Should a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) believe the rumors coming from the grapevine?

The story is told about a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who had been hearing rumors from the grapevine that their workers were formenting labor unrest. Since the information was not valid in terms of its line in the formal communication process. He just shrugged it off as nonsense and not worthy of his time.

As months passed by he noticed that their workers were often clustered into groups and they were often silently talking and he said again to himself: Ah their talking nonsense again it’s not worth my time. Then, one morning when he was about to enter the company premises he noticed that their employees were outside and were carrying placards denouncing him and his company’s unfair labor policies.

Seeing this he immediately alighted from his car and talked to the employees. And calmly asked them to go back to their work but the workers did not relent they stayed and continued their denunciations of him and their company.

Grapevine is an informal communication structure that runs through every organization. It silently exists within the organization. One of many factors that incubate grapevine communication is unfair labor practice and many more anti labor policies of the organization. Such as unhealthy working conditions, low wage, nonpayment of their health and social security contributions and the like.

A very good CEO must stop, look and listen to the ramblings of the grapevine. He must be sensitive to these rumors coming from the grapevine. He should give ear to the grievances of his employees and learn to immerse himself with his employees. By doing so he’ll get a first-hand knowledge of everything that deserves his listening ear.

Therefore, he avoids further trouble that may give impetus to labor unrest and other issues inimical to the well being of his organization. -Marino J. Dasmarinas

Organizational Goals and its Relevance to the Levels of Management

Does your organization have a goal aside from earning profit?

An organization that advances the use of Organizational Goals in its organizational system has a lot of advantage over those who do not. Goals can influence increase of performance. It can also increase human resource’s motivation. It also gives positive direction to an organization.

There are three levels of management in an organization the highest is the Top Level Management. In a corporate set up this is composed of the following top-level company officers. Board of Directors, Company Presidents, Vice-Presidents; Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers and the like. Any organizational position that has a policy making power is included in the top level management. These company officers are in charge of achieving the strategic goals of the organization.

Strategic Organizational Goals are initially hatched at this Top Level Management it normally occurs during planning sessions that take days to complete. The life span of the goals depends upon the outcome of the planning sessions.

After the goals at the Top Management level had been set; it goes now to the next lower level which is the Middle Level Management. Each functional area or strategic unit of the organization is given their assigned goals that would contribute to the realization of the strategic goals. These officers are composed of the various department managers. Their main responsibility is to see to it the organization's goal/s are successfully implemented and achieved.

The last organizational level that is involved in the achievement of goals is the First-Level Management these normally are the supervisors. Their task is to operationalize the strategic goals set by Top Level Management. Under them are the operational workers who do the leg work and make things happen for the organization. They are the foot soldiers so to speak.

Regardless of their level; all of these organizational goals must always have Specific, Measurable, Attainable and Realistic time table. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

The critical role of an Effective Manager/Leader in an Organization’s Behavior

It is an accepted fact that Organizations Behavior is always contingent on how a Manager effectively practices his leadership and his management functions. For example, if a Manager/Leader is lackadaisical on his function as head of an organization we must also expect an easy-going Organization Behavior. An easy-going OB is an organization that doesn’t achieve its goals and an organization that is undisciplined.

Let us take for example ineffective and corrupt leaders of nations. What is the Organizations Behavior of a government bureaucracy if their leader is corrupt and ineffective? It follows that majority of those who are working for that government bureaucracy will also become corrupt and unproductive. If the leaders of these nations are not careful they may find themselves being overthrown by their people.

In a micro level for example, in a company setting if the manager is ineffective (Doesn’t know how to exercise his Leadership/Managerial functions) we should subsequently expect a chaotic company Organizations Behavior. So what must we do to address this problematic situation?

Of course the obvious action to do is to change our mindset and attitude towards our work. Otherwise if we will not change the organization will not think twice to separate us from the organization. For the simple reason that the very survival of the organization is at stake here.

Therefore the role of a manager is very critical in an organization. For the reason that in his hands lies the survival of his organization and his survival also in that organization. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

The importance of Spiritual Recollection for Organization

Do you sometimes feel that your job is already a drudgery? And you’re simply going through the motions of your work for the reason that you need to feed your family? Why not recharge your flagging motivation by submitting your organization to a procedure that is still alien to many organizations. The method that I’m talking about is called Recollection: Spiritual Recollection.

Spiritual Recollection is for every organization, for as long as there are organizations be it for profit or non-profit. It is a must for organizations to undergo this process of spiritual recollection. For the simple reason that this will surely invigorate the spirit and motivation of an organization’s human resource.  

Organizations from time to time goes through the process of organizational seminars, talks  team buildings and so forth. The obvious reason behind is they want to upgrade the capability, operability  and ability of their human resource. But organizations very seldom undergo Spiritual Recollections; I think this is a need yet unexplored by Organizations.

In the Bible: after the working so hard in advancing the teaching of Jesus. The disciples gathered around Him and told Him about their accomplishments. Jesus told them: "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. (Mark 6:30-32).

Relating this event with an Organization’s Human Resource who works very hard for the organization to earn profit. I think they also deserve to rest for a while and recharge their parched spirits who badly hungers for the word of God.

 If you would submit your HR to this procedure you would be amazed by the unquantifiable good that it will create on your HR and your entire Organization as a whole. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

The importance of Organizational Mission statement

Does your organization have a mission statement?

Mission statement is a very important component to an organization’s existence because it clearly defines the fundamental purpose of the organization. This purpose of existence will be the uniting factor for the organization towards the achievement of their organizational goals. For example,  The Mission Statement of a car manufacturing company is: To manufacture affordable and durable cars for the common people.   

Every organization must have a mission statement for its existence for the reason that this statement serves as its guiding light. Every organization must see to it that it creates its own unique Mission Statement that will serve as its organizational identity. 

Without Mission there’s no defining reason for the employees to rally behind except to earn their salaries. And this kind of situation is a threat to the fundamental existence of an organization.

However, if every organization would create a Mission statement it will ensure direction and relevant existence for the organization. It clearly defines also the identity of the organization and it creates an awareness upon the minds of its workforce that they should also help their organization achieve its mission. - Marino J. Dasmarinas 

How to effectively address Organizational Problems

Company executives are once in a while confronted with problems that will challenge their decision making abilities. What must they do to ensure that they will properly address/ solve the problem?

There’s no assurance that the action that will be made by them would solve whatever organizational problems that they have. But there are steps that they must follow to at least assure them that whatever decision that they will be making will not be made in haste. We all know that decisions made in haste in any field of endeavor are usually wasted decisions because of the haste factor. As they say: "Haste makes waste."

To avoid this tragedy the ff: actions must be undertaken.

1. Find out then pinpoint the problem.

2. Create measures or plan of actions that will help solve the problems.

3. Create a process of elimination among alternatives then pick the best alternative.

4. Apply the best alternative and carefully monitor its implementation until such time that the problem has been solved.

Marino J. Dasmarinas

Does it pay to become a Socially Responsible Organization?

The law of Karma states that the effect of a one’s actions is looked upon as an influential factor in one’s destiny. Having said this, what if your organization stands alone by itself. Without any concern for its immediate surrounding environment, will it soon be doomed? Or will it continue to grow and prosper?

There is no substantive studies that say that those socially responsible organizations are more successful than those who are not. But if we play it by observation we will discover that those organization that gives back to their communities or donate to various charitable organization are the ones that are more financially successful than the others who don’t give.

Let us take for example some big corporations who endow sizeable amount to their favored charitable organizations.  Their endowment is linked to their success; the more that they are successful the more that they give back.

There are many more organizations that are socially responsible. They always see to it that a certain percentage of their profit goes back to charitable organizations or non governmental organizations.

For the reason that they believe that it really pays to become a socially responsible organization. Being socially responsible also help create a positive self image for an organization this eventually translates to more customers and profits.

Does it pay to be a Socially Responsible Organization? Yes of course! _ Marino J. Dasmarinas