Critical Thinking in the Workplace: A CONARG LTD Analysis

This report delves into the significance of critical thinking, values, beliefs, and attitudes within the workplace, using CONARG LTD, a London-based renovation company, as a case study. The introduction defines management and highlights various management theories. The report then explores CONARG LTD's operations, emphasizing its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. It examines the importance of core values such as accountability, reliability, and honesty, and how these values shape the company's culture and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the report underscores the impact of positive employee attitudes on productivity, teamwork, and motivation. It also discusses the significance of respecting employee beliefs and religions, promoting a non-discriminatory workplace. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and recommendations for fostering a thriving work environment. The report highlights the importance of critical thinking in management and provides valuable insights into creating a positive and productive workplace culture.

Developing Workplace Critical Thinking

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CASE STUDY.................................................................................................................................1
Introduction to company.............................................................................................................1
Importance of value in workplace...............................................................................................2
Importance of attitude in workplace...........................................................................................3
Importance of beliefs in workplace.............................................................................................5
MANAGEMENT THEORIES........................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................10
Key points of change & Solution .............................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Management will be defined as an art and science of handling and managing people and
their work within organisation so that they can working according to set objectives of firm. In
this regard there are many management theories that are used within organisation by managers to
understand their employees and dynamics of business environment. In this report discussion will
be conducted on difference between value, belief and attitude within workplace in context of
CONARG LTD which is a small London based company and is specialist in bathroom and
kitchen renovation. Furthermore, importance of management theories with regard to human
relation and scientific theory are included to explain the correct meaning of management within
organisation (Jang, 2016).
CONARG LTD is a small sized South East London based company that is specialising in
renovation, renewals and void refurbishment of bathrooms and kitchen. The company is meant to
work in several social housing projects in London with the surrounding parts of country as well.
CONARG was founded by Catalin Ghinea and Gabriel Dascalu in year 2008, and since then
company is delivering its remarkable quality of work and their projects in industry. They are
having quality work force which is both consistent and steady in their working due to this their
demand in London is increasing. Critical thinking is the process and ability of person to think
deeply with analysing the objectives and then evaluating over one issue so that judgement could
be performed.
CASE STUDY
Introduction to company.
CONARG LTD is very much proud to have such a confidence management which is
altogether achieving the success and frequently acclaimed by their customers and clients. The
company is having dedication towards safety, operational performance and quality for all their
projects. According to one of the customer satisfaction surveys conducted by company it was
found that they are having high Key Performance Indicator (KPI) score to 90%. Apart from this
company is also getting many Thank You letters from their customers and clients after their
completion of contracts. CONARG is having qualified and educated workforce who all are
having skills to make successful projects like for example Timber Care Certification is held by
all their carpenters. CONARG is indulged in many services like that of building extension, re-
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pointing, bathroom reinstallation, plumbing, wall insulation, partitioning and many more
(Szenes, Tilakaratna and Maton, 2015).
CONARG is giving importance to its various value, belief and attitudes while working
with clients and customers as their company is very much reliable and dedicated towards
working. All the core values of organisation are very much important which is supporting their
mission, vision and aims of company in shaping culture and then reflecting identity of
organisation.
Importance of value in workplace.
Core value which is related to company must be linked with their identity having
philosophical value, beliefs and principles that is helping them in decision making process.
CONARG will be having many significant and important values which they need to have and
comply with so that their objective is met under given time constrain. These core values within
workplace of CONARG are focused every detail, making difference, being accountable, being
reliable and positive, keeping promise, being completely honest and delivering quality. All these
must be carried by company so that they are sustainably working in given environment with all
their clients and customers. A company working without any sustainable value would not be able
to present what their aims and objective are and how they are delivering value to customers.
All the workplace values that are there within CONARG will be acting as guiding
principles which are important for company and the way they are working in society. It is the
duty of management to choose and think deeply over principles so that they are been able to
distinguish between right and wrong way of working (Kivunja, 2014). Thus, these will be
guiding them to form important decisions about what to produce, how to produce and for whom
to produce. These are the 3 important economic decisions to be taken and then affecting the
values of CONARG. This is the duty of company that they are identifying what are their core
values on which they need to work upon and understand the importance of each.
Throughout the goal and objective setting of CONARG is it important that they are
listing what are the cantered values around which any firm is working, what are the purpose of
this and how organisation is getting impacted. The recruitment and retention part of company is
linked with values of CONARG which is helping them to determine that whether they are
building high performing teams or not. During in internal or external recruitment the importance
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of employees it is required that they are analysing what is the importance of values for company
and how it is having impacting on people, working teams and their performance. Then values are
important for decision making process of company which means that value will be centre of
attention for all then it will be playing a part of benchmark to access working of all employees.
Thus, it will be giving value a critical role to play by allotting benchmarks and setting up
standard to help employees to understand their role and priorities in workplace (Hall, 2015).
This value will also be important of learning and development process of employees
allowing them to raise their standard in respect of quality of service which they are giving to
customers and clients. With this organisation will be giving all employees critical thinking of
what is the most crucial thing which CONARG is planning to implement to educate people about
culture or company. Like for many company’s honesty becomes the core value of success for the
employees who are not trustworthy as per CONARG would be not allowed to succeed in
organisation.
Importance of attitude in workplace.
Attitudes of employees at workplace matters a lot for company to execute or reach task
faster and in much better manner. Positive attitude plays an essential role in making work
environment positive and happy. The entire performance of employees is depended on the good
relationship which share with their colleagues. Positive attitude towards the work and colleagues
makes a good relationship at work place (Goetsch and Davis, 2014). Positive energy towards
work makes the work pleasure and employees will easily achieve their goals and objectives.
Employees become very productive if the working environment demonstrate positive attitude
and thinking at work place.
Skills and knowledge and experience plays an essential role but positive attitude at work
place plays the biggest role. In CONARG the working environment is very healthy and happy
and employees demonstrate positive attitude towards work. A positive attitude has many benefits
for workers at work place. Positive attitude at work is beneficial not only for company but it also
benefits for individual working for firm. Here are some advantages of positive attitude at work
place that employees of CONARG LTD are enjoying are as follows-
Career Success- Performance is the major indicator that measure employee’s success. A
positive attitude towards work has great impact on the performance of workers. Positive attitude
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among employees will always think of creative path to achieve goals and objectives in much
better and well defined manner. Employees with positive attitude never find any excuses for their
work (Stephenson and Sadler-McKnight, 2016).
Productivity- Positive attitude towards work place enhance the productivity of employees
at work. Employees having positive attitude tends to make more interest in their work. Interest in
work reduced many errors and mistakes. Employee overall performance as well as productivity
both will improve. Positive attitude is not only beneficial for employees; it is beneficial for
company too.
Team work- Positive environment boost team work within organisation. Team work is
very essential for company to accomplish the goals and objectives in effective manner. Not only
goals but it also makes the working environment positive and optimistic. Positive attitude easily
manages a diverse workforce within organisation in effective manner. Effective team can be built
only by good relationship. Positive attitude assists workers to appreciate each other work and
competence for accomplishing common objectives.
Motivation- Employees with positive attitude help them in increasing motivation as well
as help them to overcome the obstacle that employees face during job. Overcoming obstacles in
effective way motivate workers to move forward. Thus, positive attitude at work place motivate
employees to move forward by overcoming obstacles (Currey and et.al., 2015).
Stress Management- Positive attitude towards work make the employees stress free from
their work. Stress has very bad effect on the health of workers. Thus, it is very essential to cope
up stress and reduce through positive thinking. In order to reduce the stress company has to make
the working environment optimistic and healthy.
Job security: A job is secured when you have a good attitude at workplace, so never
carry a bad attitude at workplace. And always take a break if you go wrong because an employee
who keeps everyone on track is a good asset of the company.
Empowerment: Empowering employees at workplace is based on giving them authority
to perform according to their skills and capabilities. In accordance with this, worker have power
to say no for the task which cannot be performed by them.
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Happy peers: Stress level of one person affects the other person who are around them. If you are
so stressed that you can't send a proper mail and burst out all the frustration on a wrong co-
worker. So it will ripple effect that affects every other person you come in contact with (Alfaro-
LeFevre, 2015).
Importance of beliefs in workplace.
Values are the foundation of belief of human. Value describes what is important for a
person in the way he/she is living a life. Belief or Religion is one the nine characteristics which
are protected in the Equality Act. Belief and religion is one of the biggest issue that is faced by
employees at work place. In CONARG company, management use various techniques and
strategies to resolve the issues that are requires understanding the law as well as balancing the
needs of business. In order to satisfy the employees, it is very essential to make the better and the
best integration of religion and spirituality in the workplace as because it helps employees to be
more satisfied with their job.
Employees working in organisation have different values and belief but it is very
important for company to make the work them satisfies and they never feel discriminated by
other employees believing in other religion or have different beliefs. The culture of CONARG
company is very good and healthy as because they give respect to each and every religion and
belief. The recruitment policies of CONARG company is very impressive and does not bias to
any religion. They select people with their skills, knowledge and experience not by religion.
There are various belief employees have like dresses, appearances codes, not being able to beard
or wear a headscarf within workplace and many others.
CONARG company gives holiday for all the festivals that also satisfy employees for
good working environment as they feel their belief or religion is valued for the firm. CONARG
always respect all the religions in amazing way. Beside this, CONARG company also celebrates
all the festivals of all religion which makes employees feel valued for organisation as well as
they are motivated. Addition to this, In CONARG company, all the photos of God are on wall
(Lovelace, Eggers and Dyck, 2016).
Here is some importance of belief in workplace are as follows-
Prohibiting discrimination- There is great impact of belief or religion at work as it helps
in prohibiting discrimination at workplace. If there is no discrimination it will boost up the
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performance of employees as well all the people of religion or belief will work on the same
platform.
Motivate Employees- In order to motivate employees, belief or religion plays a crucial
role as because if employees religion or belief is respected it will motivate employees. Working
environment will become healthy and happy if employees are motivated. Motivation leads to
develop interest in their work and interest make more effective performance.
Enhance satisfaction of employee’s- Respect for religion or belief makes employees
more satisfied with their job. If employees are satisfied than it will automatically improve the
performance of employee’s in much effective way (Danvers, 2016).
Demonstrate a good image of company- Respecting belief or religion of each and every
employee within organisation makes the atmosphere good and demonstrates a good image of
company in the market. The image of CONARG company is very good and impressive and
amazing in the market.
MANAGEMENT THEORIES
Management is the process of dealing with or controlling things or people. The
management of CONARG company is very effective as they make strategies for coordinating
with efforts of employees in accomplishing the goals and objectives of company. Management
theories are very important for employee’s as well as for organisation.
The importance of theories is to prove the importance of people for productivity not
machines. Earlier time management only focus on scientific management which has main focus
on productivity, effective division of labours and employers as an extension of machinery but
with the passage of time, time has changed and the management theories were modified. There
are various theories of management which are used by company to make effective management
within organisation. Here are some theories of management-
Human Relation Theory- The human relations management theory is a belief of
research that people desire to be part of a supportive team that facilitates development and
growth (LaMartina and Ward-Smith, 2014). This theory is developed by Elton Mayo in 1924.
According to this theory, human is being at its centre, and this theory also stated that human
being are not machines. Elton Mayo in 1927 at has conducted an experiment on the employers of
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the Hawthorne works at western electrical in the spring. The experiment was conducted to find
out the relationship in between employees and work conditions and it was resulted that workers
are motivated to work for money and only till the specified time not more than that. Thus, it
shows that there are no relationships in between employees and work conditions.
Employees are not only motivated only with money, there are some other factors which
motivate them. Social environment, beliefs, religion, form groups and ethics are the major
factors that influenced. This is the theory that enables company to move away from scientific
theories that only focus on productivity. It is very clear with the experiment conducted by Elton
Mayo that for employee’s informal relationship also matters.
The human relations have positive impact on the performance of employees. He also said
that company should have some shorter breaks within work to make employees relax and fresh,
this will surely improve and increase the productivity of employees. The main and major focus
of this theory is to give attention to employees and it can only be possible if there are informal
relationships in between employees of company. In CONARG company, employees are fully
satisfied as because they are following human relation theory within their organisation (Luke,
2018). There are some factors that influenced the human relations within organisation are as
follows-
 Work Environment
 Work Group
 Individual
 Leader
Work Environment-Work environment is one the major factor that influence the human
relationships within organisation. According to the theory, there is great focus on the creating
positive environment for working and it will lead to the great satisfaction to employees.
Organisation goals are only being achieved if employees are satisfied and employees are only
being satisfied if working environment is positive. Company can only achieve its desire goals
and objectives if these two conditions are fulfilled. If employees are not satisfied, it will not
possible to make optimistic and healthy working environment, it will term as negative and
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negative environment will never be able to make good relationship in between employees each
other and with organisation too (Marlowe and et.al., 2015).
Work Group- Work Group is one of the most essential factor is making the working
environment positive. It is the centre of focus of human relation studies. In analysing the
performance and attitudes of employees towards work. According to Elton Mayo, informal
groups has exerted marvellous influence over the behaviour pattern of employers. He also said
that employees feel satisfied working in social group as work is social experience. So in order to
increase the productivity of employees, it is very essential to make them satisfied first, and they
will only be satisfied if they have membership in societal groups.
Individual- Individual or human being are one of the key essential segments of company
as because organisation is only working with their hands or efforts, without human beings there
is nothing. So in order to satisfy employees and make them happy. Feelings, attitudes and
sentimental are greatly affected the behaviour of employees or individual. In order to motivate
employees, company should fulfil the need of employees as per the Maslow Hierarchy theory.
Therefore, motivation is not an easy procedure, it is very complex process (Romero, Usart, and
Ott, 2015).
Leader- Leadership has great role in human relationship. It very important that leader
must ensure the full and effectual utilisation of resources available in organisation. Leader must
able to adjust on different personalities and situations. Leader should have to behave in a manner
that other gives him/her respect in organisation. He should have power to make other to work. As
per the theory, Elton Mayo stated that productivity of company can only be improved if
employees are satisfied and they will only be satisfied if they will provide a free, pleasant and
happy environment to work. Addition to this, employees are allowed to participate in decision
making of organisation. Elton Mayo does not believe on autocratic style of leadership, they said
that leadership style should be democratic.
Bureaucratic Theory- This theory is given by Max Weber who is known as the father of
bureaucracy. This theory is related to the administrative and structural process of the company.
Bureaucracy is a term which means rules and regulations, procedures, patterns, etc. which are
formed for the purpose of minimizing the difficulties and complexities within organisation. As
per the Max Weber, company having high bureaucracy have high control over the employees.
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Organisation having power structure of authority, specialized man power, standardized
principles, proper rules and regulations, trained administrative personnel etc. This theory of
management is totally different from other theories. In this theory, performance of employees is
judged by the activities that are based on rules and regulations and also by promotion of
employees which is decided on basis of their performance and merits.
Addition to this, there is power structure within organisation that stand for the clear cut
lines of authority that who is accountable to whom or who is answerable to whom (Jang, 2016).
Organisation following or applying bureaucratic theory of management within the organisation
are known as bureaucratic organisation and it explains the entire structure of company along with
the defined authority. In order to make work place effective, CONARG company is also using
this theory of management within their organisation. There is some principle that are given by
Max Webber are as follows-
Task Specialisation- This is one of the most essential principle of bureaucratic
management. According to this principles task should be divided into routine and simple
categories on the basis of functional specialisation and competences. Every employee in the
company is answerable for what he/she does best and knows exactly what is hoped from him/her.
It gives direct benefits to company by dividing the work on the basis of specialisation.
Hierarchical Authority- There is structure of power of layer in management of
organisation in which each particular layer of manager is responsible for the overall performance
of its staff. There are many positions of hierarchy in bureaucracy. According to this principle, the
lower layers are always answerable to control and supervision of top layers. It reflects the
systematic lines of communication within organisation as well as the level of delegation and
clearly lays out how responsibilities and powers are segmented (Bureaucratic Theory, 2017).
Formal Selection- According to this principle, all workers are selected on the basis of
skills, knowledge and experience that can be adopt by training, experience and education. Salary
and duties of employee is depended on the position within organisation.
Requirement and Rules- According to this principle, it is very important to have formal
requirements and rules to make sure there is uniformity within organisation so that employees
knows exactly what is expected from them. Rules and regulations in work makes uniformity in
their work as rules and regulations are same for all the level of employees. The stability of rules
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and requirement is very less as it need modifications and alterations. For introducing and
implementation of new rules and regulation in the organisation, it is the duty of top level of
managers.
Bureaucratic Theory is the best theory as compare to all because it makes the entire
structure of organisation effective and distinct. However, bureaucracy has negative image and it
frequently connected to agencies of government and big companies but there is great benefit of
having bureaucracy. In order to allow high efficiency, it helps in establishing rules and
procedures for worker to execute their work (Luke, 2018).
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Illustration 1: Bureaucratic Theory
(Source: Bureaucratic Theory, 2017)