Unit 13 of Business Communication Today, 12th edition, Bovée and Thill is about utilizing research effectively in your writing. In academia, the business world, and journalism, it is crucial that you use research in the correct way and use it in a way that maximizes its benefit to your arguments or points in your writing. You can use direct quotations, you can paraphrase, and you can incorporate it into charts and pictures with analysis. The research can in turn come from articles, academic publications, academic research, scientific research, census or government information, or information collected by yourself if you have conducted surveys or experiments.
Roane State has laid out many of the ways to properly and effectively utilize research in your writing. They cover everything from paraphrasing and what exactly to do when paraphrasing, to introducing in-text citations in ways that flow easily in your paper. They also stress the validity of your sources. It is necessary to introduce the people that you are referencing, as it wields some credibility. "Texas A&M, with access to the best research facilities and tech departments, has released a study...." They suggest using scholarly or government sources, although many argue that esteemed publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Forbes can make excellent sources as well.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Visualize.me Resume Maker
Visualize is a useful tool for creating engaging online resumes using your LinkedIn profile. The templates are professional looking and allow for customization that you otherwise cannot achieve with your LinkedIn account. The visually enticing templates provide just the right level of individuality in your resume. Examples of features in this app include Language Maps, Skill Bubble Charts and Experience timelines. There is no download required and it takes less than 5 minutes, which makes it incredibly efficient and easy. There is no reason why a LinkedIn account should not include more images like these; the features create a new level of visual communication not possible with traditional text. The features create an almost branding effect on your LinkedIn account. This is eye-catching for employers.
Example 1 shows a variety of features that you can incorporate into your LinkedIn.
Example 2 shows the clean, visually grabbing final Visualize enhanced LinkedIn.
There are few drawbacks to the Visualize program. The first is that you can only use it for LinkedIn. However, LinkedIn is the l;argest professional social network so there is little reason to incorporate these types of images into any other social networks. As of 2015, LinkedIn 347Million users, and most employers that use social networks for the purpose of their professional life use this site. The second minor drawback is hardly a drawback at all. While many employers want traditional resumes (you should still write a traditional resume) a LinkedIn profile can never hurt. It does not only connect you with employers. It can connect you with potential investors, coworkers, future employees, and any other professional relationship you may wish to acquire.You can still use Visualize even if your potential employer demands a traditional resume for any of these purposes.
Example 1 shows a variety of features that you can incorporate into your LinkedIn.
Example 2 shows the clean, visually grabbing final Visualize enhanced LinkedIn.
There are few drawbacks to the Visualize program. The first is that you can only use it for LinkedIn. However, LinkedIn is the l;argest professional social network so there is little reason to incorporate these types of images into any other social networks. As of 2015, LinkedIn 347Million users, and most employers that use social networks for the purpose of their professional life use this site. The second minor drawback is hardly a drawback at all. While many employers want traditional resumes (you should still write a traditional resume) a LinkedIn profile can never hurt. It does not only connect you with employers. It can connect you with potential investors, coworkers, future employees, and any other professional relationship you may wish to acquire.You can still use Visualize even if your potential employer demands a traditional resume for any of these purposes.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Persuasive Letters in Entrepreneurship
Persuasive letters in business may take many forms. This can be anything from writing a letter to the people you share an office with about keeping the restroom clean, to persuading your manager to start implementing paper-saving and recycling techniques, to having a letter convincing your subordinates to increase worker productivity or cut unnecessary indirect materials cost. Each of these letters can be hit or miss, hinging on persuasion that is tactful, audience focused, and convincing. For example, as an Entrepreneurship Major and future Entrepreneur, I will be faced with two of these instances at the early stages of my business development. These may include letters to venture capitalists or angel investors (or even mom/dad/grandpa) requesting investment to facilitate the start of a business, or a letter to one of my colleagues or friends convincing them to join my team. While both of these will necessitate in-person pitches/discussions closely following the letters, these letters can be crucial in determining if you even receive a follow-up. Yes, the power of persuasion is CRITICAL here.
With the business proposal (akin to what your pitch and business model presentation will contain), you must essentially argue in favor of your product/service by outlining why the product/service is needed (What is the compelling need?) To do this it may be beneficial to start with any personal anecdote and facts and figures to outline exactly why your product is needed by society. Next you must convince the investor that your solution truly solves the problem. Obviously using positive rhetoric is important, but gross exaggerations will be recognized immediately by any investor. When using persuasive letters to have an investor consider you, it is instead more successful to use facts and figures in your letter to express a need and solution then simply "talking it up". After need and solution comes the subject of strategy. This is the part of the persuasive business proposal letter that will be the most technical. This would include the discussion of finance, marketing, competition, barriers to entry, your unique value, revenue streams, and much more. Consider Ash Maurya's lean canvas elements when writing this section. Again, having facts and figures and projections will be convincing here. However, it is important to not give all of your information away here, instead you will want to save that for your pitch. You will not make any more convincing of a message by actually revealing everything about the product (elements, name, financial figures) and by doing so, you risk the possibility of an investor stealing your idea. You also may scare them away if the true cost of the startup is high. Be conservative here, but do provide enough information to provoke the interest of the investor and leave them optimistic that you know what you are talking about and have convincing financials and a solid target market. It is also important, early on in the letter to introduce yourself in a way that may give you credibility. Your experience in related fields, degrees, and knowledge can establish credibility.
Writing a letter to a potential partner will follow a similar but less detailed format. This also will contain information about why the potential partner may want to join your team, how the two of you will be successful, and what shares they may be given in the company. Be more conservative here, as a potential partner is more likely to steal your idea than an investor that is pestered with business ideas daily. Try to focus more on persuading the potential partner to consider your idea than actually selling them your business plan; save this for a face-to-face discussion
Forbes provides tips for persuasion. While these tips are supposed to aid oral presentations (which will support the pitch), your proposal letter can also benefit from these tips. They focus on constructing your argument. Their second tip is extremely useful when thinking about how to win over your audience. This includes this sub-point, which I find useful: "Use logical, ethical and emotional appeals, as well as a variety of evidence to support your argument. This could include expert testimony, statistics, real-life examples or personal experiences." Your audience also can be persuaded using this rhetoric that Forbes includes:
- The Grabber. Grab your audience’s attention with an anecdote, a question, a startling statistic or a thought-provoking quotation.
- The Message. Follow the grabber with a one-line statement that succinctly tells the audience what your presentation is about.ting.
- Signposting. Signposting lays out the skeleton of the argument for the audience and is as simple as saying, “There are three reasons why you must vote for me: knowledge, ability and passion.”
- Benefits 1-3. Focus on benefits rather than features. At least 75% of your presentation should be dedicated to developing your three main points. Each benefit or theme should be supported with a careful selection of statistics, demonstrations, examples or personal experiences.
- Closure. Sum up your main points in one sentence and give your call to action. This could be a direct close such as “visit our website” or an indirect close that reminds people of the hardship they will endure if they don’t take action. Really powerful speeches also reconnect with the beginning of the speech in some way. This also avoids the embarrassment of having to tell the audience that you have finished. The challenge is to have a grabber that allows an easy referral back.
BBC also provides tips for persuasion in writing. These are basic techniques that are known to convince readers that your business is worth investing in. They say "be definite, be positive, and be pushy" among other ideas that may improve your arguing technique. Harvard Business Review provides arguably the best tips for persuasion (this is business focused persuasion) and these tips really outline exactly how to construct a compelling argument for an audience of business professionals, like investors. This article is really worth considering when writing your business proposal letter, as it even includes "Five Ways To Not Be Persuasive".
Of course the strongest argument in the world, perfect use of rhetoric, and passion towards your idea alone are not going to persuade the investors or your future partner. Your business idea must make sense, it must be feasible, it must have ways of bringing in revenue, and that revenue must bring returns on investment. The best salesman in the world, the greatest arguer, or the most passionate person in the world cannot persuade investors that a Super Target is needed in Todd, NC, or that Boone, NC needs an upscale Miami-themed night club, or that your rubber-duck bath toy startup are good ideas worth investing in. Your product/service in itself are a part of the persuasion.
With the business proposal (akin to what your pitch and business model presentation will contain), you must essentially argue in favor of your product/service by outlining why the product/service is needed (What is the compelling need?) To do this it may be beneficial to start with any personal anecdote and facts and figures to outline exactly why your product is needed by society. Next you must convince the investor that your solution truly solves the problem. Obviously using positive rhetoric is important, but gross exaggerations will be recognized immediately by any investor. When using persuasive letters to have an investor consider you, it is instead more successful to use facts and figures in your letter to express a need and solution then simply "talking it up". After need and solution comes the subject of strategy. This is the part of the persuasive business proposal letter that will be the most technical. This would include the discussion of finance, marketing, competition, barriers to entry, your unique value, revenue streams, and much more. Consider Ash Maurya's lean canvas elements when writing this section. Again, having facts and figures and projections will be convincing here. However, it is important to not give all of your information away here, instead you will want to save that for your pitch. You will not make any more convincing of a message by actually revealing everything about the product (elements, name, financial figures) and by doing so, you risk the possibility of an investor stealing your idea. You also may scare them away if the true cost of the startup is high. Be conservative here, but do provide enough information to provoke the interest of the investor and leave them optimistic that you know what you are talking about and have convincing financials and a solid target market. It is also important, early on in the letter to introduce yourself in a way that may give you credibility. Your experience in related fields, degrees, and knowledge can establish credibility.
Writing a letter to a potential partner will follow a similar but less detailed format. This also will contain information about why the potential partner may want to join your team, how the two of you will be successful, and what shares they may be given in the company. Be more conservative here, as a potential partner is more likely to steal your idea than an investor that is pestered with business ideas daily. Try to focus more on persuading the potential partner to consider your idea than actually selling them your business plan; save this for a face-to-face discussion
Forbes provides tips for persuasion. While these tips are supposed to aid oral presentations (which will support the pitch), your proposal letter can also benefit from these tips. They focus on constructing your argument. Their second tip is extremely useful when thinking about how to win over your audience. This includes this sub-point, which I find useful: "Use logical, ethical and emotional appeals, as well as a variety of evidence to support your argument. This could include expert testimony, statistics, real-life examples or personal experiences." Your audience also can be persuaded using this rhetoric that Forbes includes:
- The Grabber. Grab your audience’s attention with an anecdote, a question, a startling statistic or a thought-provoking quotation.
- The Message. Follow the grabber with a one-line statement that succinctly tells the audience what your presentation is about.ting.
- Signposting. Signposting lays out the skeleton of the argument for the audience and is as simple as saying, “There are three reasons why you must vote for me: knowledge, ability and passion.”
- Benefits 1-3. Focus on benefits rather than features. At least 75% of your presentation should be dedicated to developing your three main points. Each benefit or theme should be supported with a careful selection of statistics, demonstrations, examples or personal experiences.
- Closure. Sum up your main points in one sentence and give your call to action. This could be a direct close such as “visit our website” or an indirect close that reminds people of the hardship they will endure if they don’t take action. Really powerful speeches also reconnect with the beginning of the speech in some way. This also avoids the embarrassment of having to tell the audience that you have finished. The challenge is to have a grabber that allows an easy referral back.
BBC also provides tips for persuasion in writing. These are basic techniques that are known to convince readers that your business is worth investing in. They say "be definite, be positive, and be pushy" among other ideas that may improve your arguing technique. Harvard Business Review provides arguably the best tips for persuasion (this is business focused persuasion) and these tips really outline exactly how to construct a compelling argument for an audience of business professionals, like investors. This article is really worth considering when writing your business proposal letter, as it even includes "Five Ways To Not Be Persuasive".
Of course the strongest argument in the world, perfect use of rhetoric, and passion towards your idea alone are not going to persuade the investors or your future partner. Your business idea must make sense, it must be feasible, it must have ways of bringing in revenue, and that revenue must bring returns on investment. The best salesman in the world, the greatest arguer, or the most passionate person in the world cannot persuade investors that a Super Target is needed in Todd, NC, or that Boone, NC needs an upscale Miami-themed night club, or that your rubber-duck bath toy startup are good ideas worth investing in. Your product/service in itself are a part of the persuasion.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
How Can We Improve Modern Workplace Communication With A Milennial Audience
Pages 88-98 in Business Communication Today, 12th edition, Bovée and Thill focuses on the use of differences in media and on identifying and audience. While there are standards in terms of workplace communication, and despite the formality and top-down approaches being preached in Management classes these day, I believe it is appropriate to seek communication mediums other than simply emails and verbal communication. After all, it is important to note that the Baby Boomer generation is on its way to retirement, the semi-tech-savvy Generation X is moving into those jobs, and the Millennials are beginning to take all the lower-level jobs. Despite some of the "drawbacks" and "failures" of them collectively, I think it is misguided and foolish to simply impose the old-style business communication on the younger generation audience. Ken McArthur discusses the nature of your audience here and poses some questions and many others:
What is cool to these people?
What impresses them?
How do they interact?
Are they technical?
Are they sophisticated?
Are they conservative?
Are they radical?
What are they missing?
What are their problems?
What do they value?
What is most important to them?
What are they least likely to care about?
These questions can all be applied when thinking about Millennial workplace communication. I think its critical to note exactly what thought processes and behaviors millennial workers have and how it differs from the generations of their coworkers, supervisors and upper level management and use that to their advantage. This is because all companies should aspire to work efficiently and cohesively, even if it requires being non-traditional and against-the-grain. For starters, we can pin-point that Millennials have shorter attention span (think about Vine and Twitter and how they like to stay short and sweet). They also tend to enjoy social media. They also are drawn to visuals. It is interesting to note that Millennials, with their access to large quantities of information with the help of mobile internet, can focus more on broader concepts rather than simply memorizing minute details. I think we can use all of these characteristics to our advantage and create a different, more cohesive work environment if we embrace these differences in our communication. This can be applied to job training, providing news, or even group discussions. Forbes discusses the differences in the Milennials from the older generations, with some interesting data on communication methods:
Communication Styles
How do you most like to communicate at work?
Face-to-face:
Ages 55+: 60%
Ages 25 to 34: 55%
E-mail/Text:
Ages 55+: 28%
Ages 25 to 34: 35%
Phone:
Ages 55+: 12%
Ages 25 to 34: 10%
These samples (not surprisingly) indicate a changing dynamic in communication. Managers should make haste to embrace this difference, not for their convenience, but rather for the nature of the work environment (Management Theory Y, not X). Forbes also discusses in detail in, another article, how managers and employees can adjust their communication for cross-generational audiences. When communicating to a millennial audience, Forbes says:
1. Make training and mentoring a priority
2.Set clear objectives----from the start
3.Consider the medium
4. Provide feedback early and often
5. Pause before reacting
Personally, I think it is best that managers embrace the Millenials' unconventional communication style. I think they should embrace the concept of a work-place blog (and expect the subordinates to check it) rather than rely on mass-emails and mass-texts as it is apparent that young people have a tendency to pay less attention to it. I believe it is an excellent idea to embrace visuals (charts, graphs, stats, videos, pictures) in communication with millennial audiences, especially in Sales, Marketing, and R&D departments. When it comes to job training I think Panera Bread communicates with Millenials the best, featuring an interactive training video/game.
What other indicators of a Millenial audience can be utilized when communicating cross-generational?
What new, modern technology mediums can be used for a better workplace environment and better communication?
What is the best medium to communicate with you?
These questions can all be applied when thinking about Millennial workplace communication. I think its critical to note exactly what thought processes and behaviors millennial workers have and how it differs from the generations of their coworkers, supervisors and upper level management and use that to their advantage. This is because all companies should aspire to work efficiently and cohesively, even if it requires being non-traditional and against-the-grain. For starters, we can pin-point that Millennials have shorter attention span (think about Vine and Twitter and how they like to stay short and sweet). They also tend to enjoy social media. They also are drawn to visuals. It is interesting to note that Millennials, with their access to large quantities of information with the help of mobile internet, can focus more on broader concepts rather than simply memorizing minute details. I think we can use all of these characteristics to our advantage and create a different, more cohesive work environment if we embrace these differences in our communication. This can be applied to job training, providing news, or even group discussions. Forbes discusses the differences in the Milennials from the older generations, with some interesting data on communication methods:
Communication Styles
How do you most like to communicate at work?
Face-to-face:
Ages 55+: 60%
Ages 25 to 34: 55%
E-mail/Text:
Ages 55+: 28%
Ages 25 to 34: 35%
Phone:
Ages 55+: 12%
Ages 25 to 34: 10%
These samples (not surprisingly) indicate a changing dynamic in communication. Managers should make haste to embrace this difference, not for their convenience, but rather for the nature of the work environment (Management Theory Y, not X). Forbes also discusses in detail in, another article, how managers and employees can adjust their communication for cross-generational audiences. When communicating to a millennial audience, Forbes says:
1. Make training and mentoring a priority
2.Set clear objectives----from the start
3.Consider the medium
4. Provide feedback early and often
5. Pause before reacting
Personally, I think it is best that managers embrace the Millenials' unconventional communication style. I think they should embrace the concept of a work-place blog (and expect the subordinates to check it) rather than rely on mass-emails and mass-texts as it is apparent that young people have a tendency to pay less attention to it. I believe it is an excellent idea to embrace visuals (charts, graphs, stats, videos, pictures) in communication with millennial audiences, especially in Sales, Marketing, and R&D departments. When it comes to job training I think Panera Bread communicates with Millenials the best, featuring an interactive training video/game.
What other indicators of a Millenial audience can be utilized when communicating cross-generational?
What new, modern technology mediums can be used for a better workplace environment and better communication?
What is the best medium to communicate with you?
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Business Etiquette or Swag for days?
Yes, I must admit it. I am a millennial. I, like many other millennials, are the "kids our parents warned us about". We lack understanding of traditional authority, we loathe our government, many of the institutions around, and many aspects of the cultures we have been born into. We hate technology, yet we are so reliant on social media and information systems have made us so powerful. Our parents' generation despises us for nonconformity, yet in many ways members of our age group's nonconformity have brought us so many great new inventions, ideas, lifestyles and new approaches.
With regards to business etiquette, I completely lack many of the things discussed on page 53's list of "etiquette" suggestions in Business Communication Today, 12th edition, Bovée and Thill. My spelling sometimes is questionable, and while I have polished grammar after review, I often submit things without proofreading. I also curse a lot, don't dress up everyday (if I am unseen in a cubicle especially), express my emotions and concerns rather than dress them up, and particularly don't care if I waste a subordinate's time with an email. I am also 100% okay with this. Millennial are slowly deteriorating the so-called "business-culture " and all of its formality. While I think "business etiquette" is an okay reference point for decision making and business conduct, I agree with many millennials who interpret these as unnecessary or even restrictive. This goes along with the business framework in general, with its high power distance and lack of employee participation in idea-generation. Google is one example of a company that is allowing for new innovation and idea generations thanks to its informality and avant-garde approach to business etiquette. Below is an article that details exactly how Millennials are changing the business world.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/12/16/10-ways-millennials-are-creating-the-future-of-work/
I do think there are a lot to learn from learning business etiquette. I am an entrepreneur and for that reason it is crucial that I learn exactly how to act around customers and investors. Many of these folks are old-school and like to see well-dressed, well-spoken, professional young men, as it sets us apart and gives them confidence that they are making a wise decision. However, with my subordinates, I will take a much more millennial approach. I hope I can give employees the freedom to dress how they want as long as it isn't seen in a negative way, I also encourage creativity in communication. If my secretary emailed me information in haiku form or in $w@q language I would be thrilled (as long as it wasn't in an urgent situation; there IS a time and place.) Below is a list of good etiquette tips that I particularly like, however I believe that all of these can be broken without reprimand.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robasghar/2014/04/22/27-etiquette-rules-for-our-times/
With regards to business etiquette, I completely lack many of the things discussed on page 53's list of "etiquette" suggestions in Business Communication Today, 12th edition, Bovée and Thill. My spelling sometimes is questionable, and while I have polished grammar after review, I often submit things without proofreading. I also curse a lot, don't dress up everyday (if I am unseen in a cubicle especially), express my emotions and concerns rather than dress them up, and particularly don't care if I waste a subordinate's time with an email. I am also 100% okay with this. Millennial are slowly deteriorating the so-called "business-culture " and all of its formality. While I think "business etiquette" is an okay reference point for decision making and business conduct, I agree with many millennials who interpret these as unnecessary or even restrictive. This goes along with the business framework in general, with its high power distance and lack of employee participation in idea-generation. Google is one example of a company that is allowing for new innovation and idea generations thanks to its informality and avant-garde approach to business etiquette. Below is an article that details exactly how Millennials are changing the business world.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/12/16/10-ways-millennials-are-creating-the-future-of-work/
I do think there are a lot to learn from learning business etiquette. I am an entrepreneur and for that reason it is crucial that I learn exactly how to act around customers and investors. Many of these folks are old-school and like to see well-dressed, well-spoken, professional young men, as it sets us apart and gives them confidence that they are making a wise decision. However, with my subordinates, I will take a much more millennial approach. I hope I can give employees the freedom to dress how they want as long as it isn't seen in a negative way, I also encourage creativity in communication. If my secretary emailed me information in haiku form or in $w@q language I would be thrilled (as long as it wasn't in an urgent situation; there IS a time and place.) Below is a list of good etiquette tips that I particularly like, however I believe that all of these can be broken without reprimand.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robasghar/2014/04/22/27-etiquette-rules-for-our-times/
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Groups/Teams: Are They Really As Successful As We Are Told?
While reading pages 32-40 of Business Communication Today, 12th edition, Bovée and Thill, I noticed a lot of discussion in support of groups/teams. Yes, it is true that the ideas of Team Based Management are infiltrating the American business realm at increasing rates. After all, it was Theory Z, created by Japanese management theorist and UCLA MBA grad William Ouchi. It is a Japanese theory of Management that assumes some invalidity of the Western, English-Speaking world's Theory X and Y. It is a theory based upon group-trust; it is a theory that assumes that Team-building and some degree of employee (as a group) involvement can improve workplace productivity and employee fulfillment. I pose two questions:
-Would you prefer to work in a Team-Based Workplace?
-Do you agree with Theory Z?
-Is it easier to identify with group success or your own success? Why?
While I love the concept of Team Based approaches, and there is evidence to support its success in several large American companies, I am skeptical to say that this approach can really work in the US.
We are America. Land of the free. The pinnacle of individualism. We have been told for generations: "You can be someone" and "You have potential" not "We". While we are a patriotic country, we are not a nationalist country; we have a Constitution focused on Individual rights and we have Capitalism, perhaps the embodiment of Renaissance belief. We also have Western-based philosophies such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which never addresses the idea of Team success but rather focuses on individual fulfillment, or Self-Actualization as the highest goal of need-satisfaction in human existence. My point is that all of these theories of 'how things should be done' are culturally-relative; the Japanese are a collectivist culture. The satisfaction of group goals is a priority for them. It is deeply embedded into the culture and has been for thousands of years. Even the religions of the island address the interconnectedness of things and collective salvation.
As a manager or even an employee in an American company, I would refrain from focusing on teams too much. Americans, the wonderful people that they are, owe their success as a group to the pursuit of individual goals/dreams/needs/wants and they are aware of this. For that reason, I know exactly what will arise from too much "teamwork". Social loafing, frustration, disagreements, and those folks that just ride-the-coattails. Either "too many chiefs and not enough Indians" or "the blind-leading the blind. Even beyond freeloading, there are those who are cutthroat and success-focused. Think about Beyoncé. Surely, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland would've loved to ride her coattails into superstardom. It wasn't even like Beyoncé had any competition with Kelly or Michelle for attention (you never see Michelle except maybe one time per music vid) and they compliment her voice perfectly in Destiny's Child. Think about all the members of NWA (Dre, Easy-E, Ice Cube). Think about New Edition. All these groups had problems regarding individuals using a group to initiate their success, and then ultimately deciding that their interest transcends the goals of the group. Think Don Henley of the Eagles, Steve Perry of Journey, or even about all of your favorite TV shows that were cancelled because a major cast-member decided not to return. We tend to be focused on our paycheck, our promotion, our careers, and our family's livelihood. This culture is what separates us from Japan. We have dangers in placing too much trust in a Theory Z form of Management simply because of the nature of Americans, which I believe, with much supporting evidence, are more likely to work best in a Performance-Based Management philosophy that borrows some from Theories X and Y. This ultimately hinges on individual performance rather than Team-Building. We can instead have "collaborations" for tasks, rather than "teams", when needed.
When I think about Theory Z, and really all of Asian collectivist philosophies, I am almost frightened. Why should we work for a collective goal? Is there really any reason to be more excited about your company's new profit margin than your new promotion; or your town's new public projects more than your own home renovation; or your country's high ranking over your surplus of disposable income? I am drawn to dystopian stories like the grotesque Orwell novel 1984 , or the new Lego Movie with Will Ferrell, where the mindless citizens run around singing "EVERYTHING IS AWESOME, EVERYTHING IS GREAT WHEN YOUR PART OF A TEAMMMM!".
-Would you prefer to work in a Team-Based Workplace?
-Do you agree with Theory Z?
-Is it easier to identify with group success or your own success? Why?
While I love the concept of Team Based approaches, and there is evidence to support its success in several large American companies, I am skeptical to say that this approach can really work in the US.
We are America. Land of the free. The pinnacle of individualism. We have been told for generations: "You can be someone" and "You have potential" not "We". While we are a patriotic country, we are not a nationalist country; we have a Constitution focused on Individual rights and we have Capitalism, perhaps the embodiment of Renaissance belief. We also have Western-based philosophies such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which never addresses the idea of Team success but rather focuses on individual fulfillment, or Self-Actualization as the highest goal of need-satisfaction in human existence. My point is that all of these theories of 'how things should be done' are culturally-relative; the Japanese are a collectivist culture. The satisfaction of group goals is a priority for them. It is deeply embedded into the culture and has been for thousands of years. Even the religions of the island address the interconnectedness of things and collective salvation.
As a manager or even an employee in an American company, I would refrain from focusing on teams too much. Americans, the wonderful people that they are, owe their success as a group to the pursuit of individual goals/dreams/needs/wants and they are aware of this. For that reason, I know exactly what will arise from too much "teamwork". Social loafing, frustration, disagreements, and those folks that just ride-the-coattails. Either "too many chiefs and not enough Indians" or "the blind-leading the blind. Even beyond freeloading, there are those who are cutthroat and success-focused. Think about Beyoncé. Surely, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland would've loved to ride her coattails into superstardom. It wasn't even like Beyoncé had any competition with Kelly or Michelle for attention (you never see Michelle except maybe one time per music vid) and they compliment her voice perfectly in Destiny's Child. Think about all the members of NWA (Dre, Easy-E, Ice Cube). Think about New Edition. All these groups had problems regarding individuals using a group to initiate their success, and then ultimately deciding that their interest transcends the goals of the group. Think Don Henley of the Eagles, Steve Perry of Journey, or even about all of your favorite TV shows that were cancelled because a major cast-member decided not to return. We tend to be focused on our paycheck, our promotion, our careers, and our family's livelihood. This culture is what separates us from Japan. We have dangers in placing too much trust in a Theory Z form of Management simply because of the nature of Americans, which I believe, with much supporting evidence, are more likely to work best in a Performance-Based Management philosophy that borrows some from Theories X and Y. This ultimately hinges on individual performance rather than Team-Building. We can instead have "collaborations" for tasks, rather than "teams", when needed.
When I think about Theory Z, and really all of Asian collectivist philosophies, I am almost frightened. Why should we work for a collective goal? Is there really any reason to be more excited about your company's new profit margin than your new promotion; or your town's new public projects more than your own home renovation; or your country's high ranking over your surplus of disposable income? I am drawn to dystopian stories like the grotesque Orwell novel 1984 , or the new Lego Movie with Will Ferrell, where the mindless citizens run around singing "EVERYTHING IS AWESOME, EVERYTHING IS GREAT WHEN YOUR PART OF A TEAMMMM!".
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