organizational behavior - stories & symbols

Presented By:Shashank TiwariShashank@Tiwari.info

OGRANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR

Symbols

A symbol is anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture (a flag, a word, a flashing red light, a raised fist, an animal etc).

* non-verbal gestures can be very “symbolic” and diverse.-Diverse meanings can be given to different variations of the

same object, for example, the winking of an eye.

SYMBOLS

STORY-TELLING IN AN ORGANIZATION

WHAT IS STORY-TELLING ?• Way of passing down lessons, history & morals• Influences people to act, think, and behave a certain way• Relating past & present events• Based on true events but can be exaggerated

Larry PrusakExecutive Director, Institute for Knowledge Management

STORY-TELLING IN AN ORGANIZATION

• Passed on by old employees to new employees

• Stories of the organization’s founders or other dominant leaders are the most common ones

• Organization’s heroes, employees relate the current system due to events that had happened in the past and stories are the medium that carries the legacies

• Rich carriers of organizational culture that give meaning and identity to organizations and help orient new employees

STORY-TELLING SHAPES THE ORGANIZATION

CULTURE

• What stories do people currently tell about your organization?

• What reputation is communicated amongst your customers and other stakeholders?

• What do stories say about what your organization believes in?

• What do employees talk about when they think of the history of the company?

• What stories do they tell new people who join the company?

• What heroes, villains and mavericks appear in the stories?

Stories Values

Ethics

Beliefs

1. Nourishment of Human Spirit2. Change of Human Nature3. Scope for Improvement4. Strengthen Relationships5. Self Management6. Business Growth7. Gives Direction8. Provides Feedback9. Building Culture10.Socialization11.Decision Making

OBJECTIVES OF VALUES

1. Effects Individuals Thoughts and Action2. Influence Employees Motivation3. Relates to Belief System4. Form Basis for Identity5. Works as Binding force6. Influence Attitude and Behavior7. Creates Credibility8. Provides Guidelines for Decision Making and Conflict

Resolution

IMPORTANCE OF VALUES

VALUES

NIKE

NIKE

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

AIRLINES

The building design and bright colours convey the values of creativity, imagination to Walt Disney Company and people working in it.

WALT DISNEY COMPANY

• Reception area in office filled with awards and trophies indirectly reveals the passion for achievement in the organization

• A reception area which is warmly lit with plants gives a homely feeling and indicates people oriented company

USING FURNITURE AND DECORATION AS SYMBOLS TO COMMUNICATE VALUES

• Closed offices that provides employees independent area of work boosts creativity and experimentation

• Open office spaces where employees can all see each other and hear each other, indirectly gives the value of collaboration

• Organizational symbols have the power to facilitate or hinder smooth organizational functioning

CLOSED V/S OPEN OFFICE SPACE

HOW STORIES COMMUNICATE VALUES

• Story of Azim Premji, Wipro Limited• Values like Fair, Professional & Involvement was communicated• Blink of Eye Decision Making• Customer Relationship• Dignity of all roles

ETHICS• Ethics is studying and talking about what is right and wrong, good and bad. It is also studying

what makes something good or bad. This helps decide whether other things are good or bad.

- Wikipedia

WHY IS ETHICS IMPORTANT IN ORGANIZATION?

• Ethics are the principles and values an individual uses to govern his activities and decisions.

• In an organization, a code of ethics is a set of principles that guide the organization in its programs, policies and decisions for the business.

• The ethical philosophy an organization uses to conduct business can affect the reputation, productivity and bottom line of the business.

The arrow was introduced to underscore speed and precision,

which are part of the positioning of the company.

There’s a hidden peacock looking to the right representing

the company’s motto to look forward, and not back.

The bottom right corner of the logo is broken up in such a way so that the serif on the bottom of the “M” displays an equal sign, representing the value of equality.

The collar of Wendy’s shirt seems to have a secret message spelling out the word “mom,” which one would think ties into the brand’s identity of selling old-fashioned hamburgers just like mom used to make.

It symbolizes Equality & Justice in India

EXAMPLE OF SYMBOLISM

• The layout of corporate headquarter, types of automobiles top executives are given, and the presence or absence of corporate aircraft are a few examples of material symbols. These materialistic symbols shows the ethical values of organization how they care about there employees and consumers or stakeholders.

LIMITATIONS OF SYMBOL USED TO SHOW ETHICS

• Unethical manipulation• Empty or meaningless actions• Omnipresence• Divisions

• Every company has stories that Leadership like to share to demonstrate the way they want to operate

• One of the best ways to learn is by modelling another person Rewarded behaviour give your employees plenty of models by celebrating true stories

• Company culture comes from the stories we tell each other whether that stories ethical narrative is another matter

BELIEFSWays beliefs get created:

• Experience

• Intuition

• Tenacity

• Authority

• Scientific method

WHAT IS BELIEF?Trust, Faith or confidence in

someone or something

HOW BELIEF WORKS ?

• Belief has three importance parts to it

1) Believer (The person who is believing)

2) Belief

3) Believing on(The thing or person)

IN CASE OF ALIBABA

Believer Jack Ma

Belief Position Alibaba as a global website not just

a domestic website

Believing on Himself

Belief Action Results

• Belief (Alibaba as a global website)

• Action 1) Need to learn the hard working spirit of silicon valley

2)Breaking the 8a.m to 5p.m work spirit

• Result ( on 9 September 2014, Alibaba’s market value was measured as 231 US billion $

Organizational culture is the careful reading and analysis of organizational symbolsSymbols serve four functions in organizations1. They reflect underlying aspects of culture2. Generating emotional responses from organizational members3. Representing organizational values4. They integrate the entire organization in one system of signification

CONCLUSION

• Stories helps the company to grow from strength to strength

• It encourages employees to ran the extra mile to meet customer

expectations.

• It helps employees seeking to find meaning & purpose in what

they do