Week 5, Blog #2: Motivation

In chapter 9 it talks about motivation. I firmly believe motivation can make or break an employee. I know I have talk about my job in previous blogs but this is definitely a subject that I think is reflected strongly in my job situation. I am a very happy-go-lucky person. I don't need a lot of encouragement, and I'm pretty good at taking the reigns if needed and running with them. My boss, however, loves to set unattainable goals, criticize everything we do, and them mad when we don't perform up to his set par. He thinks that constantly pointing out everything that he thinks we can do better, ever when we are doing better than the corporate set goals, is the way to motivate. Obviously, it's not. Motivation is probably one of the most important aspects of managing I think all managers/owners should master.

Week 5, Blog #1: Procedural Democracy

Reading this weeks lecture about democracy and communication really reminded me of how most peeople (ok, well me and my friends really) make our decisions. I really started thinking and I tend to go through a procedurally democratic decision making process. Say I have a few ideas of what I want to do for the day. I'm first going to weigh my options on what is the best to me... Then I'll impore my friends to give me their opinions... Then I may even ask some of the members who come into my work... And then based on theirs' and my decision I'll decide what I want to do. Now this doesn't happen every time for anything, but it is definitely something I've noticed about myself.

Week 4, Blog #4: Democracy in the Workplace

This concept, I believe, is a big deal in most companies. Having a democracy type atmosphere allows for the employees to believe that they have a say in what is going on in the company. This allows for the meagerist of employees to have an opinion. It's not just about what the higher ups say, it's about the plain, regular employees. It's kind of like how we feel in the U.S. as a county; we feel like we actually have a say in what is going. I like to know that my opinion counts... If not for the entire decision then at least for the general concept.

Week 4, Blog #3: Team-Based Organization

In Chapter 8, it talks about team-based organization. This immediately reminded me of the structure to Army sets up for its organization. The smallest unit of combat is a team, which is part of a squad, which is part of a platoon and then battalion/company, and so on. But the small unit is a team. And although I mention that a team is a part of something bigger it still needs to be fully functional on its own. Within each team you have a leader and members; all who perform specific tasks and have specific duties and responsibilities. The book mentions that a team is not made up of “individuals.” The team itself is a singular unit.

Week 4 Blog #2: Virtual vs. Real Communication

The Web lecture talks about the difference between virtual and real communication. Growing up in the technology era I understand the virtual communication concept quite well. However, I think because I grew up during the beginning of this era I also understand real communication. Looking at my little sister and my cousins, their whole lives are consumed by virtual communication. IMs, texts, blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter etc, is a regular occurrence for teenagers. I do agree that virtual communication allows for some semblance of courage. I know I don’t have the courage to say some things in person that I do through email or text. However, I also think it lacks that bond you build between two people with actual face-to-face communication. I do have to say I would probably die without my cell phone though haha.

Week 4 Blog #1: Work/Life Concept

In Chapter 7, the book talks about the conflict between a person’s work and his/her personal life called, quite fitting, the work/life conflict. This, I think, is one of the hardest things women and men have to face in their lives. I’m only 22, but I already have a hard time leaving behind my work when I go home. I find myself at work even on my days off, and staying after I’ve already gotten off. I definitely think this is going to be one of the hardest things for me to overcome when I get married and start a family. I know many women who feel because they are the woman it’s their job to cut their work life because of their personal life. We’re lucky in this day and age to live when stereotypes are being challenged, such as the soccer dad. It’s not starting to be social acceptably for a man to stay at home and a woman to have the career. I think that the work/like conflict will be a challenge for men and women that will last for a longk long time.

Week 3 Blog #2 - Domination

The class lecture talks about domination. Domination is described as, “organizations us[ing] and exploit[ing] employees, damaging employees' health and intruding on their personal lives.” Wow does this remind me of my job. I really do love my work but this type of management describes the owner of my spa to a “T”. I work fulltime but I am also a fulltime student. Unfortunately, according to my boss, we employees must live, eat, breathe, smell, taste, hear and see nothing but our spa. We are required to do work outside of work, on our own time, without pay. It’s like because he doesn’t have a life outside of the spa neither should we. He is actually resentful of the fact that I am in school, even though I still work fulltime, because I can’t devoted every second to my job. He has even told me so and made me feel bad about it. This is definitely NOT a way to run a successful business and it sure as hell doesn’t make people want to stay around and work for him. Fortunately, he isn’t in the spa too often therefore, we don’t have to deal with him much. Domination should be held as an example of one of the worst management styles ever.