Workers’ behavior, performance and attitude otherwise organization behavior highly determines the efficiency and the effectiveness of an organization. This therefore, points out that factors that influence organizational behavior are the influences and inherent values that make up the work environment. Among these factors are leadership, culture, systems, and several other influential stakeholders. This paper will therefore try to identify how these factors affect influence the overall performance effectiveness and efficiency, highlight whether their contribution is positive or negative, and finally point out can be done to improve on these factors so that their primary objectives are achieved.
In the department I used to work with, the role of leadership in the total efficiency and effectiveness of our agency was indispensable. In that police department, the upper level management consisted of the police chief and two deputy police chiefs of operations command. The greatest role in the day to day running of the department was basically on the shoulders of this upper level management team. Any success or failure was directly taken as a responsibility of the upper level leadership.
Their primary role was to ensure that the everyday operations were running within the stipulated blue print. It is this level of management that has control of the monetary and other forms of resources. It is the responsibility of this group of management to ensure that the organization is adequately and effectively pushing forward in its obligations to serve the community (Fleet & Griffin, 2006). In that organization, it was the function of this top notch of management to assign the police operations and investigations. Therefore, the decisions of this upper management determine the functions and the behavior of all the other members of the department.
The middle and lower level management strata is usually comprised of the people in the supervisory posts and other leaders whose main objective is to ensure that the mandate of the upper level management is carried out efficiently (Leocario, 2007). In my organization, this consisted of the leaders of the units. These are the people who take charge of the individual group of police patrolling within the streets to maintain security and order.
This lower and middle level management is important because it has contact between the upper level and the officers on the ground. Consequently, this enhances communication from the upper level to the people on the ground. They ensure that orders from above are well carried out and send a feed back to the upper level management. Although some officers used to feel like the effect of leadership was too demanding on their shoulder, the greater part of the officers believe that they are important and that they have a positive effect on the overall work effectiveness.
Leocario (2007) defines culture as “the beliefs, values, and norms shared by organization’s or agency members.” This is a very effective factor that improves the coordination of the different groups and teams within the organization. Culture plays an important role in the identification of the common purpose and ensuring focus on the primary mission and vision of the organization. Within the department that I used to work, there were several units comprised of about five officers each.
These units had the same mission and vision. The all had in there mind keeping the locality the most peaceful and secure place. Owing to the fact that our department had been greatly credited by the media and local politicians for its invaluable contribution to the peaceful coexistence of the citizens, it was clear to all the officers that there was need to maintain the accreditation. This made the group work together with a common mission and vision of making the locality safe for human habitation.
In a work place, the system could be taken as a linking tool of the organization’s ‘strategic planning process’ and the operational units and process’ (Leocario, 2007). Management system therefore gives an opportunity where the organization’s inputs are changed into the organization’s output under the effort of the leaders. A linkage between the different arms and departments enables an excellent communication channel and thus makes the workers have a great motivation as they would be in position to point out their needs to the top management which would respond promptly as long as the demands are within attaining the organization’s target.
At my former work place, the bureaucratic system was strictly observed. In the event of a problem or need, the unit officers simply pointed it out to the leader of the Unit who later pointed it out to the deputies and the problem could eventually access the highest office. This motivated the officers because they could have all their problems addressed.
Stakeholders play an important role in the organization’s behavior and performance. At the department, politicians and local groups had great influence on the performance of our organization. Owing to the fact that many politicians get elected because of their promises on the security of the area, they usually are very interested in the progress and plans of the police department so that they ensure that the area has security according to the election promise.
This is very essential for their reelection bid. While I was working at the department, the record of crime was really low except for a few incidences of car jacking. This had resulted into great pressure from the local politicians demanding for immediate action. It is therefore evident that the involvement of the politicians in the general performance of an organization is great.
From the specifications above, it is notable that these factors are important in the organization’s day to day activities. Leaders are therefore responsible in identifying the objectives and targets of the organization which is communicated to the whole organization that together they aim at achieving the mission. These factors also lead to responsibility within each level of the organization. The only thing that needs to be addressed by the government to facilitate the department I used to work with was the relationship with the outside community. The organization needs to come up with a department that will deal with image of the officers to the public. This is essential because most of the citizens had fear of the police and thus could not cooperate with the police in identification of criminal suspects.
References
Fleet, D., and Griffin, R. (2006). Dysfunctional organization culture: The role of leadership in motivating dysfunctional work behaviors. Journal of Managerial Psychology. 21(8), 2006: 698-708.
Leocario, B. (2007). Criminal Justice Work Place. Shvoong. Web.