Efficient Performance Organization
Running head: DB ONE- WEEK 1 1
DB ONE – WEEK 1 6
Discussion Board
BUSI 610 Organization Theory & Design
Liberty University
Discussion Board One
Discussion board one will complete a response to Chapter 1 question 1. The highlights reviewed will include importance of shared information in a learning organization in comparison to an efficient performance organization. The impact of organization design on the approach to information sharing will be evaluated.
Shared Information
The importance of shared information in a learning organization is the foundation to the success of achieving the mission of the business. Individual employee knowledge can be a barrier when needing to have a team approach to solving issues, training, and customer satisfaction. According to Luhn (2016), “Organization will improve constantly and learn on the way by achievement of objectives to the vision. They must be convinced that the taken way is the right one to achieve the vision (p.10).” Working within a healthcare facility there are processes in place so that all team members providing patient service know and ultimately meet the patients need safely and effectively. Mayo Clinic understands the importance of communication and shared knowledge and has been successful for more than 150 years. One way the non-profit organization ensures their employees are continuously growing and sharing knowledge is through a medical journal titled Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Describing the history of this journal Lanier (2016) describes the change in history where relevancy was foundational to the continuation of the journal “The Journal’s progress will continue along a path of evolution, not revolution. The editorial board is increasingly engaged in obtaining content that is relevant to the daily clinical practices of physician readership (and others) and additionally informs readers about health care delivery, medical ethics, professionalism, medical law, and related topics (p.7).” A clear vision, ability to obtain different perspectives, and reflect on where an organization has been and is wanting to go necessitates all individuals to believe in the vision and accomplish collaboratively the end results desired. Shared communication seems to be an effective approach when comparing to the medical field. Next we consider the approach of an efficient performance organization.
Efficient Performance Organization
When considering what it means to be efficient one can consider the concept of the fastest and most effective way to get to the end result, minimizing waste and time that is not needed. In an efficient performance organization the approach to communication is where all employees know what they need to accomplish for the end goal individually. They are not experts at what come before or after them in the process as they are not needing to be. Decision making and knowledge of the big picture is held at the leadership level. Historical context is described by Draft (2016): The concept of efficiency was founded by Frederick Taylor. The theory of efficiency had the decision making with the leaders and the knowledge concept of how to do the tasks with the workers. This concept was proven to be efficient in the Bethlehem Steel industry as this approach increased productivity and increased incentives for individual workers (p.25). Understanding the organization design delineates which approach to communication is necessary for success in any business. Comparing the differences between the efficiency and shared concept will be helpful in identifying why individual organizational design allows for the best communication approach to be identified.
Comparison
Shared communication is where all members understand the approach to an organizational design and efficiency performance organization isolate the decision makings and theory concepts to leadership and not throughout the organization. All members can act quickly in an organization with shared communication as they all obtain the knowledge and where an individual is efficient but cannot understand the overall practice and make an impact throughout the organization. The importance of shared communication has allowed the employees at Mayo Clinic to strengthen their knowledge, and act accordingly in any situation, as evidenced through the journal that provided continuing education and knowledge for all to understand and reflect and work differently. In contrast the Bethelehem Steel industry may not have seen an increase in efficiency if it were to have adapted the shared communication approach as the needs are not comparable to that of a healthcare organization in these examples. With this understanding that not all organizations are created equal the exploration of organizational design will be evaluated.
Organizational Design
As evidenced by the two different industries above the sharing information approach was different but yet both industries were successful. Responding to the need for working differently, Draft (2016), identifies how technology has impacted organizations, “The digital revolution has changed everything-not just how we communicate with one another, find information, and share ideas, but also how organizations are designed and managed, how businesses operate, and how employees do their jobs (p.11-12).” This concept of working differently is the crutch to how organizations set up their design. Sharing information approach hinges upon the structure, tasks, strategy and culture. “Knowledge resources are an outcome of organizational culture, structure, and strategy, because knowledge is created, made sense of, and utilized in accordance with a set of cultural values and norms, embedded in structural relationships, and reflected in strategic priorities (Zheng, Yang, & McLean, p.764).” In the steel industry the strategy focused on how to be most efficient and productive, therefore, the sharing information approach was not a fit for their industry design. Sharing information approach must be understood at the macro view of an organization to see if the concepts align with the culture, structure, strategy, and tasks for a particular organization.
Conclusion
Approaching organizational design is a complex and adapting approach necessary for organizations to evaluate to achieve success. Organizations must discern the best approach and have clear understanding of the process. Sharing information approach within a learning organization is important as the employers are aware and understand the bigger picture and are more efficient in approaching work tasks. As Christian leaders it is important to understand the appointing of authority to impact these decisions can be rooted in biblical teachings. Moses when needing to appoint leaders, “Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you (Deuteronomy 1: 13 NIV).” An organizations approach to sharing information will be most effective when a wise leader takes into consideration the design elements of an organization that include structure, strategy, tasks and culture.
References
Daft, R. L. (2016). Organization theory & design. (12th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Lanier, W.L. (2016). Celebrating Mayo Clinic Proceedings’ 90th anniversary: a story of longevity and progression of mission. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 91 (1), 3-9 doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.11.013
Luhn, A. (2016). The learning organization. Creative and Knowledge Society 6(1), 1-13
doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1515/cks-2016-0005
Zheng, W., Yang, B., & McLean, G.N. (2010). Linking organizational culture, structure, strategy, and organizational effectiveness: Mediating role of knowledge management. Journal of Business Research, 63(7), 763-771.
doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.06.005.
