Mystifications in an organization.

Choose two mystifications (that is, multiple parochial disciplines, treating organizations like people, visionaries and skeptics, chic and mystique, and active mystification). Then, examine the extent to which the two chosen mystifications exist in your organization or an organization with which you are familiar. Justify your response with at least two specific examples of the selected mystifications.

Full Answer Section Examples of treating organizations like people in organizations: An employee may say that their company is "happy" because they have just received a raise. However, the company is not a living person and cannot experience emotions. A manager may say that their team is "angry" because they are not meeting their sales goals. However, the team is made up of individuals, each of whom is experiencing their own emotions. Extent to which these mystifications exist in my organization: I work for a large technology company. I have seen both of these mystifications exist in my organization to some extent. For example, there can be conflict between different departments and disciplines, such as between engineering and product management. This is because each department has its own goals and priorities. Engineering may be focused on delivering a product on time and on budget, while product management may be focused on delivering a product that meets the needs of users. I have also seen people treat the company like a person. For example, people may say that the company is "happy" because it is doing well financially. However, the company is not a living person and cannot experience emotions. Conclusion: The mystifications of multiple parochial disciplines and treating organizations like people are both common in organizations. These mystifications can lead to conflict, confusion, and ineffective decision-making. It is important to be aware of these mystifications so that they can be avoided. Organizations can avoid these mystifications by: Encouraging collaboration between different departments and disciplines. This can help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. Focusing on data and evidence when making decisions. This can help to avoid decisions that are based on emotions or personal opinions. Recognizing that organizations are made up of individuals. This can help to avoid unrealistic expectations and ineffective communication.
Sample Answer

Two mystifications in organizations:

  • Multiple parochial disciplines: This mystification occurs when different departments or disciplines in an organization have different and often conflicting goals. This can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and conflict.
  • Treating organizations like people: This mystification occurs when people attribute human characteristics to organizations. For example, people may say that an organization is "happy," "sad," or "angry." This can lead to unrealistic expectations and ineffective decision-making.

Examples of multiple parochial disciplines in organizations:

  • A company may have a sales department that is focused on increasing sales at all costs, while the marketing department is focused on building the company's brand and reputation. This can lead to conflict between the two departments and make it difficult to achieve the company's overall goals.
  • A hospital may have a medical department that is focused on providing high-quality care to patients, while the administration department is focused on reducing costs. This can lead to decisions that are made in the best interests of the administration but not in the best interests of patients.