HDO 301 | First Blog Entry

In this blog entry, we want you to write between 500 and 1,000 words on the topic: Things I have noticed about people since starting HDO 301?  When you write about this topic, try to identify how things you have learned in class influenced what you notice about people.

This is my first semester as a Human Dimensions of Organization (HDO) major. I have to say that I had little idea what to expect coming from an HDO class. After completing the "watching relationships" assignment I am confident that this is the right fit for me. I chose to sit down near the tower and analyze groups that passed by me throughout the day. I found that something that I already enjoy doing, people watching, could be even more deeply analyzed and could even lend itself to determining a group dynamic. I feel like I've become a lot more observant since being in HDO and I am able to identify complex relationships everywhere I go. I've noticed that one group could feature many different relationships between its members given the situation that they were in. I've also found that a group dynamic is not necessarily continuous and "roles" can be shifted throughout the group. I believe this was exemplified in the group of students exiting their class. Although they appeared to have an acquaintanceship they were still able to fall under the communal sharing category as they relied on each other for class notes, study guides, etc. There was no bartering or exchange of money, even though they weren't family or even a close group of friends they lent each other classroom resources to help rather than to receive something in return. I was even able to determine what relationships I myself had been a part of. I am on the executive board for spirit organization called Texas Lassos. In my experience, I identified our organization as an authority ranking type. Although the executive board does "rule" (through making decisions over policy, etc.) over the general members, we do not consider ourselves hierarchical rulers necessarily. However, we do make decisions through a decree and we also create policies/rules to protect our general members. Although power isn't our most important value we do hope for "obedience" in the sense that general members should follow our constitution and uphold our group values. Within this group, there are communal relationships between members. Those involved tend to become like family and lend a helping hand wherever needed, regardless of whether they will gain something from it. Though watching each group probably took 5-10 minutes each, analyzing them took up the bulk of my time. I tried to write down all their characteristics and assign them to the category they shared the most similarities too. In doing so I learned that real-world application has too many factors to only belong to one category. I feel like HDO reflects the idea that we can form guidelines but not every situation we encounter will fit that to a tee. As an organized person I love that I am being introduced to so many labels and categories that I have never thought of using to classify different relationships or even groups of people. The number one question I have gotten since changing my major is "what IS Human Dimensions of Organization?" and I feel as though being in this class has given me a better grasp of my major and the ability to represent it.