Previously, Previously, I shared the philosophical thesis of I shared the philosophical thesis of

Dr. Surez Ph.D., Dr. Roger Mills Ph.D. and D. Dr. Surez Ph.D., Dr. Roger Mills Ph.D. and D. Stewart M.S. Stewart M.S.

on their principles of human functioning.on their principles of human functioning.

How the knowledge that we all have the How the knowledge that we all have the ability to think and formulate thought (our ability to think and formulate thought (our own reality) can effect the content of that own reality) can effect the content of that

thought (positively or negatively).thought (positively or negatively).

Pulling from their work Pulling from their work We can see an interesting connection We can see an interesting connection

for Symbolic Interactionism and for Symbolic Interactionism and Organizational Sociology. Organizational Sociology.

They note that early physicists were They note that early physicists were specialists in heat, some in electricity, some specialists in heat, some in electricity, some

in gravity, some in optics others in in gravity, some in optics others in mechanics and so on. mechanics and so on.

Later with the growth of scientific Later with the growth of scientific knowledge, the physicist learned that heat knowledge, the physicist learned that heat could be turned into electricity, which in could be turned into electricity, which in

turn could be turned into light or mechanical turn could be turned into light or mechanical energy, or could generate magnetic forces. energy, or could generate magnetic forces.

They recognized “Universal forces” that They recognized “Universal forces” that similarities were more important than similarities were more important than

differences.differences.

They recognized “Universal forces” They recognized “Universal forces” that similarities were more that similarities were more important than differences. important than differences.

I would like to point out that I would like to point out that people, organizations and people, organizations and departments have become departments have become

fragmented and specialized by fragmented and specialized by focusing on problems rather than focusing on problems rather than

remedies. remedies.

Research question: Research question: How does a person or group of How does a person or group of

people in an organization people in an organization construct or reconstruct their construct or reconstruct their content (D.V.) of social reality content (D.V.) of social reality by their level of consciousness by their level of consciousness

(I.V.)?(I.V.)?

Our reality is self-created and we have Our reality is self-created and we have the power to change that reality by the power to change that reality by continuing, dropping or sustaining a continuing, dropping or sustaining a

pattern of thought that holds together pattern of thought that holds together that reality.that reality.

Social theory and Management Social theory and Management theory has focused on countless theory has focused on countless techniques to promote decision techniques to promote decision

making, problem solving, making, problem solving, communication skills, stress communication skills, stress

management, group dynamics, and management, group dynamics, and have failed to bring about a long have failed to bring about a long term resolution of organizational term resolution of organizational

problems.problems.

We can surely see a link between We can surely see a link between employees’, including managers’ level employees’, including managers’ level of cognitive functioning of cognitive functioning

and its effect on such things as and its effect on such things as productivity, motivation, judgment, and productivity, motivation, judgment, and

job satisfaction.job satisfaction.

Consequently this reality then affects Consequently this reality then affects the “bottom line” because employees the “bottom line” because employees

positive or negative thinking is the positive or negative thinking is the most valuable asset of any organization most valuable asset of any organization

and its brand.and its brand.

We can surely see through We can surely see through numerous articles, that the use numerous articles, that the use of techniques for reducing or of techniques for reducing or eliminating mal-productive eliminating mal-productive behavior has the effect of behavior has the effect of

directing awareness away from directing awareness away from the level of consciousness the level of consciousness

leaving only a placebo effect.leaving only a placebo effect.

One classic study, investigated One classic study, investigated the effect of working conditions the effect of working conditions

on the rate of output at the on the rate of output at the Western Electric Company’s Western Electric Company’s

Hawthorne plant. Hawthorne plant.

After years of measuring worker After years of measuring worker productivity, this study found that productivity, this study found that

regardless of change that was socially regardless of change that was socially instituted (different allotted rest instituted (different allotted rest

periods, lighting, air conditioning, periods, lighting, air conditioning, longer or shorter days) lead to longer or shorter days) lead to

temporary results of productivity temporary results of productivity because the workers felt special, they because the workers felt special, they were interested in the experiment and were interested in the experiment and

because they knew that their because they knew that their production rate was being measured. production rate was being measured.

So this study, known as So this study, known as “The Hawthorn Effect”“The Hawthorn Effect”

noted that when workers were noted that when workers were happy they complied with the happy they complied with the desires of the experimenters. desires of the experimenters.

SociologistsSociologistsBerger and Luckmann Berger and Luckmann were also concerned with one’s were also concerned with one’s

unusual tendency to view unusual tendency to view subjective processes as objective subjective processes as objective

realities.realities. As people tend to capture As people tend to capture

everyday life in an ordered reality; everyday life in an ordered reality; that is, social reality seems to the that is, social reality seems to the individual to be independent of the individual to be independent of the

person’s apprehension of it. person’s apprehension of it.

Interestingly enough we find Interestingly enough we find that in the field of sociology that that in the field of sociology that

we are in fact measuring we are in fact measuring ourselves with our own theories, ourselves with our own theories,

which in itself is a bias which in itself is a bias measurement as we have lost measurement as we have lost sight of the fact that we are sight of the fact that we are part of the field that we are part of the field that we are

studying.studying.

The predicament of early astronomers The predicament of early astronomers illustrates this point, as the science had illustrates this point, as the science had

an underlying assumption that the an underlying assumption that the earth was a fixed and stationary center earth was a fixed and stationary center

of the universe.of the universe.

So all studies and observations were So all studies and observations were carried out within this frame of carried out within this frame of reference; scientists charted the reference; scientists charted the

movement of the planets and stars movement of the planets and stars under this assumption.under this assumption.

So though the early astrologer’s So though the early astrologer’s measurements were accurate, measurements were accurate,

the result formulations were far the result formulations were far from factual because the earth from factual because the earth

was not the center of the was not the center of the universe. universe.

We can clearly see thatWe can clearly see thatscientists were not looking for scientists were not looking for

an answer; they were protecting an answer; they were protecting a theory, because it was simple, a theory, because it was simple,

easy, and conformed to the easy, and conformed to the patterns of what was observed.patterns of what was observed.

Reality appears already Reality appears already objectified, and it seems to objectified, and it seems to

impose itself on the individual. impose itself on the individual.

Berger and Luckmann Berger and Luckmann defined social structure as defined social structure as

recurrent patterns of action; recurrent patterns of action; they were interested primarily in they were interested primarily in the process by which that world, the process by which that world,

such as it is, such as it is, is produced and how a sense of its is produced and how a sense of its

objectivity is created and that objectivity is created and that whatever objective reality there whatever objective reality there

“really” is out there, “really” is out there, is produced by people.is produced by people.

We can certainly see how Symbolic We can certainly see how Symbolic Interactionism constructs or reconstructs Interactionism constructs or reconstructs meaning by the works of Thomas Kuhn meaning by the works of Thomas Kuhn who………who………Emphasized the importance of people’s Emphasized the importance of people’s “core self’ as an object. “core self’ as an object.

Through socialization, humans acquire a relatively stable Through socialization, humans acquire a relatively stable set of meanings and attitudes toward themselves. set of meanings and attitudes toward themselves.

The core self will shape and constrain the way people The core self will shape and constrain the way people will define situations by circumscribing the cues that will will define situations by circumscribing the cues that will be seen and the objects that will be injected into social be seen and the objects that will be injected into social

situations. situations.

Human personality is thus structured and comparatively Human personality is thus structured and comparatively stable, giving people’s actions a continuity and stable, giving people’s actions a continuity and

predictability.predictability.

Human behavior could, in principle, be highly Human behavior could, in principle, be highly predictable.predictable.

Or Herbert Blumer who….Or Herbert Blumer who….Emphasized that humans have the capacity to Emphasized that humans have the capacity to view themselves as objects and to insert any view themselves as objects and to insert any

object into an interaction situation.object into an interaction situation.

Individuals are not pushed and pulled around by Individuals are not pushed and pulled around by social and psychological forces but are active social and psychological forces but are active creators of the world to which they respond.creators of the world to which they respond.

For there is always the potential for spontaneity For there is always the potential for spontaneity

and indeterminacy in human behavior.and indeterminacy in human behavior.

If humans can invoke any object into a If humans can invoke any object into a situation, they can radically alter their situation, they can radically alter their definitions of that situation and, their definitions of that situation and, their

behaviors. behaviors.

Self is but one of many objects to be Self is but one of many objects to be seen in a situation; other objects from seen in a situation; other objects from the past, present, or anticipated future the past, present, or anticipated future can also be evoked and can provide a can also be evoked and can provide a

basis for action.basis for action.

Research question: How does a Research question: How does a person or group of people in an person or group of people in an organization construct or organization construct or reconstruct their content (D.V.) reconstruct their content (D.V.) of social reality by their level of of social reality by their level of consciousness (I.V.)?consciousness (I.V.)?

When people, When people, departments or organizations departments or organizations

experience employees or experience employees or management at a low level of management at a low level of consciousness (I.V), whether consciousness (I.V), whether

induced by organizational pressure induced by organizational pressure or personal problemsor personal problems

they are usually they are usually inefficient and unmotivated.inefficient and unmotivated.

We can see how a temporary We can see how a temporary dip in cognitive functioning of dip in cognitive functioning of

one can be passed to another in one can be passed to another in the guise of an organizational the guise of an organizational

issue or through commiseration, issue or through commiseration, until a state of low moral exists. until a state of low moral exists.

Then you have groups of people Then you have groups of people who are reactive, defensive, and who are reactive, defensive, and

fighting for control, fighting for control, communication breaks down, communication breaks down, procedures are overlooked, procedures are overlooked,

cooperation ceases, and cooperation ceases, and productivity falls.productivity falls.

People become fixated with the People become fixated with the details of what’s going wrong details of what’s going wrong but fail to recognize the reason but fail to recognize the reason that things are going downhill.that things are going downhill.

The 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger The 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster shareddisaster shared

what insecurity can do to people what insecurity can do to people It became next to impossible for It became next to impossible for these decision makers to listen to these decision makers to listen to

the logic or the validity of warnings the logic or the validity of warnings by their own engineers.by their own engineers.

Group Think Group Think occurred in this situation occurred in this situation

whenwhenpressure to defend a self-image pressure to defend a self-image

outweighed common sense.outweighed common sense.

If a worker is not aware If a worker is not aware that their that their

level of consciousness level of consciousness is shaping reality, is shaping reality,

they will react negatively toward they will react negatively toward the workplace as the source of the the workplace as the source of the problem, affecting the motivation, problem, affecting the motivation, productivity, communication and productivity, communication and

morale of all.morale of all.

Many studies also show that Many studies also show that when people become more when people become more insecure than usual, their level insecure than usual, their level of consciousness lowers and the of consciousness lowers and the conditioned or habitual ways of conditioned or habitual ways of doing things becomes even doing things becomes even more important to them.more important to them.

Insecurities then leads one to Insecurities then leads one to cling to or recall an incident in cling to or recall an incident in

which they felt they were which they felt they were wronged, they revive incidents, wronged, they revive incidents, resentments, negative attitudes resentments, negative attitudes

and they do not cooperate, and they do not cooperate, provide assistance or expertise provide assistance or expertise

when needed.when needed.

A we-they or an I-you A we-they or an I-you opposition can develop between opposition can develop between people, departments or levels of people, departments or levels of

management.management.

That is why it is important to That is why it is important to ask the Research question: ask the Research question:

How does a person or group of How does a person or group of people in an organization people in an organization

construct or reconstruct their construct or reconstruct their content (D.V.) of social reality content (D.V.) of social reality by their level of consciousness by their level of consciousness

(I.V.)?(I.V.)?