You are on page 1of 4

We envision Saint Louis University as an

excellent, missionary, and transformative


educational institution zealous in the
formation of human resources who are imbued
with the Christian spirit and who are
competent, creative, and socially involved.

Advances in Technology: A Case Study


Organizational Behavior and Processes

Submitted by:

HANS GABRIEL F. ATANACIO

Saint Louis University


School of Advanced Studies

Date of Submission: September 29, 2018


Case Questions:
1. Identify and describe some of the activities that Kim Clay performs in her
current job.

As an IT manager, Clay is responsible for making sure that the process of


taking, tracking, shipping, and invoicing order the company receives are done in
the right manner. This job involves planning, coordinating, and directing activities
that have to do with the computer and information systems of the company. As
the head of her department, it is also Clay’s task to come up with strategies on
how to improve their methods of performing their procedures.

For MG+BW, Clay sees to it that their website is up and running to ensure
that the flow their online transactions are smooth flowing and unimpeded. This is
in line with the company’s commitment to provide their customer the best
possible service they can render.

2. Rank the importance of positive “big five” personality traits in the


performance of a job like Clay’s.

CUSTOMER CARE JOB IT MANAGER


1. Extraversion 1. Conscientiousness
2. Agreeableness 2. Openness
3. Openness 3. Extraversion
4. Conscientiousness 4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism (Negative) 5. Neuroticism (Negative)

There is an obvious contrast on trait importance between working in a


customer care job and being an IT manager. We can attribute this to the
difference in the nature of work. Customer care career involves dealing with a lot
of people, thus require extraversion and agreeableness. On the other hand, an IT
manager must be mindful of details, organized, and goal-oriented, which are
characters of a conscientious person.

All of these positive traits played a role in enabling Clay to excel on these
two different jobs, as these qualities are deemed to be essential core parts of our
being. However, what stand out for me are her openness and conscientiousness.

I believe Kim Clay’s openness helped her to be adaptive in performing


both jobs successfully. Her ability to keep an open mind on vicissitudes and
being focused on tackling new challenges made it possible for her to excel on
two distinctive positions. Such adjustment requires creativity, which is very typical
on people who are high on the openness continuum.
It is not easy to undergo such change. Many people are afraid of or dislike
going outside of what has become their usual or norm. Clay’s eagerness to learn
new things and her nature to have a broad range of interests set her apart from
the others. Her progressive thinking became an asset in overcoming this
challenge.

Her conscientiousness, on the other hand, helped her become great in a


job that is very different from what she were used to be and by far requires a lot
more of being keen on details. To me, her being organized and goal-oriented
gave her a place on the IT department, which she currently leads.

3. Assessment of Clay’s and own personality:

Traits Kim’s Personality Own Personality


1. Emotional Dealing with changes To be honest, I see myself as a
Intelligence requires emotional stability. work-in-progress when it comes
Her ability to accept new to dealing with things that require
challenges and be great on a high level of emotional
two contrasting jobs say a intelligence. I easily lose temper,
lot about her emotional overreact, and let my emotions
intelligence. get the better of me. Despite that,
I’m trying to work things out and
become a better version of me.
2. Locus of The way I see it, Clay views Currently, I’m more on the
Control challenges as opportunities external locus of control side,
to grow and learn new which I admit to be my flaw. I’m
things instead of burdens. having a hard time accepting
This sort of thinking tells us mistakes, tend to make excuses,
that Clay would rather do and put the blame on external
something about the factors. I think it has something to
external forces around her do with my pride, inability to
and act on these herself embody humility, and admit to
than whine and blame myself that I can also be wrong at
others for the times.
inconvenience. These make
her locus of control internal.
3. Self-efficacy Despite having no formal While some people may see me
education in computer as an independent person
technology, Clay was able because I no longer depend on
to have a full grasp on the my parents, the truth is that I still
knowledge needed to heavily rely on my inner circle in
perform tasks as an IT order to accomplish various tasks.
manager. This shows her Without them, I don’t really think
capability to learn new I’d be in where I am right now and
things herself and put these be where I want to be in the
skills to use. future.
4. Describe the approach of MG+BW managers in dealing with the following
work related attitudes:

A. Job Satisfaction
The way things are done in MG+BW, its managers were able to create an
environment where its people are given the chance to grow and further develop.
As per Clay’s statement, “I really don’t think it’s an experience that you can get at
a lot of places, with the opportunities that I’ve been given here (at MG+BW)”.
These opportunities help their employees achieve a higher level of satisfaction
through professional advancement and a sense of purpose.

B. Organizational Commitment
Kim Clay’s commitment to the company can be measured by her
willingness to face trials that require her to adjust and be out of her comfort zone.
This setup allowed the company to develop an environment where its people are
motivated to pursue challenges with a positive outlook and see these as
opportunities to be better rather than treat such as nuisances.

C. Affectivity
Managers promote positive affectivity among their subordinates as
evidenced by the latter’s outlook towards their work. This is done through the
creation of an atmosphere in which personal growth is encouraged and further
developed. In return, the employees become energetic and enthusiastic towards
doing their tasks.

5. Clay picked up her computer skills while on the job. What about you?
How do you learn best?

Clay picking up her computer skills while on the job makes her a
kinesthetic learner. After doing an exercise in class that will determine our
preferred style of learning, I found out that I also absorb things better when I do
the task myself, a typical characteristic of the said learner.

Whenever I take practical and application exams, I see these as learning


activities rather than assessment of knowledge. After undergoing such tests, I
find myself more adept to the subject matter. When I try to discuss things with
other people, I tend to make a lot of body gestures and do demonstrations,
which, according to literatures, is very typical of a kinesthetic learner. I also
believe that to experience things is the best method of learning.

My secondary style of learning is visual. Pictures and graphics get my


attention and pique my interest. When I want to understand things and try to
have a better understanding on these, what I do is either do a simulation or
imagine scenarios. Simply listening to lectures and discussion doesn’t do the
trick for me.

You might also like