- The article How To Create a Culture Manifesto for Your Organization by Mollie West talks about various different companies that all take time to think about their culture manifesto and develop it as a team. Each company that explained their methods in creating these manifestos all went about it in different ways, and yet reached many of the same conclusions. West took these incredibly different organizations and accentuated the similarities between all of their approaches to manufacture these. Her article was separates by paragraphs, each concentrating on a company and their culture manifesto, specifically the way it came about and its main focuses. After speaking about the various ways they came about within these organizations, the article wrapped up by informing the reader of a beneficial way to compose one’s own culture manifesto, as the supervisor of a company. Through this last section of the article, it became clear to me that the intended audience are the managers/supervisors in charge of large groups of people, because men and women in charge should clarify the companies’ beliefs and expectations in terms of its workers.
- After concentrating the past two units on women’s mental health in reference to sexism in two different professions, I think that I am going to focus more on men’s mental health and the ways in which it is ignored due to toxic expectations for males. For my previous research, I wanted to delve deeper into topics that might affect me in the future as a female, but for this unit I wanted to switch things up. I have witnessed some of my brothers and my male friends struggle with various different mental health issues and have seen the aftermath of them strictly internalizing their problems without reaching out for help because of the belief that men don’t need any help. These stereotypes are very harmful because the ideas that boys should never cry or show emotion gives the notion that these potential answers are not viable for men. I think this research would mainly benefit men who might need a sign to ask for help and to realize that they are not alone in their struggles, so to do this, the information would be most beneficial on a platform where everyone would see it, such as popular social media sites. Many people my age find much of their news on their phone on sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Therefore, if research and reputable advice was posted there, the intended audience would have a high chance of seeing it and hopefully listen.
Tag: unit3
Project Proposal
My project will be examining the experience of women in the workplace. I am going to narrow my focus in on the discrimination and sexual harassment women endure every single day. I then would like to include information about BIPOC women and how that changes the experience even more. I hope to not only educate people on what this is but provide further information on how to identify it and how to not be a bystander. In other words, I would like this to do more than list off facts.
I want to present my information on an infographic because they are very informative and easy to read. However, space is limited so I will have to identify the most important sub-areas to cover. Since I did not cover this personally in Unit 1 or 2, I have to start from scratch with my sources. I want to include quotes of first-hand accounts as well as statistics to strengthen my argument. My audience will be young people entering the workforce.
As a woman, I think this topic is important to discuss because it affects our ability to feel safe, comfortable, and perform at our highest abilities. For some reason it is 2021 and this is still a daily issue.
Project Proposal – Dylan
My proposed project is to create a blog focused on the ways artificial intelligence is being used in human resources with the mission of advocating for more transparency around how it is used and more accountability from the organizations that are using it. My goal is to create a “home” or resource center for this topic where interested parties can gather to get and share information and potentially mobilize to change public policy. My target audience would be anyone concerned with protecting worker and civil rights, including the workers themselves, but more specifically individuals who have some authority to make change, such as disability rights activists, social justice activists, journalists, people working in employment law, and elected officials.
Given the amount of time left in the summer session, I envision launching a basic framework for the blog that will include a welcome message to explain the major issues and stakes related to AI in HR and to inspire others to participate in creating a community with me. My message will include embedded links to relevant supporting sources. In the blog framework, I will also create a subsection for Recommended Reading, where links to important research and articles can be found, and a subsection for an Advocacy Toolkit. I’m still trying to decide exactly what would go into these sections, but I know I want to at least provide readers with a few recommendations for practical things they can do to help the cause. I would love to spark a movement that would lead to real change.
Project Proposal
For my project I am going to focus on defining the difference between diversity and inclusion. The audience I plan on reaching are college students since I feel like this would be a good way to begin preparing students to go off into the workforce, and a lot of students are most likely not aware of the difference. To do this, I plan on creating a Kahoot which can be presented in a class like SEM 100 which all freshmen are required to take. I want to use Kahoot because not only does it test the knowledge of the audience, but it also serves as a learning opportunity because even if the users get a question incorrect, they will be able to see the correct answer and, the presenter (or professor) can explain it further. The sources I will be utilizing are first-hand accounts of people who have experienced the difference between a community with just diversity, and a community with inclusion through ted-talks. I will also be using scholarly articles from the SU database. As for my analysis I plan to form a connection between things the students may have seen or experienced in order to help them be able to better identify situations where a place is diverse but not inclusive and vice versa.
Project Proposal- Julia
For my project, I will be examining the reasoning behind why female underrepresentation in STEM exists. To accomplish this, I will be evaluating various elements that may cause female underrepresentation. I will be using different sources to help me analyze my subject, mostly from my research portfolio that I completed at the end of unit two. These include popular sources, scholarly/academic articles, media such as TED talks, along with anything else that I may stumble upon that may be relevant to by subject. These sources will then translate into a paper which is written in a popular article format, such as a magazine. It will be around two pages typed, in length.
For my analysis I will be focusing on something different than when I emphasized the gravity that biological factors have in unit two. For this unit, I would like to dig deeper into some of the social factors that may influence female underrepresentation. The sources that I gathered in unit two focused on these factors (social), so I look forward to sharing them more with the class. After presenting my evidence, my analysis will lead the reader to understand that various factors lead to underrepresentation. Although certain factors may not be controlled, many are determined by our own choices.
In order to be successful in conveying my thoughts surrounding the reasons behind the underrepresentation of women, it is crucial to determine my target audience. For this project, I will be targeting college students. I believe college students are a great audience to target because many often have preconceived notions surrounding the reasons why something is the way it is. I think being able to present information to my peers in a concise manner would be beneficial not only to the audience to learn more about the topic but also for myself. I think it would be great to understand how to convey a message that is important but also engaging with people my age.
I look forward to exploring this subject further and cannot wait for the end result.
Project Proposal – Sherri
My project will be examining what it means to have significant and purposeful equity and inclusion for Black people in the workplace. I’ll be working with sources that are first-hand accounts of experiences of Black employees as well as scholarly sources that provide historical context on how misperceptions about Black people in society at-large leaks into the workplace. I’ll also be using data that shows higher levels of inequitable treatment of Black workers versus most other ethnicities as well as how initiatives that work for other underrepresented groups may not work for Black employees, despite the reverse being true. Additionally, I will speak to several of the criticisms that some people will surely have regarding this topic. I plan on building a case for there to be objectives and policies put into place that address the unique needs of Black employees and why this might benefit an organization. Ultimately, I hope to offer concrete solutions on how to meet those objectives. My intended audience will be company leaders and executives because as we’ve all learned as a class, without the buy-in of those at the top, meaningful change to company culture will not happen.
Project Proposal-Ed
My research project encompasses a topic that benefits me both personally as well as in this class. The first unit we studied involved topics on hiring individuals with disabilities as well as their contributions to organizations which intrigued me. Some disabilities are obvious, while others are well hidden and only discoverable if the individual discloses them.
I envision my research to take the form of memo to advise professionals as well as individuals about the advantages and disadvantages involved in disclosing invisible disabilities. I have worked with or known people that worked with agencies such as ACCES-VR (ACCES-VR assists individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development) and ARISE (Advocacy and accessibility focuses on changing policies and removing barriers people with disabilities face in their everyday lives. It’s about working with companies, organizations, and government to support initiatives and legislation that would benefit people with disabilities.). I envision drafting a memo to help these professionals advise their clients on how to handle situations.
The situations involve: (1) what are advantages and disadvantages of disclosing invisible disabilities in the work environment? Pre and post-employment; (2) are there factors of influence resulting in a positive outcome of disclosure?
I have interviewed individuals in these organizations and will include information on how they currently advise their clientele. I plan to include examples whenever possible since they provide concrete information that is relatable to specific situations.
I think the readers would be likely to engage in text that presented data backed up with research. The expectation is that I would have sources cited to give an authoritative and persuasive tone to my memo. My goal is to provide easy to read yet research backed information that will help individuals determine the best course of action for their particular situation.
My research project encompasses a topic that benefits me both personally as well as in this class. The first unit we studied involved topics on hiring individuals with disabilities as well as their contributions to organizations which intrigued me. Some disabilities are obvious, while others are well hidden and only discoverable if the individual discloses them.
I envision my research to take the form of memo to advise professionals as
well as individuals about the advantages and disadvantages involved in
disclosing invisible disabilities. I have worked with or known people that
worked with agencies such as ACCES-VR (ACCES-VR assists individuals with
disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent
living through training, education, rehabilitation, and career development) and
ARISE (Advocacy and accessibility focuses on changing policies and removing
barriers people with disabilities face in their everyday lives. It’s about working
with companies, organizations, and government to support initiatives and
legislation that would benefit people with disabilities.). I envision drafting
a memo to help these professionals advise their clients on how to handle situations.
The situations involve: (1) what are advantages and disadvantages of
disclosing invisible disabilities in the work environment? Pre and
post-employment; (2) are there factors of influence resulting in a positive
outcome of disclosure?
I have interviewed individuals in these organizations and will include information on how they currently advise their clientele. I plan to include examples whenever possible since they provide concrete information that is relatable to specific situations.
I think the readers would be likely to engage in text that presented data
backed up with research. The expectation is that I would have sources cited to
give an authoritative and persuasive tone to my memo. My goal is to provide
easy to read yet research backed information that will help individuals
determine the best course of action for their particular situation.
Discussion 8/9
- In “How To Create a Culture Manifesto for Your Organization (And Why It’s a Good Idea)”, written by Mollie West, a workplace strategy for nonprofits, social enterprise, and benefit corps is outlined. West encourages her readers to implement a “humanifesto” that is composed of the organizations internal core cultural values. She provides examples of 3 companies (Method Products, Etsy, and Warby Parker) that have used this tactic and explained their outcomes. She also lays out the steps for readers to craft their own.
Writing/Rhetorical strategies
https://wwnorton.com/college/english/write/read12/toolbar/set02.aspx
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/effective-writing-strategies
Analyzing cause and effect
West tells the reader why companies should incorporate a “humanifesto” and the potential benefits of implementing it … foster innovation & collaboration, attract talent, etc.
Comparing and contrasting.
West compares and contrasts how companies approach a “humanifesto” differently.
Defining
West defines what a “humanifesto” is.
Explaining a process
West outlines how readers can implement this technique into their own organization.
Target your audience
West clearly states who this piece is intended for.
2. I was hoping to shift my lens towards the experience of women in the workplace. I have not figured out whether my focus will be on harassment/sexual assault and/or pay gap inequality and/or unfair health quality that does not support female needs like contraceptive and abortion access. Depending on the subtopic, the intended audience will change. However, I think I will ultimately present a media form intended for company executives on ways they can support women given the challenges they endure. I like posters and infographics; however, a PowerPoint presentation might serve as a more persuasive/appropriate method. I need to spend some time doing research on this area before I have a clearer idea of the path I want to take. I probably will start my search with google.
Discussions / Homework Week of 8/9
Response # 1
Author Mollie West helps companies to create good organizational culture. In her article “How to Create a Culture Manifesto for Your Organization (And Why It’s a Good Idea), Stanford Social Innovation Review, she examines the manifestos of three companies. West gets into examples right at the start. There is a section for each company with a header naming the company and what they sell. She provides a synopsis of each company’s manifesto, what spurred them into creating it and who wrote it. She provides links to the companies’ websites and includes photos from each workplace. Last, she provides an update on what each company is doing currently. Finally, after focusing on what she most likely believes are outstanding models of company manifestos, West proceeds to educate readers on how they too can create a statement of their organization’s core cultural values. It is understood, based on the publication her article appears in and the companies she chose to highlight, that the audience she is attempting to reach are social change leaders in business. Most leaders don’t have a lot of spare time, so when they read an article, it’s because the title was catchy (perhaps it mentions a problem that needs solving). The content is straight to the point, easily digestible, visually appealing, not too long and offers solutions. I believe Ms. West was adept at including all of those elements in her article and will surely reach and inform her intended audience.
Response #2
I am strongly considering writing my area of research as an online business magazine article in order to reach leaders of organizations. Part of my decision-making process stems from the material I want to convey. Because equity and inclusion for Black people might be considered an important and hot topic in this moment for some, it might also be a divisive or scary one for others. I think (depending on the chosen title) I might reach more people in a magazine that isn’t threatening but also lends its authority to the subject simply by publishing it. An online magazine article isn’t stuffy like a scholarly article, it contains casual or informal language and often tells a story with text broken up into sections with headers. There are images and links to data or more scholarly articles for those so inclined to explore them. As I stated in my first response, leaders don’t have a lot of free time, so an article that is visually appealing, easy to absorb, offers a solution to a problem and is a relatively quick read will be appealing to my intended audience.
Discussion Questions Week of 8/9
Response to #1
When I read Mollie West’s “How to Create a Culture Manifesto for Your Organization” the first time through, I thought the ideas and strategies were inspiring and practical. I tend to like action-oriented articles over thought pieces, and this one had many great suggestions and strategies. Examples always work for me, so it helped that West used real case studies to provide evidence and support for her thesis. Just using the phrase “culture manifesto” instead of “mission statement” gives her message much more emotional strength. The links she provided also offered opportunities to explore her ideas further and showed the case studies in action. And finally, she makes her content interactive by providing a “how-to” section so readers can get started creating a manifesto in their own organizations.
All of this was great on my first reading through. But on my second reading through, I started to see how the “culture manifesto” process connected to my research project on artificial intelligence in human resources. A culture manifesto is a kind of algorithm, created by a group of people at a certain point in time and these people bring their backgrounds and biases into the process. After the manifesto is blessed and hung on the wall, it actually can perpetuate beliefs that may not be flexible enough to account for changes in the organization over time. Was a neurodivergent person on the team that created the manifesto when the company had 100 employees, but now the company has 5,000 employees? What was the ratio of women and men when it was written? Did bias exist at the time the manifesto was created that limited the voices of minorities or the marginalized? What if the company grows to become an international company, do the same values and beliefs work for employees everywhere?
West is effective at stimulating the conversation around organizational culture, and she does show ways that teams can work together on better understanding their culture. But since West doesn’t address the possibility of preexisting bias or the introduction of future biases, I think she falls short of providing a transformational tool for employees and business leaders.
Response to #2
My research has been focused on how artificial intelligence is being used in the human resources field to shape organizational performance and organizational culture. Similar to the launch of other new technologies, there is a lot of optimism and hype as organizations of all types look to artificial intelligence as the perfect solution to their problems. But unfortunately, the utopian ideal that artificial intelligence promises is a long way off because the algorithms used today have been shown to perpetuate biases and foster discrimination. Every aspect of the human resources life cycle is affected, from recruitment to onboarding to performance evaluation to retention and termination. But because most of this happens “in the dark,” most applicants or employees never know they are being affected.
With my project, I would like to make more people aware of these issues and provide them with knowledge and tools so they can mobilize to reach employees, organizational leaders, and lawmakers everywhere. Right now, I am imagining creating a blog that would be like a resource center for people who want to learn more and potentially get involved to change public policy. My target audience would be people concerned with protecting worker and civil rights, including the workers themselves, but more specifically individuals who have some authority to make change, such as disability rights activists, social justice activists, journalists, and people working in employment law. My goal is not to try and stop AI in HR in its tracks, which would be impossible at this point, but to stimulate more transparency around how AI is used and more accountability from the organizations that are using it. I think I could write a welcome message of about 300-400 words that will include a rationale for the blog and embedded links for citations, a vital statistics page that would reference a variety of scholarly and popular sources, and maybe a template letter of about 300 words that people could use to inform their representatives of the issues. The writing tone would not be scholarly or academic, but more along the lines of popular journalism. I’d also like to create an action center that would include ideas and recommendations of ways people can get involved in the change effort, including places for people to post their ideas and responses to posts. For example, I was thinking of creating a few graphics with statistics that people could repost on social media, but I don’t really have great graphic skills. It would be the kind of blog that I would invite guest speakers to post on over time. Anyway, the ideas are still forming. It would be great to start a grassroots movement that could grow into something bigger eventually.