Organizational Behavior
Various problems and concerns that arise within the organizational setting are motivated by different issues concerning varied aspects of the organization. For instance, failure to perform well and meet the goals and objectives of the organization might arise due to the lack of resources, incompetence on the part of the management, or the inability of employees and other members of the organization to get along. Determining the cause of organizational problems and concerns will allow it to establish ways and means to resolve it by channeling its time and resources to formulate and implement new strategies and approaches. An example would be the formulation and implementation of training programs for employees once the organization determines incompetence as contributory to its failure.
However, determining the causes of organizational problems and concerns is a difficult and complex process as an extensive evaluation and assessment of all organizational processes and operations is needed to identify the features or elements within the organization that causes problems or failures. To resolve this issue of difficulty and complexity, companies provide various tools and intervention techniques that will help organizations in evaluating or assessing the causes of organizational problems and concerns. The remainder of this text will discuss these various tools and intervention techniques and how they contribute to the success of the organization by determining sources of organizational problems and concerns.
Six Sigma is an example of tool in the form of a model or methodology that guides organizations in determining problems and concerns and contributes to the formulation of plans to resolve these issues. (“What is Six Sigma?,” 2008) The basic functions of Six Sigma includes the identification of problem areas that put the organization at risk for failure, the identification of the extent of the problem if it reaches it to one aspect or all other aspects of the organization, and all the organizational processes and operations that contribute to problems and failures within the organization. From the results of the evaluation and assessment following the methodology of Six Sigma, the organization will be able to formulate solutions to address problems and concerns. In addition, Six Sigma also helps in improving the behavior or culture within the organization by endorsing the necessity to observe high quality standards and efficiency in the workplace. (Harris, 2008)
Another tool that might be used to determine and solve organizational problems and concerns include the Human Performance Technology or HPT. This is an online instructional intervention tool that allows the evaluation of the structure of occupations or positions within the organization, organizational processes and operations, and general structure of the organization in order to determine what aspects or features causes the problems and failures. After the process of the evaluation or assessment process, HPT directs the organization in formulating plans and designs that will serve as interventions to resolve problems and concerns. Solutions spawned from HPT range from the need for reinstruction, the implementation of excellent evaluation and feedback systems, the introduction of changes or modifications to the working environment, the enhancement of benefit and compensation packages, and such, as well as the combination of various resolutions established. (Shank, 2004)
Another method of intervention is the standardization process of organizational processes, operations, behaviors and such, that is aligned with the goals and objectives of the organization. However, this may be successfully achieved if leaders or the management of an organization is able to handle the process in order to solve problems and failures within the organization through transformations. Therefore, there is a need to channel the organization’s attention, time, and resources to the evaluation and assessment of managerial capabilities in terms of tools and other techniques that will be able to draw out the culture that exists within the management. Leaders or managers working for the organization who will be leading the growth, development, and improvements to eliminate problems and failures should be evaluated and assessed according to standards and guidelines that constitute ideal leadership and management skills and competencies. (Wolley, 2008) Once this is achieved, the organization is able to determine whether there is a necessity to conduct training and educational programs in order to improve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of business leaders and managers. The plan constitutes the transformation of organizational behavior or culture that will promote standards of excellence and quality that will maneuver the organization to realize its goals and objectives as measures of success.
Overall, the needed tools to address the problems and failures within an organization primarily require the implementation of tools or interventions that facilitate the evaluation or assessment of all aspects of the organization. Evaluation and assessment are at the heart of problem-solving processes as they allow the identification of the nature and causes of problems that are instrumental to the formulation of resolutions that will alleviate the impact of problems and failures to the position of the organization. Various tools such as Six Sigma and HPT help organizations to accomplish this particular objective. When solutions are identified and the changes and transformations that are needed to be made are set, the organization needs to look into leadership and management as facilitators of change. Therefore, attention is focused to improve leadership and managerial competencies and capabilities in order to ensure that the solutions will be implemented by leaders and managers positively and efficiently.
References
Harris, W. (2008). How Six Sigma Works. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from
HowStuffWorks, Inc. Website: http://money.howstuffworks.com/six-sigma5.htm
Shank, P. (2004). Complex Interventions for Complex Problems: Expanded Context for
e-Learning Tools. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from The e-Learning Guild. Website: http://www.elearningguild.com/pdf/2/011304des-l.pdf
“What is Six Sigma?” (2008). Retrieved December 8, 2008, from Benchmark Six Sigma.
Website: http://www.benchmarksixsigma.com/what-is-six-sigma.html
