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Organization Behavior & HRM

Power, Team, Communication, and Conflict in Organizations

From Apple to Hospitals: Understanding Organizational Behavior in Real Life

Organizational Behavior (OB) menjelaskan bahwa organisasi bukan hanya soal struktur dan SOP, tetapi juga tentang bagaimana manusia menggunakan power, membangun team, berkomunikasi, dan menghadapi conflict. Teori-teori OB menjadi lebih mudah dipahami ketika dilihat melalui kasus nyata seperti konflik Steve Jobs dan John Sculley di Apple Inc., lalu dikaitkan dengan dinamika di rumah sakit dan industri kesehatan.

The Core Mindmap

Capital → Creates Power Power → Shapes Communication & Decision Making Communication → Influences Team Dynamics Different Interests → Create Conflict Conflict Management → Determines Team Performance

Semua konsep ini saling terhubung di dalam organizational field.

1. Capital and Power

Theory

Menurut Pierre Bourdieu, individu membawa berbagai bentuk capital ke dalam organisasi. Capital adalah sumber daya yang memberi seseorang advantage dalam suatu field.

CapitalMeaningSmall Example
Economic CapitalFinancial resourcesFinance controls budgeting
Cultural CapitalKnowledge & expertiseSenior surgeon expertise
Social CapitalNetwork & relationshipsDirector close to regulators
Symbolic CapitalPrestige & reputationFamous specialist doctor

Capital kemudian berubah menjadi power, yaitu kemampuan memengaruhi orang lain.

Apple Case

AspectSteve JobsJohn Sculley
Dominant CapitalCultural & symbolic capitalEconomic & structural capital
Main StrengthInnovation, charisma, founder imageCEO authority, board support, governance
Type of PowerReferent & expert powerLegitimate & economic power
Organizational PositionVisionary leaderFormal organizational leader
Support BaseCreative teams and innovatorsExecutives and board members
Short-Term OutcomeLost organizational controlWon structural power within Apple
Long-Term OutcomeBecame Apple’s symbolic iconLess remembered in Apple’s legacy

Healthcare Relevance

Di rumah sakit, konflik sering muncul karena tiap profesi memiliki capital berbeda.

RoleDominant CapitalExample
DoctorCultural & symbolicClinical authority
FinanceEconomicBudget approval
ITExpert powerHIS knowledge
DirectorLegitimate powerFinal decisions

Karena itu, keputusan organisasi sering menjadi arena power negotiation.

2. Team Dynamics

Theory

Menurut Bruce Tuckman, team berkembang melalui beberapa fase.

StageMeaningSmall Example
FormingAdaptation phaseNew HIS project team
StormingConflict phaseIT vs user arguments
NormingShared norms emergeWorkflow agreement
PerformingHigh collaborationSmooth implementation
AdjourningProject closurePost go-live evaluation

Teori ini menunjukkan bahwa conflict bukan tanda gagal, tetapi bagian alami dari perkembangan team.

Apple Case

AspectSteve JobsJohn Sculley
Main FocusInnovation-firstBusiness stability
Leadership StyleVisionary, aggressive, product-orientedCorporate, structured, managerial
Organizational GoalPush breakthrough innovationMaintain growth and governance
Source of ConflictStrong idealism and perfectionismFocus on operational control
Type of ConflictPower and vision conflictStrategic direction conflict
Organizational ImpactCreated internal tension during storming phaseIncreased political and structural division

Healthcare Relevance

Dalam implementasi HIS:

  • IT fokus standardization,
  • dokter fokus workflow,
  • finance fokus efficiency.

Jika tidak ada shared understanding:

Team berubah menjadi sekadar group.

3. Communication

Theory

Menurut Umberto Eco:

Communication is the process of constructing meaning.

Artinya:

  • pesan tidak selalu diterima sesuai maksud pengirim.
ProcessMeaningSmall Example
EncodingMenyusun pesanIT membuat memo maintenance
ChannelMedia komunikasiEmail/meeting
DecodingInterpretasi penerimaUser menganggap system error
FeedbackRespon penerimaComplaint/escalation

Apple Case

AspectSteve JobsJohn Sculley
Communication StyleIntense, direct, highly assertiveCorporate, structured, political
StrengthInspiring and visionary communicationStable and managerial communication
Impact on EmployeesMotivated innovation and creativityBuilt organizational control and stability
WeaknessCreated fear, pressure, and emotional tensionConsidered less visionary and product-driven
Leadership FocusProduct innovation and perfectionBusiness growth and governance
Conflict ApproachAggressive and confrontationalStrategic and board-oriented

Healthcare Relevance

Dalam rumah sakit:

  • istilah teknis IT,
  • bahasa klinis dokter,
  • bahasa finansial manajemen,
    sering menciptakan communication gap.

Contoh:

“System maintenance” bagi IT berarti normal.
Bagi user klinis bisa berarti “pelayanan terganggu”.

4. Active Listening

Theory

Active listening berarti mendengarkan untuk memahami, bukan sekadar menjawab.

StageMeaningSmall Example
SensingMendengar verbal/nonverbalNada frustrasi user
InterpretingMemahami maknaUser kesulitan workflow
EvaluatingMenilai informasiIdentifikasi root cause
RespondingMemberi feedbackKlarifikasi solusi

Apple Case

Konflik Jobs dan Sculley menunjukkan:

Dua leader yang sama-sama kuat, tetapi gagal membangun collaborative listening.

Mereka terlalu fokus mempertahankan posisi dan visi masing-masing.

Healthcare Relevance

Banyak konflik HIS sebenarnya bukan masalah teknis, tetapi:

  • user merasa tidak didengar,
  • IT merasa disalahkan,
  • manajemen fokus deadline.

Active listening menjadi critical skill dalam healthcare leadership.

5. Conflict Management

Theory

Model Kenneth Thomas dan Ralph Kilmann menjelaskan 5 gaya conflict handling.

ModeFocusSmall Example
CompetingWinningEmergency downtime decision
CollaboratingWin-winIT & doctor redesign workflow
CompromisingMiddle groundFeature released bertahap
AccommodatingMaintaining relationshipMengalah demi tim
AvoidingDelaying conflictMenunggu emosi reda

Apple Case

Steve Jobs sangat dominan pada:

Competing

Ia sangat assertive dan mendorong perfectionism.

Namun organisasi modern sering membutuhkan:

Collaborating

karena innovation tanpa alignment dapat menciptakan organizational instability.

Healthcare Relevance

Dalam rumah sakit:

  • competing diperlukan saat emergency,
  • collaborating penting dalam patient safety,
  • compromising sering terjadi dalam budgeting,
  • avoiding sering memperburuk masalah lintas divisi.

6. Connecting All Concepts

Semua teori di atas sebenarnya saling berhubungan.

ConceptConnection
CapitalMenentukan posisi influence
PowerMemengaruhi keputusan
CommunicationMenentukan mutual understanding
TeamMembutuhkan trust & shared goals
ConflictMuncul karena perbedaan interest
LeadershipMengelola seluruh dinamika

Final Reflection

Kasus Apple menunjukkan bahwa organisasi bukan hanya tentang siapa yang paling pintar atau paling visioner, melainkan tentang bagaimana power, communication, teamwork, dan conflict saling memengaruhi secara terus-menerus di dalam sebuah sistem organisasi. Konflik antara Steve Jobs dan John Sculley memperlihatkan bahwa perbedaan visi, gaya kepemimpinan, dan bentuk power dapat menentukan arah masa depan organisasi. Dinamika yang sama juga terjadi di rumah sakit modern, terutama dalam proses digital transformation, implementasi system, maupun perubahan organisasi yang melibatkan banyak profesi dan kepentingan berbeda. Keberhasilan organisasi kesehatan tidak hanya bergantung pada teknologi dan strategi, tetapi juga pada kemampuan individu dan tim untuk mendengarkan, berkolaborasi, mengelola conflict, serta memahami berbagai bentuk power yang ada di dalam organisasi. Pada akhirnya, organizational success is not only built by systems and strategy, but by how people interact inside the system.
Main References

  1. 1. Organisational Behaviour: Core Concepts and Applications
    Jack Wood, Retha Wiesner, Rachel Morrison, et al. Organisational Behaviour: Core Concepts and Applications. 5th ed. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons Australia, 2021.
    2. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management
    Susan L. Verhulst & David A. DeCenzo. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2022.
    3. Outline of a Theory of Practice
    Pierre Bourdieu. Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977.
    4. Steve Jobs
    Walter Isaacson. Steve Jobs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011.
    5. Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument
    Kenneth W. Thomas & Ralph H. Kilmann. Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. Mountain View, CA: CPP Inc., 1974.

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