THE ORGANIZATION AS A MAGNET

Magnet as an Orgnization

A magnet is something that has always fascinated me since my childhood. The sight of metals getting attracted towards the magnet looked nothing short of a miracle. However, it was only in higher secondary school that I came to know about the phenomenon at play inside a magnet through our physics subject.

The same analytical process regarding magnets was again stimulated in our minds after a gap of nearly 7-8 years when Prof Prasad brought along a magnet in the POM class. However, this time we could relate it with a real organizational structure. Talking about the characteristics of a magnet, it consists of two ends – the North Pole and the South Pole. Inside the magnet are dipoles which are aligned in the North-South direction and provide the basic feature to the magnet which is to attract any metal towards it. These dipoles are also responsible for creating a magnetic field which can align iron files kept near a magnet in a particular shape and direction.

Employees are like Dipoles that need to
be aligned with objectives of Organization

If we compare the magnet with an organization, we find that the north-south direction of the magnet is like the goal or mission of the organization. Every activity of the organization is aligned towards this mission just like every dipole is aligned in the N-S direction. The different dipoles are like the different departments of the organization. These departments have to work in synchronization with each other to achieve the mission or objectives of the organization. They are aligned in the same direction i.e. they work with the same motive of achieving excellence in organizational objectives. The magnetic field of the magnet can be compared with the influence the mission can have on the employees. Just like iron filings kept near a magnet get influenced by the magnetic field, the employees get influenced by the 

culture prevailing in the organization and their activities are coordinated 

in the same direction for achieving the goals of the organization.

Influence of an Organization can be
like the magnetic effect of a Magnet

A thing as simple as a magnet can also present a great learning about organization. It is necessary that we work as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to achieve our tasks. A magnet teaches us that only when the individual objectives coincide with the objectives of the organization can excellence be achieved.