Rite Of Degradation As A Means example essay topic

683 words
Numerous organizations, nowadays, use the rite of degradation as a means of control. Many deliberately worsen the situation when dissolving a removed employee's social identity and power in attempt to disseminate the importance of complying with organizational rules and culture. Nonetheless, this type of ceremony is often not an optimal solution to get rid of inappropriate behaviors. From what I have learned in the course, the rite of degradation is actually a beneficial ritual which is important in shaping an organization culture. It is believed that many conflicts and confusions would arise without degradation. Only by publicly discrediting the official pertains to an individual's misbehavior's can conflicts be reduced to the minimal.

This is especially if the no-longer-desired leader retains influence, many problems would occur. The employees would be confused about who is really in authority and whom they should report to. Also, the removed official might thereby be able to have a chance to steal confidential information and sell to other organization. The employees will obey to orders due to their lack of knowledge of the leader's loss of power. Hence as has been shown, the rite of degradation would be essential in the management process. Nevertheless, even if this is true, I do not believe that it would be appropriate for management to use the rite of degradation as a means to control.

I believe that it would in fact lead to more problems. I have personally experienced the rite of degradation and really think that it can be destructive for organizations. My story goes like this. During the time I was working for an accounting firm (KPMG) the first impression I had with the working environment is that it is great. Every one is very cooperative and willing to help out when someone is in trouble. Even after we got off work, we would occasionally go to the pub and have a few drinks.

I guess this is because we all share the same values and culture so everyone really enjoyed working with each other. However, after the day that our department head made an erroneous decision and got fired, the whole situation changes. Then, everyone became so worrisome and tense as we observed that our manager has been repeatedly degraded by the top management! yens reference to difficulties in his private life and attribution to various problems. Now the office has never been as relaxed and warm as before.

The rite of degradation has really blemished our culture, creating a less interesting working environment with lower productivity. Adding humiliation factor into the procedure of rite of degradation would indeed enhance conformity and discipline within the organization, because its existence threatens the employees from committing inappropriate behaviors. However, what often results is lower morale among employees. When an employee undergoes the process of degradation, waves of horror feelings would spread. The reasoning for this is because it threatens and pressures everyone as the next time it might be him or her who gets penalized.

In addition, the employees with lower morale would be slower in getting their work done and therefore yield lower productivity. Since employees! | behaviors often reflect how their company treats them, this would in turn inflict a big loss for the company as they would devote less to satisfy the customers. There are always two sides for every coin. On one hand, if we use rites of degradation as a means to publicly acknowledge the problems, defend group boundaries, and reaffirm social importance and value of role involved, it would be considered as a good approach. It would enable the workers to gain a better understanding of what has happened within their organization. However, the rites of degradation are never appropriate to be used as authoritative control.

In whatever situation, the rites should be conducted in a humane way so that it won! |t destroy the morale among employees and the organizational culture..