UNICEF: Organizational Management Descriptive Analysis Strategies
Question
Task:
Introduction: What is this report is about, a very brief introduction to the organization, why you chose the organization, any relationship you have with the organization.
Research Methodology: A summary of the methodology you embraced for this assignment including case study methodology and the use of naturally occuring data.
Vision and Values of the Organization: include vision or mission of the organisation, their values, an insight into their culture and management style using Morgan's metaphors.
Organization Theory: Can you find any evidence of management theory from bussniess management field at the organization? Can you find any information on their organization structure, chain of command and channels of communications from types of organizational structure lists and explain it.
Ethics and Diversity: Can you find any evidence of ethical practice (good oe bad). Has that organization embraced diversity.
Conclusion what is your comment on this organization management. Are they embraced organization theory?
The organization you have to write is UNICEF.
Answer
Introduction: The key purpose of this report is to explore the organizational management of UNICEF. UNICEF is an organization which is headquartered at New York, US was founded by United Nations General Assembly in the year of 1946 with a purpose of providing healthcare and food to the children along with their mothers of those countries which were devastated in World War II. The organization is selected for this study because this is a non- profit organization that serves society and the organizational management of this company differs from the profit seeking organizations. Being a management student I want to study the scope of non –profit organization and apart from that I do not have any relation with this organization.
Discussion
1. Research methodology: Research methodology stands for a systematic plan which is used in order to conduct a research. Various strategies are techniques are used in researches to gather information or evidence regarding the topic of interest (Kumar, 2019). The present research utilizes a particular research technique or strategy, in order to ensure effective execution of the tasks, for the successful completion of the project. Among the observational method, survey method and case study method of research, the current research study utilizes the case study research methodology. The reason behind such choice is that, the case study research method encompasses a strategy in which an approach of empirical enquiry is taken for investigating into real life scenarios. The advantage of the case study research methodology is that it allows the researchers to collect huge amount of details that is not easily gathered by any other type of research methodology (Gravetterb & Forzano, 2018).
The present research study does not follow a survey research method where all the respondents actively participate and respond to the questions that are asked by the researchers during interview or through questionnaires. The survey method would be disadvantageous for this research as the controversial questions are often ignored by the respondents (Yin, 2017). As the study is aimed at exploring the organizational management of UNICEF, the case study research method is selected over an observational method, in which study and analysis of the human behavior is carried out. However, in this research, the usage of case study methodology can be disadvantageous as it fails to find out the reason behind conducting the research and its impact. Thus, the scope of usage of case study research methodology is limited for this research.
Justification: For this particular study, the case study research method is used because the study is based on the extensive investigation of the organization named UNICEF. This study is a descriptive analysis of organization management of UNICEF wherein several aspects of the management will be revealed.
Data collection is considered as a process wherein the data for the study are collected and measured for the purpose of analyzing the insights of the research (Silverman, 2016). To put it another way, the researcher assess the research hypothesis based on this data collection. Data collection can be segmented into two broad categories namely primary data collection and secondary data collection. Primary data collection refers to the process of collecting data that are gathered for the first time by the researcher that is the first hand data are collected (Quinlanet al., 2019). It involves rigorous process for collecting the data and are collected from surveys, observations, questionnaires, interview and many more. On the other hand, the secondary data collection refers to the collection of data that are already collected by someone. This method of data collection is collected from the journals, government websites, books, internal records of the company (Denzin, 2017).
Justification: In this assignment the secondary data collection method will be used because of the availability of the data and hence this will enhance the research accuracy and validity. The data will be collected from the website of UNICEF and other related journals.
2 Visions and Values of organization:
Mission and vision of UNICEF: The vision of the organization is creating a world wherein the rights of the children are be perceived (UNICEF, 2018). The mission statement or the purpose of UNICEF is mandated by the UN General Assembly that is providing protection to the rights of the children across the world. In addition to that meeting the basic and emergency needs of the children and developing opportunities for them to reach the potential.
Values: The core values of UNICEF are diversity and inclusion, commitment and integrity. To put it another way, the organizational value if UNICEF is to treat each individuals with respect and grandeur and hence dealing the activities in a sensible way in order to gauge the cultural and religious gaps. The core commitments of the organization are to look after the basic needs of the children such as health, education, nutrition, child protection, maintain the hygiene ("UNICEF's culture", 2017).
Culture: The organizational culture of UNICEF focus on the continuous improvement that is looking forward to improve the ways of proving services to the children (UNICEF, 2005).
Management style: Traditional Management style is followed by UNICEF wherein the functional organizational structure ensures the hierarchy in the chain of command and formal communication structure. The management style of UNICEF assures the efficiency in attaining the organizational goals.
The organizational theories largely depends on the absolute metaphors that enables others to understand and visualize the situations that is in other words it can be said that the Morgan’s metaphors can create an effective insight about the organization that will be studies that is UNICEF.
- Machine metaphor: This metaphor holds that the organization is a machine and only aims at enhance the organizational effectiveness. UNICEF also holds same philosophy and hence follows Classical organizational theory wherein the only focus is to protect and serve the children and hence promoting their rights ("UNICEF Org Chart: How Does the United Nations Children's Fund Work | Org Charting", 2017).
- Organism metaphor: This metaphor perceives the organization as open system and hence is contrasting to the machine metaphor. UNICEF does not completely follow this metaphor as this metaphor supports modern organizational theory (UNICEF, 2018).
- Brain metaphor: Under this metaphor the cognitive characteristics of the organization along with the learning theories are emphasized. For the purpose of accomplishing the organizational objectives, UNICEF polish its knowledge from the experience and thus utilizing the same for advocating the organizational strategies.
- Culture metaphor: The metaphor symbolizes the shared values and core aspects of the organization. The organizational culture of UNICEF also promotes continuous improvement, responding to the change and identifying the weak areas of the organization (UNICEF, 2005).
- Political system metaphor: This metaphor encompasses through the diversity of interests and the conflict in the organization. UNICEF includes diversification and inclusion in the value of the company culture and hence it can be said that the organization provides services to the children irrespective of their caste, gender, creed or any other difference ("Be inclusive: Celebrate and value all types of diversity", 2015).
- Psychic prison metaphor: This metaphor analyze the psychoanalytical theories in the organization. UNICEF does not have any such theory in its organizational culture.
- Flux and transformation metaphor: This particular metaphor focuses on the self-reference process and unpredictability by embracing the chaos and complexity theories in the organization. UNICEF have traditional organizational structure and hence do not have any scope for such theories.
- Instrument of Domination metaphor: This metaphor highlights the control and unequal distribution of power in the organization. UNICEF follows classical organizational theory and hence have authoritative chain of command wherein the power is centralized to the executive office ("UNICEF's culture", 2017).
3 Organizational theory: The organizational theory is considered as a set of concepts that aims at explaining the behavioral attitude of the individuals or groups of the organization who interact with each other for attaining the predetermined goals (Manning, 2017). The organizational theory can be segmented into three broad categories namely Classical Theory, Neo-Classical Theory, and Modern Theory. UNICEF basically follows Classical Organizational Theory which is also known as the traditional theory of management. The classical organizational theory is considered as the management theory wherein the focus is on the fulfillment of the organizational goals and objectives that is the organizations following classical organizational theory are customer-centric rather than being employee-centric (Shafritz, Ott, & Jang, 2015)
The organizational chart of UNICEF reflects the structure of the organization, chain of command and levels of communication (Beigbeder, 2016). The organizational structure of UNICEF is functional wherein the core functional areas of the organization are segmented into 17 sub-divisions. Basically, the organization is divided into two tiers namely the Executive Office and Regional Office. In Classical organizational theory, there are two aspects namely technological aspects and structural aspects. UNICEF effectively emphasized on the structural aspects wherein the individuals can work efficiently to fulfill the organizational goals. The last tier of the organizational structure of UNICEF is regional office wherein the Regional Officers are responsible to look for the core activities of the organization that is providing services for the betterment of the disadvantaged children across the world. The first tier of the organizational chart of UNICEF is Executive Office which is formed by an Executive director, followed by four Deputy Executive Directors and a Chief of Staff. The functional role of the Executive Director is to address issues such as economic development, health, education, disaster protection, and humanitarian. The Chief of Staff basically deals with resource management, emergency solutions, program management, and business partnerships. The Deputy Directors are responsible to work with the global public sectors and agencies to create a sustainable environment for children. Hence, the organizational structure of UNICEF is concerned more with fulfilling the organizational goals which is one of the major characteristics of classical organizational theory.
The hierarchy of authority is maintained in the classical organizational theory wherein there are multilayers of authority (Alvesson, 2018). UNICEF’s organizational structure has a hierarchy in the chain of command that is the regional offices are accountable to the Executive offices for each activity and hence this assures efficiency in the organizational activities. Due to the hierarchy in the organization, formal communication exists in UNICEF that is the direct line of communication is followed. The Executive Office of UNICEF is the decision-makers and hence the information are shared following the chain of command ("UNICEF Org Chart: How Does the United Nations Children's Fund Work | Org Charting", 2017).
4 Ethics and Diversity:UNICEF is a non-profit organization that serves the society and hence is indulged in ethical practices. There are several ethical practices by the organization but amongst them, the most trending one is the Ethical Tea Partnership("Mission : Ethical Tea Partnership", 2017). UNICEF is working with the Ethical Tea Partnership which is an NTO, hence the purpose of the organizations is to convene the tea industry across the world, developing a partnership with the NGOs and government for improving the standard of living of the tea farmers. The program is implemented across Africa and Asia that aims at creating an industry for the tea farmers and workers. The mission of the Ethical Tea partnership is to encourage and create a socially thriving and environmentally sustainable industry for the tea sector. The key themes or core values of the organization is to change the lives of the tea workers and farmers, creating better earning opportunities, empowerment to women, working for climate and environment.
UNICEF has embraced diversity and this is one of the core values of the organization that is being inclusive wherein the diversity is being valued and celebrated. The diversity along with inclusion is considered as one of the major aspects of UNICEF that is the organization serves the children from diversified backgrounds irrespective of caste, color, creed, economic class, and gender("Be inclusive: Celebrate and value all types of diversity", 2015). “Gender Atlas” is a tool for decision making prepared by UNICEF for designing effective education for girls. Apart from that, the organization considers that the strength of the organization is the diversified partnership and is committed in the creation of the job opportunities for eligible candidates irrespective of gender and ethnicity("UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina - Media centre - “Our world of Diversity”: real-life stories on inclusive education", 2018). Based on the above discussion, it can UNICEF is indulged in ethical practices and had embraced diversity in the organization.
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion, it can be said that the organizational management of UNICEF considers organizational theory and structure for functioning effectively. The organizational theory is embraced by the management which has an impact on the organizational structure of UNICEF. Apart from that the study also discussed the organizational values and vision as well as the ethics and diversity. UNICEF organizational management assignments are being prepared by our management assignment help experts from top universities which let us to provide you a reliable assignment help online service.
Reference List
Alvesson, M. (2018). Organization theory and technocratic consciousness: Rationality, ideology and quality of work (Vol. 8). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Be inclusive: Celebrate and value all types of diversity. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/cwc/cwc_58685.html
Beigbeder, Y. (2016). The internal management of United Nations organizations: The long quest for reform. Springer.
Denzin, N. K. (2017). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. Routledge.
Gravetter, F. J., &Forzano, L. A. B. (2018). Research methods for the behavioral sciences. Cengage Learning.
Shafritz, J. M., Ott, J. S., & Jang, Y. S. (2015). Classics of organization theory. Cengage Learning.
Kumar, R. (2019). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage Publications Limited.
Manning, K. (2017). Organizational theory in higher education. Routledge.
Mission : Ethical Tea Partnership. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.ethicalteapartnership.org/about-us/mission/
Quinlan, C., Babin, B., Carr, J., & Griffin, M. (2019). Business research methods. South Western Cengage.
UNICEF Org Chart: How Does the United Nations Children's Fund Work | Org Charting. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.orgcharting.com/unicef-org-chart/
UNICEF's culture. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture
Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.