MENTAL MODELS AND MINDSETS PAPER
Mental models and mindsets help individuals and organizations express different perspectives and provide capability to adjust to various conditions. The four steps to change mental models and mindsets are understand their mental models and mindsets, test new approaches, overcome inhibitors to change, and last make the change to his or her mental models and mindsets. The four steps are important for individuals and organizations to grow. Mattel is successful in creating new mental models and mindsets by becoming the number one toy company in the United States and around the world (Mattel, 2011).
UNDERSTAND MENTAL MODELS
Mattel has their own thought process of making the Ken and Barbie doll a learning tool for children through different age groups. Moreover, when organizations such as Mattel decide to introduce a new product, they turn to other products which have made them successful. The models come from genetics this tends to provide a fundamental basis of whom they are and what they can do, and experience plays a major role in shaping these capabilities, strengthening some and weakening others. There for many forces of nurture shape and reshape the mental models.
Education is a way to shape and reshape the mental models and forms a foundation that molds the way the world views situations. Another way to shape and reshape the mental models is through training, some receive to deal with transitions or introducing new products. Mattel has had specific education and training, which has made them successful in the toy business their mental model is based on many different thought processes. Some of the other ways to shape and reshape mental models is through the influence of others, rewards and incentives, and through personal experiences. Mattel has many individuals who do think differently and all put their heads together allowing them to create or introduce a new product.
The Review on Logic Model Development Guide
Logic Model Development Guide Introduction If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you gonna’ know when you get there? –Yogi Berra In line with its core mission – To help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations – the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has made program evaluation a priority. As ...
TRY NEW APPROACHES
In addition to approaches already in use at Mattel, the company can develop new models to address new challenges (Wind, Crook, & Gunther, 2005).
Mattel can evaluate processes within the company to see if any improvements are needed. Education is an excellent source to shape the mental models to shape their mindset. Education is a common language developed among people to share similar interests. Specific training can be implemented to handle new tasks. Another approach is influence by people, such as mentors, family, and friends. The approach will challenge a person directly, encouraging, and achieving higher goals. The mental models and action can be rewarded with incentives even though the rewards can be tangible to find a new approach that will work for Mattel. The process of combining learning from experiences will create opportunities to enhance new approaches in the model set. The importance of seeking new approaches is to find a common model that will fit the majority of the people to obtain the best practices at Mattel.
OVERCOME INHIBITORS TO CHANGE
Even after testing the new approaches at Mattel, the inhibitors will need to be overcome when making changes. Mattel will need to see a new way to rethink the business and mental models. By examining the unfound information needed to produce new products into the market will help overcome discrepancies. The key is to act upon any inhibitors, make small changes effectively and in the best interest of the company. The company focuses on certain products to stay close to its branding, but to defeat the competition; the company will need to experiment with new products and ideas. Mattel is one of the largest toy manufacturing companies in the world and to keep its reputation the company will need to overlook the investments, structures, and processes to embrace the new products and services (Wind, Crook, & Gunther, 2005).
The Research paper on The Case of the Mattel Toy Company
According to the instructions for this case study, three virtues were to be chosen to identify with the case study. In keeping with the instructions, I have chosen Honesty, generosity and justice as the 3 virtues to associate with the case. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states, “A virtue such as honesty or generosity is not just a tendency to do what is honest or generous, nor is it to be ...
Mattel will need to start with small changes to adapt into the business strategies. By upholding a company with consistently building trust will help overcome the inhibitors to develop to a new mental model when needed. By having the lack of trust within the company the people will become less willing to try new innovated ideas. By finding the new mindsets for the company will be rewarding and innovative. Mattel will need to recognize the constraints for the possibilities of change to benefit the company to overcome the inhibitors.
MAKE NEW CHANGES
Changing the mental model at Mattel involves the changing of the business strategy, employees, and hiring executives. If Mattel changed their mental model it will be from the business concept of providing children with an everyday exciting toy to an educational learning experience. Mattel is known for their vision of creating a vision of play, which draws children and families to their products. Mattel has a focus to become a premier toy company, but a change will be to make them a competitive educational source for children and families. Other changes at Mattel can involve the employee aspect from hiring adventurous toy makers to hiring employees with a children’s educational background. Mattel has a strong leadership team that strives to develop, communicate, inspire, and develop employees within the company. Changing their mental model is changing the overall direction of a company along with erasing limits and expanding opportunities involved in change. With this new venture Mattel will expand the traditional mental model and open new paths of innovation.
In conclusion, using the four steps to change mental models and mindsets can improve business for organizations. For example, Mattel’s mental model and mindset on selling different products can bring in new business. The educational Barbie and Ken doll can provide a new type of customer who normally would not buy the dolls. Organizations like Mattel challenge their employee’s mental models and mindsets to stay ahead of the competition and create new products and ideas.
The Term Paper on Mental Models 2
Mental models are how the mind stores memories and ideas relating to reality. These include opinions, attitudes, prejudices, and approaches to different objects, events, and situations. The manner in which one’s mental models work can limit one’s ability to succeed or improve his or her environment. Sometimes managers’ mental models limit a business because they choose to ignore certain factors. ...
References
Mattel Inc. (2011).
_Mattel Inc._ Retrieved from http://www.mattel.com
Wind, Y. J., Crook, C., & Gunther, R. (2005).
_The power of impossible thinking: Transform the business of your life and the life of your business_. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
