Organizational creativity and decision-making in the Lotus Elise company

¶ … learning about the Lotus Elise car. What can one grasp from this particular case? Is there anything significant that stands out? One will discuss this scenario in depth along with theory and recommendations.

Creativity in Organization

Many factors are worth considering when looking at creativity in an organizational environment, especially for Lotus Elise, which include communication, decision making, handling potential conflicts, personal attitudes and group roles. People make decisions every day; they are usually good and bad. However, one needs to describe what these actually are in a business environment. These consist of" democratic, autocratic, collective-participative and consensus" (Leadership Management, 2011, p. 1).

Democratic refers to the majority vote when decisions are made, such as having the Board of Directors decide between three possible candidates who will want to become the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). One can view an autocratic leader as one who controls everything that occurs within his or her business, or as some would say is a "micromanager." Furthermore, collective-participative includes the leader but also the followers within a group; however, the leader makes the ultimate decision. Consensus is when the employees have complete control and the leader gives up the ability to make a decision that is needed at that particular time (Leadership Management, 2011).

In regards to communication, three areas are worth mentioning. These are verbal, paraverbal and nonverbal messages that are sent when a person speaks to another human on a regular basis within a business setting. When he or she speaks, this pertains to verbal. However, nonverbal is in relation to body language, such as folding of the arms. The person who uses paraverbal messages are what one can read into them. For example, this can refer to tone and speed of the words. Sometimes an individual could find these quite offensive, but it is all in how a person conveys it to the other (Windle & Warren, 2011).

Conflicts arise in organizations on a regular basis because no place is perfect. However, one needs to explain how to handle them before they get out of control. These are as follows. A person has to avoid making assumptions but to strive to ask questions when anything appears unclear. The manager can provide a reality check by means of using confrontation. He or she can explain the benefits when resolving conflicts at work. One needs to keep the information as direct and simple as possible. Ask each side what it is they would like to do to solve the problem. They both can sum up what was learned and then go back to work. These are ways in which to handle it before it does occur within a business setting (Forbes, 2011).

Personal attitudes do impact businesses, especially if they are positive or negative. Four are important and worth addressing. These include "skills, direction, action and work attitude values enhancement (WAVE) (Career-Success-For-Newbies, 2011). One needs to discuss these further. Skills refers to improving what one has trained to do for most of his or her life, such as type or write. Direction is a measn of knowing how to approach situations and to have goals in life to go with it. Action is to "align your professional belief with the organization" (Career-Success-For-Newbies, 2011, p. 1). WAVE is encompassing all of these factors in order to have a better attitude when working for a specific employer (Career-Success-For-Newbies, 2011).

Group roles are important for a business. A perosn will either lead or follow within this set-up. Usually a facilitator is present in order to moderate discussion and to keep everyone on task. Someone will keep track of time when completing an assignment. An individual will check to make sure that everyone understands the concepts that are conveyed at that particular time. A number of individuals will summarize, elaborate, research or take any given task that is set before them (Wisconsin University, 2011). Cultural, Organization and Individual Barriers

Many cultural, individual and organizational barriers can inhibit creativity. These are "entry and gender role, national policy, rigid schedules, lack of management support and corporate culture" (Williams, 2000). When a person experiences any of these frustrations will quickly rise and he or she may behave inappropriately. However, cultural issues do arise, and these include "roles and status, personal space, body language, religion, personal appearance" (Morris, 2002). The individual barriers are important too. This may mean that a person brings their problem to work, such as a trauma (Mattke, 2011).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaboration

One needs to discuss the advantages of collaborating in the workplace. Lotus Elise is able to grasp different perspectives through it. This will make him or her more self-aware of other issues he or she may not have thought of during that particular time. A decision-making balance occurs because people are able to make the necessary choices in order to do their job well. In fact, delivery times may improve because of collaborating with others. One may notice a separation of responsibilities through discussing the given task (Scheid, 2010). All of these methods help develop an organization into becoming as productive as possible on a regular basis. Without collaborating, businesses would not know what to do in order to make it better as well as who do what specific task. Through collaboration, a person is able to know what is expected of him or her and to do it well.

Techniques for Problems and Solutions

By evaluating and synthesizing a range of techniuques for defining different types of problems, one is able to generate solutions and implementing them. Lotus Elise can use the ABC method when dealing with particular issues in the workplace. This means the antecedent, such as what caused the person to behave in the manner that he or she did. One will then need to look a the behavior and to come up with a consequence to fit the issue. For example, an employee kicks another perosn in the shin because he or she was too close. The logical consequence is to teach the individual boundaries and for everyone to keep their distance in order to avoid getting hurt. As one can tell, the next logical step is to have a plan. Management put into action what other individuals should do when at work with that person and then taught the employee boundaries through this process. This completely resolved the problem because the person did not do it again; however, if it did, then the person could get their first write-up (The University of Washington, 2011).

Evaluation and Recommendations

Lotus Elise actually would have made a better decision by means of making sure that they made at least 5,000 and to strive to have these sold within the first year alone. The years following management could consider adding new features, such as a global positioning service or a built in telephone. As a result, more customers would buy their vehicles and would tell and show their family and friends because of it. In turn, this would enhance their marketing efforts and have more opportuniteis to choose to auction them off with various businesses or to sell them on their car lot. The supply is available, but management should have considered how many would possibly buy it before making 700 of them (Ahmed & Shepherd, 2010).

The company should consider a variety of steps in regards to the demand for the Lotus Elise. Management needs to consider microeconomics within their own company. This pertains to if they have their workers scheduled properly in order to meet the demands of the macroenvironment itself. Through this, they will decrease conflict that goes with individual, cultural and societal issues as a whole, so that their facility runs as smooth as possible. Additionally, each of them need to consider the emotional needs of their employees because conflict is inevitable. They are bound behave innapropriately and to disrespect those in authority. When this occurs, management will have no choice but to implement the necessary consequences on employees behavior (Ahmed & Shepherd, 2010).

Management has to consider making their cars of higher quality after the first year; however, the Lotus Elise needs to have more out in the marketplace for people to buy. This means that employees may have to do 12 hours days for awhile in order that they get at least another 700 out for anyone interested in having one themselves. The car dealerships can have the customers buy the car in advanced and then when it is made and sent to them; they can call up the consumer in order that they pick it up when their schedule allows. By doing this method, they are able to reach out to as many people as possible, while keeping up with the demand for the car itself (Ahmed & Shepherd, 2010).

The next step needed is to make sure that people understand what value is provided with the car. Each individual is able to understand ways in which to use the various features that are available, such as the radio or seats. This can make it an enticement for people who are not able to afford it to maybe go out and get one themselves. However, the company can consider offering it through providing a discount to those who meet specific qualifications. For example, the car is offered at $75,000, but if the customer acts within 30 days, he or she will get it at $55,000. When anyone sees this message, they are going to want to find a way in which to get this particular car. However, the company can also consider providing loans for people to pay off in order to get the car. When doing this, they can give them a 20% discount when going this route (Ahmed & Shepherd, 2010).

Conclusion

By studying the Lotus Elise case, one can learn much. This means that the company needs to have more consideration on the various theories on creativity and innovation. They may need to ask themselves ways in which to become more imaginative when selling the Lotus Elise in order to keep up with the demand. One recommends that they consider having a company website and then have their marketing team advertise this through social media, commercials, billboards, flyers, word-of-mouth and so forth. This will put them ahead of others in their industy that may or may not have this in place. Regardless, this may mean hiring a vast marketing staff to make this possible for everyone interested in it (Ahmed & Shepherd, 2010).