Introduction to Modern Workplace

This document provides an introduction to the modern workplace and its impact on employees. It discusses the goals and objectives of Kellogg's company, leadership and management behaviors, group and team behavior, and motivation theories. The document also includes information about Kellogg's background, its products, and its market presence.

INTRODUCTION
TO
MODERN
WORKPLACE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task 1 Background of project and related organisation..............................................................1
Task 2 Goal and objective...........................................................................................................2
Task 3 Leadership and management behaviours.........................................................................3
Task 4 Group and team behaviour...............................................................................................6
Task 5 Motivation and perception...............................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
It is very important for employees to work in different environment. There is very much
difference in the old workplace and modern workplace. World has been changed very much in
this context. Before employees were treated very badly and there were not good working
conditions in which employees can work but nowadays major focus is given on the working
conditions. Kellogg’s is a multi-national company operating in different parts of the world. The
main office of Kellogg’s is situated in Michigan, United states. Kellogg’s deals with various food
items like cookies, cereals, flakes and more. The main aim of Kellogg’s is to provide food items
in each and every part of the world. The report is about the modern workplace which is provided
by companies like Kellogg’s. The report includes various goals and objectives of the company,
various leadership styles used in companies and how employees should work in group. In the last
the report also include various motivation theories used by Maslow and how they can boost the
employees to achieve organisational goals.
Task 1 Background of project and related organisation
Kellogg’s had belief in nutrition and he wanted to work for improving wellbeing of people
in society. W.K. Kellogg has started first breakfast cereal business. It later on becomes the most
trusted brand in this industry. The vision of firm is to enrich world by offering them healthy
food. Purpose of Kellogg’s is to develop nourishing families. Kellogg’s has promoted healthy
workplace environment where people like to work and put their best efforts to get positive
results. The firm is continuously working to create healthy food that can flourish the person.
Enterprise promotes value based culture where individual like to work. It puts the people first
and ensure that their needs get fulfilled. (Antonakis and Day, 2017)
It is an American food firm that manufactures healthy food and sell it across the world. Its
major products’ are cereal, cookies, toaster pastries etc. It markets its products in more than 180
countries. In the year 2017 firm has generated 12.923 billion revenues and its operating income
was 1.946 billion. Total assets of business is 16.350 billion as per 2017 records. In the year1908
it has merged with Sanitas Nut food firm and started selling nut, meal substitutes items. After
that it has started selling all its food items with the tradename” Kelloggs” It is growing with the
rapid speed and in 2012 it has become the second largest snack enterprise worldwide. In 2017 it
has taken decision of acquiring Chicago based firm Rxbar. Venezuela was facing economic
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crises hence in 2018 Kellogg has stopped its operations in that nation (Barsade and Knight,
2015).
Workplace of Kellogg’s is healthy; people spend their time for the growth of business.
They want reward which makes them satisfied towards the brand. It was necessary for business
to market its products effectively otherwise it would have become difficult for it to sustain in
market for longer duration. It has designed attractive logo that has gained attention of mass
audience. Furthermore, it is the major sponsor of the famous show “Whats my line”. All these
marketing tactics have made the firm successful in this industry and it has become the global
brand.
Task 2 Goal and objective
Every company must have some goals and objectives and they should be established by
following some styles and theories. Kellogg’s company has many objectives in its company.
Some of the objectives of Kellogg’s are:
1) Increase its market: Kellogg’s want to increase its market share in the economy. Every
company want to increase its sale and it can be done by increasing the number of people
consuming the good. The market share can also be increased by the company by
providing good services to customers. Many companies after selling their products do not
provide any services to its customers and this reduces the number of customers.
2) Bring new product in the market: Kellogg’s wants to bring new and innovative products
in the market and this will increase the profits of the company. The company by bringing
new product will give employment to more people. This will increase the goodwill of the
company in the market.
3) More employment: the company want to increase the number of employees working in it.
This can be achieved by increasing the market share. The company can achieve this
target by producing more products and increasing the number of products in the market.
More people will be needed to produce more products and this will lead to more
employment generation.
4) Proper monitoring of material: Due to loss in material the company wants to properly
have full records of all the material and services which it gives to employees. Material
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should be handled properly and company wants to attain it by bringing new handling
machines in the company. (Harris, and Sherblom, 2018)
Task 3 Leadership and management behaviours
Leadership is the practical skill that reflect capability of a person to lead team and guide
them well so that they can perform their work significantly. It is the process of influencing
behaviour of others. Leaders are responsible for leading team and guiding them well so that all
employees become positive towards the brand and they put their hard efforts to meet the
organisational goal.
Situational leadership theory states that leaders are the responsible person those who have
to take actions as per necessity of situation. Constant behaviour is unable to meet the
organisational goal hence to deal with different conditions leaders have to analyses situation and
accordingly have to react. It highlights four major kinds of leadership styles such as telling,
selling, participating and delegating (Bell, McLoughlin and Kindred, 2017)
Telling style of leadership explain that leaders have to tell its workers what they actually
have to do. Individual is responsible for guiding them and making them understand with their
actual working profile. If there are new candidates in the organisation, at initial level employees
feel under confident and they feel nervous to raise their quarries. In such condition leaders have
to react friendly so that individual feel comfortable and perform well. Selling style explains that
leaders have to sell ideas and followers have to execute these ideas. Whenever enterprise face
any difficulties then leaders have to find innovative ideas and employees execute these ideas into
reality in order to resolve complex situations. Participating style highlights that leaders need not
to guide people to much, it gives authorities to group members to make their own decisions and
get positive results. Delegating style is also known as hands-off approach in which team
members take responsibilities of all activities and they ensure that actual goal of firm can
obtained. (Bjerke and Renger, 2017)
Leaders of Kellogg’s always ensure that they give respect to their workers and make them
comfortable in the firm. Leaders adopts situational leadership style where leaders understand
situation and accordingly make their judgements. All the employees of each department work
together, leaders develop communication between them so that they exchange their views easily.
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This helps leaders of Kellogg’s in completing work effectively. Apart from this, leaders motivate
workers so that thy become positive and support the firm in every complex condition. Leaders
offer them good pay and also gives them incentives for their extra efforts. All these things
motivate them Apart from this, leader behave friendly with team members and give them
authorities to make their own decision. This makes them feel valued which encourage employees
of Kellogg’s to stay in the organisation for longer duration.
Leaders of Kellogg’s are pacesetting, they set some very aggressive goals and always
drive their workers to reach to that level. This thing motivates employees and encourage them to
become more committed towards the organisation. This kind of behaviour of leaders create
positive workplace atmosphere and all the people work together to accomplish the objective of
business unit greatly. Leaders of Kellogg’s also has affiliative behaviour, they boost morale of
staff members and always work to build an effective team. This kind of approach is suitable
where there is heavy workload or people are in stress of work. By adopting this kind of
behaviour leaders of Kellogg’s build trust of employees and make them able to feel happy in
heavy workload. (Carreno, and Dolle, 2017)
Due to affiliative behaviour of leader’s people spend quality time at workplace and they
follow instructions of their higher authorities without raising a single question. They believe that
top management is working for their welfare hence they follow their instructions. This thing
gives benefit to business and Kellogg’s company has become able to accomplish its goal
successfully.
Management behaviour
Management can be defined as art of dealing with people and managing them. Managers
are the most important person in organisation, their management style and best practices always
support in running firm successfully and gaining desired results. (Goudreau, and et.al., 2015)
Scientific management theory is considered as very old approach that always emphases
on reducing wastage and improving production efficiency. It concentrates on improving
operational efficiency of employees so that they work better in the firm. Taylor’s scientific
management theory always concentrates on improving performance of workers. This theory
ensures that workers can get motivated by getting attractive pay and money. This theory states
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that workers don’t like to work in highly controlled atmosphere. They don’t want close
monitoring because it makes them feel over burden. Taylor theory of management highlights that
if employees are given freedom then they feel relax and put more efforts. Managers have to
schedule task effectively and have to break work of each staff members in easy manageable
sections so that individual does not fell over burden. Clear working planning help in managing
work significantly and completing all task without failure.
Scientific management their highlights that managers are required to give training to their
staff members so that people understand their job and perform it well. if they have no knowledge
about their work then it may make them uncomfortable hence it is very important for the
managers to give training to employees so that employees feel confident and perform their job
significantly.
Kellogg’s always ensure giving wages to employees as per their productivity. Managers
of Kellogg’s give incentives to staff members that motivates people and make them positive
towards the brand. Incentives to workers fulfil their financial needs which makes people loyal
towards the brand and make them able to become more productive. Apart from giving monetary
benefit to employees, managers of Kellogg’s also give holidays to workers. Some people want
incentives or extra wages whereas some want time. Managers of entity give them time so that
they can spend more time with their family members. This kinds of rewards always encourage
person and make them more productive towards the business unit. That is the reason that staff
members of Kellogg’s company are more devoted and they are working in organisation from
longer duration. (Grint, and et.al., 2016)
Behaviour of management plays significant role in business unit, if managers are unable
to behave well with staff members then it can create problem for the firm and entity will get
failed to accomplish its goal successfully. Manger of Kellogg’s company always show their
commitment towards the organisation, they make the employees aware with objective of
Kellogg’s and ensure that people also become committed towards the brad. Transparency is
another major behaviour aspect of managers. It is essential for the managers that to maintain
transparency with other employees, there should not be anything hidden between management
and team members. This kind of behaviour develops trust between staff members and top
management and both they support each other and work together to accomplish goal of business
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unit. Managers of Kellogg’s ensure making clear and effective communication between all level
of employees. By this way all the people listen each other carefully and they understand
necessary of each task. This supports in aligning the business activities with the organisational
goal and raising production ability of enterprise. (Güss, Burger, and Dörner, 2017)
Managers create healthy workplace culture where employee feel happy and secure. This
kind of positive workplace culture helps in managing people well and raising their contribution
towards the brand. Managers behave enthusiastic in front of staff members, they appreciate
people for their best efforts and contribution. Managers give respect to the views of all workers
which develops confidence among all staff members and they feel valued in the Kellogg’s.
Task 4 Group and team behaviour
Group can be defined as interaction between two or more people those who work together
in order to accomplish the common goal of firm. Group are of two types: formal and informal.
Formal groups are such group which is created by organisation for performing particular task.
Behaviour of group members is very formal as they interact with each other in work related
contexts. Command group is the kind of formal group where people in a collection of people
those who report to their higher authorities and they have to fulfil commands of their top
management. On other hand interest group is another kind of formal group where people work in
a group in order to accomplish particular project.
Informal group is another kind of club where people work together but they have
friendship and communicate with each other on official and non-official’s matters. Task group is
the type of club where group of people work to complete particular task.
Kellogg’s company forms a group for accomplishing particular project. Enterprise ensures
that all group members work effectively in particular project. Kellogg’s has made some
organisational norms which is essential to be followed by all employees those who is a group.
They have to behave disciplined and have to follow instruction of heir higher authorities
sincerely.
Tuckman theory of group development states that each company has to forma group in
systematic manner. There are five basic phases that are necessary to be ensured in order to form
an effective group.
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Forming is the first phase in which individual starts knowing each other, they don’t know
each other hence there is no conflicts between group members. But also they do not have their
own opinion for other because of unfamiliarity between group members. This is an initial level
where people have no knowledge about their work and they even are unaware with their actual
role. In such condition leaders has to adopt directive leadership style where leader of Kellogg’s
company direct group members and have to guide them so that they can understand their work
and can work on it. In this phase group leader develops communication between all individuals
so that they can understand each other and can become comfortable in working in group.
Storming phase is next stage where people starts communicating with each other and
familiarity between them raised. But conflicts also get arisen because people starts competing
with each other. Members of group become little comfortable in a group and leaders develops
professionalism among all group members. Leaders of Kellogg’s make them able to take their
own decisions so that all people work together and concentrate more on actual task rather than
their personal relationships of conflicts.
Norming is next phase where group members show their acceptance and everybody
performs their work effectively. Every group member become responsible towards their job and
they become committed towards the Kellogg’s company.
Performing is the stage where people becomes self-management, all group members
become operative and work smoothly. Trust and loyalty among all group members build up and
they all work together to complete the task effectively. In such phase group leader behave
participative, individual involve all group members and take their suggestions. this type of
behaviour always make person positive and they share their innovative idea to complete the task
in significant manner.
Adjourning is the last phase in which group has achieved its goal and all things are now
wrapped up and group members now work in different groups to complete other project. (Healy,
2016)
Task 5 Motivation and perception
Motivation is the inner strength that drives a person to perform at its best so that company
can achieve its objectives. Companies nowadays use various techniques to motivate its
employees. A company can get a competitive edge over other companies only by its human
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resource. And if the company wants human resource to perform at their maximum then they
must motivate them. Various theories and models are used by different companies to motivate
employees. The model used by Kellogg’s company is Maslow’s theory of motivation. There are
four parameters on which this theory relate. These are:
1. Physiological needs: These include all those basic need of the employees. An employee
cannot survive if these needs are not fulfilled. Physiological needs relate to the internal
needs of the person. These needs of the person should be met so that he can survive easily
in the market. If physiological needs of the person are fulfilled then he will be always
loyal to the company. Kellogg’s provide various schemes which are beneficial to the
employees. Some scheme are related to their health care, life insurance of employee and
its family, cash given to employees other than car and many. Proper working conditions
should be there for employees so that he can work properly. Working hours of the
employees should be proper so that he can spend time with his family also and can get a
proper sleep. Good salary to employees and proper programmes are given by Kellogg to
its employees and which gives a reason to employees to work with their full efforts.
Kellogg’s give competitive salary to employees so that all their need are fulfilled and
they can live easily. The prices of all the materialistic things are increasing and some of
them are basic and if employees cannot acquire basic needs then they will always try to
switch their jobs from the company. Kellogg’s try to reduce its labour turnover by
providing good employees programmes and benefits to its employees. These benefits are
given only to employees to motivate them and they get various things at very low price
comparing to other company employees. Kellogg’s help employees to save their funds so
that the funds can be used in future. Physiological needs are related to all the primary
needs of an employee and these needs are fulfilled by Kellogg’s so that the employees are
motivated to do further and this will be an advantage for the company. (Howard, Berger,
and Waikar, 2017)
2. Safety needs: after the physiological needs of the employees are fulfilled, the most
important need of the employee is the safety need. It is very important for a company to
fill the safety need of the employee. Many times due to various crisis and problems
employees fill that their jobs can be taken anytime. To assure the employees that their
jobs will not be taken these need are fulfilled. Employees are given security that their
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jobs are secures. Kellogg’s value the safety need of the employees. Kellogg’s provide
safe and healthy working environment to employees so that they can perform their best
and achieve organisational goal. Kellogg’s provide various safety kits to employees so
that they can work easily in bad conditions. Safety needs also means that employees
should have a range of working patterns. There are many employees who cannot work
whole-time and want to work for part-time so Kellogg’s provide various jobs for
employees who want to work part- time in the company. There are times when
employees have some family problem so that they cannot work from office and for them
the company provide work from home to these employees. All the demands of employees
are approved when they are reasonable and company does not leave any employee
behind. Kellogg’s respect its employees and their demands are fulfilled when they are
correct and genuine. Employees who are working part-time are given salary according to
it. They are not given less salary and the work of each employee is given according to
their post. Safety needs are very important and employees are very much motivated if
these needs are fulfilled. in the changing environment and with the economy growing at a
slow speed, many companies does not follow any guidelines and ethics and they
terminate the employees without any prior notice. If any company provide the safety need
then the employees is always willing to work in that company and are motivated when
their needs are fulfilled. Jobs are changed by the employees on regular basis because at
some places they don’t get proper working conditions and in some places their needs are
not fulfilled. (Osland, Devine, and Turner, 2015)
3. Social needs: Social needs are those needs which are related to the belongingness of
employees. If these needs are fulfilled then employee will more connected to the
company. He feels good to be part of the company. Companies do various things and
efforts so that the employee will proud of the company. Employees are motivated if
social needs are satisfied. Kellogg’s does various activities for the employees. It does s
group activity called ’huddles’ every week so that employees get motivated. In this
activity employee can request from the company any information related to the company.
It is a type of informal approach followed by the employee. By doing this activity
employee feel important and related to the company. He can ask for any information like
the total sale of the company for that month or information related to the products of the
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company and many more. Very few companies do these kinds of activity. Other activities
which can be done by the company are like arranging various lectures, talking employees
to picnic, arranging meets so that employees get to know each other, arranging parties for
employees and more. These activities are mostly arranged by by the human resource
department of the company. Human resource department of the company must be
efficient and interactive and they must always try to bring all employees together so that
their moral increase and all the targets can be achieved together. Many times employees
do not like the working of the company because of less relation with the colleagues.
There should be proper introduction of employees with all the colleagues so that a
friendly environment can be created between the employees. Kellogg’s human resource
department always introduces any new employee with the whole organisation so that the
employee can get comfortable in the company. If social needs are fulfilled then there will
be a sense of team work between the employees. The main benefit of satisfying the social
need is that employee will always be positive towards the company and this will benefit
the company in the long run. Every individual will try to contribute his maximum as his
social needs will be satisfied and he will be motivated. Employee will be able to work
between different environment and in different people if his social needs are satisfied.
Good relations between the employees always benefit the company as this removes the
communication barrier between them and they can ask for any problem if they face in the
company. Having an open communication helps the company as they are always focused
on the aim and they try to achieve the key values. (Pasquesi, Lane Graves Perry and
Kellogg, 2019)
4. Self-actualisation: self-actualisation means that the employee becomes independent and
he is able to take the decision himself. Employee usually takes small decision of the
company but they try to avoid these decision. Kellogg’s provide employees the
opportunity to take challenging decisions. Very less companies gives opportunities like
these to employees as this can be risky for the company but this helps employee in
learning various skills. Kellogg’s give ownership of the project to the employee so that he
can take all the decision related to the project himself and he can develop and improve.
Kellogg’s is a multi-national company and it takes various projects on regular basis. If all
the small decision is taken by the head then it will be very time consuming and lengthy
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process. Time is very important for the company and proper steps should be taken so that
it can be saved. Employees are trained so that they can also take decisions at the time of
urgency. By giving this power to employee they feel linked to the company and they will
be motivated towards the company. The company should always give such opportunities
to the employees and this will make them stronger and more efficient. Self-actualisation
need in an employee comes in the person after he has earned years of experience in same
work line and he knows very much about that. (Turabik, and Baskan, 2015)
CONCLUSION
Kellogg’s is a multinational company dealing in various products. It started with
producing cereals which are mostly consumed in breakfast. Kellogg’s is a very good example of
modern workplace. There are various latest equipment and machinery used by employees in the
company. The leaders working in the company are very cooperative. They help the employees in
various situations. There are various styles of leadership which can be used in the company.
Situational leadership is a style of leadership in which leader helps the employees in various
situations. No organisation can work properly without proper leaders as they are the mediator
between the employee and the top management. If the employee wants to pass any information
to the top management then it can be done only with the help of leaders. Managers are also equal
to leaders or it can be said that managers manage the organisation and leaders lead the people.
Without managers organisation will not be able to take any decision. Different theories are taken
by the management to see the work of managers. Scientific management approach is also
explained in the report. This approach is based on reducing the wastage and increasing efficiency
of employees by training them. The report also differentiates formal and informal groups in the
company. Kellogg’s employees perform in groups and are very much connected to each other.
For performing better in the organisation, the employees must be properly motivated and for this
the company uses Maslow’s motivation theory. This theory differentiates the motivation in four
needs which if fulfilled then it will boost the morale of employee and they will perform to their
maximum. The four types of need are Physiological needs. Safety needs social needs and self-
actualisation needs. These all needs give motivation to employees in different forms.
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