Question
Assignment 1: “What Makes ______ the Best Place to Work and Why?”
Due Week 3 and worth 100 points
Choose one (1) company that you believe would be an ideal company to work for based on working conditions, salary, opportunity for advancement and work involved. Use the Internet to research.
Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:
Evaluate the fundamental driving forces that shape the organizational environment of the selected company. Be sure to address the following: competing in a global marketplace, workforce diversity, ethics and morality, and technological innovation.
Examine the selected company’s specific practices or policies. Speculate on the major influences that these practices or policies have on individual and organizational outcomes.
Determine which practices related to work attitudes in U.S. organizations are most strongly affected by diversity and suggest a strategy to address the effects.
Evaluate human behavior in organizations and the forces shaping the behavior.
Analyze individual differences within organizations and their impact on organizational behavior.
Use technology to research issues affecting organizational behavior in order to deliver assignments which are clear, concise and have proper writing mechanics.
Write clearly and concisely about operations management using proper writing mechanics.
Sample paper
Coca-Cola Company Organizational Behavior
In recent days with the increase in diversity and multiculturalism, organizational behavior is increasingly becoming one of the most important aspects of a company. Organizational behavior focuses on group interaction and how people relate to each other at their places of work. The primary idea of promoting positive organizational behavior in a company is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of individual employees and the company in general. An example of a company that focuses on creating and promoting a comprehensive and positive organizational behavior is the Coca-Cola Company. The company promotes diversity and decentralization to meet the ever growing demands of its customers for it is one of the largest multinationals in the globe today and a key player in the non-alcoholic beverages (Kalapos, 2014). This assignment will use the coca-cola company to identify and describe the driving forces that can shape the organizational environment.
Competing in a global marketplace
The coca cola company which is an Atlanta, Georgia company has gone on to become one of the forces to reckon in the global platform when it comes to non-alcoholic beverages concentrates and syrup. Invented in 1886, the company is globally known for its primary product Coca-Cola and currently has companies and distribution centers across the globe to meet the increasing demand. After conquering the local market bin America, the company has gone on to conquer the global market, but not without stiff competition from other companies such as Pepsi (Pendergrast, 2013). However, to remain at the top of the game and beat the competition, the company produces high-quality products that improve the consumer experiences as well as gives value to the consumers of their money. Additionally, the company has a strong marketing and advertising strategy to constantly remind its loyal customers of the existing products, new products, improvements in their products as well as attract new markets. Finally, the company engages in Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities and programs such as recycling/packaging, energy conservation and active, healthy living thus making it a household name worldwide.
Workforce diversity
Workforce diversity is one of the core elements of organizational behavior of any company and highly influences interactions in a company. With the changing composition of employees and working population across the globe and particularly in the united states, the company has embraced diversity and multiculturalism by giving equal employment opportunities irrespective of their color, race, religion, sexual orientation or origin. Apart from offering equal employment opportunities, the company strives to maintain a work surroundings in which all members of staff are respected and handled with the dignity they deserve, and this improves the cohesion and integration of the company employees. The company has adopted policies and practices as part of its devotion to comply with all applicable equal chances and favorable action requirement. The positive cultural diversity in the company enables the organization to increase the scope of its reach and receives favorable exposure for all its employees as a result of its multicultural policies.
Ethics and morality
Ethics and morality of any company largely relate to wrong and right conduct in an organization or a situation. Therefore, ethics helps an individual to make moral decisions without coercion or threats. The core of the ethics and governance of the company is the code of conduct. The code seeks to provide guidance to the activities of the company employees in line with the company values. The code helps the employees to act in the right manner and honor the rules wherever they operate across the world. Therefore, the code at the company guides the business operations , demands honesty and integrity in all operations about the operations of the company. The company always strives to promote positive values while at the same time discourages negative influences affecting the behaviors and conduct of the company employees (Gertner & Rifkin, 2017). All company employees must possess moral values, to direct the way they conduct themselves and treat others.
Technological innovation
Constant technological changes at the company make it easy for the company to compete at the highest level, but at the same time, it can be a threat to the company. However, to benefit from innovation, the company needs to embrace new inventions and the use of the internet ahead of competitors. For example, the company is extensively making use of the technology and the internet to promote and market its products and seek new markets. Additionally, the company is also using the technology to research and develop new products that align with the needs and requirements of the consumers and thus increasing the market share. With technology, the company can improve the quality of its products as well as its efficiency and effectiveness.
Effect of practices and policies in the company
Employees at any company might be positively or negatively influenced by major practices and policies of the company. Positive practices of the company such as climate change policy, code of business conduct policy and community contribution policy have driven the organization towards high levels of efficiency, effectiveness, and performance. Furthermore, positive policies and procedures at the company have helped to improve employee relations while at the same time motivating them to remain focused and work towards the achievement of the organizational goals and objectives (Britton, 2015). With positive policies and practices, coca cola has managed to reduce the operating cost significantly, work-related accidents and errors while at the same time improving the company sales and conquering new markets. Moreover, the company has managed to improve the organizational image, retain the best talents in the market, improve their customer relations and loyalty and lay down sound policies to improve the working environment in the organization.
Practices related to work attitudes in U.S. organizations
One of the major practices associated with most organizations in the united states is diversity and gender equality. With the changing composition of the population and workforce in the states, most employees of different organizations in the country are more concerned with the diversity and equality policies adopted by organizations. Employees are demanding equal opportunity for all people regardless of their gender, race or color and these policies can significantly affect employees’ attitudes towards work and the organization in general. Additionally, employees are increasingly becoming concerned with the increasing cases of sexual harassment in most organizations. Women are sexually harassed and paid lesser than men, even if the equal pay act demands equal pay for both genders. (Britton, 2015) To address these issues, employers need to formulate and implement strict policies that prohibit discriminating culture and practices as well as educating all employees the need for diversity and equality in the workplace. Additionally, the leaders of companies and organization should lead by example to show employee they can fight any form of oppression in the workplace by supporting them.
References
Britton, M. (2015). Youthnation: Building remarkable brands in a youth-driven culture. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Gertner, D., & Rifkin, L. (2017). Coca-Cola and the Fight against the Global Obesity Epidemic. Thunderbird International Business Review. doi:10.1002/tie.21888
Kalapos, G. (2014). Fertility Goddesses, Groundhog Bellies and the Coca-Cola Company: The Origins of Modern Holidays. London: Insomniac Press.
Pendergrast, M. (2013). For God, country and Coca-Cola: The definitive history of the great American soft drink and the company that makes it.
