10 Attitude and values

Learning Outcomes
Introduction
Need of Human Values for individual growth Human values and corporate sector
Summary

1. LEARNING OUTCOMES

After studying this module, students will be able to understand:
Need of Human Values for individual growth Human values and corporate sector

MODULE 9: ATTITUDE AND VALUES

INTRODUCTION:

A set of values, assumptions and beliefs constitutes an integral part of organization development, shaping the goals and methods of the field and distinguishing organizational development from other improvement strategies. Most of these beliefs were formulated early in the development of the field and they continue to evolve as the field itself evolves. These values and assumptions developed from research and theory by behavioral scientists and from the experiences and observations of practicing managers.

NEED OF HUMAN VALUES FOR INDIVIDUAL GROWTH:

For individual growth, basic human values are of prime importance. Each personality type has a different idea of what it means to be successful. Self-knowledge is one common goal that will help everyone to achieve personal success. So many people are hung up on somebody else’s idea of what it means to be successful and they are unaware of what is truly important to them. This is completely normal. We all have important role models and influencers in our lives that may have basic values that are quite different from our own. If this is the case, it is important to recognize that the discrepancy between what we have been taught is truly important and what we personally believe to be truly important is due to a difference in perspective. The ancient Indian education was basically aimed at personal growth and advancement of individual. Our education system is the oldest in the world and has some qualities which we are proud of and which do not exist anywhere else in the world. Today, there is an acute need to inculcate human values for personal growth of people.

Some of the prominent human values can be categorized as follows:

1. Genuine: One should have genuine feeling for others. Behavior should be honest, warm and heartily for people around you. Individual’s feeling should be such that it is felt genuinely by others.

2. Modesty: One must be humble in his/ her approach. There should not be a feeling of superiority within an individual. Modesty and humanity in nature have a far more everlasting impact on the people.

3. Self-Respect: One should try to be someone whom people around give respect and seek advice from. One who never consider material gains over and above his/her own moral values. One should never allow anyone to move you away from doing what is right and acceptable.

4. Rationality: One must be rational in its thinking. Your values should be such that it is not easily influenced by other’s thinking. Have a rational approach towards comparing situations, acts, people etc. Don’t let prejudice or emotion affect you or your judgment.

5. Courteous: One should always show courtesy while behaving with others. Always adopt an approach of good manners even though others around you may not.

6. Incorrupt: One should opt a strong approach for withholding one’s life values. Don’t let outside powers to corrupt you. It must be known to the external environment that you are not the person whose moral values and reactions are saleable.

7. Civility: One must have a great civic sense. It is very pertinent to know how to behave in society and extend courtesy to others.

8. Wisdom: It is important to have knowledge but more important to have wisdom. One should try to understand the real qualities of people and apply his/her wisdom for the greater good of humanity.

9. Wholesome: One should be conducive of not only physical wellbeing but also psychological as well as spiritual wellbeing also. One must be completely attentive and active while interacting with others.

10. Charity: Establishing a feeling of empathetic and compassionate behavior towards others helps the individual to grow his/her personality. Learn to extend a helping hand towards other even though they themselves are not able to help you.

HUMAN VALUES AND CORPORATE SECTOR:

Today, as the corporate sector is increasingly becoming more competitive, the importance of human values have acquired all the more important place in our socio-economic firmament. Human values are the virtues that guide us to take into account the human element when we interact with other human beings. These are the positive dispositions that cerate bonds of humanity amongst people and thus have value for all of us as human beings. These are strong positive feelings towards the human essence of the other fellow. It is both what we expect others to do to us and what we aim to give to other human beings.

Therefore, the creation of value is the primary goal of managers in the leading companies of the corporate sector. Organizations exist to create value for all constituencies or stakeholders. Values depend on the stakeholder as they expect different values from business. Markets and owners expect that economic value be created; customers may expect to obtain desired goods and services on time and at competitive prices; employees may expect a substantive and meaningful job with commensurate compensation; suppliers may expect to be paid on time; and society may expect that their environment will be improved etc. All these desired values are required to be upheld by the business establishment for wider good and these are the human values which need to be protected.

First categorization of Values for Managers

(i) Core values for Managers in India

Core values are fundamental values in any human being. There may be divergent values in tune with the nature and goals of different functional departments and also the overall organizational culture. However, there are some dominant values are also known as core values that are considered a crucial by majority of managers. These are:

Integrity Trust
Achievement Truthfulness Humility
Contentment Motivation

(ii) Personal Traits of Managers in India

Every manager has certain personal traits which vary from person to person. Personal traits are enduring characteristics of an individual by which he or she can be identified. These traits are:

Stability Skill
Creativity
Achievement Flexibility

(iii) Goals of a Typical Manager in India

Values of a manager will have a direct influence on the goals and objectives he sets for the organization. Personal goals of a manager may vary depending on goals, culture and philosophy of the concerned organization. Nevertheless, each manager works with a certain aim and purpose in his mind. The following are the goals of a typical manager in India:

Customer satisfaction
Achievement of department and organizational goals Completion of tasks within scheduled time frame
Employee motivation
Career progress

(iv) Important personal qualities of a Manager

Managers with limited abilities and skills with static values and goals may not be able to achieve success in all circumstances. Certain personal qualities e.g. height, complexion, voice, dressing habits, gregariousness and versatility etc. should supplement and stand in good stead to an individual.

Second categorization of Values for Managers

Another categorization of managerial values has been done in three parts in an organizational environment as detailed below:

(i) Physical Values: These values are as follows:

Accuracy: It should be in terms of the precision, exactness and confronting to the facts in details of work.

Cleanliness: In offices, production and warehouses facilities, equipments, customer service areas, raw material and finished products, inventory, bathrooms and so on.

Maximum Utilization of Resources: The desire and ability of the company to improve its performance by full utilization of its current resources e.g. time, money, equipment, material, space and people etc.

Orderliness: in office drawers, file cabinets, shelves, paper work, files, phone numbers, priority of work, daily and weekly plan should be in order.

Punctuality and Timeliness: In arriving on time at work, from breaks, from lunch, to meetings, in replying to letters and phone calls, in paying bills on time etc., punctuality must prevail.

Quality of Products and Services: In terms of presentation, functionality, choice value, speed, timeliness, suitability, repeatability, life span, courtesy, friendliness etc., quality must be promoted.

Regularity: Regularity of meetings, reports, sales calls, performance reviews and so forth be the norm.

Responsiveness: Quick response in the way people, the organization or system etc, react to a need coming from within or from outside the organization should be ensured.

Safety: In offices, warehouses, production and research facilities, vehicles for employees, vendors and customers etc, adequate safety should be promoted.

(ii) Organizational Values: These values are as detailed below:

Accountability: Accountability of individuals, department and division for performance, results, problems and so on.

Communications: Up, down, sideways and within the company, with customers and vendors, in terms of openness, frankness, clarity, frequency, accuracy, timeliness and brevity.

Cooperation: Among individuals, departments in terms of plans, activities and systems.

Coordination: Horizontally between departments in terms of plans, activities and systems.

Discipline: In adherence to company’s policy, rules, systems, procedure, schedules, standards and ethics and so on.

Freedom for initiative: To make suggestions, develop plans, make decisions, carry out or modify actions and so on.

Integration: Integration is required for smooth operation vertically between different levels of the organization in terms of plans, decisions and priorities.

Standardization: In terms of forms, files, procedures, reports, performance evaluation, equipments, training, recruitment, orientations and communications.

Systemization: In sales, marketing, customer service accounting, research, production, engineering, recruitment, training, promotions, communications, coordination, reporting and so on.

(iii) Psychological Values: These values are given as below:

Continuous Improvement: The desire and ability of the company to develop and incorporate ways to improve itself.

Creativity: In terms of new products, new ideas, new systems, new production methods, new applications of technology, new methods of financing and new marketing strategies.

Customer Delight: The positive emotional response and joy that the customer feels from interaction with the people, products and services of the company.

Decisiveness: In solving problems, planning, executing plans in terms of speed and commitment to decisions that are once made.

Develop People: The desire and ability of the company to improve the lot of the employees working for it.

Agreement: The overall atmosphere and interaction between people, departments, divisions, systems, activities, rules and policies within the company and between these elements and the external environment, customers, vendors, community laws and so on.

Innovation: The desire and ability of the company to venture into new breakthrough areas of opportunities.

Integrity: Keeping to one’s word, promise and agreements as being truthful and being non-deceitful etc. with employees, customers, vendors and government.

Management systems which apply values in its operational activities always achieve greater output. Modern era is an era of complete knowledge and information, where every section of our society is becoming more and more aware of their rights as well as responsibilities. There was a time when the top officials of the concern could do anything to increase their profits and the stakeholders have no say in influencing the corporate affairs. Now the whole situation has changed. The reason being increased awareness level. It was in the middle of the twentieth century that the need for socially responsible and ethical behavior of the corporate managers gained importance. It was soon realized that business owes so much to its stakeholders and society at large and therefore, managers need to be ethical and responsible in their behavior. They must took certain steps and follow practices which observes value while taking decisions that impact and influence organizational stakeholders as well as society. Hence, human values are of utmost importance for modern day managers.

SUMMARY:

A set of values, assumptions and beliefs constitutes an integral part of organization development, shaping the goals and methods of the field and distinguishing organizational development from other improvement strategies. For individual growth, basic human values are of prime importance. Each personality type has a different idea of what it means to be successful. Self-knowledge is one common goal that will help everyone to achieve personal success.

Values depend on the stakeholder as they expect different values from business. Markets and owners expect that economic value be created; customers may expect to obtain desired goods and services on time and at competitive prices; employees may expect a substantive and meaningful job with commensurate compensation; suppliers may expect to be paid on time; and society may expect that their environment will be improved etc. They must took certain steps and follow practices which observes value while taking decisions that impact and influence organizational stakeholders as well as society. Hence, human values are of utmost importance for modern day managers.

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REFERENCES:

Pramod Sharma, “Business Ethics and Corporate Values: An Indian Perspective” Ravitanaya Publications, Shimla, 2017
S.K Bhatia, “Business Ethics and Corporate Governance” Deep & Deep Publications, New Delhi, 2004
A.C. Fernando, “Business Ethics and Corporate Governance” Pearson Publication, 2013 Harris & Hartman, “Organizational Behavior” Jaico Publication House, 2002
French, Bell & Vohra, “Organization Development” Pearson Prentice Hall Publication, 2009
S B Gogate, “Human Values & Professional Ethics” Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 2011