Influence of Kinship System on Working Relationships as Perceived by the Employees of Ambata Shell Station

Abstract

When a Filipino enters an organization, he brings with him his O\Vn value system. Given the fact that most Filipino values arise and obtain their strength around the system of kinship, it is basically the value orientation of kinship which provides some sense of psychological security to the Filipino and leads him to be adaptive of the varying demands of his environment. Consequently, this orientation generate employee practices or behavior which could greatly influence organizational activities. Kinship is said to be the basic element of the Filipino social structure and it is through this structural unit of society that much local authority, rights and obligations and modes of interactions are expressed, defined, ordered, and systematized. For the Filipino, obligations to the family are of the highest order and the concept "blood is thicker than water" is highly regarded. Aside from the real kinship is compadrinazgo, often called the compadre system. It is a ritual kinship that is pertinent to the structural principles and norms of the Filipino. To the Filipino, kinship is a protection shell. His sense of i1rner security lies not on a tough-minded sense of individuality but on a consciousness that he has relatives whom he can always turn to in times of need. If one is not available. he draws himself close to someone whom he can establish a· relationship that is close to kinship. One aspect of organizational activities that may be hard hit by the presence of kinship system is the relationship between members of the organization. Under such relationships, processes concerning communication flow, task delegation and the building of informal relationships can be found. In view of this, the study focused on the influence of kinship system on working relationships as perceived by the organization, specifically, by the Ambata Shell Station. The researcher believed that it is through the careful analysis of the influence of such that managers be able to lead certain courses of action which could avoid adverse consequences emanating from the misdirection of the said Filipino orientation. The Laswell Formula's concept of "effect in the communication process" and all the variables in Schramm Model of Communication were adapted, combined and modified by the researcher to explore the study further. The researcher employed a descriptive method of the study to answer the problem. Since Ambata Shell Station is a small company, the researcher conducted the study in the form of census. The whole organization consists of the manager, assistant manager and 30 employees were asked to participate. The modes of data gathering were employed in the form of survey questionnaire and interview schedule. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentage was applied in analyzing the data. Results showed that Ambata shell Station, having majority of its population as kin and hiring employees through their affiliation with the top bosses or recommendations from the managers' network of alliance, gives so much importance on kinship system. The communication flow in the company tends to be fluid wherein both the upper and lower level workers can initiate office communication, there is trust, on the part of the superiors, in assigning work to their employees and that informal relationships are palpable because of the already established bonding among the superiors and the sub-ordinates. The value orientation of kinship turned out to provide comfort and security on the employees in the workplace and enable them to amass support and cooperation from their superiors. It also motivates the employees to finish the work assigned to them on time. The subtle approach of the superiors in making reprimands is perceived to enhance and strengthen the relationship they have with their sub-ordinates. As a whole, most of the employees of Ambata Shell Station believe that the kinship system orientation influence their working relationships. Kinship system is seen to affect the sub-ordinates, the superiors and the organization positively.