Kaiser Permanente and Oracle Corporation - Organization and Trends

Introduction

This paper will compare and contrast the perception of organizational power and politics among Kaiser Permanente and Oracle Corporation, it will compile a list of strategies for managing stress, as well as evaluate the business and ethical considerations of operating organizations on a global scale, finally, the paper will assess the evolutionary trends in organizational behavior and how they might impact organizations.

Organizational and Trends

Perception of Power

Kaiser Permanente focused on keeping various departments and teams focused on the corporate objectives. These objectives allow management to meet its departmental goals, and the organization as a profitable entity. The goals for this organization focus primarily on financial aspirations, building relationships with the internal and external consumers, and employee retention. The perception of power is usually made up of the managers, department heads and the executives at the top of the corporation. The perception of power at Kaiser Permanente is that the work group does what management expects of them. The company’s goals and objectives are usually outlined in a presentation at the beginning of the year, so that each employee knows the goals and direction the organization is headed in. Each manager then takes the part of those objectives that pertain to their department and outlines how their particular department will meet its objectives to align with the corporate goals. In each department the manager is perceived by employees as the CEO of their department. It unfortunately is usually the closest approximation that most employees reach to the CEO. The perception of power can also be viewed as clueless. Some managers are sometimes so busy looking at the big picture in completing corporate objectives that they are oblivious to the intricate workings of their departments. They are sometimes so engrossed in their work and time tables that employees perceive them as oblivious to what is happening in the department. Power is sometimes perceived as who you know rather than what you know. The perception is that persons in positions of authority are there because

Organizational and Trends

Perception of Power

they were friends with someone who got them promoted or got them the job. Unfortunately this is a perception and most people in positions of power worked very diligently to get there.

At Oracle Corporation the perception of power is not much different than that of Kaiser Permanente. However, because Oracle is the larges database company in the world, it has a greater footprint and financial advantage that allows them the recognition and prestige in the market place. It also allows them a grater ability to be over power its competitors, drive how the industry behaves and the way new database technology is design and architect, additionally Oracle has a mentality of individuality and professionalism, towards employees which empowers the company to be more profitable while at the same time, allowing each employee to make individual decisions that contribute to success of the company it self, one example of this is the employees work schedules and the ability to work from any where in the planet; at Oracle every employees has the ability to set their own hours and work anywhere they want, this empower the employee with the ability to complete work at its own paste and creates a sense of respect and value for the employees which in turn creates a perception of well manage power by the individuals that do in fact have that power.

Organizational and Trends

Perception of Power

Below you will see a chart which shows the compare and contrast of perception of organizational power and politics among Kaiser Permanente and Oracle Corporation:

Compare / Contrast Organization Power Similarities Power Differences Political Similarities Political Differences

Kaiser Permanente Management Brand Recognition Industry Share Corporate Footprint Global Recognition Financial Ability Ethical Professional Economical Geographical Technological Strategically

Oracle Corporation

Organizational and Trends

Strategies