Management Organizational Theory and Behavior:
Question and Answer
My dream job, like so many other people, I am sure, would be to work for Google. Although the assumption is that everyone at Google is a computer engineer, coder, or technical guru, that is simply not the case. The Business Strategy department at Google is designed to identify opportunities both in the United States and globally to continue to grow the company while maintaining their philosophy of creating a place where employees want to work even when they no longer have to (Business Strategy, n.p.). The organizational goal to create bridges across the “digital divides” (Business Strategy, n.p.) is inspiring. Google is a company with a world view that lends itself to the advancement, education and empowerment of all people, and actively works towards making that a reality (Gillett, n.p.). Being given the opportunity to be part of and even help guide that effort would be remarkable. While many people move into the business world with ambition that involves financial success and power, I see an opportunity to do the kind of work I love on a scale much bigger than myself. I see a company that gives people the opportunity to affect global change in significant and meaningful ways. The Business Strategy department at Google works to identify new ways the organization can create new innovation based on the needs of the existing customer base, newly identified customers, and a global community of people at large overall. It strives to manage the real-time logistics that make the short and long term goals of Google a reality through the practical application of business principles applied to creative genius in a technological world (Business Strategy, n.p.). I cannot imagine a more exciting opportunity than to be able to be a part of something that is stretching out it hands to every corner of the planet, and giving the power of knowledge to people who may have been limited in the past.
Google is repeatedly recognized as one of the best places to work according to Forbes (Forbes, n.p.). Google has appeared on the Forbes list ten years running, and seven of those years it was ranked as number one. The award criteria for the Employees’ Choice Awards are based on employees’ reviews and include areas like work/life balance, benefits and perks, and training and support (Glassdoor, n.p.). Google, as evidenced by having one placement on this list, met the mark. Google is so famous as a great place to work they receive countless applications each year. They are famous for their belief in work/life balance and encourage employees to take breaks and not overwork, stay energized and keep creativity flowing and positive (Gillett, n.p.).
Google is also famous for its benefits and perks. They offer 18 weeks of paid maternity leave, practically unheard of in the United States, on-site childcare which has been shown to improve attendance and employee satisfaction, and very competitive wages (Gillett, n.p.). Each campus offers meals to their employees at no charge, onsite gyms, shuttles are available to transport employees to and from work, and people can bring their pets to work (Forbes, n.p.; Gillett, n.p.). Google even offers enhanced medical care onsite for employees and extensive death benefits to spouses or partners following an employee’s death (Forbes, n.p.). Recognizing and addressing the inequality in the LGBT community, Google also offers as a perk to employees with discriminatory insurance tax liability the extra pay to cover this cost (Bernard, n.p.).
I think what I am most proud of during the last several years of my professional and academic career has been the same thing I am most frustrated by: time management. I feel proud that I have managed to maintain my grades as well as my obligations outside of school. When I look back I have a sense of control and empowerment. It has at times been difficult, but I frequently hear comments that I have done well juggling the many tasks and responsibilities that I have. I am often pleased when a project is done knowing that I have checked another thing off of my list successfully and am not able to move on to the next piece of work. At the end of each term or each class, I have a sense of personal accomplishment and I know that I have achieved something others may not be able to achieve; I have done a thing well that others never do at all. This makes me proud.
On the other hand, that same issue of time management is at times what has been the most frustrating. I believe that when people praise my ability to manage everything, it is because they only see what I want them to see. I do not always feel as confident as I appear. I know that in my head I am constantly second guessing myself, trying to remember if I finished a particular task or questioning if my priorities have been appropriately established. When friends or family asked me to join them for a social engagement and I am unable to make it, they comment on my dedication and remain supportive. But I am left wondering which things are worth it to miss and which I will regret. I am constantly asking myself where is the line and how do I draw it or should I draw it at all. Although friends and family are supportive in general, they also complain at times that I am no longer available, and I know they are right. I feel like I have a great many responsibilities and I realize that my social and familial responsibilities have not disappeared. But they do have to share space with the work and school responsibilities I have now, and even though I may appear to be organized and disciplined, I am often feeling very unorganized, pulled in too many directions at once, and absolutely uncertain each time I make a choice if it is the right one.
There are several things I believe make for a great student and a great team member. Among them are the ability to remain open minded and have respect others’ opinions. I have not always been successful in either, but feel I have made improvements in this regard. I believe for many people, myself included, we may tell ourselves we are open minded and want to hear others’ opinions even when they differ from our own. This is the ideal for which I strive personally. In my mind, that is the person I was, until I was forced to encounter these things. Then, after some self-review, I realized these were aspects of myself I wanted to achieve but had not yet mastered.
Over time, I have become better at these things. Sometimes when a new idea is presented that is counter to my upbringing, beliefs, or stereotypes my instinctive response is to object, find fault or disregard. I have learned, however, to not voice these thoughts immediately. I have learned, in fact, when I have that instant reaction in my head, it is my reminder to open my mind and close my mouth. That instinctive response is my personal red flag that tells me I am being exposed to new information and I should listen if I want to truly learn and grow. It has taken time to create that habit of stopping and listening, but I believe it has made me a better student and a better team member. I think it may be one of the most important lessons I have learned as a student and as a person, and I hope to take that lesson with me into the business world and employ it as a tool for management in my career.
Exam Question: Are there any leadership or management styles that are more likely than others to create or inspire innovation or creative problem solving among employees?
Works Cited
100 Best Companies to Work For. Forbes Magazine [online]. Retrieved from http://fortune.com/best-companies/google-alphabet-1/
Bernard, Tara. “Google to Add Pay to Cover a Tax for Same-Sex Benefits.” The New York Times [online]. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/your-money/01benefits.html?_r=0
Business Strategy. Google Careers. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/about/careers/fields-of-work/business-strategy/
Glassdoor. Best Places to Work 2016: Methodology. Retrieved from https://media.glassdoor.com/staticList/pdf/EN/Glassdoor_Employees_Choice_Awards_Methodology.pdf
