Monday, March 12, 2012

Brokenshire College: Passive-Aggressive Organization?


When this topic was discussed, I was actually thinking.. Is there such organization that existed like it? Is good to be a passive-aggressive organization?

During the discussion I learned in passive-aggressive organizations, people pay those directives lip service, putting in only enough effort to appear compliant. Employees feel free to do as they see fit because there are hardly ever unpleasant consequences, and the directives themselves are often misguided and thus seem worthy of defiance. Making matters worse, senior management has left unclear where accountability actually lies, in effect absolving managers of final responsibility for anything they do. Those with initiative must wait interminably for a go-ahead, and their actions when finally taken are accompanied by a chorus of second-guessing, a poor but understandable substitute for the satisfaction of accomplishing the task at hand.

I also learn in an excerpt of a new book called Results, by Gary L.Neilson and Bruce A. Pasternack, describes the seven types of Organizational DNA and how to optimize the performance of each:
Passive-Aggressive: Everyone agrees, but nothing changes.
Fits-and-Starts: Let 1,000 flowers bloom.
Outgrown: The good old days meet a brave new world.
Overmanaged: We're from Corporate, and we're here to help.
Just-in-Time: Succeeding by the skin of our teeth...
Military Precision: Flying in formation...
Resilient: As good as it gets...
Now, I am going to test the characteristics of passive-aggressive organization to my school I work (Brokenshire College). I am going to use Nick Jacob's "7 Traits of a Highly Passive-Aggressive Organization".
1. Senior management leaves unclear lines as to where accountability lies.

BC executive management always inform all employees that each projects, events and etc. are accountable to the designated employee. Thus, BC does not exhibit this kind of trait.

2. Employees put forth only enough effort to look compliant.

As I observe, they are just silent.
3. Managers are absolved for almost anything they do.

Yes. This is very true. I cannot even talk to them.

4. Employees wait interminably for a "project go ahead," and then their actions are accompanied by a sea of second guessing.

I dont think that BC exhibit this trait. I observed that BC employees are always on the go when it comes to a certain responsibility.

5. To learn, to share and to achieve are actions that are not encouraged.

YES YES YES! BC exhibits this kind of trait. I am just being honest.

6. There is either too much or too little control at the top.

I cannot decide.

7. Employees can't understand why their promising projects can't get traction.

BC definitely exhibits this kind of trait. There is a certain time that a proposal was approved but for several months it is still "on the tail of a stack queue".

These are just my observation as a "beginner" in this organization. I hope you understand. I don't meant to exploit the negativities of BC. Again, this is just my observation.


No comments:

Post a Comment