EMPOWERING YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE
1. Learning to empower > control co-workers
2. Team-work environment
• The formal org is the stage, the informal org, the drama. • Executives are the playwrights, employees the actors, clients the audience.• Productivity is the plot, work is the script.
1. Formal org structure = the CONTROLLING, planned out part of the org: job descriptions, org chart, rules & regulations, paperwork forms, etc.
2. Informal structure = the EMPOWERING, relational side of the org: employee work interactions, relationships, emotions, dysfunctions
The main purpose of formal org structure is to
CONTROL: •How people do work•Who gets power over others•How strategic decisions are made • The org flow of official information
FORMAL ORG CONTROL TOOLS
•Chain of command (the org chart)•Rules & polices• Job descriptions•Budgets & financial statements•Performance reviews
CONTROL-ORIENTED BUSINESS MAJORS
• Controlling people = Mgt & HR majors
• Controlling operations = HR & Supply Chain major
• Controlling customers & products = Marketing majors• Controlling information = MIS major• Controlling spending & funding =
Finance major• Controlling the flow of money =
Accounting major
The main purpose of informal org structure is to
EMPOWER workplace productivity & contributions via:
• Employees being their own bosses• Thinking innovatively outside the box (altering the status quo)• Influencing employees to internalize the org’s mission & goals
INFORMAL ORG CONTROL TOOLS
• The different org communities• Employee-directed teams• Employee social networks•Participative management
Formal org controllers get OFF-SIDES by over-controlling & thus
hampering interpersonal dynamics, innovative thinking,
employee morale, & project effectiveness.
OFF-SIDES!
• Sales reps spend too much time filling out (formal) paperwork, & not enough (informal) time with customers
• Upper level administrators (formally) choose incompatible project team members
• College students spend more time on (formal) drop/add than on course registration