Introduction
In this Assignment we will be looking at how an understanding of transactional behaviour as theorised by Eric Berne may help with managing a business. This paper is a discussion based on the 6th chapter of the book Management and Organisational Behaviour by Laurie J. Mullins pages 235 - 237.
Emily has recently been left to manage her deceased fathers business; she has no previous knowledge of the business or the staff. Emily is currently forming.
The staffs appear to be acting uneasy towards Emily. Emily’s recent discovery of Transactional behaviour will be able to help her deal with this situation.
Emily states that there is an element of “mental paralysis” within the work force at the moment this is most likely due to the face that the former manager Hugh Ray was a former RAF officer and was used to taking both the Adult and Parent role in both his personal life and at work. This has caused the staff to unknowingly fall into a childlike state. However now that the “parent” has left the organisation the staff feel uneasy as they have never had to think for themselves.
Findings
Using the theory of transactional behaviour there are numerous approaches that could be taken by Emily to help ease her into the organisation and find out what needs to be done. It is stated that there are three other directors and if Emily takes a slight childlike approach to these people she may be able to empathise with them and find out the information she needs. When someone is acting in child state and comes across someone else in child state you may find that suddenly they will become a parent or adult. Emily would have to be cautious when using child state in a managerial position, as the staff may not respect or trust her. So, this is one way that Emily could approach the staff.
Emily could also take the approach of “Parent” to the staff. If Emily approaches the staff in this state it could encourage the mourning staff to