Question

Describe how the five rule making steps to establish a new rule and how it relates to your experiences in the workplace.

Answer 1

A business rule may specifically define or lay constraints on any aspect of business activities and business. Business rules specifically point out facts, terms, and conditions. Rules may influence the behavior of a business and its employees or may assert business structure. Rules within a business organization apply to processes, people, computing systems, as well as corporate behavior, and may be important towards the achievement of goals in a legal and ethical manner. The scope of rules in business may include all the constraints, definitions, and operational descriptions. While strategic processes may guide the business rules and govern them, the rules themselves are directive and are not strategic in nature.

It is also important to differentiate well between rules, procedures, and policies. Rules are stated clearly and explicitly regarding what needs to be done (for instance reporting at the workplace at a given time). Procedures are the steps that need to be followed in certain particular circumstances (for instance a procedure for reporting errors during production). Policies are the general framework and forms of the standing plans that specify how the organization will respond when it faces a certain situation (for instance admission policy in a college). Rules can also be viewed as a reflection of the managerial decisions that specify how an action should be taken or abstained from, and do not provide for any discretion or flexibility.

Below are the 5 rulemaking steps for establishing a new rule.

Identification of the need for a rule- an organization may be required to adopt and implement rules because of many different reasons. Sometimes a new law or Act may require the implementation of a rule in an organization, while at other times experiences of the organization may also guide it towards adopting a new rule. For instance, a law may require that the privacy of the customer should be ensured in all possible ways. Therefore, a business organization will have to devise and implement appropriate rules that employees follow during their day-to-day activities, which will ensure that customer’s privacy infringement is avoided. The employees may be told that they should not ask for the personal information of the customers and should not record or store them. Also, when an organization undergoes a loss in productivity due to absenteeism and laxity in employee discipline and punctuality, it may be required to adopt rules in this regard (for instance a rule describing the punishment fines for latecomers), which all employees should follow, which will ensure that productivity will increase.

Determining the rule content- a careful evaluation of the guideline and rule content is required, and the content structure should provide for a clear understanding. It is always better to have the rules well documented, and the information regarding them should also be easily accessible to the employees.

Obtaining support- before a rule is actually implemented, it is good to obtain stakeholder and managerial support for it. It will provide for early acceptance by the key players, and any differences in opinion/standing could be resolved before they actually start to harm organizational interests.

Communication of the rule with the employees- rules should be next communicated to the employees in the appropriate ways. The message should be modulated and well-thought-out communication channels should be chosen, so that the rule is easily deciphered and understood. There should also be a set deadline for each of the rules to be acknowledged, implemented, and followed.

Revision and update of the rule- sometimes feedback by the employees or from other areas/source may require that the organization makes minor or major changes in a rule. Developments in the external environment may also require that the rule is updated. For instance, many organizations change rules regarding their work timings during the lockdowns caused by coronavirus pandemic.

How Rules Relate To My Experiences At The Workplace

The establishment of rules in my workplace has been beneficial for me, other employees, managers, and the whole organization as well. Rules are helpful in establishing expectations and provide the guidelines precisely. Rules may also be required to ensure compliance of employee and business activities with laws and help employees evade any legal troubles.

Rules have often improved my job satisfaction in the workplace. They have helped in conflict resolution, and have been critical towards the establishment of safety protocols and procedures that have helped all employees including me escape accidents as well as injuries. Rules have brought more discipline to my behavior and have been important towards decreasing the errors at the workplace. Following the rules has helped me attain the targets and even excel them, developments that brought to me rewards and accolades as well.