How do things get to be the way they are in a work environment?

WEEK THREE: DUE THURSDAY AT 11PM
EASTERN TIME ( 48HRS) total 1500 words
1-Post a Discussion Response to your feelings on the article
or to the question, What is it about a great Manager/Leader that makes someone
work harder and why is it that sometimes that naturally just doesn’t come out
of the employee? (300 WORDS RESPONSE)
Harness Discretionary Effort
Fred Smith, the CEO of Federal Express once coined remarked
that harnessing discretionary effort was the great challenge for all
organizations. By that he meant, the there is a floor of performance that is
close to the minimum once needs to do to prevent disciplinary actions and
potential termination.
On the other hand, there is a ceiling level of performance
that one is capable of when an employee is properly motivated. The difference
between these two states is the value added provide by good manager and
supervisors
2-Post a Discussion Question to the following story or
question: How do things get to be the way they are in a work environment? (300 WORDS RESPONSE)
Monkey Story (Company Norms)
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage,
hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a
monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as
he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys with cold water. After a while,
another monkey makes an attempt with the same result – all the monkeys are
sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the
stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water.
Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new
one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his
surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt
and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be
assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it
with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous
newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third
original monkey with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is
attacked as well.
Two of the four monkeys that beat him have no idea why they
were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the
beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing the fourth and fifth original monkeys, all
the monkeys that have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced.
Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs. Why not? Because as
far as they know that’s the way it’s always been around here.
And that’s how company policy and norms begin…
3- Post a Discussion Response to the following story and
question: Why does arrogance in someone’s communication turn people off? (300 WORDS RESPONSE)
US Navy Stand-Off Story, Communication
This is the alleged transcript of an actual radio
conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian maritime contact of the coast
of Newfoundland in October 1995.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees North
to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15
degrees South to avoid collision.
Americans: This is the captain of a US navy ship; I
say again divert your course.
Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN,
THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE
ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I
DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT’S ONE FIVE DEGREES
NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS
SHIP.
Canadians: We are a Lighthouse; Your call.
4- Post a Discussion Response, Is someone’s work history
really the best predictor for future performance? (300
WORDS RESPONSE)
The 25 Most Popular Behavior-Based Questions
Tell me about a time when you . . .
Worked
effectively under pressure.
Handled
a difficult situation with a co-worker.
Were
creative in solving a problem.
Missed
an obvious solution to a problem.
Were
unable to complete a project on time.
Persuaded
team members to do things your way.
Wrote
a report that was well received.
Anticipated
potential problems and developed preventive measures.
Had to
make an important decision with limited facts.
Were
forced to make an unpopular decision.
Had to
adapt to a difficult situation.
Were
tolerant of an opinion that was different from yours.
Were
disappointed in your behavior.
Used
your political savvy to push a program through that you really believed
in.
Had to
deal with an irate customer.
Delegated
a project effectively.
Surmounted
a major obstacle.
Set
your sights too high (or too low).
Prioritized
the elements of a complicated project.
Got
bogged down in the details of a project.
Lost
(or won) an important contract.
Made a
bad decision.
Had to
fire a friend.
Hired
(or fired) the wrong person.
Turned
down a good job.
5- (300 WORDS RESPONSE)
Post a Discussion
Response to your feelings on the article or to the question, What is it about a
great Manager or Leader that makes someone work harder and why is it that
sometimes that just naturally doesn’t come out of the employee?
Harness Discretionary Effort
Fred Smith, the CEO of Federal Express once coined remarked
that harnessing discretionary effort was the great challenge for all
organizations. By that he meant, the there is a floor of performance that is
close to the minimum once needs to do to prevent disciplinary actions and
potential termination.
On the other hand, there is a ceiling level of performance
that one is capable of when an employee is properly motivated. The difference
between these two states is the value added provide by good manager and
supervisors

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