Management, Human Resources and Ethics

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RESPONSE:

1. How should companies implement strategies for thinking "outside the box?

Thinking outside the box is encouraged through a culture of openness to new ways of seeing the world and a willingness to explore, and the manager must allow latitude and flexibility to workers to brainstorm new ideas and to innovatively apply them. It is about encouraging creativity and innovative ideas. For example, thinking outside of the box in terms of implementing "retention strategies?needs to allow the manager freedom to implement the strategies that seem to fit the culture. The ultimate goal might be to create an organizational culture that is conducive to retention in every aspect. Therefore, the manager needs to make it her job to remain focused on enhancing the features of the workplace that are likely to convince employees to stay, and eliminating those that might drive them away. Keep an open mind and state unique needs. A comprehensive strategy that thinks outside of the box might blend together multiple employee retention techniques, which is likely to be most effective. The manager needs to have permission to feel free to combine or modify one or more strategies, and keep experimenting until she finds a system that works for her. (http://www.hcareers.com/us/resourcecenter/tabid/306/articleid/329/default.aspx)

Thinking outside the box needs to be encouraged through a work environment and manger that encourages (and role models) different attributes that include:

1. Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work.
2. Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
3. Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
4. Striving to create value in new ways.
5. Listening to others.
6. Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas. (http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/april02/out_of_the_box_thinking.html)

2. What are some of the ways to assess the verbal and non-verbal communication in an office setting?

Interpersonal communication is defined as either verbal (using words) or nonverbal (involving gestures, mannerisms, and intonations of delivery). The ability to read nonverbal and verbal communication in the business world can prove to be a valuable tool for the successful manager. Non-verbal communication is usually understood as the process of sending and receiving wordless messages. Assessing non-verbal communication begins with an understanding of non-verbal gestures, and then paying attention and observing the different messages being portrays non-verbally. Such messages can be communicated through gesture, body language or posture, facial expression and eye gaze, object communication such as clothing, hairstyles or even architecture, and symbols, features of speech such as intonation and stress and other paralinguistic features of speech such as voice quality, emotion and speaking style. Non-verbal communication can occur through any sensory channel; i.e., through sight, sound, smell, touch or taste. Non-verbal communication can be conscious and purposeful or unconscious. Also, non-verbal communication comes in many forms at the same time. For example, a person's dress, tone of voice, attitude, and movement all contribute to the communication going on in a certain situation. It can be very helpful in facilitating communication or it can be very derisive. Managers often analyze different modes of nonverbal communication, including such things as the physical office setting, an individual's manner of dress, and body language (http://www.psychologistanywhereanytime.com/psychologist/psychologist_non_verbal_communication.htm).

3. How does diversity of background and experience influence the evolution of personal and individual ethics?

Because personal and individual ethics reflect values learned and passed on through family, religion and cultural background, diversity plays a role. In other wors, the more diverse one's background and experience, the more likely one's personal and individual ethics will be an integration of these values and experiences. One's personal and individual ethics evolves as one learns new things. For ...