Organizational Culture Paper
The organization I am a member of is the Wright State Volleyball team. I have been a player for this organization since 2018. In the upcoming fall, I will be entering my fifth year in the program as a super senior, and taking my COVID year. I have been the captain of this organization since my freshman year and will continue this leadership role in the fall. This role is important within the program because the captains are expected to communicate with the coaches and relay the information to the team and vice versa. The culture at Wright State is family-oriented. Our team treats each other as if we were sisters and has the utmost respect for one another. This family culture is key to our program's success over the last four years. The family culture is what I hope continues long after my departure from the program.
Section I: Description of Selected Theory
While the Wright State Volleyball team has a family culture, the organizational culture of the program is technically classified under the systems theory. According to Wheatley and Kellner-Rogers, the systems theory has four main elements. The first element is the systems theory creates pathways and communication flows. This shows systems are interdependent and rely on communication. The second element is emergent evolution. This means humans desire to work out relationships and coexist. They adapt and change and eventually emerge with their own identity. This is important to keep in mind because changing an individual won’t change the system. The third main element is a system flourishes with information and observation. The last element is systems are relationships that we observe as structures. (Wheatley, Kellner-Rogers, 2003)
Section 2: Application of Selected Theory
The systems theory applies to Wright State Volleyball because the four elements of the systems theory all relate to that of the volleyball team. The first element of Wheatley and Kellner-Rogers’ theory focuses on communication. Being a member of the team, especially in a sport like volleyball, communication is a necessity. There is constant communication on the court between the players on the court. There is also communication between the players on the bench with the players on the court. The players on the court are required to communicate with those on the court about what spots are open to score, where the other team is playing defense, etc. The third line of communication is between the players and the coaches. Whether it be a bench player or a court player, there is constant feedback amongst the team. With bad communication, the team will not be successful.
Another element of the systems theory is emergent evolution. This aspect relates to the team because we build relationships amongst each other and long for human coexistence. No one wants to be on a team where there is “team drama”. Our culture does a really good job of creating an open environment where everyone can be honest without feeling judged or attacked. This aspect goes hand-in-hand with the first aspect of communication. Emphasizing the importance of honest conversation.
The third element of the systems theory, systems require information to flourish, directly applies to my team because Wright State Volleyball incorporates ideas and drills of other programs into our own. This benefits our program by implementing ideas from championship programs into our gym. By emulating those programs’ drills, it creates more of an opportunity for us to be just as successful as them.
The last element is systems are relationships that we observe as structures. This means systems can’t be structured and individuals need to explore their needs together (Wheatley, Kellner-Rogers, 2003). This aspect also relies upon trust. Wright State Volleyball relates to the concept of trust because everyday trust is built amongst team members. Relationships are a key aspect in all sports teams. The organization I am involved in believes our family culture has led to our success because of these strong relationships.
Task Forces
Task forces assemble when new problems or opportunities require the collaboration of diverse specialties or functions (Bolman and Deal, 2017). The task forces are put in place to ensure the effectiveness of the organization. Their other main job is to problem solve and provide solutions when the organization is struggling. According to the systems theory, everything within the organization is connected (Gordan, 2021). Task forces directly relate to the systems theory because, with the implementation of task forces, it would miminilazie the spread of the problem. By doing this, the organization’s problems would not have as big of an effect on the company as a whole. At Wright State, we have subcommittees that are in charge of specific roles. For example, there is a social media committee, apparel committee, food committee, and community service committee. All of these committees, or task forces, are put into place to prevent problems from occurring. In the event a problem does occur, the related committee will offer solutions to the problem at hand.
Goal Bound
Another concept that connects to the systems theory is the goal-bound mindset. According to chapter four of, Reframing Organizations, by Bolman and Deal, being goal-bound is when people in the organization hang on to their organization's goals after they have become outdated (Bolman and Deal). The systems theory’s element of success is geared towards the entire organization as a whole rather than smaller groups within the organization, and the element of adaptation relates to a goal-bound mindset. For example, say a specific group within our team fails to perform during the game. While this specific group failed, every other group was successful in its efforts. The group that failed has a goal-bound mindset going into the next game and is so focused on their failures from the game before they fail the following game as well. Applying the systems theory would be beneficial here to focus on the success of the team as a whole. Also, not being so focused on success and outcome but rather focusing on how to change and adapt in order to improve in the future.
All-Channel Network/ One Boss
According to, Reframing Organizations, an all-channel network is critical for team function (Bolman, Deal, 2017,). Similar to the systems theory, it relies on the interdependence of one another in order to function. All of the aspects in the all-channel network are connected, therefore, they all have an effect on one another. While Wright State Volleyball’s organizational structure is similar to that of the all-channel network, it also has another structure it closely emulates. The one boss structure is described as one person having authority over all of the others (Bolman, Deal, 2017). While this doesn’t relate to the systems theory, in a sense, it relates to my organization. While the players do have a voice and input, the head coach makes the decisions at the end of the day. This is typical for any sports team and is understood as an athlete.
Unapologetic Accountability
In, “The Trouble with Teamwork” by Patrick Lencioni, the concept of unapologetic accountability is mentioned. “Great teams do not wait for the leader to remind members when they are not pulling their weight.” (Lencioni, 4). Having accountability within an organization is a necessity, especially in a team. The concept of unapologetic accountability ties into the systems theory because accountability would benefit an organization's success. Holding other members accountable will lead to the overall success of the organization which is the fourth element in the systems theory. Within the Wright State Volleyball team, members hold each other accountable every day. Currently, we only have one coach so thinking she can handle and coach 13 girls at once is unrealistic. Being a fifth-year captain, I was asked to hold not only myself but my fellow upperclassman accountable. The other captain of the team was asked to do the same for me and the other team members. My coach believes accountability will help the future of our program.
Isomorphism
According to DiMaggio and Powell, isomorphism is the containing process that forces one group to resemble the other (Hawley, 2016). This concept relates to the systems theory because an element of the systems theory is incorporating other systems’ ideas into your own. It is important to keep an open mind when it comes to running your organization. Incorporating outside ideas and perspectives into your own organizations has the possibility to contribute to the success of your organization. As previously stated, Wright State Volleyball has emulated ideas of other programs that have beaten us in the past, in hopes we will compete with them in the future.
Conclusion
The systems theory is an intricate set of ideas that state everything within an organization is interdependent. There are elements of this theory such as adaptation, the success of the organization as a whole, and incorporating ideas of other systems as well that contribute to the definition of the systems theory. The concepts that connect to the systems theory are those such as isomorphism, task forces, goal-bound mindset, all-channel networking, and unapologetic accountability. At Wright State Volleyball, the systems theory is evident. The program is interdependent and reliant upon one another. The concepts of task forces directly relate to the subcommittees within the program. While the attitude of being goal-bound is implemented in our team, it sometimes affects our program in a negative way. However, it forces us to find a solution and push forward. The concept of isomorphism and adaptation is key within my organization and the systems theory. In conclusion, the Wright State Volleyball is more than just one organizational culture. We are the systems theory in the works but at the end of the day, we are a family.
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References
BOLMAN, L. E. E. G., & Deal. (2017). Reframing organizations. JOHN WILEY & Sons.
DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (2016). 'The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in Organizational Fields', American Sociological Review, 48, pp. 147-60. Organizational Sociology, 517–530. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315247533-34
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Lencioni, P. M. (2003). The trouble with teamwork. Leader to Leader, 2003(29), 35–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/ltl.36
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Gordan, J. (2021). Systems Theory of Management - Explained. The Business Professor, LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from https://thebusinessprofessor.com/en_US/management-leadership-organizational-behavior/systems-theory-of-management
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Wheatley, M. J., & Kellner-Rogers, M. (2003). A simpler way. Berrett-Koehler.