Google Inc., the world’s largest and most popular search engine company, is also one of the most sought after companies in the world. Due to the popularity of the company caused by its highly attractive compensation and benefits packages for its employees, millions of job applications are constantly received by Google on an annual basis. While other companies envy Google for attracting and acquiring such highly-talented and highly-skilled individuals from all over the world, the company finds it as a serious cause of dilemma. When Google Inc. topped the ranks for the most popular companies in the world, it could no longer contain the number of applications it receives from thousands of job hunters from all over the globe. And since the company aims to hire only the best employees that fit the organizational culture and standards of Google, the company started thinking of ways to better improve its recruitment Continue reading
Modern HRM
Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX)
Several leadership theories including trait, behavioral, and contingency theories assume that the leader-member relations are consistent, with the leaders interacting with all subordinates homogeneously. But, Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) asserts that leader-member relations are heterogeneous as leaders cannot distribute their limited resources and time to all the subordinates equally. Hence the leader develops unique dyadic relations with each member over a series of exchanges i.e. Vertical Dyadic Linkage Approach (VDL). Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX), also called the Vertical Dyad Linkage Theory developed by Graen and his colleagues suggests that leaders cultivate qualitatively different types of relations with different employees. The theory dictates that effective leadership processes takes place when leaders and followers develop mature partnerships and thus gain access to the mutual benefits of this relationship. Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) suggests that the leader develops different types of exchange relationships with the subordinates. This phenomenon is called ‘LMX differentiation’. LMX Continue reading
High Performance Work Teams
Managing projects, setting goals, clarifying roles, and solving problems in teams are skills that must be developed. New organizational skills must be developed if teams are to operate effectively and efficiently. Teamwork as a form of organizing work will vary in its manifestation between societies. Nevertheless teamwork is a recognizable approach to the organization of work. Thus, teamwork forms one of the underlying dimensions of work organization and employee involvement that we use to characterize high performance work organizations (HPWOs). At a broader range we may include employee satisfaction, employee stress, labor turnover rates, customer satisfaction, client retention and so on in HPWOs. Practices like developing higher levels of commitment to the organization, higher levels of motivation and using employees knowledge to introduce continuous improvements, etc. will increase the productivity and other organizational outcomes. We have heard much about the benefits with implementing team approaches to improve organizational effectiveness and Continue reading
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are used to make professional help available to the employees. Typical Employee Assistance Programmes offer assistance to employees in such areas as alcoholism, drug abuse, emotional stress, family problems and financial indebtedness. Although research findings tend to vary, it is believed that EAPs are valuable contributors to both employees and employers. First of all, giving employee assistance is simply the right thing to do from the standpoint of humanity, and there are some cost-benefit arguments in favor of EAPS. Certainly, the resolution of personal problems tends to make the employee a more effective contributor to employer objectives. That is, money spent on abating alcoholism among the workforce is perceived to be cheaper than money spent on ineffective performance, lost time, illness and death on the part of employees suffering from the disease of alcoholism. Characteristics of an effective EAP The EAP should be staffed with competent Continue reading
De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats: A Creative and Critical Thinking Model
Creative thinking has always been one of the main aspects in the successful implementation of any business strategy. In the prospect of business growth and development, it is necessary to establish an effective decision-making approach, which will help to outline the company’s strengths and decrease the negative impact of weaknesses. The Six Thinking Hats technique is a framework for thinking and decision making introduced by a famous expert in the sphere of creative thinking, invented in the early 1980s – Dr. Edward de Bono, and is licensed by Advanced Practical Thinking (APTT), of Des Moines, Iowa. Organizations such as Prudential Insurance, IBM, Federal Express, British Airways, Polaroid, Pepsico, DuPont, and Nippon Telephone and Telegraph use the Six Thinking Hats method. The six different hats represent six different modes of thinking. This technique was introduced in order to help in the process of solving problems. The method promotes fuller input from Continue reading
Three Models of Emotional Intelligence
The emotional intelligence field is a very new area of study in psychological research. The definition therefore is varied and is constantly changing. It was only in 1990 that Salovey and Mayer came up with the first published attempt in trying to define the term. They defined emotional intelligence as the ability to monitors one’s own and other feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide ones thinking and actions. Emotional intelligence to a larger extent involves “emotional empathy” which is the ability to concentrate on one’s emotions and recognize mood both of themselves and others. It further describes how well one is able to adapt to various life challenges like stress and difficult incidences. It also involves the ability balance “honest expression of emotions against courtesy, consideration and respect”. This would obviously involve possession of some level of good social and communication skills. Continue reading