Norms in group help to identify the nature of the group and the type of relationship each group member will have will one another. They also help to identify what position each member will play. Also norms help to establish was is and isn’t frowned upon within the specific group, since certain actions may be viewed differently in different groups.
For example when I worked at starbucks I got along really well with everyone I was employed with, manager, assistant manager, shift supervisors, and my fellow baristas. When we were working together, although we had a good time, we followed certain norms that we didn’t follow when we would go out bowling for fun or even at our Christmas part/laser tag war. When working I would have to ask liz for my breaks or if I could sit down or to sign off on things I wasn’t permitted to, but when we went out we were equals and didn’t follow the norms of the employee latter at our store.
Although I didn’t personally experience a violation of a norm, some of my former employee friends from other stores did. An assistant manager from the first Starbucks store I worked at ended up dating a barista, which on the employee latter is two positions below, and because of this the employee was granted promotions above other employees who were better qualified and/or also had more years behind them.
Hello...I loved reading your blog post this week and the example that you gave. Your example showed the explicit norm of having to follow what the manager says and doing what is asked. This can also be considered a crucial norm because if you were to not do what your were asked then it could impact how the job is performed. When you explained how the norm was disrupted but a employee getting a promotion they weren't suited for I'm sure it disrupted how the group conducted itself since people were most likely upset. Once again your blog post was interesting to read and used an example that I hadn't thought of.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shay and I liked how you applied this topic to work-experience. I feel like college should be practically applied to work which is why communications is the BEST major! Additionally I liked how you said outside of the workplace your role was equal to someone where at work she was your senior. It is obvious why corporations have expectations of their employees and latter them strategically. To avoid chaos and create order and also implicitly create norms (through gossip and communication employees can become more aware of the not-so-obvious norms) Thanks for another great posting bing-a-ling :) love the alias reminds me of chandlier on friends :)
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