Author: Julia Fein-Ashley

Response to #1

Testing out my first template from the TSIS article sounds interesting, as it will allow me the opportunity to apply some of the templates discussed in the book. In my experience when writing, there are often many different statistics, thoughts and information that are discussed throughout one single article. In my writing I have the issue of going in many different directions, so I believe that this template will be beneficial. For reference, I will be using the template noted in chapter 1 of the TSIS, as well as the intro for the I say part.

Many people assume that certain policies fit the needs of all individuals within the organization. Gundemir, a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business school examines how this is not the case, as organizational diversity policies have an impact on many minority employees personal as well as professional goals. In her study, she examines how organizations’ diversity policies have an impact on both minority employees’ personal as well as professional aspirations. I agree with Gundemirs conclusion that organizational diversity policies are essential in moving towards an increased number and percentage of minorities in leadership roles. Along with this, by creating a more welcoming environment, new goals are set and the organization becomes more productive as a result. 

This was my first attempt at using the template, so I would appreciate any feedback. I felt like at the end I began to go off format. I found it really difficult to stick with the format, as I usually like to write all of my thoughts down, and then go back and edit them. I had trouble figuring out how to use the template in an effective way, as it took a considerable amount of time for me to decide which template to use.

Response to #2

The two readings both spoke towards the need of changing policies within organizations. More specifically, in the past and even currently, many organizations use blanket policies, whereas they should be altering their policies and creating new policies to cater to the needs of different individuals. Often when I think of diversity I think of sexual preferences, race and gender. Pisanos article helped me realize that there are many other different ways that an individual can be considered diverse, for example, being neurodiverse. Just as there are many ways to define or describe organizational culture, there are many different ways to categorize or describe diversity. 

Austin and Pisano also discuss why having neurodiverse individuals is beneficial for the organization. Some of the benefits include increased productivity, availability of more direct communication with employees, along with creating benefits pertaining to the reputation of the organization in general. Many STEM companies also recognize the benefits of having neurodiverse employees (ex: ability to recognize patterns with numbers), just as others recognize the importance for ethnic and gender diversity. All diverse employees offer different perspectives, ways to approach problems, or even ideas surrounding a specific topic. These different perspectives allow for unique solutions to problems or projects which may be beneficial towards the organization as a whole. The article on why diversity is important recognized this as well, however they focused on gender and ethnic diversity. 

When I thought about how all of the different articles we have read are connected, it fascinated me. It also made me realize that everything is connected, and it is important to analyze different elements within the organization, whether it be from a human resource perspective, or from designing new policies for the organization. It is all important and plays a critical role in not only the professional aspect for employees, but also their personal lives.

I have found that in my time at Syracuse, hearing different perspectives from people is always interesting. Whether they are on the east or west coast in the United States, or living in Asia, every person that I have encountered has always offered a unique view on how to approach a group project, or sharing about their own experiences. Being considerate of others and encouraging people to share their differences allows for me to personally think about all of the different ways that there are to approach projects. 

Highlight of my week

This week I went on a hike. I took a picture of a poison dart frog, they are very rare and hard to see so I was excited when I saw it. They are also fluorescent.

Response to #1

The organizational article to me was the most intriguing, as it created a sense of curiosity, which led to a variety of questions I had concerning organizations in general. Last semester, I took two management classes which focused heavily on organizations, their architecture, which was composed by the structure and culture, along with other various elements. This makes me want to dive deeper into these issues and understand how organizations or large corporations in general can create a culture where it fosters a company identity where tasks can be completed in an efficient as well as effective manner.

1. Can organizational culture be influenced or altered to fit the needs or desires of a specific organization? For example, do office perks, monetary incentives, work schedules, HR management (acquisition, maintenance, and termination of employees) create an environment which provides for a certain type of organizational culture, or is organizational culture set in stone? Can it change over time? Are intrinsic or extrinsic factors the most influential when considering a company’s culture?

At first, I questioned the validity of what random LinkedIn users had to say about organizational culture. This is because they only represent a small population of users, where comments are often positive and uplifting. However, the authors findings made me realize a variety of different things concerning organizational culture. First, there are various components that make up an organizations culture, some people believe it is a way to control employees, others believe that it is set, while others believe that they are constantly changing to fit the needs of both the external, as well as the internal environment. LinkedIn provides for another unique opportunity that also makes me think of another question I would be interested in learning about in the future.

• Is organizational culture different in certain parts of the world? Is this due to peoples personal beliefs and norms within that culture? What influences the different beliefs and personal cultures of people, and how does this impact a domestic organization in comparison with an international one?
• What are some components in organizational culture which may be detrimental to the organization as a whole? What are some positive aspects of organizational culture or things that my contribute to the culture which make the organization act more efficiently as well as effectively?

Response to #2

This prompt makes me think back to being a young child and beginning to read. Everybody at one point of time did not know how to read, but little by little they built their knowledge and recognition of words to help them understand how to read. Thinking back, I started off with small words like cat, dog, and apple. Eventually from this, you learn how to read and write. Over time, especially on standardized tests, teachers teach you about a five-paragraph format to answer a prompt with evidence supporting your claim. This is in essence, one of the most important beginner templates in writing that you begin to use as a kid. Obviously being able to recognize the different components that make up essays, is extremely beneficial as you are able to recognize the structure and quickly skim over certain elements.

This is exactly what the TSIS article is trying to illustrate. By following a specific format structure, you are able to summarize other people’s opinions or statements off in a conversational manner while conveying your own thoughts afterword.  Having this format makes for a clear, concise paper which is easy to read. Much like my first five paragraph essays which had an introduction, three bodies of paragraphs for evidence, as well as a conclusion the TSIS format has structure.

Other structures that I have noticed have enabled me to save time and focus on the important parts of the writing. For example, in many of my classes and out of class work, I read 10-Ks. Each 10k that I read, I understand that there are distinct sections which include a summary of the business, risk factors, financial data, as well as MD&A.

Along with this, in the TSIS introduction it speaks a lot about having to consciously think through concepts or actions until you have mastered that task. This is just like reading in my opinion, as well as today analyzing certain documents. The more you are able to read them, the faster it is to understand the general idea and any information which pertains to the subject. I have also experienced this in sports. Growing up playing basketball, it takes countless hours making sure that your form is correct, and the only way to do this is through repetition. Growing up I always shot the ball in an underhand manner, which is extremely ineffective. After becoming more serious with the sport, I learned what you need to focus on in order to have a better shot. At the beginning of creating your shot, you have to think about making sure that your elbows are at the right angle, your wrist goes in the right direction, feet square, making you think about every time you take a shot. Eventually it becomes something that you can perform unconsciously. This relates back to the TSIS reading as it speaks that just like sports and other activities, writing takes practice and lots of thought to perform well.

Overall, I agree with the statement that the author makes concerning how writing is a process that can be learned through repetition, and it is extremely relevant to their own ideas concerning the structure and using conventional formulas/phrases when learning how to master something.