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FINAL ASSIGNMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
When a new employee joins an organization, the onboarding process is the first and foremost
responsibility of the operations team. This process is essential for helping new hires integrate
into the organization and fostering collaboration between the organization and its new
employees. An effective onboarding process ensures that new employees feel valued,
supported, and motivated to contribute to the organization. Conversely, a poorly managed
onboarding process can lead to dissatisfaction, reduced productivity, and increased turnover
rates, as evidenced by the case of David, a new hire at TechWave.
This essay will address the key questions surrounding these themes. Part A will explore the
significance of organizational structure and culture in business operations, evaluate the
advantages and disadvantages of various organizational models, and identify the critical factors
influencing the selection of an appropriate structure for different types of businesses.
Additionally, Part A will provide an overview of how leadership styles affect team performance
and outcomes. Part B will analyze David’s onboarding experience, identify the shortcomings
that led to its negative outcomes, and propose actionable solutions for TechWave’s HR team
to address these issues and improve the company’s onboarding process.
I. LITERATURE
Question 1: Why is effective organizational structure and culture important? How does
culture affect the structure of an organization?
a) Definition:
Organizational Culture:
An organizational structure is a framework that specifies how certain tasks are carried
out in order to meet the objectives of an organization. Rules, roles, and obligations are
a few examples of these activities.
The way information moves across tiers of the organization is also determined by its
organizational structure. In a centralized system, decisions are made at the highest
levels. A decentralized structure divides decision-making authority among the
organization's tiers. Establishing an organizational structure enables businesses to stay
focused and productive.
A corporation may see how it is structured and how it can best proceed to accomplish
its objectives thanks to this structuring. Typically, organizational structures are depicted
using a chart or diagram that resembles a pyramid, with the most powerful individuals
in the company at the top rungs and the least powerful individuals at the base.
(Kenton,2024)
Organizational structures provide employees with direction and clarity, allowing them
to better understand their roles and responsibilities within the company. This framework
also minimizes uncertainty by setting clear expectations for task execution and
decision-making processes. (Bonifacio, 2024)
+ Decreased Turnover: Organizational culture fosters and promotes shared values while
respecting diversity. This creates a sense of respect for employees and strengthens
camaraderie among team members.
+ Increased Productivity: Employees put out more effort when they are content and
pleased in their roles. Employees may gradually lose sight of company culture, yet it
nevertheless permeates every aspect of their everyday job. Establishing a robust
corporate culture that is in line with your goals can boost worker productivity, which
will raise total production. According to Deloitte chairman’s survey, 94% of executives
and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business
success.
+ Stronger brand identity: Brand's reputation is shaped by the culture of your company.
Employees who work for a company with a strong, positive culture become brand
ambassadors, improving marketing and public impression.
Studies highlight the strategic importance of cultural alignment. Deloitte reports that
businesses with strong cultural congruence are 1.7 times more likely to achieve superior
revenue growth, and McKinsey notes that diverse and inclusive organizations have a
33% higher probability of profitability, reinforcing the competitive advantage of
cultural integration.
Question 2 (15 marks): Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of types of organizational
structure. What are the key factors influencing the choice of an organizational structure?
There are several types of organizational structures that companies can leverage.
- Advantages:
+ Simplification of supervision: Việc theo dõi tiến độ công việc và quản lý bao quát dễ
dàng hơn do mỗi người quản lý chịu trách nhiệm toàn bộ bộ phận mà họ phụ trách.
+ Consistency and uniformity: Policies and procedures are typically standardized across
the organization in a vertical structure. This consistency ensures that all employees
follow the same guidelines and practices, promoting uniformity.
+ Structured career path: Employees can see a clear path for progression within the
company, which can aid in motivation and career development
- Disadvantages:
+ Reduced flexibility: The vertical market structure lacks flexibility due to the
consistently maintained hierarchical power system, and this can hinder the ability to
change and adapt to significant fluctuations.
+ Potential for information silos: Information may not be shared freely across different
levels and departments, leading to information silos. This can result in a lack of
coordination, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities for collaboration.
+ Decreased employee morale: Lower-level employees may feel disconnected from top
management and the decision-making process. This can lead to decreased morale,
lower engagement, and a sense of being undervalued within the organization.
- Advantages:
+ Reduced costs: In this structure, numerous employees hold similar positions but oversee
different sectors, leading to minimal differences in salary and rewards across various
management levels.
+ Organizational agility: Horizontal organizational structures tend to be more flexible and
adaptable compared to traditional hierarchical structures. This flexibility allows
organizations to respond to market shifts or change strategies quickly.
+ Enhanced creativity & innovation: When employees have more autonomy and freedom,
it can drive innovation and creative ideas. This is especially true when diverse, cross-
functional teams come together.
- Disadvantages:
+ Lack of clarity & focus: Allowing employees to contribute ideas and adopt various
working methods can result in an increased rate of conflict between departments and
create challenges in decision-making processes.
(AIHR,2024)
● Matrix organization:
- Disadvantages: The possibility of role confusion, which can result in conflicts and
stress, is one of the difficulties associated with the matrix organizational structure. since
of its intrinsic complexity, monitoring, controlling, and communicating are made more
difficult, and decision-making is slowed down since several parties must be consulted.
Project and functional managers' competing agendas frequently lead to problems with
goal alignment and resource allocation, which puts a lot of strain on senior executives.
Furthermore, having two lines of authority raises the possibility of getting conflicting
instructions, and rivalry for resources can result in power clashes and lower job
satisfaction. The general strain of dispute resolution and goal-balancing demands that
managers have a high stress tolerance. (Stuckenbruck, L. C. (1979)
The functional organizational structure groups employees based on their roles, expertise, and
specialization, with each department headed by a manager responsible for overseeing its
performance. Employees report directly to the head of their respective department, and top-
level managers centrally coordinate the various departments. (Miller, 2022)
- Advantages:
The functional organizational structure offers several advantages, including enhanced
specialization, as employees become experts in their respective areas, improving work
quality and efficiency. It also provides a clear reporting structure, simplifying
supervision and accountability, and offers well-defined career paths within specific
functions, aiding in career development. Additionally, the stability and predictability of
this structure facilitate long-term planning and daily operations.
The size of the company, the type of work it does, industry dynamics, strategic
objectives, and leadership style are some of the elements that affect the choice of
organizational structure. While larger businesses, like multinational corporations,
need more hierarchical structures to manage complexity and scale, smaller
organizations, like startups, can benefit from flat structures that facilitate speedy
decision-making and communication. A digital corporation that prioritizes innovation,
like Google, may utilize a decentralized structure to encourage creativity, but a fast-
food chain with repetitive activities would choose a centralized structure for
efficiency. While industries in stable contexts, like manufacturing, may rely on more
rigid, hierarchical systems, industries that are subject to fast change, like the IT
industry, tend to embrace flexible structures. Companies pursuing cost leadership
might centralize decision-making to control costs, whereas those focused on
differentiation, like Apple, encourage autonomy at lower levels. Organizational
culture also plays a role, with collaborative cultures benefiting from open
communication structures, while competitive ones may emphasize hierarchical
structures. Additionally, organizations in high-tech environments may favor flat
structures to promote innovation, while traditional industries may stick with more
structured approaches. Global companies, like Coca-Cola, may implement matrix
structures to manage their international operations, while smaller local businesses can
operate with simpler frameworks. Leadership style also impacts structure; autocratic
leaders often favor centralized decision-making, while democratic leaders promote
decentralized, participative systems. (MBA notes, themba.institute (2023))
Question 3 (15 marks): How do different leadership styles (e.g., autocratic, democratic, laissez-
faire) impact team performance and morale?
a) Definition:
Leadership styles refer to a set of approaches, mindsets, and strategies that managers use to
lead their teams. These styles are diverse and depend on the work environment, the personality
and ideals of the leader, or sometimes even arise from the specific needs of employees in certain
situations. (Kendra Cherry, 2023)
● Democratic Leadership
This approach can be time-consuming and ineffective when quick judgments are
needed, even while it increases productivity and gives workers a sense of inclusion.
Democratic leadership is still a well-liked and successful strategy for fostering
teamwork and accomplishing organizational objectives, despite its difficulties.
● Autocratic Leadership
Notwithstanding its disadvantages, autocratic leadership can work well when quick
decisions must be made, when the leader possesses a wealth of knowledge, or when
team participation is not required to get a favorable result. However, relying too much
on this approach might lower long-term productivity and staff morale.
● Laissez-Faire Leadership
However, if the team is disorganized or has a clear direction, it might result in confusion
and misalignment. Notwithstanding its possible advantages, research shows that
laissez-faire leadership is typically the least successful and fulfilling strategy,
necessitating close supervision to prevent misunderstandings and inefficiencies.
There are some other leaderships that has specific way of leading and guiding.
Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating teams to exceed their limits
and achieve significant growth. This style fosters creativity, emotional intelligence, and
effective communication, but can sometimes overlook individual team members' needs for
guidance. Transactional leadership, on the other hand, is based on clear expectations, rewards,
and penalties. It is often used in sales environments, offering employees tangible rewards for
meeting targets but may limit creativity and job satisfaction. Bureaucratic leadership adheres
strictly to rules and procedures, emphasizing conformity and reducing innovation. While it is
suited for industries where safety and routine tasks are paramount, it can hinder progress in
more dynamic organizations. Finally, Servant leadership prioritizes serving the needs of the
team, fostering a positive and ethical organizational culture. While it creates high morale and
integrity, it may struggle in competitive environments or situations requiring rapid decision-
making. Each leadership style has its strengths and weaknesses, making them more or less
suitable depending on the organization's goals, environment, and needs. (Corporate Finance
Institute, 2024)
Question 1 (10 marks): How might David’s personality, previous work experience, or
expectations have influenced his perception of the onboarding process? Could he have
approached any aspects differently?
- Personality: If David is someone who values structure, attention to detail, and respect,
he may have felt disappointed and disheartened when TechWave failed to prepare
adequately for his arrival after he had waited two months to start. Additionally, as a
software developer, David might be meticulous, and the company's poor first
impression could significantly affect his work motivation.
- Expectations: After waiting two months to start his new role and feeling enthusiastic
about joining a new workplace, David may have set high expectations for the
onboarding process, which increased his disappointment.
- Alternative approaches:
+ David could have sent a confirmation email about his first day a day prior, reminding
the company and prompting better preparation.
+ Instead of passively waiting for explanations, David could have actively sought
information by researching the company or engaging with colleagues during breaks to
learn more about the company's culture.
+ Preparing mentally for potential discrepancies between expectations and reality could
have helped David remain professional and positive while integrating into the new
environment.
Question 2 (15 marks): Identify and analyze the key mistakes made by Sarah (the manager),
HR, and team members during David's onboarding process. How could the company have
improved its approach to onboarding and integration?
+ Spending only 15 minutes with David on his first day, creating a sense of neglect and
confusion.
+ Failing to hold a proper introductory meeting, reflecting poor management skills and
leaving David feeling undervalued.
+ Providing vague explanations of tasks, making it difficult for David to integrate into the
workflow.
+ Delaying the HR induction session and not officially introducing David to the team
during a group meeting..
- Possible Improvements:
+ Clear Communication: To get ready for the new hire's arrival, make sure that HR, IT,
and the management are all communicating clearly.
+ Buddy System: Assign a mentor or buddy to help the new hire navigate the first few
weeks of employment. Việc có một người đồng nghiệp là buddy sẽ tạo cảm giác thoải
mái và tạo điều kiện cho nhân viên mới cởi mở hơn và dễ hòa nhập hơn.
+ Frequent Check-ins: Arrange frequent check-ins with the manager to discuss any issues
and offer input.
Question 3 (15 marks): Consider the possible emotional, psychological, and performance-
related effects of a poor onboarding experience on an employee like David who is unable to
leave the company immediately. How might this impact both the employee and the company?
If you were in David’s position, what steps could you have taken to seek clarity or support
during the onboarding process?
- Impact on David: With the onboarding experience at TechWave, not only David but
any employee would have to endure negative effects:
+ Reputation damage: Ineffective onboarding tarnishes the company’s image and affects
talent acquisition.
- If I were in David’s position, these are some steps I could have taken:
+ Build relationships with colleagues: Develop camaraderie to gain support and adapt
better to the environment.
+ Be proactive in meetings: Raise questions and provide input to engage with leadership
and team members.
Question 4 (20 marks): Propose specific initiatives and strategies that TechWave could
implement to improve its onboarding process and ensure new hires feel welcomed, valued, and
integrated into the company culture.
- Pre-boarding Preparation: Make sure the workspace and all required equipment are
ready prior to the new hire's arrival.
- Mentorship Program: Assign each new hire a buddy or mentor to offer assistance and
direction.
Frequent Check-ins: Arrange for frequent check-ins with HR and the manager to
discuss any issues and offer input.
- Team Integration Activities: To facilitate new hires' integration into the team, plan
social gatherings, welcoming meals, and team-building exercises.
- Clear Communication: To get ready for the new hire's arrival and the onboarding
process, make sure that managers, IT, and HR are all communicating clearly and
consistently.
Watkins, M.D. (2014) What is organizational culture? and why should we care?,
Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2013/05/what-is-
organizational-culture (Accessed: 12 January 2025).
What is organizational culture and why is it important? (no date) TriNet. Available at:
https://www.trinet.com/insights/what-is-organizational-culture-and-why-is-it-
important (Accessed: 11 January 2025).
Factors influencing the choice of structure • MBA notes by themba.institute (2023) In.
Available at: https://themba.institute/management-functions-and-organisational-
processes/factors-influencing-the-choice-of-structure/ (Accessed: 11 January 2025).
Kendra Cherry, Mse. (2023) 6 leadership styles and Frameworks, Verywell Mind.
Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/leadership-styles-2795312 (Accessed:
12 January 2025).