Business and Industry Case Studies

This assignment presents a collection of academic articles focusing on different aspects of businesses and industries. The papers delve into topics such as British energy developments, the beer industry's vertical monopoly power, complementary innovation in platform-centric ecosystems, leadership capacity in education, and the impact of digital broadband on open innovation. Additionally, there are studies on market segmentation in equestrian centers, public policy and retail strategy, and the ritualization of transitions in construction projects.

Organizational
Behaviour

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Table of content
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Introduction
In any given organization, the most effective method and crucial part of the company is
maintaining the behavior of the organization in the right manner. An attempt is made to
understand the problems of the employees through proper management and handling of the
behavior of the staff by following several strategies and theories. The organization can only
work effectively when the driving force of the company which is the employees are satisfied
and have a zeal to work better to improve the workings. Getting rid of all the evils from the
organization and making a healthy environment with proper motivation and suitable
compensation rewards help the employees to produce better work. The given assignment
would focus on analyzing the influence of the organizational behavior in cultural and political
environment in the organization of 4com plc and the developments they have achieved in the
last few years in all sectors.
Task 1:
Analyze the influence of culture, politics and power on the behavior of
others in an organizational context
With certain set of future expectation for the development of the organization, taking
care of the culture and politics present in the organization is essential for the managerial heads
thereby influencing the behavior of each individual to make a healthy environment. In order to
improvise the work culture in 4com plc, special benefits are provided to the employees as part
of the compensational rewards. In the last 4 years it has been named as one of the best
companies of telecommunication in UK because of their extraordinary developments within
the organization in all sectors with a turnover of £20M to £30M (Samigulina and Samigulina,
2015).
The performance of the employees get enhanced when the moral code of conduct and
values are properly implemented in the workplace thereby keeping a check on all ill manners
such as bullying and harassment with an open office to discuss and communicate freely to
make the organizational executives understand the everyday problems of their staff and work
on it accordingly. Proper understanding and respect are the two main aspects of determining
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the employee behavior thereby handling the culture and power of the organization. The culture
of the organization also displays the visions, norms, habits, beliefs and such of all the
employees thereby effecting on their performance and the community at large. The company’s
development is directly related to the development of the work culture within the organization.
The main aspect in maintaining the culture of the organization is stimulating the enthusiasm
and creativity of the employees thereby improving their economic efficiency. A proper
leadership is therefore very essential to handle all the complex matters that arise in the
organization thereby forming a unique organizational structure. It is therefore essential to
increase the proficiency of each employee and put the loyalty and behavior as their first
priority to get good economic returns and a successful organization.
In relation to organisational culture, 4com PLC implements task culture which implies
that the employees within the organization are assigned tasks as per their expertise and
knowledge. This tends to motivate them to perform in a better manner so as to ensure
achievement of organizational goals and objectives within a timely manner. In regards to
organizational politices, it has been ascertained that the management of 4com PLC has
executed positive politics which is keen upon facilitating a positive atmosphere at workplace so
as to derive desirable outputs from workforce. Lastly, in terms of organizational power, it has
been ascertained that 4com PLC makes use of reward power where the management make use
of financial and non-financial rewards to encourage the employees and make them deliver
performance as per the targets stipulated by management.
Critically analyze how the culture, politics and power of an organization can
influence individual and team behavior and performance
Taking care of each employee’s needs present in the organization is the responsibility
of the manager and the heads of the organization in order to improve the work force. The
competition that prevails today in the market has made it extremely essential to get a proper
hold of all the sectors of the organization and place the important aspects of culture, politics
and power in the right order. For a healthy and safe working of all the employees any factors
which may cause barriers in their development of work are eliminated to enhance their
thinking process thereby in the economic growth of the organization. Both the formal and
informal cultures of the organization are greatly influenced by the presence of power and
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politics of the workplace and in this case, in the organization named 4com plc. It is the
responsibility of the manager and higher authorities to mould the structure of the organization
in such a way so as to maintain order within the system and make a healthy and free
environment to use their innovative capabilities to implement them in the development of the
organization.
To make an effective structure in the organization certain important aspects are kept in
mind such as work specialization of the employees, process of centralization and
decentralization within the work culture, chains of command, and departmentalization and so
on. All these aspects are taken together to frame a proper work culture in the organization,
thereby focusing on all the individuals’ needs and problems and solving them at their best ways
possible to enhance their capabilities. The potential for work needs to be elevated with proper
communication and management of the employees and protecting them from all ill treatments
in the organization and maintaining an amicable work environment.
Task 2:
Evaluate how to motivate individual and teams to achieve a goal
In order to achieve the goals set by an organization, several strategies and techniques
are made to carry on the work process effectively. Motivating the employees to achieve
success and work harder is the most commonly implemented aspect followed by the managers
and the executive heads to keep their employees determined and have a strong zeal to work
harder and better. In order to properly design the organizational structure, two main theories of
motivation are mainly followed which are the Content Theories and the Process Theories. Both
the theories aim at producing a proper framework to carry on the process of motivation better
thereby applying all the necessary principles followed with it. The program planners have a
close association with these two theories where they tend to follow the principles present very
ardently.
Content Theory:
Content theory focuses on motivating the employees within 4com thereby encouraging
them to work better so as to fulfil all their needs. The theorist of content theory such as Maslow
have emphasized on making a thorough research on the motivational features thereby
analyzing the behavior of each employee and making efforts to direct them to work better. The
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four main sub theories that arise from the content theory include Reinforcement of the work, its
expectancy, maintaining equity amongst all and setting up a certain set of goals and objectives.
All the related research studies that have been made on the basis of these theories suggest that
the process of reinforcement and setting up certain goals are the two most important aspects in
the motivation process.
The positive reinforcement process focused on providing compensational rewards to
the employees to keep them satisfied and motivated to work better for better returns. Negative
Reinforcement on the other hand focuses on providing punishments in case of any problems if
created by the employees in the workplace such as bullying and harassment. The theories of
Expectancy and equity on the other hand focus on making a proper compensation plan to
attract the employees and make them in order to work better all of which has been seen in a
research helps to ultimately fulfill the objectives set up by the organization (Gunter et al,
2016). Job satisfaction accompanied by rewards is the ultimate aim of the content theory to
help them stay motivated and connected with the organization at all times.
HERZBERG’S THEORY
The top management team of 4com PLC is using Herzberg's two factory theory in order
to enhance satisfaction level of employees and motivate them at highest level. It contains two
types of factors inclusive of Hygiene and Motivational factors. It can be said that motivator
factors of this theory such as achievement, recognition, advancement, growth etc. influence
employees to work harder whereas on the other hand, hygiene factors such as supervision,
status, salary, work conditions etc. tend to demotivate the employees of 4com.
Process Theory:
The process theories on the other hand is attempted to focus on the behavior of each
employee displayed in the organization and making efforts to keep them enthused at all times.
ADAM’S EQUITY THEORY
This motivational theory tends to facilitate equitable treatment for all the employees in
an enterprise. Within 4com PLC, management ensures that the efforts taken by employees (in
terms of no. of hrs worked, their loyalty, commitment etc.) are fulfilled by adequate outputs
(like bonus, rewards, recognition, incentive, performance appraisals etc.). Leaders of 4com
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have acknowledged that when an employee feels that the outputs received at workstation are
more than their inputs, they get motivated to perform in a desirable manner.
Focus in relation to both content and process theories is upon creation of a healthy
environment within 4com with the motto of job satisfaction of employees and making them
feel safe to do better in their work for the development of organization.
Critically evaluate how to influence the behavior of others through the
effective application of behavioral motivational theories, concepts
and models
Keeping all the aforementioned motivational theories help to understand the behavior that each
individual display in their work and the productivity of their work is directly proportional to
the efforts they place in them (Azgad-Tromer, 2017). Keeping the employees committed to
their work requires great effort of the organization to plan all the strategies in such a way so as
to make them feel safe and satisfied. Thus the managers and the executive bodies play a crucial
part in motivating each of their employees to work harder and put all their efforts to make the
development a success. This in return not only enhances the work of the overall department but
also the leadership qualities, all of which are necessary in the flourishing of an organized
business. They therefore enforce several strategic methods to implement the various theories of
motivation to keep the employees committed to working better and bring a better output. They
include:
● following the expectancy theory, several traditional and compensational strategies are taken
into account which focuses on equalizing all the employees’ stature thereby sharpening their
skills to make them experts in their work. Their contribution in return would help in the
development of the business and include all the innovative ideas to take further steps for
improvement in their systems.
● the process theory involves all the monetary rewards for those employees who work better
amongst all in order to motivate them and make efforts to work even better thereby committing
them to the business.
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●Several programs have been introduced in the organization in an attempt to maintain the
focus of each employee towards reaching their goals with proper motivation and a suitable
work environment followed by rewards to keep them enthused at all times thereby increasing
their confidence (Mejía-Trejo, 2017).
●Several organizations have included several new theories such as X and Y which also aims at
motivating their employees followed by several well planned strategies for the progress in
work of the staffs.
Critically evaluate the relationship between culture, politics, power and
motivation that enables teams and organizations to succeed
providing justified recommendations
For any business to succeed it is therefore essential to take control over the organizational
culture thereby upholding the power and politics prevalent thereby maintaining a healthy and
workable environment for all employees. A free work space is therefore very essential with
proper communication and connectivity between all the employees for a better working in the
organization. Making the employees feel comfortable to work is essential so that any sort of
queries if ever arise, they can freely convey them to the hierarchy (Tominaga, 2015). Certain
strategies are therefore made to maintain a healthy work environment thereby keeping all the
cultural and political factors in mind. It is the role of the managers to handle all problems
effectively and acknowledge each employee’s work process thereby providing them
compensations to keep them motivated and satisfied at all times. Maintaining a proper code of
conduct in the workplace is therefore necessary to handle the organizational behavior with a
direct half of power in the power and politics of the environment (Craig, 2014). It is therefore
the duty of the organization to frame the structure properly in the organization to handle all
problems effectively and avoid any form of risks from turning up in the near future. Solutions
to all problems are concluded beforehand by emphasizing on the important factors such as
centralization and decentralization in the organization. Diversity in the workplace followed by
a proper management is necessary to identify each individual’s talents and efforts to help them
develop their capabilities according to the needs of the time.
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Task 3:
Demonstrate an understanding of how to cooperate effectively with others
In the process of executing the work effectively in any organization, the collaboration
of all the employees is very important. In order to do so, they are divided into several teams to
take the decisions collectively taking all the points in mind thereby implementing them in the
right place when required. This examines all those areas where the performance lacks due to
several factors thereby making efforts to improve them and understand the factors properly to
solve those (Higgins et al, 2016). This in turn determines the effectiveness of the team and the
overall performance of the project.
The effectiveness of the team can be better developed by infusing the basic principles
of teamwork to evaluate the factors which are necessary in creating an effective team all of
which are essential to handle the workings of the business better and help in their
developments. The ineffective team on the other hand lacks those portions where the
scrutinizing of the work is needed. They also fail to take into consideration the minority
portion whose viewpoints do not match with the majority of people in the decision making
process for the development (Haleem, 2016). Lack of trust and an unstable foundation are the
other flaws which are present among the team members. This in turn results in conflict and
rivalry in the process of planning thereby making them hesitant and spiritless (Mukherjee et al,
2014). Disagreements turn up as a result thereby failing to maintain the loyalty within the
organization and a poor working condition all of which result to meet the desired targets and
deadlines of the organization resulting in chaos.
Belbin's Team Role Model
The management of 4com uses Belbin’s model to clearly depict the roles and
responsibilities of every individual within the team. This theory comprises of 9 team roles and
categorises them within three groups: Action, People and Thought Oriented.
Action Oriented Roles
Shapers: These are those individuals within 4com who intend to undertake challenges
so as to ensure improvement of team. They are responsible for motivating the team members to
deliver their best performance.
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Implementers: These are the personnel who are responsible for implementing tasks in
4com. They are accountable for conversion of ideas and thoughts of group into reality.
Completer Finisher: These individuals are highly indulged throughout the whole task
and ensure that there are no conflicts between team members.
People Oriented Roles
Coordinator: Leaders who render help to team members in building an understanding
of goal. They are responsible for ascertaining the potential and skills of each member of team
in 4com.
Team Worker: They provide guidance as well as support to team members and ensure
the execution of work in an effective manner.
Resource Investigator: They build healthy relationship in order to acquire the resources
for execution of tasks from the best source.
Thought Oriented Roles
Plant: It is that individual who brings up unique ideas for implementation of project. In
4com, this role is given to the individual with belief of finding out unique way of executing old
things.
Monitor Evaluator: Such personnel of 4com are responsible for supervising and
assessing the ideas of team members.
Specialist: These are the individuals within 4com who possess the skills and
competence to get things done in effective manner.
Analyze relevant team and group development theories to support the
development of dynamic cooperation
It has been seen that 4com plc is an effective and aggressive organization of
telecommunication which is independent and neutral environment with importance being given
on each and every employee and has succeeded in meeting the goals of their organization with
a turnover of £20M to £30M. The presence of an effective team work within, honesty lies
among all members thereby making the work process easy and successful (MEJÍA-TREJO,
2017). Each and every employee follows the rules and code of conduct of the organization and
with a healthy work environment it becomes all the more easily to keep their customers
satisfied. They are known to provide the best quality services and have succeeded in meeting
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their goals to a great extent. The work culture is also suitable which manages to use their
strategic plans effectively in all the sectors of the organization efficiently (van den Ende and
van Marrewijk, 2014). All the atrocious factors are eliminated from the organization to make
sure that the employees are motivated enough to use their innovative ideas and creativity in the
right places to make the work process better (Kugler, 2015). They have made use of
technology in the right way to make the work process even better and provide the employees
with better ideas to implement them while taking the decisions. To divide the work process
more effectively, several groups and teams have been organized t o divide the various sections
of work in the right manner and help them take each individual's ideas into consideration
followed by an effective training to sharpen their skills. This has led to increase in the
opportunities thereby safeguarding the rights and responsibilities rightly. Several stages have
been organized to set the working more effective for the teams which involve forming,
performing, Norming and such.
Task 4:
Apply concepts and philosophies of organizational behavior to a given
business situation
4com plc has succeeded to a great extent in handling the behavior of their organization
in the right manner thereby taking the interests of each individual into account. The cultural
and political environment are the two most essential sectors of the organization which needs an
effective handling thereby keeping the moral values and rights of all individuals intact and safe
(Darai and Grätz, 2013). Presence of a healthy work environment makes the working easier
thereby involving all the individuals take an active part in all the process starting from decision
making to their scrutiny to their implementation and execution in the desired places. All the
strategies made in 4 com aim at fulfilling the organisational objectives and reaching the desired
profit margin by involving all the members equally and keeping them enthusiastic and
interested in work at all times (Lambert, et al, 2016). A proper relation between all the
employees and with the executive members is essential to create an amiable and free
environment to discuss all the issues freely with a proper communication prevalent thereby
solving all the problems that befall in the company which may harm the organization in the
near future. Thus maintaining the organizational behavior is crucial to any organization and
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keeping them satisfied through proper salary and compensations can further help them to keep
them motivated and carry out the work process effectively to develop the organization at all
levels.
Explore and evaluate how concepts and philosophies of OB inform and
influence behavior in both a positive and negative way
Every organization is based on keeping all the employees satisfied at all times. In an attempt to
carry out the working in the organization better, 4com plc has taken all the necessary steps
required to handle all problems in the right manner and scrutinizing all problems and finding
solutions to them to serve the problems faced by the employees as well as the organization in
their everyday lives (Bertini, 2017). Any dissatisfied employee or staff who may feel
uncomfortable about a certain matter needs to be helped at all cost to prevent any sort of hoax
or mishap from turning up since one bad mood can be so contagious as to disrupt the entire
work of the organization. It is the duty of the organization therefore to take due care of all the
members in the company thereby influencing the good attitude and appeal them to work even
harder through a constant source of motivation (Gilligan and Bowman, 2013). Thus handling
of the emotional behavior of the employees is important to be taken care of which can either
take down the whole work of the organization of make a rapid difference if infused with great
determination and hard work out of interest and satisfaction.
Path goal leadership theory
This theory stresses upon certain aspects of leadership styles. In this relation, leaders
within 4com PLC efficaciously motivate the workforce to attain the organisational goals and
objectives within timely manner by using Path Goal leadership theory. This provides assistance
to company in strategically increasing the overall productivity as well as profitability of
individuals and the organisation in an effective manner. This theory consists of four leadership
styles, as follows:-
Directive: Herein, leaders of 4com provide guidance to employees in relation to their
roles and responsibilities. This style tends to motivate the workforce to perform in an effective
manner.
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Participative: This leadership style employed within 4com emphasize on employee
engagement through participation in decision making and collecting feedbacks from them so as
to encourage them to deliver their best performance.
Supportive: In this style, leaders of 4com display concern and support towards
workforce so as to facilitate a positive relationship between the leader and employees. This
significantly reduces the stress among employees and they perform as per their full potential.
Achievement: This leadership style used in 4com focuses on demonstrating trust and
loyalty towards the employees and thereby expecting output from them as per the stipulated
targets.
Critically analyze and evaluate the relevance of team development theories
in context of organizational behavior concepts and philosophies that
influence behavior in the workplace.
It is therefore crucial and mandatory to change the attitude of every individual working and
keep them motivated at all times to make them work effectively which in turn will have a
positive result in the company’s development and salvation (Roman, 2014). Any problem be it
minor or major needs to be thoroughly checked and eliminated to get rid of any negative
source in the organization and getting rid of any flaw in the company can help to add on the
productivity of the resulted output of the organization thereby increasing the number of
interested employees to use their creativity and innovation to develop new ideas at every
moment for the betterment of the organization (Badihi Olyaei, 2014). Quality of service and a
healthy environment is therefore essential to be maintained in order to avoid any new problems
from turning up thereby stimulating the progress in the economy. The relationship between the
worker and the hirer needs to be smooth and free to discuss all problems and issues in a well
developed manner to further help in the integration of the business.
Conclusion
The assignment thus follows a well organized way to keep the employees and the workers
satisfied and help in the progress of the business in the future. All the aspects of the
organization 4com plc are taken due consideration thereby succeeding to a great extent in
creating a well developed and managed work culture with the help of innovative ideas
frequently turning up at all points. As an HR, it is therefore their duty to avoid any potential
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risks which may befall in the organization need to be eliminated and the causes that may result
it to happen through proper management and development. Keeping the employees motivated
and enthused to work at all times is essential to increase their determination to work harder and
better. This in turn helps to influence the work of the business better thereby resulting in
fulfilling all the desired goals and objectives in the right manner.
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