Evaluating GE’s Organizational Culture Essay

IntroductionEvery business enterprise has its own set of set and beliefs that devise up an validational civilisation that is grotesque to severally specific business. _Organizational Culture_ is a labyrinthine set of basic underlying assumptions and deeply held beliefs shargond by all members of the free-base that operate at a preconscious level and drive in cardinal shipway the behavior of individuals in the fundamental lawal linguistic context (Strategy Glossary, 2006). GEs organizational finale is considered atomic number 53 of high ethical monetary banner in the corporate world. harmonise to The advance of Ethics (2007) _GE now has one of the scoop out moral philosophy compliance programs in existence_, says Larry Ponemon, discipline director of Business Ethics spirt at KPMG. The purpose of this research musical theme is to identify and evaluate GEs organizational nicetyal appeal, sh bed values, guest base and node service standards, characteristics of organizational market-gardening, and to figure if GEs organizational farming is ethical, node-responsive, or spiritual.Organizational Cultural stirWhen looking at an organizations cultural appeal, one must graduation realize what he or she looking for in a confederation. What appeals to me may or not appeal to psyche else. Therefore, the avocation categories will show what it is well-nigh GEs organizational coating that appeals to me personally. These categories admit but be not contain to leadership It is serious for me to be with a company that al gloomys attractors to have the liberty and flexibility to contribute their knowledge and expertness in both their daily line of flex and at company levels. At the top, we take upt sic run GE similar a big company. We run it akin a big partnership, where all(prenominal) leader can make a parting not just to their job, but to the perfect Company (Immelt, J., 2005).Opportunity for Advancement It is important for me to subject argona for a company that offers employees an chance for advancement. GE has six inexpugnable businesses align to grow with the market trends of today and tomorrow Our Business, 2007).Work Environment It is important for me to work for a company that pop the questions a enjoy subject and vitalizing work environment that is palmy to balance with my personal life. GE is an shake up place to work. Ours is a high-performance culture that emphasizes high-integrity business practices as well as work/life sic balance (Our Culture, 2007). didactics and Education Programs It is important for me to work for a company that provides additional instruct and educational benefits that will enhance employee leadership capabilities. We authorize nearly $1 billion a year in c arer maturement for our employees at every level of pro growth. (Leadership Programs, 2007).Shared ValuesWhen looking at an organizations benevolent values, one must first realize what he or she values. Categories in my value outline may or may not be the same as someone elses. Therefore, the following categories will show the values that I share with GEs value system. These categories include but are not limited toEthics and ace I imagine that it is important for an organization and its employees a desire to operate with strong ethics and integrity. At GE, it isnt sic enough to hazard big. caprice must be unspoiled within boundaries of ethics, compliance and integrity (Our Company, 2007). federation Volunteer Work I believe it is important for every person and organizations alike to come unneurotic and address community inevitably i.e. wellness and welfare for disadvantaged community members. for each one year, GE volunteers come together as one GE to participate in Global Community Days,working together to improve our many communities (Worldwide Activities, 2007).Environmental health and Employee Safety I believe it is important for a company to focus on environmen tally preventive production plants and employee safety. practiccapable excellence shapes the tools and measurements that jock keep employees safe while diminution our impact on the environment (Our Business, 2007)client BaseGE has built a strong and trustworthy customer base by continually meeting the needs of the customer. Robbins, S. (2005) describes six variables that are routinely evident in customer-responsive cultures like GE.Type of Employees outgoing and friendly impression Formalization immunity to meet ever-changing customer-service requirementsExtension of Low Formalization widespread use of em forcement i.e. decision daintiness to do what is necessary to please the customer. legal Listening Skills listen to and understand messages send by the customerRole pellucidity Service employees act as _boundary spanners_ mingled with the organization and its customersOrganizational Citizenship Behavior employees are conscience of customers needs and go above and beyond the call of duty to forgather a customers needsGE has been able to build much(prenominal) a strong and loyal customer base by meeting each of the six variables depict by Robbins. inconstant one, type of employee, is met with GEs efforts to provide a diverse work environment. In fact, GE was named among the top 40 best companies for diversity by vitriolicEnterprise Magazine (Employees, 2007). variable stars two and one-third, low formalization and extension of low formalization, is met by means of and through GEs efforts to provide employees the freedom to become neighboringr to their customers while determination untested operational efficiencies and ways to work toward customer service (Leadership, 2007).Variable four, candid listening skills, is provided by GEs customer support centers through 1-800 rime or e-mail correspondence that provide support for all customers, civil and military, with a variety of innovative support solutions tailor-made to individual custo mer needs (Customer assert, 2007). Variable five, role clarity, is met through GEs effective use of influential employees (_boundary spanners_) who help shape the terminals and parameters of inter-organizational cooperation with international markets such as Algeria, Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, France, Germany et cetera (Worldwide, 2007). Variable six, organizational citizenship, is met through GEs continued commitment to citizenship issues planetary including human rights, philanthropy, public policy and environment, health and safety (Citizenship, 2007).Customer Service StandardsGEs customer service standard demonstrates their commitment to excellence and customer standards. In an effort to vouch top case service standards in todays war-ridden market, GE has implemented half a dozen Sigma Quality standards. According to reservation Customers olfactory modality half a dozen Sigma Quality (2007) sextette Sigma is a highly disciplined movement that helps us focus on develo ping and delivering near-perfect products and services.The goal behind training employees through sixsome Sigma and implementing this system is for GE to be able to evaluate defects and come as close to _zero errors_ as possible. half a dozen Sigma standards have brocaded the bar and implemented the highest flavor of customer service standards for GE since the 1980s. According to Making Customers Feel Six Sigma Quality (2007) Sigma is embedding quality thinking sour thinking crosswise every level and in every operation of our Company around the globe. According to rouge Elements of Quality (2007) the three disclose elements of Six Sigma quality areCustomer customer merriment i.e. product quality, dependability, competitive pricing, quality service and so on takes precedence so clients will not find another service provider. wreak _outside-in thinking_ i.e. observing the company from the customers viewpoint and identifying knowledge domains that could use improvement to en sure customer satisfaction.Employee _leadership commitment_ i.e. providing training, opportunities and incentives for employees to excel and focus their talents on customer satisfaction.Six Sigma centers on reducing process deviations and improving process capabilities. This process is dependant on six find out concepts. According to The Six Sigma Strategy (2007) these concepts that GE focus on include censorious to quality customers most important attributes deformity customer satisfaction failure exploit Capability deliverability of the processVariation the customers learnings inactive Operations guaranteeing a constant and predictable process that meets with customer perceptionsDesign for Six Sigma designing to meet customer requirements and process capabilitiesCharacteristics of Organizational CultureThere are cardinal primary characteristics of organizational culture (1) intention and risk taking, (2) attention to detail, (3) force orientation, (4) people orientation, (5) team orientation, (6)Aggressiveness, and (7) Stability. Research indicates that GE embodies five of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture.Innovation and Risk Taking GE employees focus on innovation as their basis for taking calculated risks for castrate in the fields of transforming health care, cleaner power generation, exploring nanotechnology, aviation technology, greenhouse gas reduction, global research facilities and so forth (Innovation, 2007). circumspection to Detail GE employees focus on attention to detail in such areas as customer service, quality and crowd of products, meeting performance targets, enhanced decision-making through training and education and so on. deal Orientation GE considers their more than 300,000 employees to be their greatest asset, and they are passionate about making life better with new ideas and technologies (Our People, 2007).Team Orientation A world-shaking part of GEs culture as a global company involves nurturing di verse and cross-cultural teams in such areas as public relations, automotives, global research, nanotechnologies, trade and so on (Employees, 2007).Aggressiveness though GE does provide the tools necessary for employees to be aggressive and competitive, the degree to which people are aggressive and competitive is truly up to the individual employee.ConclusionResearch indicates that GEs organizational culture is both ethical and customer-responsive. In the area of organizational culture appeal, it was gear up that GE appealed to me in four categories (1) leadership, (2) opportunity for advancement, (3) work environment, and (4) training and education programs. One should keep in psyche that these categories may vary depending on the needs of each individual. In the area of shared values, it was found GE had three values that I identified with (1) ethics andintegrity, (2) community volunteer work, and (3) environmental health and employee safety. Again, one should keep in mind that these categories may vary depending on the perception of values of each individual. In the area of customer base, it was found that GE has been able to build and sustain a strong and loyal customer base through adherence to the six variables as described by Robbins.In the area of customer service standards, it was found that GE has show their commitment to excellence and high customer standards through the training and implementation of The Six Sigma Strategy. In the area of characteristics of organizational culture, it was found that GE does embody five of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture (1) innovation and risk, (2) attention to detail, (3) people orientation, (4) team orientation, and (5) aggressiveness. ground on the above findings, my evaluation of GEs organizational culture is that they do provide a strong manakin for positive attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values that would be appealing to almost anyone looking for job satisfaction and advan cement within an organization.ReferencesCitizenship (2007). _GE conceit at work_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 2007, fromhttp//www.ge.com/company/citizenship/index. hypertext mark-up languageCustomer Support (2007). _GE Aviation_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 2007, from http//www.geaviationsystems.com/Systems/Customer-Support/index.aspEmployees (2007). _GE visual sense at work_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/citizenship/2007_citizenship/highlights.htmlImmelt, J. (2005). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/leadership/index.htmlInnovation (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/innovation/index.htmlKey Elements of Quality (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved declination 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/sixsigma/keyelements.htmlLeadership & Learning (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved celestial latitude 18, 200 7, from http//www.ge.com/company/culture/leadership_learning.htmlLeadership Programs (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.gecareers.com/GECAREERS/html/us/ourPeople/leadership.htmlMaking Customers Feel Six Sigma Quality (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/sixsigma/makingcustomers.htmlOur Business (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/businesses/index.htmlOur Company (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/index.htmlOur Culture (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, fromhttp//www.ge.com/company/culture/index.htmlOur People (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/culture/people.htmlRobbins, S. (2005). _Organizational behavior_ (11th ed.). Upper lodge River, NJ Pearson Education.Strategy Glossary (2006). Ampol Partn ers. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ampolbiz.com/consulting/resources/strategy_glossary.htmThe Six Sigma Strategy (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/sixsigma/sixsigstrategy.htmlWorldwide (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/worldwide/index.htmlWorldwide Activities (2007). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http//www.ge.com/company/worldwide_activities/index.html