WORK ETHIC IN THEPOLYTECHNIC
APAPER PRESENTEDAT
ANINDUCTIONPROGRAMMEFOR STAFF OF AKANUIBIAMFEDERALPOLYTECHNIC,UNWANA
ONMARCH 24,2014
BY
MR.A. A.OKPANI,B.Sc. (Statistics), M.Sc.(Statistics),NSA PRINCIPALLECTURER
DEPARTMENTOFMATHS/STATISTICS
Summary:
This papersurveyscurrentissuesin work ethic,identifieskeyfactorsthat contributetoworkethic-Interpersonalskills,initiative,beingdependable etc, andhowthesecanbeinternalizedinourownworkenvironment. Takingthe initiative and time management as core work ethic values that drive OrganizationsandInstitutionsarespeciallyaddressed.
WhileemphasizingWork Ethic,thepaperalsoidentifiessomeofthemoral dilemmaswemayfaceinthecourseof dutyandhowwecan attuneourselvesto themissionandvisionof our Polytechnic-AkanuIbiamFederalPolytechnic, Unwana.
Introduction:
Currentmanagementliteratureandresearchmainly focuson leadershipof organizationsandcompetition.A lotoftrainingworkshopsandseminarsare targetedontopmanagementandmiddlelevelmanagersin thehopethatthe actionsof thesecadresof workerswouldleadtotheachievementof the organization’s goalsandobjectives. Concepts likeManagement byObjectives, TotalQualityManagement,andStrategicManagement/leadershipare often evoked. Butaddressing theissue ofpersonalqualitiesandattitudes thatare criticalintheworkplacehasbeenaspecialchallengeto mostorganizationsand institutionslikeours.Acquiringwhatisnowknownasemployabilityskillshas a hazystartingpoint:Shouldschools/institutionsimparttheseskillsorshouldit be theresponsibilityofemployerswhoneedthem?
Lankard (1990) defined employability skills as including personal image,
interpersonalskillsandgoodhabitsandattitude.Withrespecttoworkattitude,
theconceptofwork ethicis relatedtothedesirablecharacteristicsfor a potential employee(CusterClaiborne,1991;Hill1992).Inessence,theemployabilityskills neededforthehighperformance workplace areatangibleexpression ofthe underlying work ethic, often mentioned in cotemporary conversations but seldomclearlydefined.Thework ethicisaculturalnormthat advocatesbeing personallyaccountableandresponsiblefortheworkthatonedoesandisbased onabeliefthatworkhasintrinsicvalue(Cherrington,1980;ColsonEckerd,
1991;Quinn,1983;YankclovichImmerwahr,1984).Theworkethicasweknow
ittodayisasecularizedconstructderivedfromWeber’s(1904,1905)Protestant
WorkEthic(PWE)theory.
ThePWEassertingthat Calvinisttheologyencouragedaccumulationof wealth,hasbeenwidelyusedas an explanationofthesuccessofCapitalismin Westernsociety.Overthe yearshowever,attitudesand beliefssupportinghard workhaveblendedintothenormsof Westernculture,andarenolonger attributable to a particular religious sect (Lipset, 1990; Rodgers, 1978; Rose,1985).Theelementsof workethicthat areofgreatestsignificancein the preparationofpeopleforworkaretheattitudesandbehavioursascribedto work ethicratherthanasectarianbeliefsystemthatinculcatesthesecharacteristics.
Work Ethic is an often mentioned attribute employers want their employeestohave,butonetheyoftensay is hardtofind(Boardman,1994).
CharacteristicsofWorkEthic
Againandagain,WorkEthic and employabilityskillsarelistedassomething neededforjobsuccessand areanareathatschools/institutionsingeneraland educational programsspecificallyareexpectedtoaddress.Effortsinthisarea,
however, often failorfall short ofanticipated outcomes. Various researchers have identified numerous affective characteristics considered desirable for workingpeople.
Beech,Kazanas,Sapko,SissonandList(1978)identified63 affectivework competencesconsideredimportantby industryleadersand educatorsand clusteredtheminto15categories.
Petty (1993),buildingonthelineof researchconductedbyKazanas(1978), identified50work ethic descriptorsanddevelopedtheOccupationalWorkEthic Inventory(OWEI)HillPetty(1995)usingtheOWEItocollectdataandapplying principalcomponent andfactorstatisticalanalyses condensed andcategorized the50OWEIdescriptors intofive factors: Interpersonal skills, Initiative, Being DependableandReverseditemsi.enegativedescriptors.
Succinctlyput,“WorkEthicis avaluebasedonhardworkanddiligence.Itis alsoabeliefinthemoralbenefitofwork anditsabilitytoenhancecharacter.An examplewouldbetheProtestantWork Ethic.A workethicmayincludebeing reliable,havinginitiative,or pursuingnewskills.Workersexhibitingagoodwork ethicin theoryshouldbeselectedforbetterpositions,moreresponsibilityand ultimately promotion. Workers who failto exhibit a good work ethic maybe regardedasfailingto providefairvalueforthewagetheemployeris payingthem andshouldnot bepromotedorplacedinpositionsofgreaterresponsibility” (http:llenwikipechin.org/wiki/workethic).
FactorsthatPromoteWorkEthic
Before we discuss in detail the five OWEI factors identified byHilland Petty(1995),Let usconsiderthefollowingconcepts/factorswhichareknownto promoteworkethicintheworkplace.
Integrity:Integritystretchestoallaspectsofanemployee’sjob.Anemployee with integrity fosters trusting relationships with clients, co-workers and Supervisors. Co-workers value theemployee’s ability togive honest feedback. Clientstrustthe employer’sadvice.Supervisorsrelyonthe employee’shighmoral standards,trustinghimnottostealfromthecompanyorcreateproblems.
Senseof Responsibility:A strongsenseof responsibilityaffectshowanemployee worksand theamountof workhe/she does.Whentheemployeefeelspersonally responsiblefor his performancehe showsupontime,putsinhis best effortand completesprojectstothebestof hisability.Someemployeesdoonlythebare minimum,justenoughtokeeptheirjobintact.Employeeswithastrongwork ethiccareaboutthequalityoftheirwork.Theemployee’scommitmentto quality, improvestheinstitution’soverallquality.
Discipline: Ittakesacertainlevelofcommitmentto finishyourtaskeveryday.An employeewithgooddisciplinestaysfocusedonhisgoalsandis determinedto completehisassignment.Theseemployeesshowa highlevelofdedicationtothe institution,alwaysensuringtheydotheirbest.
SenseofTeamWork: InvariousassignmentsinthePolytechnic, youmayhave toworktogethertomeettheInstitution’sobjectives.Membershipsof committeesortaskforcesarecasesinpoint.Anemployeewithahighsenseof
team workhelpsateammeet its goalsanddeliverqualitywork.Theseemployees respecttheirpeersandhelpwheretheycan,makingcollaborationsgo smoother. InternalizingWorkEthicPrinciplesinthePolytechnic
We shall consider the four factors of the Occupational Work Ethic
Inventory(OWEI)andsee howwecan rateourselvesin theOWEIscale.Before then,letusaskourselvesindividually,thefollowingquestions:
i.Whatisthemission/visionofAkanuIbiamFederalPolytechnic?
ii.WhywasIemployedbythePolytechnic?
iii.Whatismyjob orjobdescriptioninthePolytechnic?
iv.WhatismycontributiontothegoalsandobjectivesofthePolytechnic? Thesequestionsmustbeconstantlyborneinmindandanswersprofferedto keepourworkethicalive.
OccupationalWorkEthicInventoryscoresheetpersonalratingintheOWEI
factors.
ThefiveOWEIfactorsareInterpersonalSkills,Initiative,BeingDependableand
ReverseorNegativeitems.
Intheblank besideeachitem,writeyouranswerfromtheOWEI.Theitemsare groupedby categoriesof work ethiccharacteristicsfordiscussionpurposes. Totalthe answersforeachcategoryand divideby thenumberindicatedto determineascoreforeach.
(SeefactorsandcompositeitemsintheAppendix).
TAKINGTHEINITIATIVE
Ofallthe workethicfactors,themostimportantindrivingtheorganizationis the conceptoftakingtheinitiative.Inorderto understandthetermandsuccessfully developitsapplication,itisnecessarytoanswerthreefundamentalquestions:
-Whatisit?
-Whatisitfor?
-Howdoesitwork?
Whatisit?
TheOxfordAdvancedLearner’sDictionary(6thEdition)definesinitiativethus;
1. Anew planfordealingwithaparticularproblem
2. Theabilityto decideandactonyourownwithoutwaitingforsomebodyto tellyouwhattodo.E.g.Asyouwon’tgetmuchhelp,you’llhavetouse yourinitiative. Shediditonherowninitiative(i.e.withoutanyonetelling hertodoit).
3. (The Initiative) the power oropportunity to act and gain an advantage beforeotherpeopledo.E.g.itis uptoAkanuIbiamFederalPolytechnicto taketheinitiativeinaccessingtheEducationalTaxFund(ETF)grant.
Initiativetakingismorethanatheoreticaldefinition;itistheunderstandingof wordsandactiononthem.
Inotherwords,itistheactionwhichfollowsthroughandappliesinpracticalterms,
thedecisiontaken.
Whatisitfor?
Essentially, initiative is needed at individual and leadership levels for organizationalgrowthanddevelopment.Specifically,initiativeserves:
-Toget usoutofaclosedsituation;
-Tomodifythesequenceofevents;
-Totakeacommittedstance
-Asan extraasset.
HowdoesitWork?
Takingtheinitiativetoucheson two different, evenopposing,typesof practice;
-Working by reaction: initiative arises to oppose an unacceptable move alreadyunderway:
-Working through desire: initiative simply expresses a desire, wish or interest.
Initiativewhichmaybedefinedreactionaryis themostcommonform.Thisis becauseit isself-justifying.Takinganinitiativeisbreachingsomethingorrebelling inordertojustifyour act.Itis necessarytohavesoundmotiveson whichtobase ourself–confidence.
InitiativeandProverbs
Pro-initiative proverbs incite us to act whereas anti-initiative proverbs favourtheintentionorwordsasopposedto action andaresigns ofreserve,or evenencouragementto avoidinitiatives.Consider,forinstance,thefollowing proverbs:
i.WheninDoubt,Don’t
ii.Nothingventured,nothinggained
Proverb(i) advisesusnottomove,to wait,in ordertoavoidanypossible error.Ontheotherhandthesecondproposesactioneveninthefaceof risk.Actionseemstheremedytoeverysituation.Inthesamevein,your
perceptionofyourworkin thePolytechniceither encouragesormilitates against your initiative taking or work ethic. (See a list of proverbs in Appendix2 andclassifythemintopro-initiativeandanti-initiative).
INITIATIVEANDTIME
Togetthedesiredresult,initiativemustbetakenat theappropriatetime. Wrong timing can have disastrous consequences for a well – intentioned initiative.Knowwhentogetsupport,readthemoodofthemanagement and colleaguesbeforetakingtheinitiative.
It may be necessary at this point, to also give some tips on time managementas aconceptthatpromotesworkethic.
TIMEMANAGEMENT
Shortage oftimeisoftenusedtoexplain delaysandfailures andasan excuse for inefficiency and lack of fore-thought. Time management or time controlsimply,meansmakingthebestuseoftimetogetthebestperformance. Wemustrealizethattimeisafiniteresourceandabudgetitem.Someofthe waystomakethebestuseoftimeareoutlinedbelow:
THINKING
Taketimeoffto stopandthink–aboutthewaysyouhavebeendoingyourjobfor instanceandfigureoutbetterwaysofdoingittosavenotonly timebut alsocost. ThinkofbetterwaysofdoingyourjobtoenhanceproductivityinthePolytechnic.
ELIMINATINGTIMEWASTERS
Listtheactivitiesthatnormallywasteyourtimeandcontrolthemby:
a. Elimination:Thisrefersto activitiesthatoftenleadtoduplicationof efforts that do not contribute directly to your performance. belonging to associations.Thinkof theassociationsyoubelonganddecideyourrelative commitmenttothem.
b. DevelopingaRoutine:Aformatcanbedesignedforactivitiesofsimilar
naturee.g.letterwriting,reportwriting.
c. SettingTimeLimits: Decidingthatacertaintaskshouldnottakemorethan acertainamountoftimesay2hours.
d. TakingaShortCute.g.decidingto telephoneinsteadofpersonalvisit.
e. EstablishingPriorities: Themostimportanttasksmustbedonefirstand giventheamountoftimetheydeserve. Rateyouractivities inorderof prioritye.g.
i.Urgentandimportant
ii.Importantandnot urgent iii.Urgentandnotimportant iv. Noturgent,notimportant
(i)Shouldbegivenmoretimefollowedby (ii)inthatorder.
RECEIVINGCALLS
Tryandpick-upthetelephonehandsetassoonasitrings.Mentionyourname andanswertheinquirypolitely.Getthemessageclearlyandwriteit downwhere necessary.
MEETINGS
Meetingsandcommitteesarewidelyregardedas primetimewasters.Butifthey arewellplannedandrun,theycanbeonebest(eventheonly)waytobriefstaff onpolicy,progressandpointsforaction;touncoverfacts,toproducenewideas
andtoget peopleinvolvedandmotivated.There aretwomainelementsinany meeting;
-Thechairpersonandtheparticipants.Ifyouwanttobeausefulmemberof themeetingandget thebestoutofit,you will not allowemotions,inter departmentalbattlesorofficepoliticsto injectunwantedhiddenagendas intothediscussion.Also,youwillbe
-Knowledgeableonthesubjectmatter,awareofthepurposeofthemeeting andconscientious(especiallyaboutadvancepreparation).
-Preparetoairyourviewsstrongly,tomakeoutagoodcase,tokeeptothe point,tolistentootheropinions,andtobeinfluencedbyreason.
-Disciplineandpatient,andpreparedtocontributeyourbest-thinkingand
experienceconciselyandattheappropriatetime.
-Preparedtoacceptwhateverdecisionisreached,todefertothecontrolof thechairandtocarrythroughonscheduleany actionassignedtoyou.
OTHERPEOPLE’STIME
Youcannotwasteotherpeople’stimeandclaimto saveyours.Don’tkeeppeople waitingunnecessarilyor askthemtocomebackthenextdayorsowhenyoucan finish uptheenquiry immediately. Donottransfer yourown responsibility to otherpeopleinthepretextthatyouaretryingtosaveyourowntime.
EthicalDilemmas
Intheworkplace,sometimesourworkethicorintegrityischallengeddue tocertainsituations.Thefollowingexamplesmayelicitsuchsituations:
Asalecturer,astudentwhohascarriedoveraparticularcourseofyours forthreeconsecutivetimesapproachesyouinthefinalattemptfor assistance; Whatdoyoudo?
You areworkingin theRegistry,Managementhadgivena deadlinefor submissionof applicationsandmuchlaterthis relativeofyoursbringshis/her application.Whatdoyoudo?
Youareafull-timeemployeeof AkanuIbiamFederalPolytechnicandfeelyou are not fully engaged and get another full- time offer of employment elsewhere.Whatdoyoudo?
YouareaheadofDepartmentorunit;thereisthisworkerwhohardlycomes toworkbefore10.am.Thissameworkerrushesout oftheofficeby 3.30pmto catchthe bus. Thissameworkerbringsovertimeform at the endofthemonth foryoutoapprovehis/herclaims.Whatdoyoudo?Thereisaplethoraof cases!
Remember,ethicaldilemmasonly arisewhenoneis not committedto integrityandtherulesgoverningthePolytechnic. WhattheDeputyRector (Academic)oncesaidis alsopertinent’“Integrityis likeafragileplate;once broken,itis irretrievable”. Yourwholeintegrityandcareermaybedestroyed withthatsinglehelpyouweretryingtorender.
AtworkIcandescribemyselfas
NeverAlmostNeverSeldom SometimesUsuallyAlmostAlwaysAlways
1234567
FACTORI:InterpersonalSkills AtworkIcandescribemyselfas Item Ratings
Never / AlmostNever / Seldom / Sometimes / Usually / Almost
Always / Always
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
AppendixI
OccupationalWorkEthicInventory(0WEI)SCORESheet
Honestlyscoreasyouwoulddescribeyourselfintheworkplacewithrespect tothefollowingitems:
FACTORI:InterpersonalSkill
OWEI / ITEM / ITEM RATINGItem
No / Item / Never / Almost
Never / Seldom / Somet imes / Usually / Almost
Always / Always
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 67 / 7
17 / Appreciative
22 / Patient
28 / Likable
29 / Helpful
31 / Pleasant
32 / Cooperative
33 / Hardworking
37 / Cheerful
41 / Devoted
42 / Courteous
43 / Considerate
46 / Wellgroomed
47 / Friendly
48 / Loyal
50 / Modest
Total:………………………. Score(totaldividedby15)
FACTOR2:Initiative
OWEI / ITEM / ITEM RATINGItem
No / Item / Never / Almost
Never / Seldom / Some
times / Usually / Almost
Always / Always
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
5 / Independent
6 / Ambitious
7 / Effective
10 / Initiating
11 / Perceptive
14 / Efficient
15 / Adaptable
18 / Accurate
20 / Conscientious
27 / persevering
35 / Orderly
36 / Enthusiastic
38 / Persistent
40 / Dedicated
45 / Productive
49 / Resourceful
Total:………………………. Score(totaldividedby16)
FACTOR3:BeingDependable
OWEI / ITEM / RATINGItem
No / Item / Never / Almost
Never / Seldom / Someti mes / Usually / Almost
Always / Always
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
1 / Dependable
3 / Following regulations
4 / Following directions
8 / Reliable
12 / Honest
16 / Careful
23 / Punctual
Total:……………………… Score(totaldividedby7)
FACTOR4:ReversedItems(NegativeItems)
ITEM / RATINGItem / Never / Almost
Never / Seldom / Somet
imes / Usually / Almost
Always / Always
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
Hostile
Rude
Selfish
Devious
Irresponsible
Careless
Negligent
Depressed
Tardy
Apathetic
Total:……………………….. Score(totaldividedby10)
APPENDIX2:
CLASSIFYINGEXPRESSIONSANDPROVERBS
HereisalistofpopularEnglishproverbswhichhaveinfluencedcountless generations.Theexerciseistoclassifythemwithregardtotheculturaland psychologicalimpacttheyhaveregardinginitiative.Iftheyseemtoyouto encourageinitiative,placeatickintherighthandcolumn(pro-initiative)andin thelefthandcolumn(Anti-initiative)iftheyappeartodiscourageit.
ANTI- INITIATIVE / PROVERBS / PRO- INITIATIVEWhenindoubtdon’t
Nothingventurednothinggained
Everythingcomestothosewhowait
Wherethere’sawillthere’saway
Youcan’tmakeanomelettewithoutbreakingeggs
Oncethefirststepistakenthere’snogoingback
Youcan’tmakeanomelettewithoutbreakingeggs
Asyesowsoshallyereap
Practicemakesperfect
Theleoparddoesn’tchangeitsspots
Nonewsisgoodnews
Theroadtohellispavedwithgoodintentions
Emptyvesselsmakethemostnoise
Alwaysthinktwicebeforeopeningyourmouth
Strikewhiletheironishot
It’sthethoughtthatcounts
Wellbegunishalfdone
Necessityisthemotherofinvention
Hewhohesitatesislost
Inforapenny,inforapound
Lookbeforeyouleap
Outofthefryingpanintothefire
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