Organisation and Behaviour Report: Culture, Power, Politics at Apple

This report delves into the realm of organizational behavior, using Apple as a case study to examine the interplay of culture, power, and politics on individual and team dynamics. It explores how these factors influence employee behavior and organizational performance. The report outlines different theories of motivation, analyzing their application within Apple's framework. Furthermore, it discusses the characteristics of effective and ineffective teams, providing insights into team development. The report also covers key concepts of organizational behavior within the context of a business situation, particularly focusing on Apple's practices. Finally, it considers Hofstede's Cultural Theory, offering a cross-cultural perspective on organizational behavior within the company. The report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how organizational behavior principles are applied in a real-world business scenario.

Organisation and
behaviour
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Determine the effect of Culture, politics & power on behavior of both individuals and Teams.3
Different theories of motivation..................................................................................................8
Discuss what makes a team effective and ineffective...............................................................10
Concepts of OB within an organizational context and a given business situation....................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
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INTRODUCTION
Organisation behaviour is define as a procedure of studying the attitude & behaviour of
individual and group members. The higher authorities of the company identify the behaviour of
workers in order to gain insight about performance of all the staff members. It is essential for
companies to determine the behaviour as it help in developing positive environment at workplace
and also assist them to develop good relationship with employees (Blader, Patil and Packer,
2017). Organisation behaviour assist an organisation to gain growth as well as success, which
leads to achievement of goals and objectives within stipulated time frame. For the present report,
Apple is taken into consideration. The company was founded in the year 1976 by Steve Jobs and
is head office is situated at California, United States. The company offer product like Watches,
iPhone, iPod, media player, Apple TV, Macintosh, iOS and so on. The services offered by
company is Apple store, iCloud, iTunes, Apple pay, Apple music, App store and many more.
The company has more than 500 retail stores which shows it has high market share. The report
cover the influence of power, culture and politics on the business activities and performance of
the company. In addition to thus, different motivational theories is discuss that is adopt by an
entity for motivating staff members in a proper manner. The difference among effective &
ineffective along with team development theories is cover in the report. Later, the report describe
the concept & philosophies of organisational behaviour.
Determine the effect of Culture, politics & power on behavior of both individuals and Teams.
Organization Behavior refers to the systematic study or learning of the behavior of
individual as well as team working within the organization. This help the organization in
understanding employees better, building good team, creating good organizational culture and
also gives job safety to staff members and help in increasing product sales or generate revenue of
the business firm. As compare to the competitors Apple perform well in the market, manager of
the company analyzes that in order to maintain the stability in the market they need to bring
competitive advantage in the market. Apple’s manager determine that culture, politics and power
affect the behaviour of the staff members and authorities performing in a business firm. Higher
authorities try to analyse these factors and also make some new strategies and policies in order to
run business smoothly and reach to vision and mission of a firm. The collision of the culture and
politics, power on the individuals & teams is discussed below –
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Culture - Culture is define as an ethics, values, customs and social behavior of the
particular person and society. Culture is surrounded with the knowledge, skills, language,
cuisine, social habits, music and religion of the particular group of persons. The culture of an
organization affects way of behaving of employees & groups in the both positive and negative
way. Positive and comfortable working culture within the organization encourage or motivates
employees and enhance the performance level of the company. Negative impact of culture in a
business entity increase the rate of staff members absenteeism which results in high employee
turnover. There is various culture maintain in the organization few of them is discussed below –
Person culture – Person culture is created in the organization only to help the individuals
and teams working within the organization. this culture is often used by the organization, but it is
the one which employee mostly want to see in the organization. In this kind of culture employees
focus on their own goals rather than the organization goal (Borkowski, 2016). Person culture
create negative impact on the behavior of employees because in this culture employees just focus
on earning money not on the goal and objective of the organization. This reduce or decrease the
productivity and profitability of the company because employees concentrate on their self-goals.
This reduce the employee’s encouragement towards organizational goals.
Role culture – In the role culture employees assign with authority & tasks as per their
qualification or education, job specification and interest to take better from them. In this type of
culture employees try to do best and always ready to accept new challenges in sequence to
increase the level of performance. Every staff member in a company is accountable or in charge
of work. In this kind of working culture power comes with responsibilities. When roles and
responsibilities are assigned to employees this will help the organization to focus on their
performance in proper and successful manner. If company follow this kind of culture then their
higher authorities are able to maintain and control all the activities effectively. Role culture help
in decreasing the effect of conflicts and problems with assignment of work. Apple follow this
culture and delegate authority and tasks to their staff members as per their education, skills and
ability with this company is able to achieve their goal in addition to individual goal.
Power – This is the capacity and capability of a person to control or encourage employees
working within the organization. Power used by the higher authorities of the organization in
sequence to guide and direct employees to achieve the organizational goal. Power avoid politics
between staff members and make sure that they work together in sequence to increase the sales
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and profitability of the organization. In Apple company powers is in the hand of higher authority
and supervisors. There are many forms of power which is mention under –
Reward power – This kind of power is uses rewards, perks, and monetary benefits to
encourage and motivates individuals as well as teams working in the organization. This power
help in maintaining and managing employee’s performance by encouraging them with rewards in
effective manner. Company give reward to employees according to their performance which
boost the confidence of staff members give their best and increase the sales of the organization
effectively.
Coercive power - Coercive power is the power of leaders, managers and supervisors to set
order or instruction to the staff members and threaten them if they properly not follow their
instructions. In this power threatening means firing, demotion and transfer because not follow
the order of higher authority (Carnevale, 2018). This kind of power decrease the moral of staff
members and also moral goes down them that directly or indirectly affect the productivity of the
company.
Apple follow reward power in sequence to encourage their workforce and achieve company’s
objective by satisfying their employees. Apple provide monetary as well as non-monetary
advantages to staff members to motivate them and to maintain their performance and attain goal.
Politics – Politics in a business entity means to the set of tasks connected with the
performance of authority to improve organizational as well as personal interests. This can be
explained as a set of tasks or activities which only done when there is communication between
staff members of an organization. In organization behavior politics refers to the achieving and
exercising position of governance and maintain control over the employees working within the
organization. politics create positive as well as negative impact on the behavior and environment
of an business entity. some kind of organization politics are mention below –
Positive politics – In positive politics situation working of staff members is enhanced by
the authorities so that employees can achieve the desire goal. Positive politics create comfortable
and effective working environment and this encourage employees to perform well in the favor of
the organization. this kind of politics help in enhancing, sales and profitability of the
organization. Positive politics influence and encourage the behavior of the employees.
Negative politics – This type of politics develops negative working culture within an
organization. Negative politics might create problem in a business entity as sometimes staff
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members not able to believe on another staff members. With this there is competition between
staff members and supervisors which affect the company’s performance. This affects the
production and sales of the company and also increase the conflicts in the organizations.
Apple adopt positive politics in the organization to maintain effective and good relation with
their employees. In this, company assign work to employees to get desirable result and maintain
good relation with workforce.
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that culture, power and politics has great
affect on the behavior of individuals as well as teams in the organization. It is the responsibility
of the Apple’s manager to maintain and create comfortable working culture for their employees
in order to achieve organizational and individuals’ goals. Company adopt reward power to
encourage and motivate employees.
Hofstede’s Cultural Theory –
Geert Hofstede’s a Dutch social psychologist published the theory of Hofstede’s national
culture. He is famous for his research based on business entity and cross-culture group. For
the research Hofstede select staff members of IBM company around the world and after this
he expand the factors of his theory to identify national culture his points are mention under-
 Individualism verses Collectivism – This point is based on the working environment of
an organization from the point of view of an individual person and team. Some
communities give more preference to individual rather than team or some community
give more preference to teams. This theory provides an overview of establishing
financial rewards at company which is person as individual bonuses verses sharing of
profit for group of consist high number of members. Here individualism show that
person believe in self-achievements. And on another side collectivisms persons trust that
group is better than individual. Apple’s strategies are clear for their staff members that
they give equal chance to individual or group with this everyone is able to exmine their
capacities.
 Power Distance – In equality is tolerated or otherwise there is good position or status
power distance focus on this term. Distance with high level of power shows that the
national culture gets back the encouragement of bureaucracy and give more respect to
authority or rank. Whereas national culture encourages business entity this is suggested
at the lower power distance and this also give great impact on personal responsibilities.
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Apple also believe in bringing equality and diversity in the organization because it is
legally also required by the company.
 Masculinity vs Femininity – This factor includes the uniqueness of decision making
style. Masculine approach to hard edged fact based and aggressive decision making.
Feminine decision making involved a great degree of consultation. Apple think both
men and women are equal so they don’t create any point of discrimination in the
organization.
 Uncertainty Avoidance – This factor importantly focus on the unique attitudes to risk
taking between countries. Hofstede looked at the level of anxiety people feel in
unknown or uncertain situation. Low levels of uncertainty avoidance show a willingness
to receive more risk, work without rules. This may be indicating the more
entrepreneurial national culture. Higher levels of uncertainty delays suggest more
support for rules, roles and responsibilities.
 Long-term Orientation – This factor is developed with unique prominence national
culture have on the time for business, planning, objectives and performance. Some
countries place greater emphasis on short-term performance with financial and other
rewards based on few months or years. Other countries take much longer- term
perspectives, which encourage or motivate long- term thinking. Investment decisions
and risk- taking is influenced by this category.
 Indulgence vs Restraint – Indulgence means to those communities which give chance
to proportionately free satisfaction of basic human derives related to enjoying life and
having fun. Restraint refers to the society that repress the satisfaction of needs and
control it by precise or strict social rules and regulations.
 Neutral vs Emotional – Natural persons always try to maintain their focus on their
actions rather than on their emotion. Those kinds of people have power or self-ability to
control their emotions. Whereas emotional persons never try to maintain focus on their
action and they always show their emotions in culture.
Different theories of motivation
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Motivation is the ability of an individual to motivate, encourage and influence other people
in order to achieve common goal. It is important for an organisation to motivate its employees so
that they can work with full potential that leads to increase in productivity and profitability of the
company. Companies motivate staff members by providing them financial and non-financial
benefits in a proper manner. It is determined that an employee feel motivated when he get the
output and appreciation according to the input or hard work they put towards objective of the
company. In addition to this, the behaviour and attitude of employees is change when managers
and higher authorities motivate them in an effective as well as appropriate manner. .There
managers of company uses varioius motivational theories with an aim to enhance productivity. In
relation to Apple, its higher authorities uses content and process theory of motivation that is
describe below:
Content Theory: This theory is about the elements that are identified or determine for
motivating the employees prevailing in the organisation. With reference to Apple, its managers
uses Maslow’s hierarchy as a content theory that help in encouraging employees in a proper
manner. This theory is given below:
Maslow's hierarchy Theory: This theory mainly state that need of a person raise after the
fulfilment of one need. It is important for an organisation to emphasise on fulfilling the need of
employees so that they can work without any mental pressure that leads to increase in
productivity and profitability of the organisation. This theory involves five needs which is given
below in relation to the company:
Physiological need:- It is also known as basic needs such as air, water, food, shelter and so
on. Without the fulfilment of this, a person cannot perform work in a proper manner so the
managers and leaders of Apple ensure that all the basic need of their employees is satisfied
properly.
Safety need :-This need take place after the fulfilment of basic needs and involve safety,
job security and many other needs. The higher authorities of Apple ensure that their employees is
safe at workplace and they always focusing in maintain good environment so that staff members
feel secure at the workplace. This assist company to enhance the productivity as well as
profitability of the organisation.
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Social need:- This need include social status, friendship, love, family, belongingness and many
more. In relation to Apple, its mangers conduct informal session in order to make employees feel
a sense of belongingness with the organisation. This assist company to maintain effective
relationship with employees and retain them for longer time period.
(Source: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, 2018)
Esteem need:- It is determine that an individual is motivated when they are respected and
appreciated by others. The managers of Apple allows employees to participate in the decision
making process as it build confidence and also bring some creative as well as innovative idea
which is beneficial for the company.
Self-actualisation need:- It is consider as the last need of the hierarchy that help in
bringing out innovation and creativity. Apple provide financial and non-financial benefits to
employees in order to motivate them to work with full potential towards the attainment of
objectives within given time frame.
Process Theory: This theory focuses on the factors that motivate an individual and bring
out something creative and innovative effectively. This theory also focuses on how need and
requirement of a person effect on their behaviour and purpose. In relation to Apple, the higher
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authorities use Adam’s Equity theory as a process theory in order to encourage employees as
well as team members. This theory is given below:
Adams' Equity Theory:-
This theory includes two principles that help an organisation to motivate employees in a
proper and effective manner. The first principle is efforts equal to the outcome that is an
employees should gain the output or appreciation according to the input or hard work they put in
order to meet with the targets (Kaufman, 2017). It not only increase productivity but also
develop confidence in employees due to which they perform and implement activities in a proper
manner. The second principle state that all the employees should be fairly and equally treated in
the organisation. The higher authorities of Apple ensure that its employees get pay and benefits
equal to their hard work. It build confidence in employees and help company to engage staff
member for longer time period. In addition to this, the company treated every employee equally
that generate interest in employees for work, which leads to increase in profitability and
productivity of the organisation.
Discuss what makes a team effective and ineffective.
The teams which is called as groups of personnel that are connected to each other for
attaining a pre defined task. Effective teams could improve and manage its productivity and
profitability level which is in the existence of their team members. In reference to Apple, the
manager of this company create effective teams that could attain the goals and objectives of an
organisation within a given time period. This includes two types of teams that presence in both
effective and ineffective.
Ineffective teams is defined as the personnel which is specify about their objectives and
goals. In this effective team there is more chances of problems and issues. This team is not
appropriate for Apple because the problem which are rising lead to effect the overall
performance of a company.
Effective teams is defined as the clarify goals and objectives that might lead to future
success. This team members has possibilities for achieving the defined tasks within given time
period in an suitable manner. Further, this could affect the productivity and profitability of
Apple.
Types of Team: There are different types of team that can be develop by companies according
to their situation so that targets can be fulfilled. The types of team is given below:
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Functional Team: Herein, all the team members from different skills and expertise is
coming together in order to achieve goal of the organisation. It is important for Apple to identify
the skills of employees and then assigned work accordingly as it develop interest in employees
for performing which leads to increase in efficiency of the organisation.
Project Team: This team is develop for a particular project and after the completion of
project, the team get disbanded. This team is temporary in nature and help company to
implement activities of project in a proper and smooth manner.
Virtual Team: This team is develop by companies who employees is working on
different areas, cities and countries. This team communicate with each other by the help of video
conferences, online source, email and many more. Development of this team by Apple help in
performing operations in different countries properly and effectively.
Tuckman Theory of team development:
This theory is defined as the Bruce Tuckman in the year 1965. It is a model which is
described that the members of their team should be professional and experts in their choose field.
This could be considered as follows:
Forming: This is the foremost stage of management and development theory. Further,
the team are allotted specified tasks which is to be performed. This includes such as collecting
information, planning and bonding. In assistance to this, various people which are from different
cultures and beliefs that they could communicate each other.
Storming: This stage has to communicate and shared their activities and also share
ideas and opinions for the fulfilment of their work (Kanfer and Chen, 2016). If the ideas are
shared presently among them then the more occurrence of issues and problems may arise.
Norming: Members of team could work on the behalf of their activities that are concur
on its rules and regulations that could utilise.
Performing: This stage is recognised by the highest level of knowledge, understanding,
motivation, interdependency. It is the last but not the least stage of management and
development team.
Adjourning: This stage is described as the last and final stage of management team and
also development team that the project could completed and also the members of team should be
different.
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Concepts of OB within an organizational context and a given business situation.
Organizational Behavior is the study of activities and performance of the group and individual
within the organization. Organization behavior is concerned with the characteristics, features and
behaviors of employees in the organization. Path Goal Theory is the most common theory which
is used in various organization. This theory is discussed below –
Path Goal Theory
This theory is particularly depends on way or style of leaders and behavior that set benchmark
for employees and working culture to reach the mission of the organizations. In the path goal
theory leaders select particular or specific behaviors which is better suitable to their workforce
requirements and their working culture so leader can direct the workforce through their path in
the procurement of their day to day activities and tasks. All three elements are discussed below –
Characteristics of Employees - Employees explicate their leader’s behaviour depend on
their needs, like ability, capability and want for control. If leader provide proper structure of
work to employees may be this decrease the motivation of employees. This include perception of
employee’s ability and control (Latham, 2016). While formulating strategies and policies of the
organization, leaders take care of the characteristics of staff members in sequence to increase
their efficiency and effectiveness. Apple create or develop company’s strategies and policies
according to the characteristics of the employees. This encourage employees and also increase
the productivity and sales of an business entity.
Task and Environment Characteristics – In this leader make sure that they provide
positive, comfortable and effective working environment to the employees with which they are
able to perform well in the organization. Leaders make sure that they assigned tasks and
activities to employees according to their qualification, job profile, ability and their interest.
Apple create comfortable working environment for their employees but their leader is not able
assign work properly which increase conflicts between employees, so Apple’s leader needs to
create some effective strategies to maintain their workforce and environment.
Leadership Behaviour - – This element includes the leaders adapting and changing the
styles of behaviours according to staff members needs to make sure that they are encouraged
with this they accomplish their tasks in proper way. This leadership styles effectively be in
charge of and maintaining the performance of staff members which enhance the performance and
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