M2D1 Discussion: Differentiated culture or one and the same
In The Differentiated Workforce (Becker et al) describe several differences between differentiated and undifferentiated characteristics when it comes to converting strategy to culture and philosophy.
For example: Firm X promotes a culture of being an employer of choice where Firm Y promotes a culture of pursuing choice employees.
Is this merely a ‘play on words’ or are there truly differentiating factors associated with the two philosophies?
If it is a ‘play on words’ explain your rationale (in other words, the philosophy of the two organizational cultures are the same, but merely worded differently). If there is a differentiation, what do you see as core aspects of that differentiation and how would these aspects be operationalized?
For example, how would this differentiated philosophy impact the way in which recruitment is done?
M2D2: Socialization practices and methods and culture impact
Edgar Schein describes socialization as the “process of learning the ropes, the process of being indoctrinated and trained, the process of being taught what is important in an organization or some subunit thereof” in his classic article Organizational Socialization and the Profession of Management published in 1968.
Consider the potential impact of organizational socialization on employees as they enter into and become a contributing member of an organization. Consider how they form opinions of the culture of the organization as they ‘learn the ropes and become indoctrinated.
• What type of training and or development practices might be most useful to ensure the organizational culture is a large component of that indoctrination? What types of adult learning methods might be used in this training and development?
• How do these compare with your own organization’s socialization processes and practices?

M2D3: Use of Technology & E-Learning in Developing People
• Technology can be advantageous to connecting people to information, each other, and knowledge. In this discussion, describe ways in which technology and E-Learning have helped you develop professionally. Compare and contrast the use of technology and E-Learning to other ways in which training and develop occur (i.e. face-to-face).
• Include in your posting references to Noe’s work, and include both advantages and disadvantages of using technology & E-Learning as a means for development.