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Workplace Observation 1

Workplace Observation Paper Joseph Moeller Mgt 331 Thomas Melpolder January 19, 2004

Workplace Observation 2 Abstract This paper will depict a high level view of observations that I make within my workplace environment. My individual perception on the topics of communication, culture, conflict, and technology is discussed. In regards to these topics, my companys organizational climate, as it exists currently, is also reviewed.

Workplace Observation 3 Working my way up to the position that I currently hold within my company, it is easy to see that there are numerous factors that contribute to the organizational climate of ones workplace. These factors that affect the workplace environment include communication, culture, conflict, and technology. I am an Information Technology Project Manager for Coca Cola Enterprises, Inc. My responsibility is to oversee large-scale projects that affect both North America and the company as a whole. I believe that the culture of an organization has the most impact on the success or failure of a company. Coca Cola Enterprises, Inc. is a global company with facilities all over the world. Being a global company allows them to be culturally diverse. The cultural diversity in Coca Cola is a melting-pot of different languages, races, and religions. In my role with the company, I must be sensitive to different cultures. I have made it a point to learn about different areas of the world to better learn how to deal with them on a professional level. I am extremely familiar with the European culture, in particularly, France. For instance, the French are very structured. They follow the corporate chain of command very closely. In the United States, it may be acceptable for an employee to deal with other employees who are outside of their pay grade. However, in France a subordinate must go through his line manager in order to contact another department or another manager. The avenues of communication within my company have improved over the last five years. Technology has opened the doors for this varied communication. On a daily basis, I communicate via email, instant messenging, cellular phone, land line, voice over IP, and voicemail networking. I use each of these forms of communication to enhance my job performance and efficiency. At times, I use a combination of two or three of these forms

Workplace Observation 4 of communication. For instance, if I need an answer to a question, I will attempt to call someone first. If I do not get an answer then I will leave a message and follow up with an email request. I will also see if that person is online and send them an instant message. Technology is currently playing a major role in my company also. Historically, bottling companies do not spend money on technological enhancements. Executive management hesitates to spend money on technology because they do not always see the immediate return on investment. Information Technology departments are regarded as an entity that spends money. Senior Managers feel that I.T. is vital to an organization in regards to upgrades and fixing of equipment but do not want I.T. attempting to change the way the company does business. In the beginning of February 2003, the board of directors for Coca Cola Enterprises announced a project that would improve business processes. The project is called Project Pinnacle. It will utilize technology to improve the areas of finance, supply chain, sales, and distribution. SAP will be the core transaction system to be used for all of these departments. SAP is a company that develops and markets enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. This ERP software will allow our company to share the same information and data across other departments while operating within the same system. It will also allow our vendors and customers that utilize SAP to interface and integrate with our systems as needed. Conflict is not a major issue in my role at Coca Cola. I am a virtual office worker. When I am not traveling, I work exclusively from my home. Coca Cola Enterprises, however, does have a program called Solutions. This program offers a range of ways for employees to work through workplace conflicts. Solutions will attempt to solve conflicts

Workplace Observation 5 ranging from a simple misunderstanding to a violation of rights. These conflicts are facilitated through a mediator. In addition to solutions there is also a complaint process. This complaint process is a more formal process to solving workplace conflict. The process documents how an employee informs his/her manager and escalates the problem to human resources. Between last year and this year, the organizational climate of Coca Cola has been uncertain. Employee anxiety due to organizational changes and cutbacks has resurfaced. Departmental consolidations and outsourcing are a very real concern. Three years ago, Coca Cola laid off 20% of its total workforce. I am noticing the same trends again early this year. With increasing technological advances, the need for employees doing certain jobs is replaced with automation and computers. Overall, Coca Cola is a solid company to work for. It has lasted the test of time and will be around for many years to come.

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