Well, I have to say that this first chapter provided a very interesting intro to the course. The use of metaphors to describe organizations is certainly something I can relate to. One metaphor that seems to be misused is when an organization refers to itself a “family”. My boss often refers to our group as a family and I always find myself smirking at this comment. In a way I suppose this metaphor works because organizations are comprised of a group of people that work together towards a similar goal but does this make us a family? In my mind a family is a close-knit group that actually cares about each member and their well-being. Many organizations (including mine) are so full of controversy, politics, competition, etc. that it seems silly to use the word “family’ to describe them. It’s a nice thought though and I wonder how many organizations have been able to achieve creating an environment that feels like a family...
4 comments:
Hello PinkLady,
I do agree that I do not think of most U.S. companies as very family-like but I suppose it also depends on what your definition of a family is. You mention that your idea of a family is one that is close and caring. In that case, then the term “family” would seem rather ill-fitting to describe a firm. However, what if someone grew up in a family where they are naturally competitive and the business environment they work in has a similar atmosphere? Or if someone works in a bureaucratic company who is from a strict and hierarchal family? There are actually several societies where it is not uncommon for the head of the company to feel personally responsible for the well-being of their employees and to look out for them as if they are family.
I have also discussed more about company metaphors and society in my blog if you are interested.
-SS
Hello PinkLady,
Your blog and what you decided to write is very interesting. I believe that when the author refers to 'family' what he might be referring to is 'relationships'. That also might be the reason why many companies are putting so much emphasis on 'building relationship' and 'team building events'. People that have a relationship work better together and therefore are more productive. It is easier for me to go the extra mile for a friend than it is for someone I do not know or I do not have a relationship with. People who genuinly care about their relationships with their co-workers seem to be more successful at getting work done. At least that’s what I observed in my workplace.
Cathy
I completely agree with you. I think family is not a term i think that should be used to define a firm. To have a great work atmosphere people should have mutual respect and show consideration to others even when they do not like them or completely agree with them. As you said it's not the responsibility of one person and rather is responsibility of every one in the company
Many organizations (including mine) are so full of controversy, politics, competition, etc. that it seems silly to use the word “family’ to describe them.
As SS pointed out above, I suppose it depends what kind of a family you were brought up into. My first non-temp job out of college was at a real estate firm that seemed dominated by the "family" structure, both metaphorically and literally by way of nepotism. There were the patriarchal founders at the top, the "mother hen" administrator who had been with the company since the 1960s and always had colorful stories of the old days to impart, the "favored daughter" administrative manager who was the frequent victim of petty sniping by all the other women (and, yet, seemed to earn every bit of it), the "favored sons" who always had the best leads and the smoothest time making sales, etc.
Most of the employees had been there for many years, and it was somewhat difficult to see why at first. Professional jealousy, fierce competition, and petty disagreements seemed to dominate the discourse at times. Then, a few months after I was hired, one of the employees lost her mother after a long illness. On the day of the funeral, nearly everyone from the office piled into cars and drove twenty miles to the service so that we could be there for her. Whenever someone (male or female) got married or had a baby, some sort of after-work celebration was held, one that seemed completely genuine and unforced. We may have gotten on each others’ nerves very badly under the stress of business, but when push came to shove, we all connected on a human level. After all, who among us hasn’t witnessed dysfunction within a family?
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