Relevance & Applications of Organizational Behavior in Indian Organization Vis a Vis Organization in Western Countries
Relevance & Applications of Organizational Behavior in Indian Organization Vis a Vis Organization In Western Countries
Relevance of Organization Behavior: Sustenance in organization is key goal for which all stake holders monitor. Health and potential of growth in organization is measured by profitability, turnover, absenteeism, safety accidents, quality defects, shrinkage in market and customer rating all of which are considered as output . For organization to function effectively all categories of organization i.e. individual, group and organizational system should be in sync. The contributors (Disciplines) which align individual, group and organizational goal are categorized by 5 behavior sciences namely sociology, psychology, anthropology, social psychology and political science. This behavior sciences are considered as input to organization. Thus Stakeholders expectations are meet only when this input disciplines which contribute to behavior of individual, group and organization system are monitored and controlled. Therefore organizational behavior plays a vital role for sustenance and growth of any industry.
The influence of disciplines on industry depends on number of employees in organization, geography, type of industry etc. The differences in discipline should be studied before interacting or working in different organization to avoid misconceptions resulting in failure in achievements of target. This happens due to change in culture or values imbedded in the society or organization as all. To further elaborate the effect on disciplines at various geographical locations, a comparison study has been done to show differences in communication pattern and values in western and Indian industry.
Communication in western Vs Indian industry: Communication plays a vital role as exchange of ideas/thoughts takes 70% of time spent in organization. This communication is both in verbal and non-verbal. Due to increase in globalization if style of communication is not known can have a disaster results
The following Table shows important characteristics of communication having major differences in Indian and western industry:
Characteristics | Western | Indian | Differences |
Information exchange | Share knowledge & experience (context) by limited ritual interaction | Less focused on exchange of information and more focus on relation building | High context environment Vs Low context environment |
Straight forward | Coming straight to point(avoid implying and hinting) | Information is shared in reservation not in publicly in meeting | Direct questions and requests |
Literal | Say exactly what they mean | Need to interpret from conversation | Reading between lines |
Problem-orientated | Finding solutions to problem collectively | Problem should be handled individually | Task oriented Vs result oriented |
Informal | Highly Informal(addresses by 1st name) | Address by Sir or Madam | Converse freely vs limited sharing |
Values followed in western and Indian industry:
Values are belief or ideals holds by individual which can be desirable or undesirable. Some common values are shared by inhabitants of various geographical location .Both Indian and western geographies have a diverse religion, languages, and beliefs. So same values may not be held by everyone and may not be applicable to every situation. But they express some dominant norms evident in many workplaces. Due to difference in values behavior changes.
The following table shows differences in values of Indian and western individuals.
American Characteristics | American Values | American Behavior | Indian Characteristics | Indian Value | Indian Behavior |
Individualism | Personal Freedom, Independence | left alone to do their own thing | Collectivism | Relationship prevails over task | Intended to increase group size |
Informality | tend to believe in equality | CEOs generally prefer to be addressed by their first name | Formal | Authoritive | Behave formally w.r.t age & Seniority |
Privacy | value their own private space and possessions and expect to have time to process things on their own | Never prefer it if you don't touch their belongings unless they give explicit permission | Convincing | Group behavior | Accomplishes job by sharing data and bringing everyone in same platform |
Characteristics | American Values | American Behavior | Characteristics | Indian Value | Indian Behavior |
Directness and assertiveness | Honest over respecting people's feelings. | solve disagreements by directly confronting the person they disagree with | Interpersonal relationships | Mask emotional responses | Maintains harmony |
Personal progress | make changes to make progress | change jobs frequently | Grows with organization | Long term contracts | Prefer internal transfer over lateral placements |