Case Study: NASA: Organizational Analysis
I am currently part of the Organization Team. As a team we have been reviewing the Harvard Case Study on the contributing factors which lead to the Columbia Disaster NASA’s. Today our team analyzed the organizational problems. Here are a few of our observations:
• One of the main issues contributing to NASA’s overall poor organization its culture, a culture that starts with us, the citizens of the United States. We are a culture that has high demands and expectations. We want to see results, while at the same time we want someone else to find ways around the obstacles. If a short cut will equal faster results then we not only support them but expect them. This mind set has lead to an organization where an emphasis on results has lead to the neglection of using resources to properly analyze and reconstructs organizational structure. This unfortunately has minimized production as it has lead to insanely costly set backs and inefficient spending.
• NASA has amazing talent and incredible brains working in its organization but because of its complicated bureaucratic and unclear structure its most valuable resource are not able to contribute their full knowledge and capabilities. Vital information and insights that those at the ground level have are not able to effectively get to upper management where the major decisions are taking place.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Motivation: Driving the Donkey
Today in class we discussed the four ways people can be motivated to get results.
1) Reward/Dangling the Carrot: Dangling a carrot in front of the Donkey. Motivation through presenting an attainable reward. Examples: Grades in school or a salary at work.
2) Fear/The driving whip: Driving the Donkey by whipping at it hind. Motivation through the presence of fear. Examples: Fear of Job Security, or fear of losing love or respect.
3) Control & Focus: Getting on the Donkey putting a bit in its mouth and blinders on its eyes. Motivation by firm control and by screening out any thing outside of straight line of sight. Examples: Organization where goals and objectives are given without the allowance of input and feedback and creativity is discouraged.
4)Purpose & Passion: Inspiring the Donkey to be self motivated. Motivation through tapping into each individuals goals, passions and motivations. Examples: Students learning for knowledge not a grade, company synergy created by each individual feeling important and fulfilled to and by their company.
1) Reward/Dangling the Carrot: Dangling a carrot in front of the Donkey. Motivation through presenting an attainable reward. Examples: Grades in school or a salary at work.
2) Fear/The driving whip: Driving the Donkey by whipping at it hind. Motivation through the presence of fear. Examples: Fear of Job Security, or fear of losing love or respect.
3) Control & Focus: Getting on the Donkey putting a bit in its mouth and blinders on its eyes. Motivation by firm control and by screening out any thing outside of straight line of sight. Examples: Organization where goals and objectives are given without the allowance of input and feedback and creativity is discouraged.
4)Purpose & Passion: Inspiring the Donkey to be self motivated. Motivation through tapping into each individuals goals, passions and motivations. Examples: Students learning for knowledge not a grade, company synergy created by each individual feeling important and fulfilled to and by their company.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Class Introductions
>First class Assignment given to aid us in getting to know our classmates.<
1) Best lessons in Leadership
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned was taught to me this last semester. I learned the power a leader can when he shows genuine trust for those he is leading. I started last semester with a Bishop the believed that best way to make our ward abide by the honor code was accusing us of breaking it in order to see if we would confess. Each Sunday was another dread three hour meeting filled with continual chastisement and firm warnings. I began to despise the honor code and did not care if I broke it in small ways. I lost a lot of respect for my Bishop as he continually preached at us void of genuine concern and compassion.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to change wards mid semester, in doing so I was assigned a new ward and with it a new Bishop. Within one minute of stepping into my new home ward my new bishop was at my side introducing himself and I immediately felt his immensely unconditional love for me. But what struck me even more profoundly was the way with which he spoke to me and the rest of the ward. Never did he rebuke or warn. When he spoke of the honor code he spoke with passion about how blessed we were to have it and the immense blessings that came into our lives because of it. Then without repeating any of the rules or reminding us of consequences he would say, “I know that you know the Honor code and that I can trust you to follow it.”
From the very first time I heard him speak these words me negativity toward the honor code began to fade away. I started being much more mindful of the small things that earlier I had slacked on. At first I didn’t understand why? I had already known of the importance of the Honor code and the blessings that come from obedience. What was so different about Bishop Palmer’s way of teaching it?
After starting Stephen M R Covey’s latest book, “The Speed of Trust” I realized what it was. TRUST! Palmer’s trust was something I did not want to loose. He had given it to me freely and I wanted to prove I was worthy of it. I wanted to rise to his loving challenge and become the person he thought me to be.
I also realized that though I could loose his trust there was something I would never loose, his love. President Palmer emanated unconditional love. A love that I could trust would be given to me regardless of me actions. This helped me understand my worth. Which intern magnified my desire to live up to my value.
2) Best Lessons in Communicating
I have always been a person who has had a very hard time being honest with people when I feel that it will in anyway hurt their feelings. This has lead to painful disintegration in many of my close relationships because I am unwilling to tell those I am closest to when they have hurt my feelings or are doing things that frustrate or annoy me. A huge part of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is double, triple, and quadruple guessing myself when it come to such situations. I find myself bouncing back and forth between believing that the other person is wrong or that I am wrong, or I obsessive over “What would Jesus do.” thinking that if I were more Christ like nothing would bother or offend me and that to be like Christ I just need to let everything go and not cause conflict.
This last semester has been amazingly beneficial with this very anxiety prone area of my life. By taking an Interpersonal Communications class I learned two principles that have lead to a huge paradigm shift, one, understanding the power and benefits of being assertive and second, understanding the difference between conflict and contention.
As I read the chapter on being assertive I realized that I have had many issues in life because of my black and white thinking of “either you are wrong or I am wrong.” I never realized that both people can actually be “OK.” By approaching conflicts from this stand point one is in no way attacking or assigning blame to the other person rather simply identifying differences and working out a “win, win solution.” Reading this chapter helped me understand the tremendous positive benefits and productivity of being assertive and helped me understand that the most Christ like thing I can do is to be such.
Late in the semester we had an insightful discussion on conflict that I was very much in need of in my life. I hate conflict! I run from it and postpone it for as long as possible which unfortunately only makes the conflict bigger when it is finally faced. From our discussion I came to realize that conflict and contention are not the same! This was another huge paradigm shift for me as I realized, once again, that I can initiate conflict without being un-Christ-like! Because of this new realization I am now able to approach conflict more easily and at times even find myself welcoming it as I know that it leads to deeper communication, friendships and amazing solutions. When in a conversation with another person where some type of conflict arises I no longer try to immediately make things more better by do such things as accept all blame and or dismissing the other person’s contribution to the problem. Rather I now acknowledge and accept my and the other persons discomfort and only take responsibility for what I am responsible for and let the other person do the same.
These past few months I have had some very practical real life situations that have allowed me to put this new knowledge to work and I have found that these principles are helping me achieve a much higher level of self confidence.
Last semester I learned that how I feel is valid. If I am angry, upset, depressed, frustrated, or annoyed, I do not need to feel guilty for being a human and therefore having these natural human emotions. As before I stated how I tend to OCD on what would Jesus do. This class has helped me realize that I cannot expect myself to be void of all negative emotion. It in natural and OK that other people lead to me being upset. From this class I learned that when I find that another person’s actions have lead to me feeling a certain way I can take ownership of these feelings and be productive with them. I can approach the other person and describe to them their action and how it leads me to feel, without assigning blame or an interpretation. This allows them to understand how they affected me and allows me to communicate my feelings in a way that is healthy and productive.
By doing this I am finding that I am begging to feel that my feeling are now valid. Who I am and how I feel matters and I no longer need to feel as though I am silent victim of the world.
3) Organizations Experienced
- Boy Scouts of America
-College of the Sequoias Choir
-Tulare Western Marching Band
-Tulare Western Interact (Rotary)
-Tulare Western Tennis Team
-Encore Kids
-COS Conservative Students Association
-City of Tulare, Redevelopment Board
-COS Alpha Gamma Sigma
-LDS Choirs
-Right to Life
-California Republican Committee
-Visalia Institute of Religion Council
-Tulare City School District
-Mervyn’s
-Marry Moo’s Ice Creamery
-APX Home Security
-Montessori
-Cyber Quest
-BYUI Collegiate Ballroom Dance Team
-Melalueca
4) What did you learn from those?
Through my participation with a wide range of various organizations I have come to learn and love the synergy that can be created when a group of people work together with a common goal, passion and organization. However I have also learned that many times there is passion but a lack of thorough organization and a clear common goal.
I have learned that people are a world’s greatest resource and organizations are the tool for utilizing that resource. Many times it is said that there are too many chiefs and to few Indians. I agree but would also add that there are too few chiefs who understand how to effectively organize, inspire and lead a tribe!
I have been amazed at the success of organizations because of the skills of one single leader. It only takes one person to start something great, and if that person has dedicated their life to learning basic principles of truth, working passionately to live by and promote them, many of the individuals around them will also begin doing the same!
5) Traditional American Hot dog is extremely unhealthy because it’s meat.
6) Lived in:
Tulare, California
Rexburg, Idaho
7) Achievements proud of:
-Currently winning my battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder!
-I have remained strong in my new life style change to Vegan for the past three months!
-Graduated with my AA from College of the Sequoias with academic honors.
-I have conquered my fear of “the world”/people, and have become the confident and outgoing person that I have always wanted to be.
8) Industries interested in:
Organizational Communications
Psychology
Education
Interior Design
Political Science
Health and Organic Farming
9) Future goal:
As Dr. Hartman Author of The Color Code would put it, “To be a person Character,” meaning become a well rounded person in all four of the root “color personality areas.” By doing so I will be able to accomplish those things that will bring me joy and peace in this life. I have had many goals that have come and gone through the years but this is the one that has remained the same. For it is the key to my accomplishment of all of my other life goals.
1) Best lessons in Leadership
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned was taught to me this last semester. I learned the power a leader can when he shows genuine trust for those he is leading. I started last semester with a Bishop the believed that best way to make our ward abide by the honor code was accusing us of breaking it in order to see if we would confess. Each Sunday was another dread three hour meeting filled with continual chastisement and firm warnings. I began to despise the honor code and did not care if I broke it in small ways. I lost a lot of respect for my Bishop as he continually preached at us void of genuine concern and compassion.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to change wards mid semester, in doing so I was assigned a new ward and with it a new Bishop. Within one minute of stepping into my new home ward my new bishop was at my side introducing himself and I immediately felt his immensely unconditional love for me. But what struck me even more profoundly was the way with which he spoke to me and the rest of the ward. Never did he rebuke or warn. When he spoke of the honor code he spoke with passion about how blessed we were to have it and the immense blessings that came into our lives because of it. Then without repeating any of the rules or reminding us of consequences he would say, “I know that you know the Honor code and that I can trust you to follow it.”
From the very first time I heard him speak these words me negativity toward the honor code began to fade away. I started being much more mindful of the small things that earlier I had slacked on. At first I didn’t understand why? I had already known of the importance of the Honor code and the blessings that come from obedience. What was so different about Bishop Palmer’s way of teaching it?
After starting Stephen M R Covey’s latest book, “The Speed of Trust” I realized what it was. TRUST! Palmer’s trust was something I did not want to loose. He had given it to me freely and I wanted to prove I was worthy of it. I wanted to rise to his loving challenge and become the person he thought me to be.
I also realized that though I could loose his trust there was something I would never loose, his love. President Palmer emanated unconditional love. A love that I could trust would be given to me regardless of me actions. This helped me understand my worth. Which intern magnified my desire to live up to my value.
2) Best Lessons in Communicating
I have always been a person who has had a very hard time being honest with people when I feel that it will in anyway hurt their feelings. This has lead to painful disintegration in many of my close relationships because I am unwilling to tell those I am closest to when they have hurt my feelings or are doing things that frustrate or annoy me. A huge part of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is double, triple, and quadruple guessing myself when it come to such situations. I find myself bouncing back and forth between believing that the other person is wrong or that I am wrong, or I obsessive over “What would Jesus do.” thinking that if I were more Christ like nothing would bother or offend me and that to be like Christ I just need to let everything go and not cause conflict.
This last semester has been amazingly beneficial with this very anxiety prone area of my life. By taking an Interpersonal Communications class I learned two principles that have lead to a huge paradigm shift, one, understanding the power and benefits of being assertive and second, understanding the difference between conflict and contention.
As I read the chapter on being assertive I realized that I have had many issues in life because of my black and white thinking of “either you are wrong or I am wrong.” I never realized that both people can actually be “OK.” By approaching conflicts from this stand point one is in no way attacking or assigning blame to the other person rather simply identifying differences and working out a “win, win solution.” Reading this chapter helped me understand the tremendous positive benefits and productivity of being assertive and helped me understand that the most Christ like thing I can do is to be such.
Late in the semester we had an insightful discussion on conflict that I was very much in need of in my life. I hate conflict! I run from it and postpone it for as long as possible which unfortunately only makes the conflict bigger when it is finally faced. From our discussion I came to realize that conflict and contention are not the same! This was another huge paradigm shift for me as I realized, once again, that I can initiate conflict without being un-Christ-like! Because of this new realization I am now able to approach conflict more easily and at times even find myself welcoming it as I know that it leads to deeper communication, friendships and amazing solutions. When in a conversation with another person where some type of conflict arises I no longer try to immediately make things more better by do such things as accept all blame and or dismissing the other person’s contribution to the problem. Rather I now acknowledge and accept my and the other persons discomfort and only take responsibility for what I am responsible for and let the other person do the same.
These past few months I have had some very practical real life situations that have allowed me to put this new knowledge to work and I have found that these principles are helping me achieve a much higher level of self confidence.
Last semester I learned that how I feel is valid. If I am angry, upset, depressed, frustrated, or annoyed, I do not need to feel guilty for being a human and therefore having these natural human emotions. As before I stated how I tend to OCD on what would Jesus do. This class has helped me realize that I cannot expect myself to be void of all negative emotion. It in natural and OK that other people lead to me being upset. From this class I learned that when I find that another person’s actions have lead to me feeling a certain way I can take ownership of these feelings and be productive with them. I can approach the other person and describe to them their action and how it leads me to feel, without assigning blame or an interpretation. This allows them to understand how they affected me and allows me to communicate my feelings in a way that is healthy and productive.
By doing this I am finding that I am begging to feel that my feeling are now valid. Who I am and how I feel matters and I no longer need to feel as though I am silent victim of the world.
3) Organizations Experienced
- Boy Scouts of America
-College of the Sequoias Choir
-Tulare Western Marching Band
-Tulare Western Interact (Rotary)
-Tulare Western Tennis Team
-Encore Kids
-COS Conservative Students Association
-City of Tulare, Redevelopment Board
-COS Alpha Gamma Sigma
-LDS Choirs
-Right to Life
-California Republican Committee
-Visalia Institute of Religion Council
-Tulare City School District
-Mervyn’s
-Marry Moo’s Ice Creamery
-APX Home Security
-Montessori
-Cyber Quest
-BYUI Collegiate Ballroom Dance Team
-Melalueca
4) What did you learn from those?
Through my participation with a wide range of various organizations I have come to learn and love the synergy that can be created when a group of people work together with a common goal, passion and organization. However I have also learned that many times there is passion but a lack of thorough organization and a clear common goal.
I have learned that people are a world’s greatest resource and organizations are the tool for utilizing that resource. Many times it is said that there are too many chiefs and to few Indians. I agree but would also add that there are too few chiefs who understand how to effectively organize, inspire and lead a tribe!
I have been amazed at the success of organizations because of the skills of one single leader. It only takes one person to start something great, and if that person has dedicated their life to learning basic principles of truth, working passionately to live by and promote them, many of the individuals around them will also begin doing the same!
5) Traditional American Hot dog is extremely unhealthy because it’s meat.
6) Lived in:
Tulare, California
Rexburg, Idaho
7) Achievements proud of:
-Currently winning my battle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder!
-I have remained strong in my new life style change to Vegan for the past three months!
-Graduated with my AA from College of the Sequoias with academic honors.
-I have conquered my fear of “the world”/people, and have become the confident and outgoing person that I have always wanted to be.
8) Industries interested in:
Organizational Communications
Psychology
Education
Interior Design
Political Science
Health and Organic Farming
9) Future goal:
As Dr. Hartman Author of The Color Code would put it, “To be a person Character,” meaning become a well rounded person in all four of the root “color personality areas.” By doing so I will be able to accomplish those things that will bring me joy and peace in this life. I have had many goals that have come and gone through the years but this is the one that has remained the same. For it is the key to my accomplishment of all of my other life goals.
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