SEMESTER SPRING 2012
Organizational Behavior (MGT502)
Assignment No. 02
Due date 20th June 2012 30 marks
Communication and technology
Mr. Usman was very happy to introduce an effective and easy to use communication tool
in his department. His department consisted of almost 90 employees. Through this system
all employees, managers and supervisors as well as customers and suppliers could be
connected to each other. This tool, known as “C-kype”, included different features
through which people could contribute by sharing different types of data, information or
private messages. This system was quickly accepted by the employees as it made
communication easy and convenient.
Among different uses of this tool, the most prominent was “team innovators”, a
professionals’ conference that allow 30 professionals of the department to share
information or discuss any new or creative idea. A message posted on this conference
was automatically sent to 30 professionals. Messages posted ranged from request for
information, instructions regarding task allocation or completion, changes in ongoing
processes and discussions on different policies of organization.
On average 100 to 150 messages were posted in a day. Each message came with a beep
and a red flag on receivers desktop. Less than half of these messages conveyed
meaningful information. General messages came from employees’ side were “OK”, “I
agree”, “done”, “communicated” etc. These messages irritated some employees as
continuous beeping diverted their attention from their current task.
Moreover discussion on controversial issues sometimes led towards misunderstandings
and personal attacks that created tense environment in office. Employees started using it
for personal messages even people posted messages to a person sitting next to him that
can easily be done in face-to-face conversation. Employees who requested to maintain
professional tone were had to face criticism.
This tool was losing its main purpose as no such creativity was enhanced after its
installation. Mr. Usman was asked to intervene. But he was reluctant to take back his
decision as it was very effective tool of communication.
After three months it was found that the number of messages posted on C-kype had
decreased to 20% a day. It was also found that people still gave two to three words
acknowledgments but most of the employees just read messages without responding.
In a recent discussion Mr. Awais a professional employee presented an idea to change
work procedures on “team innovators”. He was considered a controversial personality as
he was involved in many personal attacks on others. His idea was immediately welcomed
by three of his colleagues who praised his creativity and initiative. One other employee
suggested that the idea given by Mr. Awais should be discussed face-to-face, but she was
immediately shouted down by accusing her of being a blocker of innovation.
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