Introduction
Obedience is the main concept for all businesses to succeed, as it teaches compliance for the sake of achieving company goals. Every business owner has a specific time that their offices open in the morning. It takes an obedient worker to try to arrive at work at the right time (Acemoglu, 2022). It takes an employee who is obedient to perform their responsibilities even when the employer is not there to monitor or supervise them (Acemoglu, 2022). One theory that can be used to explain the importance of obedience in the business world is the evolutionary game theory.
Evolutionary Game Theory
Evolutionary ecologists aim to comprehend the complex behavioral relationships between organisms as they interact to obtain resources. Generally, the interactions vary from antagonistic to cooperative despite the possibility of instances of altruism and exploitation. They can be costly as energy must be invested by everyone involved in confrontation as well as cooperation as a means to acquire a resource (Dughera, 2021). Even avoidance can be costly since energy is expended and no resources are gained. The used energy is an expense to the organism, and the benefits consist of the resources to be obtained. Comparing the relative cost to the benefits gained after an interaction determines the net gain or loss that happens by the organism. The value explained is called payoff, as suggested by Dughera (2021). Various interaction approaches, such as cooperative and combative, lead to different types of payoffs depending on the interaction’s nature. Interactions between organisms with either identical or competing strategies can be treated as games with several layers. Since biological interactions involve multiple decision-makers, biologists use game theory to explain the evolutionary consequences of interactions.
Application of Evolutionary Game Theory in the Business World
Evolutionary game theory is a productive technique that describes the universal social phenomenon of obedience. For instance, working hours have gotten longer worldwide and, over time, have become common, particularly in countries such as China (Dughera, 2021). The nation is not only top in economic growth in the world but also attracts attention from other states for its long-term and stable development. Nevertheless, the development of productivity and improvement of economic level have not allowed rest for employees by freeing them from heavy work. Overtime work has slowly become a new norm and culture in work settings. A survey revealed that the average weekly working time of workers in Chinese organizations is forty-six hours, which is two hours higher than the legal maximum allowed (Dughera, 2021). Presently, the country is still a developing nation with an aging populace, the advantage of labor resources will slowly weaken, and the phenomenon of overtime work may increase severely.
Another noteworthy situation in China is the 996-work regime, which derives its name from its requirement that workers work from 9 am to 9 pm, six days weekly. Some companies do not enforce this practice but take various measures to encourage employees to work overtime voluntarily (Dughera, 2021). For instance, they reimburse taxi fares and offer restaurants and gyms to employees who remain late at night. Long-term, the line between voluntary and mandatory overtime has become blurred, and the 996-work practice is embedded in the corporate culture, where firms have changed the overuse of employees into ethical requirements for employees (Dughera, 2021). Long working hours not only harm the mental and physical well-being of the workers but further lead to work-family conflict, thus reducing the workforce’s effectiveness.
The 996-work practice is the result of a long-lasting interactive game between employees and employers, whether the former chooses to work overtime voluntarily or involuntarily, depending on the work setting and the strategies of employers. In such a dynamic evolution procedure, the two sides cooperate and conflict, and they will decide on a strategy fit for their development through long-term learning and improvement (Dughera, 2021). Additionally, employees are usually at a disadvantage in information compared to employers, and the data asymmetry between them will impact their strategic choices. The evolutionary game theory originated from an evolutionary biology study and is mainly used to investigate the competition phenomenon in the procedure of biological evolution, which is based on bounded rationality and limited information (Dughera, 2021). The players are the populace instead of individuals, and the population continues to learn and mimic the process of the game, thus, maximizing the benefits and reaching the equilibrium state in the dynamic process.
The evolutionary game theory breaks through the restriction of conventional game theory on the complete rationality of game participants, which is different from the classical game model and closer to a real game situation. Thus far, the concept has been widely applied in the management field since it possesses peculiar advantages in solving the long-lasting equilibrium issue of bounded rational players’ decision-making behavior (Dughera, 2021). The establishment of the 996-work regime can be described as a dynamic evolution process between employees and employers, and the evolutionary game model has great applicability to the idea.
Connection of Evolutionary Game Theory and Obedience
Individuals being willing to work from 9 am to 9 pm for six days every week means that they are obedient despite the harsh conditions to which they are subjected. Normally, an individual is allowed to work for eight hours at most. The employer in a Chinese organization asking his employees to work for longer than the permitted average time means that a conflict is created between the main players, employer, and employee. However, through examining the benefits and costs and determining that the former are more, both of them settle on overtime. In the business world, this yields more profit as more time is dedicated to productivity.
Benefits of Obedience in the Workplace
Everyone is obligated to obey rules set by the government, institutions, or firms they work for, but some individuals fail to do this. The three most essential reasons why one must oblige include remaining safe and comfortable and having a better society (Campante & Chor, 2017). In order to obey, it is mandatory that someone follows directions and commands of the individual demanding them. In case every person commits to obedience, then everything will be positive and cool (Campante & Chor, 2017). The first reason people should be encouraged to embrace the idea of obedience is it keeps all people safe. If employees do not obey the rules of the company of wearing masks while at work and get sick, it will interfere with their productivity.
The second reason individuals should be encouraged to obey is that it keeps everyone feeling comfortable. In order to keep every person comfortable, all people should follow the laws and rules. An example is when there is a meeting between employees and employers (Campante & Chor, 2017). Generally, it is expected that the latter speaks and only allows the former to share their opinions when they are done. An employee acting against this will impact the comfort level of fellow workers who aim to grasp every word spoken by the employer.
The last reason people must choose to obey is to facilitate the development of a better society. Following rules can make the world an improved and peaceful place. In case everyone obliges, then there would not be thieves and fraudsters (Schaupp, 2022). There have been reported cases of employees who misused their positions in companies to steal from the firms to the extent the organizations became bankrupt. When this happens, it leads to the loss of many jobs for people who were responsible for their lives and loved ones’ lives as well. Below is a list of benefits that people in any workplace can enjoy if they obey.
Helps to Fulfil a Company’s Goals
Ideally, the whole team in a work environment is working toward similar goals. Every person is needed to adhere to the same regulations set by the firm. Nevertheless, when an employee violates a particular rule, even with the best intentions, it can negatively impact the workflow (Schaupp, 2022). Not only does it hinder effective communication, but it also makes it hard for the members to achieve the tasks.
The second benefit is that following rules creates uniformity in the workplace. Among the main reasons to obey workplace regulations is to establish oneness. Policies aid in ensuring that every person in the firm maintains the standards and codes of conduct (Schaupp, 2022). Adhering to rules and regulations guarantees that there are no different interpretations of appropriate conduct in the work environment at the employees’ discretion. It assists in maintaining consistency, therefore resulting in a uniform workflow.
Thirdly, safety is a serious concern that is addressed in a work-setting policy. Such issues may comprise fire accidents, personal injuries, harassment as well and bullying. Additionally, workers in industrial sites are needed to handle heavy and dangerous machinery or hazardous elements regularly. For instance, a construction worker deals with hot cement while a chef handles hot stoves, both of which raise the probability of facing an accident. Other safety concerns may consist of vehicular accidents, and electrical dangers, among others. Some may require accident investigation to determine the causes and enforce measures and policies to prevent them from reoccurring.
Adhering to rules and regulations would reduce the probability of the mentioned accidents greatly. This lowers the healthcare expenses incurred by the employees. However, no work environment is immune to hazards (Campante & Chor, 2017). This, the safety policies are continuously updated according to the happenings. It is reported that employees can file more than 14000 compensation claims per year, which warrants more than $4000000 yearly (Campante & Chor, 2017). An employer should take the safety of their work seriously and enact workplace safety regulations. Some may comprise the techniques to shut down particular equipment in order to prevent any accident and engage safety features appropriately, among others. Failing to adhere to policies can lead to significant threats to lives.
The fourth benefit is that the organization someone is working for is able to comply with the local laws. Most workplace policies are established to ensure that the company is following the legislation set by the government (Miller et al., 1990). Failing to adhere to the regulations may result in legal violations, and the organization would become liable. An employer should try to find the local rules that need to be followed and incorporate them into the work environment policy. They should make their workforce aware of them and guarantee that they obey (Miller et al., 1990). Thus, following the local rules in the work settings will eradicate any disparity in the opinion that may emerge. Furthermore, it helps to protect the firm from legal consequences.
The fifth benefit is that it promotes accountability, which is among the major reasons for following workplace regulations. This can ensure that there is no mistake on the part of the employee. For instance, in a banking transaction, in case there is a misplacement of money, and the employee has adhered to the stipulated procedures, the fault can then be determined to be caused by system failure. A proper investigation can be performed to identify the problem’s source, and it can be corrected (Miller et al., 1990). This ensures that the employee is not held responsible wrongly.
The sixth benefit is improving job security since most firms enforce strict penalties for individuals who fail to obey workplace policies. For instance, misconduct may lead to a person losing their employment. In the unstable financial situation of a country, job security is of great importance. Adhering to company regulations ensures that it does not contribute to the reasons that may get a worker fired (Hamilton & Sanders, 1995). Often, a company policy’s violation may lead to a reprimand. Nevertheless, several punishments may impact the decision on whether or not to release an employee.
The seventh benefit is that when workers adhere to company rules and regulations, it projects a positive reputation for the firm in the eyes of the clients. This aids in building credibility and adds value to the brand image, which can help to shape the client’s perception of a business (Hamilton & Sanders, 1995). Moreover, it assists in enforcing a common technique to interact with consumers during digital communication or when visiting the premises. The uniformity in the interactions enforced by following the policies will allow customers to understand what to anticipate.
Lastly, different workplace regulations aid in protecting employees’ personal rights. Additionally, there are rules concerning the use of breakrooms, inappropriate language, and assigned smoking areas that help to maintain healthy surroundings in the work settings. In addition to that, disregarding parking and restroom policies can diminish the interest in working for different employees, therefore, decreasing the team’s productivity. Appropriate measures need to be taken to guarantee that every worker obeys workplace rules and policies. This helps to maintain a balanced work environment and foster wellness. It would offer adequate enthusiasm for employees to continue adding value to the firm.
Conclusion
The paper explored the concept of obedience and its impact on the workplace. It can be described as the willingness to do that which another person says or adhering to the law. In the academic world, it is defined as the act of conducting the request of an individual of higher status within a social hierarchy. In the business world, it is the concept that teaches compliance for the sake of achieving company goals. According to evolutionary game theory, Chinese workers are willing to work from 9 am to 9 pm for six days every week means that they are obedient despite the harsh conditions to which they are subjected. In a company, when an employee violates a particular rule, even with the best intentions, it can negatively impact the workflow.
References
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