Motivation and Organizational Culture Essay

A psychologically safe and healthy workplace is one that promotes the well-being of an individual. It is creating an environment that is enjoyable and respectful of all people, regardless of cultural or ethical differences. Japanese immigrant, Ayame Nakamura, is employed as a pharmaceutical project manager in California. The confrontational management style interferes with Ayame’s cultural background. Workplace motivation can affect areas such as productivity and influence organizational culture. Management Roles The main goal of management and workplace psychology is to create an environment that is conducive to allowing employees to perform at their highest potential. Management’s role in workplace psychology is a large component of overall satisfaction. Initially, there responsibility is to provide a workspace that is fair and diverse. This provides employees the opportunity to learn and grow within the company by giving them a chance for personal development. Psychologically, management should state clearly their expectations. Their role should be to support, promote flexibility, provide advancement opportunities, and offer praise when it’s due. Employees are more likely to put forth great effort with the knowledge that those efforts will be noticed and reviewed. The energy that management puts into their employees is paramount to creating growth both in the individual and the company. (Robbins, et al, 2011) Cultural Background and Feedback Language and actions are used to express ourselves or to get our ideas across to another. Verbal, nonverbal, and visual clues are all various methods using to establish, maintain, and modify relationships. Effective communication, regardless of culture, has the ability to help or harm any potential business relationship. Culture can be defined as the  characteristics of a particular group of people that may be defined by language, religion, social habits, or music. In the case of Ayame, a Japanese immigrant, her culture places a high emphasis on collectivism. Ayame’s culture places a high emphasis on giving the business aspect priority over placing emphasis on each individual in it. The pharmaceutical company she works for has a confrontational style that conflicts with her cultural background. Firm, consistent feedback that done in a gentler manner would encourage Ayame and keep her motivated and keep in line with her cultural beliefs. Ayame’s background encourages f ace to face communication that is a consensus of both herself and management. I would encourage the pharmaceutical company’s management team to review their communication strategies and have a meeting with Ayame to ensure that all parties are satisfied with the terms of employment. (Robbins, et al, 2011) Motivation Techniques Ayame’s motivation is lacking due to cultural issues in management’s confrontational management style. This confrontational style makes it difficult for her to receive and process feedback and is affecting her motivation. The pharmaceutical company needs to identify what motivates people and what does not. People tend to do their best work when they are in an environment in which they feel valued. Simple changes such as â€Å"thank you,† or â€Å"great job!,† can encourage an employee to go the extra mile. These simple changes could encourage Ayame and motivate her to put her best foot forward. According to Hackman and Olman (2011), â€Å"any job can be described in terms of the following five core job dimensions: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback. (pg 273). Ayame is likely motivated to do her job well, is able to complete the tasks, and can do so in an effective manner. She does, however, struggle in the final dimension. Management should support Ayame in the top three job dimensions. By guiding her through their expectations, they are giving Ayame a chance to show her skillset and they are supporting her in that position. Employees who are supported and feel valued are more productive. Areas such as job design, delegation of duties, and recognizing the manner in which Ayame processes and receives information are all methods of increasing her motivation. (Robbins, et al, 2011) The manner in which the world perceives  us and how we are perceived comes down to our actions. Motivation is the force that drives us to act, work harder, and that pushes us to succeed. There are several types of motivation with each type influencing how we respond in a different matter. Being mindful of each other cultural and ethical belief can affect the performance of all employees. Each person adds something to the melting pot that is the United States of America. In order to effectively motivate and go forward, each person needs to be mindful of the next. References Robbins, S., Decenzo, D., & Coulter, M. (2011) Fundamentals of management: Essential concepts and applications (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall. Sarafino, E.P. (2011). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: J John Wiley & Sons, Inc.