WEEK 1 LDR 804 STUDENT RESPONSES

LDR 804 STUDENT RESPONSES

ORIGINAL QUESTION- Culture affects the workplace as well as the leaders within the organization. What are some of the most notable effects of diversity on leadership and organizational behavior? Support your view and provide specific examples.

Student 1- Justin

Diversity in leadership and organizations can lead to differences and the creation of obstacles that can prevent employees from contributing ideas that can support the organization. To combat these obstacles, literature has cultivated inclusive leadership as a way to create a working environment as a way to ensure belongingness for the contribution of all employees. The definition of inclusive leadership revolves around the contribution of employees and the elimination of obstacles for increased employee contribution is vital for leaders to utilize inclusive leadership practices. In order to eliminate obstacles, leaders and organizations alike must create an inclusive working environment that influences organizational inclusion. Kuknor and Bhattacharya (2020) expressed that leaders play a crucial role in creating and framing various initiatives to facilitate inclusion in the workplace. They supported this claim by explaining that leadership is one of the key dimensions in influencing organizational culture and business performance. As leadership is a factor in organizational inclusion and a key factor in business performance, it is important for leaders to consider organizational inclusion as a potential factor in business outcomes. Randel et al. (2018) supported this by finding that member perceptions of inclusion in a workgroup led to positive outcomes that benefit the work group and organization. For leaders to utilize inclusive leadership practices, they must create an inclusive working environment where individuals feel organizationally inclusive. Additionally, when employees or subordinates feel that they are a part of an inclusive working environment they are more likely to contribute ideas that can benefit the work group and organization.

Student 2- Katrin

Organizational culture is what differentiates one organization from another. Each organization will create and develop their own culture of value and beliefs which will mirror the organization's brand.  

I teach at an elementary school in a rural community. In this school setting, the organization's culture includes the values and belief systems of the employees, students, and community. The cultural responsiveness of an organization determines its overall success, (Khan, et al., 2022). The organizational commitment of employees is linked to the organizational culture within the work environment, (Khan, et al., 2022). When employees do not feel that the organization prioritizes the overall well-being of employees, they are less likely to continue working for that organization. Over the last 15 years, I have noticed that when a new superintendent or principal comes into the district and shakes up the culture, the employees and community members do not always respond positively. School districts often have traditions, celebrations and school pride which may or may not align with the results to be achieved. Indicators of organizational culture include; innovation, risk taking, attention to detail, being oriented to the results to be achieved, relationships, values, identity, work aggression and work stability, (Wahib et al., 2023).  

Student 3- Brian

Hello class. At first blush while reading this question the two themes of culture and diversity attracted my attention. I am a northerner, born and raised in Massachusetts for almost 66 years. Two years ago, we moved to the south, particularly North Carolina. Trust me when I write, many in this area in 2023 do not like Northerners. It was so bad that we started to tell people we were from Rhode Island as that seemed more acceptable than Massachusetts. I secured a job with an organization that is made up with almost 100% locals. This organization is diverse but culturally the organization is sick. So much for southern hospitality. Often times, breakdown in an organizations culture develops into ethical issues. I share this story to address that this is one of the most notable effects with culture I have to offer in organizational behavior. Ethical dilemmas often address culture as only one aspect of making good decisions (Juntuen et al., 2023). An argument could be made that this sick culture raises an ethical dilemma with respect to the organization mission, vision and values statement.