Communication in Amazon-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignement

Question: Discuss about the about the Amzon and its Present Situation. Answer: Introduction The report here discusses about Amazon and its present situation. Amazon is the largest online retailer in United States. The company also features on the elite list of the Fortune magazine where it ranked second in the year 2014 and fourth in the year 2015 [1]However, 2015 was as a controversial year for the company as there was controversy regarding the company in the New York Times on how it pushes its white-collar workers for achieving the expanding ambitions of the company. According to reports published in the New York Times, Amazon focused on the promotion of unconventional office culture where employees were encouraged to be critical not only about each other ideas in the meetings but also to send secret feedback about their colleagues to the respective bosses[2]. Moreover, the employees also went through a bout of physical stress in Amazon due to long work hours. They also faced rebuke and reprimanded when they were unable to respond to emails arriving at midnight arrival. T hus, indirectly the company adopted a policy where employees forced to work faster and harder until they collapsed, quitted and faced termination. Therefore, most of the employees did not stay for long. The company also did not hire female employees; the few that the company had underwent severe criticism despite contributing big time in the success of the company. Amidst everything, the turnover of Amazon was so high that it even surpassed Walmart in terms of valuation of the market. The year 1999 saw the company burdened with spiraling losses and debts. In such a scenario, though the company wanted to undertake cost cutting but it could not do so[3]. However, with controlled spending and top line growth the company is able to double its stock prices and regain back its position. Areas Where Company Lacks Organizational Behavior Motivation Amazon did not provide any positive motivation to the employees. Employees are only encouraged to ruthlessly criticize about each other and send secret feedbacks to the immediate bosses that sometimes lead to a hostile work environment. The company also led to physical stress of the employees[4]. The employees forced to work overtime without receiving any benefit. Moreover, employees reprimanded for not responding to midnight emails. The company also forced employees to engage in lengthy conference calls especially on holidays. Thus, working in Amazon meant working harder and faster until one collapses. The company though satisfied its customers around the world but made the life within the organization almost impenetrable. The company also believes in the policy of no mercy that implies that either employees fit into the structure of the company or they do not. Thus, in Amazon there was not only lack of benefits but also disregard towards work life balance[5]. Moreover, employees ma de to work for which they never received any praises. There also existed unfair systems of ranking and purposeful Darwinism within the company. This was a company that lacked team or group work. Recommendations Amazon can undertake effective motivation of its employees through better communication, setting examples, empowering them, offering ideal opportunities for advancement and by providing benefits in the form of incentives. There are however various motivational theories that the company adopts for the purpose of motivation. This includes needs theory, motivation hygiene theory, mclellands theory and expectancy theory. However, the descriptions of the theories are as follows: Needs Theory The Needs Theory also referred as the Three Needs Theory represents a motivational model that helps in explaining how needs for power, achievement and affiliation can affect peoples actions from the managerial context[6] David McClelland who is a psychologist proposes this theory. Motivation-Hygiene Theory The Motivation Hygiene Theory focus on the fact that there are certain factors in work place that leads to job satisfaction and existence of certain separate set of factors that causes dissatisfaction[7]. The theory also known as the Frederick Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory McClelland'sHuman MotivationTheory According to human motivationtheory of McClellands, every person possesses three primary driving motivators[8]. These motivators however include power, affiliation, and needs for achievement. The motivators develop through culture and life experience. Expectancy Theory This theory assumes that behavior is the resultant of the conscious choices amongst alternatives that maximizes the pleasure and minimizes the pain[9]. According to this theory, the performance of an employee depends on individual factors like skills, knowledge, personality, ability and experience. Communication The communication in Amazon takes place by means of an anytime feedback tool which is an internal platform used by the employees for criticizing or placing complain against their colleagues[10]. This internal directory also allows the company to submit peer evaluations to the management team. Thus, the anytime feedback tool also has a role to play in addition to being a gossip tool. This medium also helps the employees to understand their stand in the company. The company also follows a Two Pizza Rule that leads to decentralization and lack in communication. According to the Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, meetings should take place when there is an absolute need for it. Moreover, the CEO also stresses on the fact that the number of members in a meeting should be such that two pizzas would be enough in feeding the entire group[11]. Invitation of too much people in a meeting not only invites mass view but also results in decrease of productivity. Recommendations However, Amazon can ensure effective communication by adopting the following policies. Effective communication in a workplace not only helps in reduction of disputes between employees but also the management. By Adopting Transparency: Amazon can ensure effective communication by informing the employees about the goals of the company and the general goals. Moreover, the company can ensure effective communication between the management and employees through an open door policy that helps employees in resolving the issues through direct communication with the higher authorities. Thus, by being transparent Amazon will not only be able to build employee loyalty but also enhance the retention rates. By Organizing Workshops: The workforce of Amazon believed to have employees from varied cultural backgrounds, ethnicity and gender. The company can therefore undertake training workshops that uses role-playing activities for teaching the employees better means of communicating with each other. Thus, Amazon must initiate sensitivity training for employees on regular basis for teaching the employees on the ways of dealing with different mannerisms and viewpoints of their co-workers. Effective Screening of Candidates: Workplace communication improved through effective screening of the communication skills of the job candidates during the process of interview. Existing employees with imperfect writing or computer skills should have sufficient training. To improve the communication process in the company Amazon must do away with its policies for supporting employees to indulge in ruthless communication and undertake policies of terminating those employees who indulge in criticizing co-workers and customers and spread gossip. The company can also take initiative in training the employees. Building Relationships: Communication between the employees takes place only when there is a bond of trust amongst the employees. Amazon rather than taking measures of poking the employees against each other should encourage them to bond where they should talk to each other. To enables this, the company should take the initiative of hosting various recreational events. This will not only enable the employees to take part in the events but also provide a means where their efforts will also make a difference. Such appreciation will enable them communicate with the each other but also the management. Leadership As far as leadership is concerned, Amazon deliberately sets a standard that is unreasonably higher. Although the high expectations are devised with the intentions of creating talent of top tier but they become unreachable and creates unnecessary pressure on the employees thereby leading to distress[12]. Instances of employees crying at their desk have been a common sight. However, there are some who defends such higher expectations of the company saying that employees who are unable to handle the demands are not the right fit for the job. According to them, Amazon is a company that strives to reach the moon by making it big through various innovative and ground breaking things. Thus, in Amazon the pressure to deliver is beyond every metric of the company. The Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos leadership style is overly forthright which implies frank, direct and prepared to go to any extent for executing the things that he believes is true[13]. Thus, his management style is largely an influence of his abrasive personality that includes dictating others the ways to behave and possess a confidence that is overreaching in terms of metrics power. The company also engages in insensitive management. Amazon employees who overcame personal hardships like miscarriages, cancer and other personal crisis said that they underwent unfair judgment since they were forced to perform at the highest of their abilities without even given sufficient time for recovery[14]. For instance, a female employee who just experienced a miscarriage was told that there would be monitoring of her performance to ensure that her focus stayed on the job which finally forced her to leave the company. Recommendations However for effective leadership the company needs to undertake the following steps which include: Possessing the Right Attitude: An effective leader must possess the right set of mind for serving others. Expressing Love for People: For ensuring the prevalence of effective leadership leaders must be in love with the organizational relationship By Being a Good Listener: Communication has a key role in the achievement of organizational and interpersonal goals. Compassionately Addressing the Truth: Truthfulness in a leadership is important and it must be addressed in a compassionate manner. By Being Proactive: Individuals who wear the hats of leaders must be proactive to deal any situation and successfully move forward. By Being Committed: It is necessary for the leader to have utmost commitment towards the group. Taking Risk: As leaders it is necessary to take risk by thinking out of the box and being innovative. Follow Policies and Procedures: Effective leaders adhere to procedures and policies while taking any step. Organizational Structure The organizational structure of Amazon makes it difficult for the employees to climb the corporate ladder. The CEO of the company believes that managers should enhance the performance bar with each promotion and hire and only employees with out of the box talent must progress within the company[15]. This made the CEO codify his beliefs into a custom known as OLR for reviewing the leadership and the organization. The OLR represents biannual meetings of the senior leader from each department for debating about the strengths and weakness of their subordinates for either approval of promotions or dismissal. According, to the employees of Amazon OLR are meetings where livelihoods and careers are lost and won within an instant. Thus, every promotion cycle at Amazon goes through an OLR meeting. Therefore, these results in limited number of promotions happenings at Amazon. This approach to promotion considered brutal for avoiding any unnecessary or political advancement[16]. In addition, the decision for the promotion is also a result of political dynamics and human emotions. Scaling the ranks at Amazon also becomes difficult due to its remarkably flat corporate structure. Recommendations A proper organizational structure is important for effective decision and adapting to the changes of the business. Thus, a proper organization structure can be achieved by making things transparent, using the management as support and ensure putting necessary checks in required places. Here, by making things transparent means there should be proper information flow within the organizations. For effective understanding of responsibilities of the managers the company must try to distribute and develop hierarchy flow charts of the department. Moreover, the decision making process of the company also needs to be well understood. Thus, the company must develop effective communication channels amongst its employees as it is one of the powerful tools for streamlining the process and reducing confusion. Management should act as a support to the employees in all the decisions of the company without trying to dictate them. It is the job of the management to pool out the necessary resources for assisting a particular task to be accomplished. Necessary checks in the required places ensure avoiding major problems that might have acted as a hindrance. Thus, a continuous system of feedback and checks ensures the company that its corporate structure is working perfectly with proper information flow. Action Plan Recommendations Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Effective Employee Motivation Effective Communication Effective Leadership Proper Organizational structure Figure: Action Plan of the Recommendations Source: By Author Conclusion The report ends by throwing a light on the action plan that helps in implementing the recommendations provided. The report puts forward recommendations against the issues faced by the company. In the report, the recommendations made against issues like motivation, communication, leadership and organizational structure. The report also gives an overview of the company and its present situation. References 5 Key Takeaways from Jeff Bezos' Leadership Style | Pagely. (2017).Pagely. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://pagely.com/blog/2017/09/5-lessons-from-jeff-bezos-leadership-style/ Ali, N. (2013). Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Applicability on Teachers.Journal of Managerial Sciences,7(1). Amazon 6th Principle: Insist on the Highest Standards. (2017).Jess Gil Hernndez. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://jesusgilhernandez.com/2014/11/21/amazon-6th-principle-insist-on-the-highest-standards/ Amazon Has A Brutal System For Employees Trying To Get Promoted. (2017).Business Insider. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/Amazon-Has-A-Brutal-System-For-Employees-Trying-To-Get-Promoted/articleshow/24263370.cms Amazon.in.(2017). Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.amazon.in/Motivating-People-Doesnt-Work-What/dp/1626561826 Haughney, D. (2017).Expecting the Unexpected From Jeff Bezos.Nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/business/expecting-the-unexpected-from-jeff-bezos.html Keyton, J., Caputo, J. M., Ford, E. A., Fu, R., Leibowitz, S. A., Liu, T., ... Wu, C. (2013). Investigating verbal workplace communication behaviors.The Journal of Business Communication (1973),50(2), 152-169. Meyer, P. (2017).Amazon.com Inc.s Organizational Culture Characteristics (An Analysis) - Panmore Institute.Panmore Institute. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://panmore.com/amazon-com-inc-organizational-culture-characteristics-analysis Nolan, H. (2017).quot;I Do Not Know One Person Who Is Happy at Amazonquot;.Gawker. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://gawker.com/i-do-not-know-one-person-who-is-happy-at-amazon-1572478351 Reeve, J. (2012). A self-determination theory perspective on student engagement. InHandbook of research on student engagement(pp. 149-172). Springer US. Renko, M., Kroeck, K. G., Bullough, A. (2012). Expectancy theory and nascent entrepreneurship.Small Business Economics,39(3), 667-684. Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An overview of the Schwartz theory of basic values.Online readings in Psychology and Culture,2(1), 11. Spicer, A. (2017).The tragedy behind Amazons toxic management fad | Andre Spicer.the Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/17/amazon-management-fad-rank-yank-jeff-bezos Streitfeld, J. (2017).Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace.Nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html The' 'Two Pizza Rule' Is Jeff Bezos' Secret To Productive Meetings. (2017).Business Insider. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/The-Two-Pizza-Rule-Is-Jeff-Bezos-Secret-To-Productive-Meetings/articleshow/24896617.cms Why It's So Difficult to Climb Amazon's Corporate Ladder. (2017).Mashable. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://mashable.com/2013/10/15/amazons-corporate-ladder/#G2sYC4pHLSqq Streitfeld, J. (2017).Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace.Nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html Meyer, P. (2017).Amazon.com Inc.s Organizational Culture Characteristics (An Analysis) - Panmore Institute.Panmore Institute. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://panmore.com/amazon-com-inc-organizational-culture-characteristics-analysis Haughney, D. (2017).Expecting the Unexpected From Jeff Bezos.Nytimes.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/business/expecting-the-unexpected-from-jeff-bezos.html Amazon.in.(2017). Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.amazon.in/Motivating-People-Doesnt-Work-What/dp/1626561826 Nolan, H. (2017).quot;I Do Not Know One Person Who Is Happy at Amazonquot;.Gawker. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://gawker.com/i-do-not-know-one-person-who-is-happy-at-amazon-1572478351 Reeve, J. (2012). A self-determination theory perspective on student engagement. InHandbook of research on student engagement(pp. 149-172). Springer US. Ali, N. (2013). Motivation-Hygiene Theory: Applicability on Teachers.Journal of Managerial Sciences,7(1). Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An overview of the Schwartz theory of basic values.Online readings in Psychology and Culture,2(1), 11. Renko, M., Kroeck, K. G., Bullough, A. (2012). Expectancy theory and nascent entrepreneurship.Small Business Economics,39(3), 667-684 Keyton, J., Caputo, J. M., Ford, E. A., Fu, R., Leibowitz, S. A., Liu, T., ... Wu, C. (2013). Investigating verbal workplace communication behaviors.The Journal of Business Communication (1973),50(2), 152-169. The' 'Two Pizza Rule' Is Jeff Bezos' Secret To Productive Meetings. (2017).Business Insider. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/The-Two-Pizza-Rule-Is-Jeff-Bezos-Secret-To-Productive-Meetings/articleshow/24896617.cms Amazon 6th Principle: Insist on the Highest Standards. (2017).Jess Gil Hernndez. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://jesusgilhernandez.com/2014/11/21/amazon-6th-principle-insist-on-the-highest-standard 5 Key Takeaways from Jeff Bezos' Leadership Style | Pagely. (2017).Pagely. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://pagely.com/blog/2017/09/5-lessons-from-jeff-bezos-leadership-style/ Spicer, A. (2017).The tragedy behind Amazons toxic management fad | Andre Spicer.the Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/17/amazon-management-fad-rank-yank-jeff-bezos Why It's So Difficult to Climb Amazon's Corporate Ladder. (2017).Mashable. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://mashable.com/2013/10/15/amazons-corporate-ladder/#G2sYC4pHLSqq Amazon Has A Brutal System For Employees Trying To Get Promoted. (2017).Business Insider. Retrieved 12 November 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.in/Amazon-Has-A-Brutal-System-For-Employees-Trying-To-Get-Promoted/articleshow/24263370.cms