Organizational Structure and Groups
Consider the level of ethical behaviour at your current employer (or school) and determine if a centralized or decentralized organizational structure would encourage more ethical behaviour among your peers. Explain your rationale.
The level of ethical behaviour at my school is good. This is because it decentralised and has encouraged ethical and moral behaviour from me and my peer. A decentralised organizational structure does not place the sole responsibility of coming up with rules and guidelines on one person unlike he centralized structure. the school is big, it has a large population and various departments and faculties to place all that under one person would either make the person to rule with an iron fist or to allow for lazier-fare (Miner, 1982).
This has led to delegation of different powers and authority to heads of departments and faculties. This means that the head of the department has been mandated with the authority to punish a student who misbehaves under his supervision without seeking consultation from the principle (Gibson, 1982). Only very serious cases are allowed to reach the office of the principle and the actions of the principle are usually final.
The distribution of power and authority allows for the heads of departments and the teacher to command a great amount of respect from the student and ensures that learning goes on in an orderly manner.
Determine how various types of work groups affect the relationship between individual and group ethical decision making.
There various types of work groups and there are differences in the way the people treat each other in the different groups.
- Problem solving groups- these are groups that aim at solving a specific problem. The individual feels obliged to come up with the best he can to save the group (Ephross, 2005). This means that the individual wants to outdo the rest and show them he is the best. In most situation it usually fair competition based on capability and ability.
- Self managed groups- these are groups that take on the role of a supervisor who has left. Here there is basically no competition as there are several things to be done. The individual is respectful of all the other members and is dependent on them as well.
- Cross functional groups are made up of people who are indifferent levels of their classes. These groups can be made up of smart and average students (Alle-Corliss, 2009). The average students are more respectful and dependent on the smart students while in most cases the smart students seek to show off their capabilities, but at the same time wants to feel superior. Smart students are always putting their best foot forward so as to remain in that position.
References
Miner B. John, (1982), Theories of Organizational Structure and Process, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Gibson V. David, (1982), Determinants of Organizational Structure and Process, Orthodox Press Print, New York
Alle-Corliss Lupe, Alle-Corliss Randall, (2009), Group Work: A Practical Guide to Developing in Agency Setting, University Of Illinois, Illinois
Ephross H. Paul, Vassil V. Thomas, (2005), Groups that Work: Structure and Process, Springer Publishers
