Case Study Part 6: Diagnosing Problem Causes

Criteria

Levels of Achievement

Content 70%

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not present

Lens One: Reviewing the Structural Theories

• Is my problem tied to a problem with the chain of command?

o Looks at the bases of formal authority in organization (who has economic, legal, contractual, collegial).

o Are people clear on accountabilities? Do such accountability lines conflict? Is someone not carrying out their authority?

o Are people reporting through proper channels?

• Is my problem tied to a problem with the span of control in the organization?

o Are too many reporting to too few? Too few?

o Are there too many levels of authority in the organization?

• Is my problem tied to the way our organization is departmentalized?

o Are we divided up properly and efficiently?

o Are accountability lines confused and inefficient?

o Are jobs overlapping or are there gaps?

• Is my problem tied to the way decisions are being made in the organization?

o Are we too centralized or decentralized?

o Who decides what and for whom?

• Is my problem tied to not maintaining staff/line distinctions?

o Is staff exercising authority?

o Is staff going around communication lines?

19 to 20 points

Criteria is addressed clearly and accurately and includes an extensive description of the specified question(s).

17 to 18 points

Criteria is addressed clearly and includes an adequate description of all specified questions in the assignment.

1 to 16 points

Criteria is somewhat addressed with a minimal mention/ description of all specified questions in the assignment

0 points

Not present

Lens Two: Reviewing the Systems Theories

• Is my problem tied in some way to the input/throughput/output cycle of the organization?

• Is my problem tied in some way to our organization trying to step beyond its genotypic function (productive, maintenance, adaptive, managerial/political)?

• Is my problem tied in some way to the Maximization Principle?

o Are we balancing our need for profit with a long-term view of survival?

o Are we storing, reinvesting, etc.?

• Is my problem tied to ignoring or misreading the environment?

o What do we know about the environmental sectors (economic, political, social, etc.)?

o Are we rating the sectors according to some measure?

Stability vs. turbulence

Diversity vs. homogeneity

Clustering vs. randomness

19 to 20 points

Criteria is addressed accurately and includes an extensive description of the specified question(s).

17 to 18 points

Criteria is addressed clearly and includes an adequate description of all specified questions in the assignment.

1 to 16 points

Criteria is somewhat addressed with a minimal mention/ description of all specified questions in the assignment.

0 point

Not present

Lens Three: Reviewing the Culture Theories

• Is my problem tied to culture collisions within the organization?

o With new employees?

o Within units or departments?

• Is my problem tied in some way to efforts to shape or reshape the culture?

• Is my problem tied in some way to role problems (not job description) such as overload, conflict, readiness, etc.?

14 to 15 points

Criteria is addressed accurately and includes an extensive description of the specified question(s).

13 points

Criteria is addressed clearly and includes an adequate description of all specified questions in the assignment.

1 to 12 points

Criteria is somewhat addressed with a minimal mention/ description of all specified questions in the assignment.

0 points

Not present

Lens Four: Reviewing the Political Theories

• Is my problem tied in some way to power pathologies in the organization?

o Power corrupting people

o Unhealthy coalitions and alliances broken

o Improper control over information flow

• Is my problem tied in some way to how people are responding to power and influence efforts in the organization?

• Concludes by summarizing how useful each lens has been in identifying the cause of the problem (rough percentage framework)

• Good, scholarly research incorporated throughout the analysis to support the critique offered

14 to 15 points

Criteria is addressed accurately and includes an extensive description of the specified question(s).

Full application of the lens has been applied to the organization issue.

13 points

Criteria is addressed clearly and includes an adequate description of all specified questions in the assignment.

Some application of the lens is applied to the organizational issue.

1 to 12 points

Criteria is somewhat addressed with a minimal mention/ description of all specified questions in the assignment.

Issues within the organization not specifically addressed; too much discussion regarding the theory.

0 points

Not present

Structure 30%

Advanced

Proficient

Developing

Not present

APA

14 to 15 points

A title and reference page is included. Paper, citations, reference pages, and sources are formatted in current APA style (0-1 errors).

Body of paper is 5-7 pages.

13 points

A title and reference page is included. Paper, citations, reference pages, and sources are formatted in current APA style (2-3 errors).

Body of paper is 5-7 pages.

1 to 12 points

A title page or reference page is not included. Paper, citations, reference pages, and sources are not formatted in current APA style (4 or more errors).

Body of paper is less than 5 pages.

0 points

Not present

Grammar, Spelling Mechanics

14 to 15 points

Correct grammar, spelling, and mechanics are used throughout the assignment. There are 0-1 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

13 points

There are occasional errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics. There are 2-3 errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics that distract the reader from the content.

1 to 12 points

There are 4 or more errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics that distract the reader from the content.

0 points

Not present