Individuals in Organizations

• Why individuals join organizations
  • To achieve a set of objectives shared by a group of people. Their goals consists of both organizational and individual objectives.
  • To increase the chances of accomplishing some personal objectives.

Holism Principle

QUOTE

The whole is different from the sum of its parts.¹

• Synergy is when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
  • This means that the whole group operating as one produces a larger contribution than the sum of contribution produced by each individual member while operating separately.²
• Drag, or dysergy, is the opposite of synergy—the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
  • Occurs when members work better alone or separately than working as a group (meaning that uniting as one has less contribution than the sum of each individual contribution).³
• Degree of knowledge and tolerance of members personalities influence whether the group will be synergized or dragged.
  • Similarities unites us while differences transform us

4 MBTI Personality Dimensions

Personality are features that make individuals unique through their views and approach to situations. It came from the term persona—the mask used to distinguish roles in dramas. One way to assess one’s personality is through the MBTI, which utilizes 4 dimensions: extraversion, sensing, thinking, and judging (to categorize them into one’s personality into 4 dimensions).

1. Extraversion and Introversion (E-I) - describes the preferences involving how energy is acquired and spent: alone, a small group of people, or a large group of people
   • Extroverts get energy from the outer environment of people and experiences. They also focus energy outwards through action.
   • Introverts get energy from the inner environment of reflection and thoughts. They also focus energy inwards through reflection.
2. Sensing and Intuition (S-N) - describes the preferences involving information collection and verification process: obvious or in-between lines
   • A sensing person gathers information through the 5 senses and they heavily value practical applications and what is real.
   • An intuitive person gathers information through association, values insight and imagination, and focuses on predictions.
3. Thinking and Feeling (T-F) - describes the preferences involving what governs the decision making process: mind or heart
   • A thinking person prefers making decisions based on objectivity, and, as such, they want to be removed from a situation to remain unbiased. They are also quick at detecting errors and providing criticisms.
   • A feeling person prefers to make decisions based on values and personal convictions. They can easily find common ground and show appreciation. In contrast to a thinking person that values objectivity (thereby avoiding bias and attachment), they prefer stepping in situations to exercise compassion.
4. Judging and Perceiving (J-P) - describes the preferences involving how decisions are made: planned or spontaneous
   • A judging person prefers a bland and organized life. They prefer avoiding last-minute efforts and instead work in a timely/planned manner. They are decisive and prefer having options closed.
   • A perceiving person enjoys being curious, keeping options open, and adapting to change. They are also revitalized by last-minute pressures.

NOTE

Preferences for each dimension are not absolute, it is possible to share some traits from opposite types. Moreover, personality/preferences can also change.

Sources

1. Lecture slides
2. Class lecture

Footnotes

1. The characteristics of each individual group member does not necessarily characterize the group. ↩

2. For example, it might be better to combine each stick of a broomstick into one and let one person clean the room than each person having a single stick and tasking them to clean the room. ↩

3. For example, water is stronger when its molecule is broken down into two elements (i.e., it produces two powerful gases). ↩