Week 8 – Decisions, Decisions, So Many Decisions, Right or Wrong?

Options are always available but which is the best to choose from? In decision-making, there are no ‘best’ decisions but instead, decisions are made base on the most ‘logical’ options available. Nutt (1984) claims the most common decision-making process is the normative model whereby a problem is noticed, followed by analyzing and observation, and then a decision is made.

There are alternatives models in irrational decision-making and these models are not the best way in describing how decision-making is made. The reason? Only because it doesn’t use the best solution but the solution which is ‘good enough’ to solve an issue which is known as the traditional approach (March & Simon, 1958). However, Simon (1987) claims the models still requires analogical interpretation of the problem or the use of past experience for present decision-making. Alternative models such as the garbage can model compiles all the problems, solutions, participants together, and then a decision is made via intuition accessible relevant info. Not really the best way in decision-making indeed but it will do if there is insufficient time. 

Source:  http://soulandbluesreport.com

In relation to Wal-Mart, a company which once provided full health benefits to even their new part-time employees now cuts down to a minimal health provider. Wal-Mart’s mistake in approving its health care benefits wasn’t decided carefully with proper formulation and conceptual development by studying the future outcome of both the company and its employees.

Wal-Mart’s health cover is too costly as they were unable to keep up with the employee’s family covers as well. The approval in providing health benefits was due to the total of 1.4 million workers who were unqualified for health care applicant. Hence Wal-Mart thought of its resolutions and they were successful in solving the present problem but without further analysis of its future caused a fallback. This shows how certain factors in decision-making have to be taken to account to instead of taking the traditional                                                                       approach.

Reference:

Greenhouse, S & Abelson, R, ‘Wal-Mart Cuts Some Health Benefits’, The New York Times 20 October, viewed 20^th October 2012, <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/business/wal-mart-cuts-some-health-care-benefits.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&fb_source=message>

Kim, S, ‘Walmart Cuts Employee Health Care Benefits’, ABC News 21 October, viewed 23^rd October 2012, <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/walmart-cuts-employee-health-care-benefits/>

Week 7 – Knowing What To Be, Who To Be

People in all forms of different working background, workplace and so forth; have to go through the processes of adaptation in a particular field of a working environment. It is inevitable for an individual to venture into work with the procedures of the organizational socialization processes which starts from adapting to learning and then to taking on new roles before becoming an organizational insider.

Source: ProProfs.com

In order for the individual to succeed effectively, it is crucial to have intimate connections with other employees as it is important to be recognized by others. By knowing one’s role and by involving in the organization to its fullest, this will develop job competency for better performance and familiarization. Many work environments prefers to hire younger people as they are more energetic which brings the company to life. Younger also means that the company will benefit from more productivity and efficiency in terms of creativity and especially since generation-Y are more technological friendly.

Taking from a famous celebrity, Katy Perry, for an example, she is bright, energetic, brings the set to live, responsible, punctual and not only does she carry these characteristics worry-free, but she knows her role in her music creation. The ability to be able to mingle with various people and by learning how her responsibilities and role should be carried out is the reason to her success in her career as shown in the making of her music video ‘WideAwake’.

                        Sonny Lowe speaks of Katy's work performance at 12:50

Reference:

KatyPerryVEVO 2012, Wide Awake, viewed 18^th June 2012, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE>

KatyPerryVEVO 2012, The Making of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake”, viewed 30^th August 2012, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGs6MgYOVxg&feature=g-user-u>

Week 6 – Women, walking in their ‘heels’

Source: The CIA

In the screening of ‘The September Issue’, it displays how different genre of scenarios could actually affect as it plays a vital role in our daily lives. Such as fashion, it is the cause for what we are wearing today and fashion itself cause people to feel nervous of others with its demeaning looks from various ways of dressing oneself. In the documentary film, Anna Wintour shows how people with power can set a trend and they are very influential not forgetting, intimidating despite being a woman.

In today’s working environment, apart from fresh employees, women are the primary victims of people in power as they are perceived as a weaker species. Charmaine Pickett, receptionist at 18^th floor Adelaide’s city centre, claims she was sexually harassed and victimized by her colleagues in 2011 (Guilliatt 2011). Another case of Alex Meikle, a victim of suicidal, was caused due to the overwhelming pranks which include setting her on fire in 2008. Even women working in professional workplaces were victims of sexism. The New South Wales Ambulance Service comprised an organizational bullying system which led to Christine Hodder’s suicide in 2005 (Jones 2011).

There is no escape to the endless cases. The study of women in the feminist theories of organizational communication enable a better work environment for women and to view at a different angle on how women handles issues in various sectors. This study reviews on the difference in logic and personality in problem solving of the both genders which create a radical/separatist mode of women being their own organization.

Reference:

Guilliatt, R 2011, ‘Workers at war,’ The Australian 26 November, viewed 3^rd September 2012, <http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/workers-at-war/story-e6frg8h6-1226202193068>

Jones, K 2011, ‘Workplace Bullying is a significant challenge even if the reality is smaller than expected,’ Safety At Work Blog 28 November, viewed 3^rd September 2012, <http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/28/workplace-bullying-is-a-significant-challenge-even-if-the-reality-is-smaller-than-perceived/>

NZSLsigner 2007, Youtube, viewed 3^rd September 2012, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzf6JlmLX5w>