Discipline, often regarded as the cornerstone of organizational success, typically conveys adherence to rules, order, and hierarchical structures. While fostering discipline is essential for maintaining a structured work environment, it is imperative to recognize that rigid adherence to it can sometimes prove counter-productive for an organization. The conventional understanding of discipline revolves around compliance and subordination, emphasizing the importance of following established protocols. However, an excessive focus on strict discipline may stifle creativity, hinder innovation, and impede adaptability in today’s dynamic and rapidly changing business landscape. Organizations need to strike a delicate balance between enforcing necessary discipline and fostering an environment that encourages flexibility and initiative. This nuanced approach is crucial to ensure that discipline serves as a facilitator of productivity rather than a hindrance, allowing organizations to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an ever-evolving professional landscape.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to mention the significance of discipline.
- In Body,
- Discuss why discipline is necessary?
- Discuss how discipline may be counterproductive?
- In conclusion, try to conclude the answer by mentioning a balanced opinion.
Answer:
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.” – George Washington.
Discipline in an organization ensures productivity and efficiency. It encourages harmony and co-operation among employees and also acts as a morale booster for the employees. Discipline is very essential for a healthy industrial atmosphere and for the achievement of organizational goals. However, the management of workplace discipline remains a key problem in employee relations, and is one of the most discernible sources of conflict at work.
Maintaining discipline in an organization entails following order and subordinations. It is generally a good thing as it is necessary to run huge organizations. Moreover,
- Discipline helps prevent chaos in an organization and makes the process streamlined in case of contingencies like disaster relief.
- Discipline in an organization ensures productivity and efficiency.
- It encourages harmony and co-operation among employees and also acts as a morale booster for the employees.
- It is very essential for a healthy industrial atmosphere and for the achievement of organizational goals.
However, it may be counter productive in the following cases:
- May create a culture of fear and apprehension, which lowers worker morale and inhibits employee growth.
- Using negative discipline to punish employees for poor performance is not as effective as helping them to identify their weaknesses and explore how to improve upon their strengths.
- The habit of blindly following orders of superiors deters the inculcation of leadership spirit and responsibility.
- Use of negative discipline to punish employees for poor performance is not as effective as helping them to identify their weaknesses and explore options to improve upon their strengths.
Therefore, while discipline is important in ensuring order and subordination, a fine balance needs to be followed so that it does not become counterproductive to the organizational interests. Positive discipline approach, which uses constructive criticism, can be followed to instill correct behavior. For example explaining to an underperforming employee how his/her failure to follow proper protocol is hurting performance and then offer helpful suggestions for increasing productivity.
In the bureaucratic sphere, the civil servants need to learn to refuse orders that can go against their duty. For example, after the massacre on Highway of Death in Gulf War(where the US army was ordered to kill the retreating Iraqi soldiers), US army started giving the training to it’s personnel telling them when to refuse orders.
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