29-08-2011, 04:33 PM
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INTRODUCTION
Managers of companies must satisfy workers demand and needs and should treat everybody in the organization equally. This will help the employees get motivated and they will work hard for the company. When a manger wants to change the behavior of the employees he or she is basically shaping the behavior. Shaping behavior can be defined as “Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response.” One of the important ways of shaping employee’s behavior is by incorporating Reinforcement theory.
(GORDON, 2002)
Reinforcement Theory can be defined as “a theory that behaviour is a function of its consequences.” (GORDON, 2002)
Organization sometimes needs to undergo change. Change can be rewarding for some people and an unpleasant experience for others. Those who propose change are most likely to view it in positive terms but in many cases these are the people who are in top management who are not affected much by the change. The people who are affected most are the lower level employees in the organization. They resists because of group inertia, threats to expertise, threats to resource allocation, limited focus of change, economic threats, and job insecurity.
In this assignment, I have analyzed Reinforcement theory and various elements of it, which a manager can use to shape and reshape employee behavior to overcome the restraining forces of change and to increase organizational efficiency.
In this assignment various strategies and techniques to overcome the restraining forces of change have been elaborately discussed which would help the managers of the company to shape employee behavior so as to perform in a desired level. The purpose of this research is to find solutions of overcoming restraining forces of change by the employee. To accomplish the goal, various organizational behavior and organizational development theories, techniques and strategies are discussed and analyzed to give a final recommendation.
CHAPTER TWO
2.1.OVERVIEW
Managers of companies must be aware of the workers demand and needs and should take steps to meet them. These will help the employees to go the extra mile and they will work hard for the company. Managers give bonuses, perks and other incentives to motivate them. As learning also takes place in job, managers are worried about how they can teach his subordinates so that their behavior will help the organization in reaching its goals. When a manger wants to change the behavior of the employees he is just moulding the behavior. Shaping behavior can be defined as “Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response.” The one of the important way of shaping employee’s behavior is by incorporating Reinforcement theory.
There are various changes, which occur in the organization in order to keep in pace with the dynamic world. Hence all the employees are not always fine with the changes. This leads a manger to use reinforcement theory. The managers give bonus, perks, etc. which act as rein forcers, and helps the employees to adapt to the environment easily. The reinforcement theory are used by encouraging desired behavior or discouraging desired behavior as in the case may be through the use of various rein forcers such as pay, increment, promotion, challenging work etc.
2.2. Reinforcement Theory
It can be defined as “a theory that states that behaviour is a function of its consequences.” Reinforcement theory can do two things. It can either change ones behavior by encouraging them or it can eliminate ones desired behavior by applying or removing rein forcers. Managers of a company to get a desired behavior from the employees in the organization can choose among various types of reinforcement like positive, negative, extinction or punishment reinforcement. (ROLLINSON, 2005)
The manager can shape and reshape an individual employee to overcome the various restraining forces by the following ways:
1. Positive Reinforcement:
This means giving rewards or gratifying employees if the manager is satisfied with his work. For.e.g. if a sales executive successfully sale a personal insurance then his manager encourages him by giving him bonus per sale or by praising him. This reward is been given only when the desired behavior, which is acceptable, by the employer occurs. In addition, the manager can selectively reinforce behaviors every time cheering the employee to act closer according to his wants (Managers). Companies like Procter and Gamble provides its sales representative with incentives every week to encourage them in meeting sales target. It refers to the presentation of the stimulus that increases the likelihood that a response will occur again.
2. Negative Reinforcement:
It states that by encouraging someone to avoid undesirable situation and consequences and removing someone from an objectionable and unwanted situation when the desired behavior occurs. For. e.g. a manager can keep an eye and examine the sales persons activities till they meet acceptable standard consistently. It also refers to an unpleasant stimulus when removed increases the likelihood that the preceding response will occur again.
INTRODUCTION
Managers of companies must satisfy workers demand and needs and should treat everybody in the organization equally. This will help the employees get motivated and they will work hard for the company. When a manger wants to change the behavior of the employees he or she is basically shaping the behavior. Shaping behavior can be defined as “Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response.” One of the important ways of shaping employee’s behavior is by incorporating Reinforcement theory.
(GORDON, 2002)
Reinforcement Theory can be defined as “a theory that behaviour is a function of its consequences.” (GORDON, 2002)
Organization sometimes needs to undergo change. Change can be rewarding for some people and an unpleasant experience for others. Those who propose change are most likely to view it in positive terms but in many cases these are the people who are in top management who are not affected much by the change. The people who are affected most are the lower level employees in the organization. They resists because of group inertia, threats to expertise, threats to resource allocation, limited focus of change, economic threats, and job insecurity.
In this assignment, I have analyzed Reinforcement theory and various elements of it, which a manager can use to shape and reshape employee behavior to overcome the restraining forces of change and to increase organizational efficiency.
In this assignment various strategies and techniques to overcome the restraining forces of change have been elaborately discussed which would help the managers of the company to shape employee behavior so as to perform in a desired level. The purpose of this research is to find solutions of overcoming restraining forces of change by the employee. To accomplish the goal, various organizational behavior and organizational development theories, techniques and strategies are discussed and analyzed to give a final recommendation.
CHAPTER TWO
2.1.OVERVIEW
Managers of companies must be aware of the workers demand and needs and should take steps to meet them. These will help the employees to go the extra mile and they will work hard for the company. Managers give bonuses, perks and other incentives to motivate them. As learning also takes place in job, managers are worried about how they can teach his subordinates so that their behavior will help the organization in reaching its goals. When a manger wants to change the behavior of the employees he is just moulding the behavior. Shaping behavior can be defined as “Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response.” The one of the important way of shaping employee’s behavior is by incorporating Reinforcement theory.
There are various changes, which occur in the organization in order to keep in pace with the dynamic world. Hence all the employees are not always fine with the changes. This leads a manger to use reinforcement theory. The managers give bonus, perks, etc. which act as rein forcers, and helps the employees to adapt to the environment easily. The reinforcement theory are used by encouraging desired behavior or discouraging desired behavior as in the case may be through the use of various rein forcers such as pay, increment, promotion, challenging work etc.
2.2. Reinforcement Theory
It can be defined as “a theory that states that behaviour is a function of its consequences.” Reinforcement theory can do two things. It can either change ones behavior by encouraging them or it can eliminate ones desired behavior by applying or removing rein forcers. Managers of a company to get a desired behavior from the employees in the organization can choose among various types of reinforcement like positive, negative, extinction or punishment reinforcement. (ROLLINSON, 2005)
The manager can shape and reshape an individual employee to overcome the various restraining forces by the following ways:
1. Positive Reinforcement:
This means giving rewards or gratifying employees if the manager is satisfied with his work. For.e.g. if a sales executive successfully sale a personal insurance then his manager encourages him by giving him bonus per sale or by praising him. This reward is been given only when the desired behavior, which is acceptable, by the employer occurs. In addition, the manager can selectively reinforce behaviors every time cheering the employee to act closer according to his wants (Managers). Companies like Procter and Gamble provides its sales representative with incentives every week to encourage them in meeting sales target. It refers to the presentation of the stimulus that increases the likelihood that a response will occur again.
2. Negative Reinforcement:
It states that by encouraging someone to avoid undesirable situation and consequences and removing someone from an objectionable and unwanted situation when the desired behavior occurs. For. e.g. a manager can keep an eye and examine the sales persons activities till they meet acceptable standard consistently. It also refers to an unpleasant stimulus when removed increases the likelihood that the preceding response will occur again.