THE RULE OF THE RULE OF MERIT AND SENIORITYMERIT AND SENIORITY

Group QuizGroup Quiz

Age is not relevant measure of talent. Age is not relevant measure of talent.

True of False?True of False?

Age should determine rank in any Age should determine rank in any organization.organization.

True of False?True of False?

Absolutely nowhere shall age Absolutely nowhere shall age automatically determine rankautomatically determine rank

The Rule of St. Benedict (Rule, 63)The Rule of St. Benedict (Rule, 63)

Hundreds of university research studies Hundreds of university research studies have consistently shown that age is not have consistently shown that age is not related to innovative capability, related to innovative capability, entrepreneurial thinking, or sophisticated entrepreneurial thinking, or sophisticated decision-making skills. Talent is not decision-making skills. Talent is not dependent on age.dependent on age.

To Benedict, the issue of age is irrelevant. To Benedict, the issue of age is irrelevant. Under the Rule, there is no such thing as Under the Rule, there is no such thing as age discrimination.age discrimination.

In determining promotion, what should be In determining promotion, what should be the prior basis, merit or seniority?the prior basis, merit or seniority?

In determining ranking, what should be the In determining ranking, what should be the prior basis, merit or seniority?prior basis, merit or seniority?

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How to Play Merit CardHow to Play Merit Card

Benedict established a two-pronged Benedict established a two-pronged approach to rank based primarily upon approach to rank based primarily upon merit, and secondarily on seniority. The merit, and secondarily on seniority. The merits and talents slated for a position merits and talents slated for a position have to be superlative and overriding, have to be superlative and overriding, particularly if a junior individual is to be particularly if a junior individual is to be promoted over more senior members. promoted over more senior members. Anything less lends itself to charges of Anything less lends itself to charges of nepotism.nepotism.

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Enumerate benefits and advantages of Enumerate benefits and advantages of seniority in an organization.seniority in an organization.

Where Seniority Fits InWhere Seniority Fits In

““Someone who came to the community at Someone who came to the community at the second hour of the day must recognize the second hour of the day must recognize that he is junior to someone who came at that he is junior to someone who came at the first hour, regardless of age or the first hour, regardless of age or distinction”. (Rule, 63)distinction”. (Rule, 63)

Once the major positions were filled on the Once the major positions were filled on the basis of merit, Benedict saw the great basis of merit, Benedict saw the great value in maintaining a sense of rank by value in maintaining a sense of rank by seniority in the organization. Where merit seniority in the organization. Where merit and talent are the brains of a cohesive and talent are the brains of a cohesive organization, seniority is its backbone.organization, seniority is its backbone.

Institutionalizing seniority does several Institutionalizing seniority does several important things:important things:

1.1. Seniority encourages long-term Seniority encourages long-term commitment to the organization. It commitment to the organization. It provides a powerful incentive, an provides a powerful incentive, an opportunity to gain respect and status by opportunity to gain respect and status by simply making an honest commitment.simply making an honest commitment.

2.2. Seniority honors this commitment. The Seniority honors this commitment. The values of commitment, longevity and values of commitment, longevity and sustainability are always in the forefront.sustainability are always in the forefront.

Where Seniority Fits InWhere Seniority Fits In

3. Seniority institutionalizes organizational continuity. 3. Seniority institutionalizes organizational continuity. Organizations evolve, expand and diversify. Within this Organizations evolve, expand and diversify. Within this ever-changing environment, seniority provides an ever-changing environment, seniority provides an important reference point for continuity.important reference point for continuity.

4. Seniority provides an explicit measure for experience. 4. Seniority provides an explicit measure for experience. Senior members have already traversed the Senior members have already traversed the organizational learning curve and can transfer this organizational learning curve and can transfer this knowledge to newer members.knowledge to newer members.

5. Seniority provides an established and recognized 5. Seniority provides an established and recognized political system. To some extent, seniority can preempt political system. To some extent, seniority can preempt destructive organizational politics. It can often save the destructive organizational politics. It can often save the organization from backstabbing and backroom dealing organization from backstabbing and backroom dealing by cliques.by cliques.

Where Seniority Fits InWhere Seniority Fits In

Group Quiz Group Quiz

How do we balance merit and seniority?How do we balance merit and seniority?

Balance the Power of Merit and Balance the Power of Merit and SenioritySeniority

Seniority without merit and talent simple Seniority without merit and talent simple becomes stagnant union shop. Merit and becomes stagnant union shop. Merit and seniority serve dual but complementary seniority serve dual but complementary organizational roles.organizational roles.

Talent and skill constitute the organizational Talent and skill constitute the organizational intellect. Rewards based upon merit will always intellect. Rewards based upon merit will always provide the creative and entrepreneurial power provide the creative and entrepreneurial power of an organization. of an organization.

Parallel to this, however, seniority is carefully Parallel to this, however, seniority is carefully honored, respected and leveraged. By honored, respected and leveraged. By recognizing the tremendous asset of recognizing the tremendous asset of accumulated experience and organizational accumulated experience and organizational commitment, seniority becomes the backbone of commitment, seniority becomes the backbone of the organization.the organization.

Group QuizGroup Quiz

How do we show the value of seniority?How do we show the value of seniority?

The Rule of Maturing WorkerThe Rule of Maturing Worker People do age and slow down overtime, or can People do age and slow down overtime, or can

fall ill or become incapacitated; ultimately people fall ill or become incapacitated; ultimately people need to retire from the demands of daily work.need to retire from the demands of daily work.

Benedict makes clear statement to the leader to Benedict makes clear statement to the leader to “make provisions for them” (Rule, 37) “make provisions for them” (Rule, 37)

As people age and mature: As people age and mature: 1. do not expect the same level of physical 1. do not expect the same level of physical

productivity productivity 2. instead reduce workload 2. instead reduce workload 3. provide additional assistance if 3. provide additional assistance if

necessarynecessary It is clear that their role, position, or status is It is clear that their role, position, or status is

never diminished in the eyes of the organization. never diminished in the eyes of the organization. Their seniority and respect always remain intact.Their seniority and respect always remain intact.

The Rule also outlines the expectations for proper The Rule also outlines the expectations for proper retirement. Even in the 6retirement. Even in the 6thth century, a full pension and century, a full pension and program of health insurance were provided. But program of health insurance were provided. But Benedict makes a point of suggesting there is a Benedict makes a point of suggesting there is a balance for the pensioners and the sick.balance for the pensioners and the sick.

The respect given to the retires and to their memory The respect given to the retires and to their memory after death, is particularly evident in Benedictine after death, is particularly evident in Benedictine organizations. Pictures of the deceased with short organizations. Pictures of the deceased with short biographies are posted in the monastery, and each biographies are posted in the monastery, and each year the biographies are read to the assembled year the biographies are read to the assembled members of the community as a tribute. Benedict saw members of the community as a tribute. Benedict saw this respect as part of the contract of stability and the this respect as part of the contract of stability and the relationship that ensures cohesiveness in high-relationship that ensures cohesiveness in high-performing organizations.performing organizations.

The Rule of Maturing WorkerThe Rule of Maturing Worker

GROUP ACTIVITYGROUP ACTIVITY

In the company that you have created, design a In the company that you have created, design a ranking system that balance the importance of ranking system that balance the importance of merit (talents & accomplishments) & seniority merit (talents & accomplishments) & seniority of the employeesof the employees

What benefits could you give your employees What benefits could you give your employees that would encourage that would encourage

> merit (talents & accomplishments)> merit (talents & accomplishments)

> seniority (longevity)> seniority (longevity)

Mid-TermMid-Term

Make a one page research and reflection paper Make a one page research and reflection paper on how St. Benedict and his rules influenced on how St. Benedict and his rules influenced the different sectors of society.the different sectors of society.

Conclude the paper with your own insight on Conclude the paper with your own insight on how St. Benedict and his rules could have how St. Benedict and his rules could have possibly influenced you life, explicitly or possibly influenced you life, explicitly or implicitly?implicitly?

Course ProjectCourse Project Create a BLOG-site about St. Benedicts’ Rule of Create a BLOG-site about St. Benedicts’ Rule of

Leadership.Leadership. Contents: 1. Rule of LeadershipContents: 1. Rule of Leadership

2. How St. Benedict and his rules 2. How St. Benedict and his rules influenced the corporate world.influenced the corporate world.

3. Feature any person from the 3. Feature any person from the corporate whose practices hcorporate whose practices h as as been influenced by St. Benedictbeen influenced by St. Benedict

4. Testimonies from the Alumni on 4. Testimonies from the Alumni on St. Benedict’s influence into St. Benedict’s influence into

their their liveslives 5. Invite friends to view and 5. Invite friends to view and

comment comment on your site.on your site.