Page 35 - Management Digest Udyama Vol 1 Isuue 2

Another effective way of implying Reduction in the number of social As no concept, including
‘commonness’ is the physical categories tends to decrease the symbolic egalitarianism, is
space. According to Pfeiffer salience of various subdivisions 100% perfect, an egalitarian
(1994) “the CEO of Solectron, a in the organization, diminish company may also face problems
contract manufacturer that won the thinking pattern of ‘us’ by when the employees adapt to
the Malcolm Baldrige award, substituting ‘them’, and create the structure; especially the
does not have a private office, the sense of a common goal. employees who are used to
and neither does the chairman”. Symbolic Egalitarianism makes traditional work backgrounds
As same as everything else, cross-movement easier due of hierarchical companies. For
symbolic egalitarianism, that is to fewer status distinctions to instance, those who had held
in practice in some private sector overcome. high-level managerial positions
organizations Sri Lanka, too has and those who worked in entry-
its advantages and disadvantages. Every business is guided by the level positions may feel somewhat
rationale of providing services to uncomfortable in the setting, and
Egalitarian structure an ideal the society while making profit. as a result it is unlikely that they
recruiting tool in terms of Symbolic egalitarianism creating will constructively engage with
motivating employees who are numerous opportunities for cost colleagues. Hence, leadership
dissatisfied with traditional saving is an advantage for the needs to play a major role in
workplaces. An egalitarian managers. As managers do have achieving the fullest benefits of
company provides employees identical efficient spaces same symbolic egalitarianism, for lack
with the opportunity to equally as those of other workers, the of careful planning and leadership
contribute as well as share company may focus more on can lead an egalitarian company
recognition for success; one facilitating the workers, instead into considerable problems.
of many advantages of an of large fancily furnished offices, Hence, Pfeiffer (1994) emphasizes
egalitarianism system. In such executive washrooms and dining that although the problems in the
a system, an individual worker, rooms. Expenditure on facilitating new office arrangements include,
while being responsible for for top-level employees can be but are not limited to, an absence
personal and team tasks, is not diverted to improve common of acoustical privacy at times,
shackled by the chain of authority workplace facilities for everyone they do signify more equality.
or by no means disadvantaged or strengthen the company’s
by another claiming the bottom line.
responsibility for the positive
results of someone else’s work,
as more freedom in an egalitarian
company promotes individual
accountability. As a result,
egalitarian companies can use this
structure as a recruiting tool, in Hence, leadership needs
order to persuade employees who to play a major role in
are dissatisfied with traditional
workplaces. achieving the fullest benefits

Another advantage of symbolic of symbolic egalitarianism,
egalitarianism, according to
Pfeiffer (1994), is the across-level for lack of careful planning
communication enhanced by the and leadership can lead an
opportunity to interact and meet
in less formal settings. Meetings egalitarian company into
in a less formal setting is observed
in certain military contexts as considerable problems...
well, which is an indication that
the senior management is aware
of the real events and is capable
of communicating directly to
everyone in the facility.

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