STRUCTURING WORK

STRUCTURING WORK
Preferences regarding work style, the final category in our analysis,
govern the way an organization deals with and presents itself to the
world outside.Work style preferences influence scheduling, procedures,
and sensitivity to changes in the environment. (See Figure
2.4.) Judging companies are geared toward decision making and
tend to endorse strategies that guarantee results on a predictable
schedule. Perceiving groups rely primarily on the informationgathering
dimension, adjusting their methods to opportunities or
hazards in the environment. The judging tendency is found in
organizations that favor planning, deadlines, and follow-through.
Perceiving preferences tend toward flexibility, spontaneity, and
individual initiative. Preferences in work style show some sensitivity
to industries and market conditions. Companies that integrate
goods and services from a variety of vendors or divisions (such as
construction firms or media conglomerates) can benefit from the
judging tendency to adopt schedules and tactical planning. Companies
that depend on market conditions and the vagaries of competition
(such as venture capital firms or design houses) may do
better when they tailor their actions in keeping their options open.
The dynamic interaction of the four dimensions—organizational
focus, information gathering, decision making, and work
style—produces the distinctive characteristics of personality. In
combination, one dimension exerts its influence on another with
sometimes subtle and other times dramatic effects. The personality
profiles developed in Companies Are People, Too take these
relationships into account, with special attention to the impact of
preference combinations on communications, dealing with
change, and relationships with clients. In lieu of the four-letter
MBTI types and psychological terminology, CAP2 profiles assign
memorable names and specific behaviors to personality types.We
believe you will recognize your organization among the personality
profiles in the “Discover” section.
Companies Are People, Too: The Concept and Promise 15