Prompt #1:  Follow the instructions for the “Ideal Organization Exercise” in your textbook.  Use each of the headings provided and briefly “sketch out” your conceptualization of the ideal organization.  In responding to each heading, you can write a brief paragraph or “bullet” responses (as in the textbook example).  Be sure to see the specific questions posed under each heading in the text.  Elaborate, and be specific – let you mind wonder, and you can include your responses here as one of your data sources for Assignment #4.

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My “ideal organization”

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Products / Services
 

• The organization would be a local level home production company.

• It would be focused on providing low cost housing solutions for people in financial need.

• Customers would be individuals or families from our direct or neighboring communities.

• The organization would provide finished homes to its clients, but may also support the local community through volunteer activities.

 

Structure
 

• In terms of my role in the organization, I’d like to be a founding member or working in a director’s position.

• The organization would be local and therefore relatively small. Employees would number 100 or less – including subcontractors for skilled labor.

• While the business would operate through a singular identity, there may be smaller groups created based on workplace need – construction teams, office support, field coordination, volunteer coordination, etc.

• The company would operate at a local level and would be structured as a not-for-profit entity.

 

Culture
 

• Our company maintains an aspiration to provide housing to those in critical need. We are guided by our desire to develop community through volunteerism and genuine compassion for others.

• Our mission is not only shared with employees through operational communications, but is adopted as a core belief by all employees. The importance of this mission is made clear from the moment of hire and serves as a motivating force for continued employment with our organization.

• While we work in a traditional office setting, the interactions between coworkers are genuine and semi-casual. Our focus on community begins within our own four walls and employees are encouraged to develop meaningful relationships with one another.

 

Management Style
 

• Individual groups within the organization work as a collective group of qualified members. However, each team would be represented through a designated team coordinator who can align the efforts of various interrelated office teams.

• Supervision will rely on general observation of task accomplishment and adherence to our organization’s guiding principles. Team coordinators are generally responsible for providing feedback to their direct reports.

• Overall, we operate with a focus on genuine focus on others which means treating our peers and our clients as meaningful individuals. Our interactions are respectful and caring without a strict expectation or script for “professional” behavior.

 

Job Scope
 

• My role in the organization would be supervisory as well as culture oriented. In a role similar to director, I would be available to support organizational needs through feedback and team problem solving.

• In my position, I would have authority to make decisions regarding all aspects of company operations. However, my primary role would be to maintain and elevate our cultural behaviors – inspiring team members to perform at their highest capacity.

 

Values
 

• While our organization would be established in a traditional hierarchal structure, the level of authority associated with each position would remain relatively consistent. Communication would not be strictly based on top-down direction, but instead would be a dynamic dialog between all members of the team.

• Our organization is built upon the idea that we, as individuals, have the power to make our world a better place. Our company delivers upon this value by our efforts to support people in need – primarily through housing.

• As a result of our smaller size, our organization is somewhat limited in terms of our financial resources. As such, we work hard to establish and maintain strong relationships with our supporters and donors – people who live and work in our community.

 

Evaluation Methods
 

• Evaluation within the company would be formally conducted on an annual basis. That said, communication and feedback would be present on a daily basis.

• Performance feedback, while formally conducted by team coordinators, would be encouraged on a peer to peer level. Our group is focused on shared values and goals, and we invite opportunities to challenge our level of performance and ability to meet the needs of our clients.

 

Reward Systems

 

• Salaries would be established based upon the level of contribution each individual has in the company. Those salaries would be established on an annual level – not determined as hourly wages.

• Increases in salary would be issued at the beginning of each fiscal year and would be directly proportional to the performance of the overall company. The better our company has performed in the past year, the higher the level of pay increase for all employees.

• Individual, performance based bonuses would not be utilized as they work against our sense of community and team achievement. However, there would be small, informal rewards available to celebrate employee contributions throughout the year.

• The company would also work to establish comprehensive medical/dental/vision benefits for all employees and would contribute to an employee 401(K) program for interested parties.