Grameen system does not require the family of the deceased to pay back the loan. There is a built-in insurance programme which pays off the entire outstanding amount with interest. No liability is transferred to the family.
Three Idiots Crossing The Valley
The session started with an interesting activity known as the idiots crossing the valley.It is an important management concept of Team Management and Team Work,the concept which binds an organization together.
Activity:Three people had to cross a valley together carrying a single wooden rod
upon their shoulders.The Distance between one side of valley and other
side was greater than one step and less than 2 steps.The Task was to cross the valley
together with the wooden rod.
Choice of three people:Now the question arises that the three people should be chosen on what grounds?
Now when we performed the activity in class ,three interested people came forward and formed a group for the task.This kind of group is called Informal team,where people with common interests participate and contribute to the activity.
In organizations,this kind of arrangement is temporary and is called "task force". Organizations don't look at people,they look at work.Managers are solution designers and understand work very well.
In organizations,this kind of arrangement is temporary and is called "task force". Organizations don't look at people,they look at work.Managers are solution designers and understand work very well.
Incentive Mechanism:They must be provided with some incentive to perform this exercise as danger step is also involved.Now two types of incentive could be given
- External:Cash Reward,Life Insurance
- Internal :Appreciation from senior Management
Components of Excellence:
Now let us try to have a look at the components of
excellence. We learned
Excellence = Efficiency X Effectiveness
Now how to elaborate it. Well, in simple words,
Efficiency deals with whether the given work is executed properly, whereas
Effectiveness deals with whether the work given was rightly estimated.
Efficiency can be attributed to engineers, whereas Effectiveness
remains a managerial concern. (Without any bias, any person who is able to
imbibe the two features is both an engineer and a manager.)
The importance of organization structure is clearly
evident from this.
The instructions that need to be followed by the
people when attempting to cross the valley are not important in terms of our
understanding of the management aspect of the problem, however one can list
them as:
- The process needs to be coordinated and well-structured.
- The movement need to be synchronous.
- The persons should have faith in the solution.
Now there is a sharp distinction between Steps viz
- Safe
- Half Safe
- Dangerous
However the role
of the management is to make all steps as one and remove the distinction.
So the onus is on management to instill confidence among workers
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