Reference no: EM133791325

Question 1 There are several concepts from this organizational theory class that I find to be significant! The challenges in organizational design, the differences between big data and thick data, data literacy, and workplace resistance stand out to me. These ideas have really helped me grasp how organizations work and the different challenges they come across. I am particularly interested in organizational design challenges because of their complexity. As someone who values problem-solving and creativity, I find the process of creating effective organizational structures exciting. It's fascinating to see how various design choices can influence communication, decision-making, and overall organizational efficiency. By understanding these challenges, I am better equipped to think critically about optimizing organizational performance. According to the textbook, "Organization design is a way to see and analyze organizations more accurately and deeply than one otherwise could (Daft, 2021, p.25)".

The distinction between big data and thick data, along with data literacy, has been enlightening. As a student in the digital age, I understand the immense value of data in driving strategic decision-making. The difference between the vast quantities of big data and the qualitative insights from thick data has shown me the importance of balancing quantitative metrics with qualitative understanding. The article and video on this topic included in this course were enlightening and helped me understand the concepts in more detail! In addition, according to a Journal of Marketing Management article, "The big data myth harkens to an earlier era of post-WWII consumer capitalism (Cohen, 2003) when households were suddenly inundated - after a long period of material deprivation - with a flood of new consumer goods, rapidly rising levels of disposable income, increased access to credit, and last but not least, televised lifestyle representations designed to stoke nascent middle-class aspirations (Thompson, 201U)". By enhancing my data literacy, I am gaining the skills necessary to extract meaningful information from data, enabling me to make informed choices in a data-driven world. According to a systematic review article, "Data literacy can therefore be defined as the component of information literacy that enables people to access, interpret, critically evaluate, manage, handle and ethically use data (Pinto et al., 2023)". The concept of workplace resistance is quite relatable. Based on my experiences with change initiatives in previous roles, I have observed how difficult it can be to implement new processes or technologies. It's important to identify and address any resistance within the organization to ensure that the change is successful. By learning strategies to overcome resistance,I have developed important empathy and communication skills to assist me in addressing challenges in future workplaces.In wrapping things up, I've really enjoyed exploring the ideas of challenges in organizational design, big data and thick data, data literacy, and workplace resistance. Each of these concepts has opened my eyes to new insights and skills that I'm excited to carry forward into my future career. I can already see how they will play a big role in shaping my professional journey!

The three concepts that I thought were significant takeaways in the past chapters were the difference between individual and organizational ethics, the discussion on the techniques to implement change, and the techniques employed by managers to overcome resistance.
The first concept of individual and organizational ethics plays an important part in organizational or life choices. "Ethics refers to the code of moral principles and values that governs the behaviors of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong" (Daft, 2021, P.2U7). Without good moral ethics guiding our decisions, we will make bad choices that will lead to a destructive future at home or work. "Organizational ethics focuses on the importance of how organizations behave when faced with specific situations and decisions" (Shojaei et al., 2023, P.1). With proper training, managers and their employees can make the best choices when faced with situations that can affect their jobs and lives. These important ethical decisions will help organizations earn the trust of their communities.

Another concept that was a significant takeaway, and one that we face a lot in life, is change.
In an organization, change is going to happen, and sometimes often. "The organization is a living organism and the essential determinants of the organization's life are constant dynamics and changes whose main purpose is to challenge the "status quo" (Kecek et al., 2023, P.1). The textbook mentions six techniques that can be used to implement change in an organization successfully. I know from my own experiences working in organizations, that these techniques are ones that I will refer back to and help me when changes need to be made.
Lastly, the third takeaway that I thought was very significant for me was the techniques employed by managers to overcome resistance. There is always going to be resistance in life, in one's personal life and business. After changes happen, and they will, managers are expected to implement these changes, which in turn brings about resistance. "Societal norms, beliefs, and values change over time, yet there is often a significant delay before such changes are reflected in organizations and fields" (Malhotra et al., 2021, P.1). The textbook mentions five different techniques for how to overcome resistance in organizations. Although all these techniques are excellent ways to overcome this, the one that always catches my attention is communication and training. "Communication means informing users about the need for change and the consequences of a proposed change, preventing rumors, misunderstanding, and resentment" ((Daft, 2021, P.512). In my experience, at work and personally, lack of communication has been the key to many problems that did not have to happen. When managers implement these concepts in an organization, the organization as a whole will benefit.