Discuss how the following Guiding Questions which are based on the culture theories lens help you better understand your organization. Include in your discussion thread the strengths and weaknesses of this lens for gaining that understanding. You do not have to share your views on each of the guiding questions.
Guiding Questions
Describe the culture of your organization and whether cultural differences exist within the various units of your organization.
How does your organization develop consensus on mission, tasks, and goals?
What is your role within the organization and how is this different from your actual job description?
. Explain how the questions have helped you understand your organization better. For example, when discussing your views on the structural theories lens, you might say viewing the chain of command helped me to realize… or after considering the span of control, it is clear that…
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Understanding Your Organization through Culture Theories Lens
In the realm of organizational behavior, understanding the culture within an organization is crucial for its success. Utilizing the culture theories lens provides a unique perspective that sheds light on how individuals within the organization interact, communicate, and work towards common goals. By exploring the guiding questions posed through this lens, one can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of their organization. This essay will delve into how these guiding questions can help individuals better comprehend their organization, while also analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of this lens in gaining such understanding.
Describing the Organization’s Culture and Identifying Cultural Differences
The first guiding question prompts individuals to describe the culture of their organization and determine if cultural differences exist within its various units. This question allows for an exploration of the values, norms, and beliefs that shape the organization’s identity. By recognizing cultural nuances across different units, individuals can appreciate the diversity that exists within the organization. Strengths of this approach include fostering an inclusive environment where various perspectives are valued. However, a weakness may lie in oversimplifying complex cultural dynamics or overlooking underlying issues that contribute to cultural differences.
Developing Consensus on Mission, Tasks, and Goals
The second guiding question focuses on understanding how consensus on mission, tasks, and goals is achieved within the organization. This inquiry delves into the processes and mechanisms through which alignment and agreement are fostered among members. By examining this aspect, individuals can grasp how shared purpose is cultivated and maintained. The strength of this lens lies in promoting collaboration and unity towards common objectives. Nevertheless, a potential weakness may arise if certain voices or perspectives are marginalized in the consensus-building process.
Exploring Role Discrepancies within the Organization
The third guiding question delves into individuals’ roles within the organization and how these roles may differ from their official job descriptions. This question encourages a reflection on the actual responsibilities and expectations that individuals navigate daily. By uncovering such misalignments, individuals can address potential gaps in role clarity and performance expectations. A strength of this lens is its emphasis on individual experiences and perceptions within the organization. However, a weakness could be overlooking systemic issues that contribute to role discrepancies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, analyzing an organization through the culture theories lens offers a comprehensive understanding of its inner workings. By engaging with the guiding questions provided, individuals can gain valuable insights into the culture, consensus-building processes, and role dynamics within their organization. While this lens provides a holistic view of organizational behavior, it is essential to acknowledge its strengths and weaknesses in providing a nuanced understanding. Embracing the complexity of organizational culture through this lens can pave the way for fostering a more cohesive and effective work environment.
