LE01

I remember the last (& first) time I took a course in introductory management; it was called “Principles of Management” in the 4^th semester of my undergraduate studies. And the way we studied the course that time was – professor would come to class, dictate us some notes (and we religiously believed that we won’t be able to live our lives if the Mintzberg’s management roles were not in place!!) and give us some assignment (which would be preparing the more notes) and in tests we would write all that we have “learned”. So, in this first class of “Principles of Organizing & Management” of Module – I at NITIE, I was expecting something similar. I deliberated before coming to class if I should furnish my under-grad “knowledge”. Anyways, I came to class expecting it to be a hardcore theoretical subject.

                But, when the class started, it was everything but anything I had expected. Not only the class was fun and full of learning, it was something that I had never seen before. Our professor was not Dr. T Prasad anymore, but Dr. Mandi for us. During his introduction, we learned the first Mantra of the course, or the Mandi, so to say, “Socho Becho, Becho Seekho, Seekho Socho!” While this was something that puts one thinking, the real first learning came with “Aaj ki roti aaj hi kamana”.

Learning – “Aaj Ki Roti Aaj Hi Kamaenge”

                What does it mean? It’s amazing that we all know this but never really care to think about it. Literally, this statement means, today’s bread needs to be earned today only.

Question is – how does it matter to us?  We, as students, right now are not earning anything, or making any contribution in any way to the nation or the society, or even our family. Whereas, lots of money is being spent on us right now, that can only be repaid later. But, as the motto itself says, what of today? We must make the best of our individual abilities to balance out this effectively.

The Learning is as simple as that. A person can indulge in any activity that helps him in doing something useful. It is true, when we are spending lot of money for this education, and the study (i.e. MBA) is not just about learning money but also about earning money! So, why not start thinking about making some while we are here, then it might as well be true learning!

 

 The Tower –

                During the lectures, we were given the one cube. And the task was to do make the tower out of this one cubes. Following were the rules –

1.  The tower must consist of one cubes placed one above the other and must not fall.
2. You can only use your odd hand
3. You will be blind-folded and need to rely on the instructions of the co-player to put together the tower.
4. You must bet money in order to play. If you win, you get the money back, else you lose the money.
5. In order to win, you must construct the tower of height predicted by you.

While this all exercise appeared simple enough, it was only at the end of lecture we realized the amazing learning we had.

Three students were ready to bet the money and play the game. The roles were as follows for playing the game –

• One student will be blind-folded and will be putting the cubes one over another to make the tower, with odd hand.
• A second student will guide him from very close to put cubes in order
• Another student, who will be at a distance will observe the things from the distance, and can chip-in only limited number of times, if he wishes to suggest something. (He can collect the ideas & opinions of the other students while game will go on)

 

 The Tower – Management Lessons –

In the above exercise –

1. First student is the worker – He is supposed to build the tower. He may not be aware of the overall building and exact situation, but he will do the work assigned to him in best way possible.
2. Second student is the Middle Management – He will work closely with the worker to get things done. He will directly monitor and guide the worker and make sure the target is achieved.
3. Third student is the Top Management – He will not be directly involved in the process but will interrupt only when he feels things are not functioning properly. He will occasionally collect reviews from the clients/customers (other students) and see if everything is as per expectation.
4. Employee Care – There were instances when the worker got tired and needed rest. At these times, he was properly given water/soft-drink and allowed to take proper rest. This explains how it is the management’s responsibility to take proper care of its employees and ensure the proper working environment.
5. Resource Allocation – Before starting the exercise, the student in themselves decided the roles each one will play. This is to stress the importance of correct resource allocation. Individuals must be given roles to fit their strengths.
6. Customer Feedback (Customer wants you to win) – Although, the other students had nothing to lose they were constantly cheering the team and wanted them to win. Because, it is important to understand that customer wants you to win! There were instances when other students were coming forward to give suggestions when they thought something could be done better. This is the customer feedback.
7. Being Ethical – It is one of the most important factors of all. Towards the end, when the exercise started getting tiring and even lecture was prolonged, there were suggestions to third student to cheat when the professor was not looking. While it was never done, it tells very important fact that, there will be times when pressure might be there to go against the ethics to reach the targets faster or other, but it is management’s responsibility that such things are handled with utmost care & sensitivity, obviously in an ethical manner!

Students were asked two questions before beginning the exercise (The rules about the blindfolds and left-hand were not told at this point of time) –

1. How many cube towers will you make?
2. Do you want the highest number of the previous year exercise?

After this, the rules for blindfold & left-hand were told and students were asked to make the guess for (i) above again.

These simple questions were actually the foundations of goal setting!

The Learning – How:

·         Question (1) was to check how an individual rates himself. To establish the importance of goal-setting.

·         Question (2) was to help you establish the correctness of your set goal.

These were the foundations of the next learning – SMART Goals!

Learning – SMART Goals

SMART goals were first described by Paul J Meyer in his work – “Attitude is Everything”. SMART is basically an acronym to check the feasibility of one’s goal based on several parameters, as below – 

• Specific – This means the goal is clear and unambiguous; without vagaries and platitudes. 
• Measurable – The goal should be quantifiable, so that performance and current level can be gauged whenever needed. 
• Attainable – This parameter stresses the importance of goal being realistic & achievable. The set goal should not be in any extreme (i.e. either too easy to achieve or too difficult that it can never be reached). It should be set so that it is beyond limits of the person and at the same time, also provides room for improvement. 
• Relevant – The goal should also be relevant. A bank-manager setting a goal to make 500 sandwiches does not make any sense. It should be in alignment with the kind of work you are planning to get done; or for long term, your purpose in life. 
•  Time-bound – This is to ensure that your goal is grounded by the fixed time-line, within a target date. A commitment to a deadline helps one focus on the goal, with a sense of urgency.

 

 SMART Goals in “The Tower” –

Previous year’s data indicated that the tower’s height was 17 cubes (which was highest till the date). Individual estimates of the students were – 13, 15 and 20. (Average is 16). Consensually, the height for tower was decided to be 17 cubes.

The goals for making the tower were as follows – 

•  Specific – Tower should be highest till now (since, last year’s estimate was 17, it should be at least 18 cubes high) 
•  Measurable – The height should be 18 cubes.
• Attainable – Since the 17 has already been proven to be achievable, 18 seems a worthwhile target.
• Relevant – The exercise is to establish the importance of goal-setting in itself, so it makes sense to have the set goal as given. 
•  Time Bound – It should be finished in the given lecture.
• The End Result – Team ended up making a tower of 18 cubes!

Learning – Theory X and Theory Y

“Theory X and Theory Y” has been given by eminent psychologist Douglas McGregor. These are theories of human motivation, which are theories of human motivation.

Assumptions of Theory X –

1. The average human being is inherently lazy by nature and desires to work as little as possible. He dislikes the work and will like to avoid it, if he can.
2.  He avoids accepting responsibility and prefers to be led or directed by some other.
3. He is self-centered and indifferent to organizational needs.
4. He has little ambition, dislikes responsibility, prefers to be led but wants security.
5. He is not very intelligent and lacks creativity in solving organizational problems.
6. He by nature resists changing of any type.

Assumptions of Theory Y –

1. Work is as natural as play, provided the work environment is favorable. Work may act as a source of satisfaction or punishment. An average man is not really against doing work.
2. People can be self-directed and creative at work if they are motivated properly.
3. Self-control on the part of people is useful for achieving organizational goal. External control and threats of punishment alone do not bring out efforts towards organizational objectives.
4. People have capacity to exercise imagination and creativity.
5. People are not by nature passive or resistant to organizational needs. They have become so as a result of experience in organizations.
6. An average human being learns under proper conditions. He is also willing to accept responsibility.
7. The intellectual capacity of an average human being is utilized partially under the conditions of modern industrial life.

Role of the Management in Theory X & Theory Y–

While these sound like it is about the person doing the work, but it is actually more about the management.

Propositions of Theory X –

• Management is responsible for organizing the elements of productive enterprise-money, materials, equipment, and people-in the interests of economic ends.
• With respect to people, this is a process of directing their efforts, motivating them, controlling their actions, and modifying their behavior to fit the needs of the organization.
• Without this active intervention by management, people would be passive-even resistant-to organizational needs. They must therefore be persuaded, rewarded, punished, and controlled. Their activities must be directed. Management's task was thus simply getting things done through other people.

Propositions of Theory Y –

• Management is responsible for organizing the elements of productive enterprise-money, materials, equipment, and people in the interests of economic ends.
• People are not by nature passive or resistant to organizational needs. They have become so as a result of experience in organizations.
• The motivation, potential for development, capacity for assuming responsibility, and readiness to direct behavior toward organizational goals are all present in people-management does not put them there. It is a responsibility of management to make it possible for people to recognize and develop these human characteristics for themselves.
• The essential task of management is to arrange organizational conditions and methods of operation so that people can achieve their own goals by directing their efforts toward organizational objectives.

Learning from The Tower –

The Tower exercise in a way explained in parts about these theories.

• Having the money on line, it kept the students motivated enough to keep building the tower even when it got very tiring.
• 2^nd and 3^rd student were continuously supporting 1^st student. It was realized by 1^st student that if he makes one mistake then everyone will lose the money (i.e. aligning with organizational goals and taking up responsibilities).

While I cannot write all the small things I have learned in this lecture here, I am sure these learnings would remain with me and is going to be of much use at some time or the other!

Looking forward to the next lecture!

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