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GSM 5101 (ORGANIZATIONAL
BEHAVIOR)Lecturer : Puan Dahlia Zawawi, Ph.D.
Assignment : Reaction Paper – PairedDate : 18th October 2010
Completed by : Ram Kumar Tangavelu GM 04124Azlimi binti Mazlan GM 04077
Trimester July 2010/2011
WALL STREET : MONEY NEVER
SLEEPS
Movie Analysis based on Organizational Behavior Concepts and Theories
SynopsisAmbitious young investment
banker Jacob Moore (Shia LaBeouf) discovers that greed is still the name of the game when he forges a fragile alliance with onetime Wall Street hotshot Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) shortly after Gekko is released from prison. Having served eight years for securities fraud, money laundering, and racketeering, Gekko emerges from prison to find that his daughter, Winnie (Carey Mulligan), prefers to remain estranged, and that his former Wall Street cohorts are still raking in the cash. Flash-forward to 2008, and Winnie is dating a proprietary trader named Jake Moore (LaBeouf), who expresses a passion for green energy while working for his mentor Louis Zabel (Frank Langella), of Keller Zabel Investments.
Synopsis (cont.)Despite heading up one of the most prominent investment firms in the country, Louis Zabel is forced to personally fight for the future of Keller Zabel before the Federal Reserve after the company's stock takes a hit due to persistent rumors that it's being dragged down by debt. Denied a bailout from the government, Keller Zabel soon falls victim to a hostile takeover lead by powerful investment bank partner Bretton James (Josh Brolin), of Churchill Schwartz. His job on the line and his mentor out of the picture, Jake discovers that Gordon Gekko is out promoting his new book "Is Greed Good?" and decides to attend a lecture being given by the author at Fordham University. According to Gekko, greed is now sanctioned by the government, and the U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse as a direct result of leveraged debt and wild conjecture. When Jake goes behind Winnie's back to try and repair her relationship with her father, Gekko reveals his compelling theories on the likely reasons for Zabel's downfall. Later, as Jake begins plotting to avenge his mentor, Gekko starts to reveal his true colors.
Crews & RolesDirectorsOliver Stone
WritersAllan Loeb, ScreenwriterStephen Schiff, Screenplay Stanley Weiser, Source Material Oliver Stone, Source Material ProducersCelia D. Costas, Executive Producer Alessandro Camon, Executive Producer Alex Young, Executive Producer Edward R. Pressman, ProducerEric Kopeloff ,Producer
EditorsJulie Monroe, Editor David Brenner, Editor
Cast & Their Roles
Concept 1: Influence Tactics and Organizational Politics
Definition: InfluenceInfluence refers to any behavior that
attempts to change someone’s attitudes or behavior (power in motion)
Definition: Organizational PoliticsActs or behaviors that others perceive as
self-serving tactics for personal gain at the expense of others (or organization)
ScarceResources
Complex andAmbiguousDecisions
Tolerance of Politics
OrganizationalChange
Supporting Conditions
Sub-element of Power & Influence
Example: Influence Tactics and Organizational Politics Bretton James implemented his political strategy to bring
down “Keller Zabel Investments”. Keller Zabel’s stock value sunken and cause economic disaster. Banker’s association collectively considering resolution to this burning issue perhaps by jointly contributing capital to save Keller Zabel.
However, Bretton uses his influence tactics and organizational politics skill to persuade others to support his points and decision. He presents some logical arguments and facts in the meeting to change others behaviour (Jack, Julie), for example the point on moral hazard and the fact that the amount could vary from $10B to $200B.
Finally Bretton achieves his personal gain agenda to buy over Keller Zabel with just $3 per share (worth $75)
Concept 2: Self-Concept Definition: Self Concept
Individual’s believe in their self (who am I). Individual’s self-evaluations that answers the question “how do I feel about myself?”
1. Self-enhancement Tendency to promote and protect positive self-view. Posses better
personal adjustment & ignore inconsistent input
2. Self-verification Verify & maintain existing self-concept (good or bad) Prefers information that is consistent with their self-concept
3. Self-evaluation Self-evaluating through self-esteem, self-efficacy as well as locus of
control Less influential & more persistent
4. Social self Group membership to define their self The contra of personal identity
Complexi
ty
Consistency
Clarity
Sub-element of individual behavior, personality & values
Example: Self-Concept At the beginning of the movie, Jake Moore attends an
executive meeting on a new proposal to invest in a oil and gas project. The idea being presented to about 10 key employees in the organization.
The presenter demonstrate a high degree of Self-enhancement and Self-Verification. He show extreme confidence, very protective and only willing to hear feedback that is consistent to his self-concept
On the other hand, Jake Moore reflects his self-evaluation behavior. He is not influenced with the firm presentation and did not agree with the presenter’s proposal, instead he suggested green energy idea. This behavior clearly shows his self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Concept 3: Self-fulfilling Prophecy (Perception) Self-fulfilling occurs when expectations
about another person cause that person to act in a way that consistence with those expectation
Example from the movie:
When Gekko behave the same as before he was in jail in front of his daughter (Winnie) even though the boyfriend (Jake) said that her father (Gekko) has changed.
Concept 4: Conflict Conflict happens when the person do
not know his or her interest are being opposed or negatively affected by another party.
Sources of conflict
Conflict emotions
Conflict perceptions
Manifest conflict
Conflict outcomes
Concept 4: Conflict In the movie, there is an incompatible goal whereby
one of the shareholders in the Bank of New York wants the owner (Louis Zabel) to sell his share at $2 per share but he resist to do that.
Then, they argue about the price. The owner wants to sell the share for $6 per share.
From the conflict, both parties come to the conclusion after they do some negotiation and the price that the powerful shareholder (Bretton James) wants to buy is only $3 per share.
Concept 5: Needs Hierarchy Model Needs hierarchy model is about the idea of a
person’s need that can be strengthen through reinforcement, learning and social conditions.
Need for Achievement (nAch): After Gekko released from prison, he published a book “Is Greed Good” that tells people about success and how to gain money. With that, he being recognized by people.
Sub-element of Drives and Needs (Motivation)
Concept 5: Needs Hierarchy Model
Need for Affiliation (nAff): When a group of people from China come to the meeting with New York Bank employees, one of the employee (Jake) try to avoid conflict whereby he mentioned about other idea that the Beijing people can invest in the Bank.
Need for Power (nPow): Once Gekko gain all the recognition from other people, he starts to control the market share of the banks in US.
Concept 6: Organizational Change – Customer Driven Change
Organizational change, OC is a process that take place in an organization in many possible perspective such as structural, strategy, practices, culture etc.
In OB we are recommended to view OC process using Lewin’s Force Field Analysis which explains how the change process works. Two main elements studied in this area are Driving forces: A force that push organizations toward a new
state of affairs. Possible sources are competitors, customer trend changes, technology changes etc.
Restraining forces: Resistance to change One important need for change the creates urgency for
change is “Customer driven change”
Example: Organizational Change – Customer Driven Change There was a group of foreign investors from Beijing with a sum
amount of $15billion considering to invest in Churchill Schwartz. Jake is eager to put forward his fusion energy project. The rest of
the key employees of Churchill Schwartz demonstrates resistance to change and decides to present their original solar energy with thin film technology.
The solar energy project presentation did not attract the clients because they claim it is a same old idea that can be found in many other firms and there is no long term prospect.
Bretton quickly suggest his old oil & gas project which also couldn’t satisfy the client’s expectation
Finally Jake explained his all new fusion energy & its technology which truly amazed the China investors. (change)
The conclusion here, dissatisfied clients represent a compelling driving force for change because of the adverse consequences (loosing the $15B investment).
CONCLUSION
We could conclude that almost every movies do contain some sort of behavior elements that we could relate to our Organizational Behavior course contents. Being sensitive on OB concepts and theories while watching a movie could enhance our understanding and analyze various application in various scenario.
ReferencesWebsites:Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) – IMDbhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027718/
WALL STREET: Money Never Sleepshttp://www.wallstreetmoneyneversleeps.com/
Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps | Movie Review Malaysiahttp://moviereviewmalaysia.com/wall-street-money-never-sleeps/
Textbook:
McShane, S. L. & Von Glinow, M. A. (2010). Organizational Behavior, Emerging Knowledge and Practice for the Real World. (5th ed.). New York : McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
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