Workplace Observation

Today's organizations must be able to adapt to the ever-changing environment. In an effort to reduce negative outcomes from change and working conditions, organizations must have a clear understanding of the world within today's organizations. This paper will define key concepts of organizational ethics within today's Army, like the flow of communication, conflict management, and organizational diversity. One key component that gives the Army a sustainable competitive advantage is culture. What is culture? In essence, it is a soft, intangible element that deals with people, trust, leadership and passion. Basically, organizational culture is the personality of the organization. The Army shows its personality even with its new slogan, "There's strong then there is Army Strong!" The benefit of understanding culture is to focus attention on the human side of organizational life, and find significance and learning in even its most routine daily aspects. Also it requires members, especially leaders, to acknowledge the impact of their behavior on the organization's culture. According to Edgar Schein, cultural analysis is especially valuable for dealing with aspects of organizations that seem irrational, frustrating, and intractable. He writes, "The bottom line for leaders is that if they do not become conscious of the cultures in which they are embedded, those cultures will manage them" (Schein, 1993, p.375).

The effects of organization culture within the Army are evident and can be recognized by the communication flow between leaders and subordinates. The Army pushes information down when it communicates with the learning networks within the organization. This keeps the organization very proactive and not passive. Every soldier knows the mission within the organization. On the other hand, leaders must be careful on how information is disseminated down to the lowest levels of the organization. While using communication tools such as email leaders must try not to become impersonal and loose the cohesion between the team.

Cultural diversity can be defined as the "representation, in one social system, of people with distinctly different group affiliations of cultural significance' (Schermerhorn, 2003, pg 13). There are many factors that have caused the subtle shift away from integration within the Army ranks and towards diversity, in our society as well. In the Army moral, ethical and social responsibility goals guide efforts to improve the conditions of ethnic and gender equality. Second, legal obligations, like the Uniformed Code of Military Justice require the Army organizations to improve ethnic and gender equality. Third, there is an increased focus to maintain and increase competitiveness in today's Army. The Army has a full knowledge of cultural diversity and applies this knowledge by building relationships with our allies as well as our enemies to ensure a better future for our country.

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