Latoya Washington-Department of Marketing

Latoya Washington-Department of Marketing Case Study

Gian Piero Rovagnati

Keiser University

Dr. Natalie Walker

Leadership Development

9-17-2016

Study Case Questions

1- What source of power does Carl have, and what type of power is he using? Which influencing tactic is Carl using during the meeting? Is negotiation and/or the exchange tactic appropriate in this situation?

Carl has a legitimate source of power. This is because he uses his position as the Chairman of the Department of Marketing to influence the policy guiding the department (Glatthom A et al., 2005). He feels he has the legitimate power to influence the policy within this department.

Carl employs a coercive type of power (Day et al., 2014). In the Marketing Department, the professors go quiet and fail to give their view on the issue at hand, not using graduate assistants to grade even objective papers from senior lecturers like Washington.

He uses an inspiring tactic by seeking the view of other members and what their take on the policy would be. He wants to adopt the policy but after consultation with the leadership of the institution.

The tactic appeared inappropriate to members. This is because the greater number of department members would not prove their position or were wary of the outcome (Cummings & Worley, 2014). When Eddie faces Washington after the meeting to consult with her, it shows they were uncomfortable with the tactic.

2- What source of power does Washington have, and what type of power is she using during the meeting? Which two influencing tactics is Washington primarily using during the meeting? Which influencing tactic is Washington using with the memo? Is the memo a wise political move for Washington? What might she gain and lose by sending it?

Washington has expert powers. We are told she was highly sought after completing her PhD in marketing. She is able to realize that the Graduate assistants are able to assist both with lectures as well as grading of papers.

Washington uses reference power. From this case, there is likelihood she has better relationship with other department workers (Wang D et al, 2014). This is why Eddie is able to seek to console her based on the pending policy.

The two influencing tactics Washington uses are:

i) Consultation which is detected when she seeks the attention of other members to support her in opposing the institution of the new policy. This is proved when she gets approached by Eddie.

ii) Reasoning- She again points out that across the campus and across the country, other faculties are using assistant graduates to teach the entire course and to correct subjective papers yet hers was objective which did not require her involvement (Cavallo & Brienza, 2006).

Washington is seeking collaboration from members to help her understand and tackle the new policy yet to be approved. In her memo, she seeks answers from colleagues asking on legality of barring her from using assistant graduates to deliver her duties.

The memo is not a wise move to make because Carl had briefed the Dean and the Vice President about the need for the policy. It is likely to show insubordination to Carl by Washington.

She is likely to gain nothing in connection to her plea. This is because Carl is portrayed as a person who values policies. She is therefore, liable to lose the support she has been receiving from assistant graduates (Cavallo & Brienza, 2006). If it goes overboard, she might lose her job for being stubborn.

3- What would you do if you were Carl? Would you talk to the dean, letting him know that Washington said she would appeal the policy decision? Which influencing tactic would this discussion involve? Which political behavior would the discussion represent? Would you draft a policy directly stating that graduate assistants can-not be used to grade objective exams? Would your answer to be influenced by your answer to?

What I would do if I were Carl would be to call Washington before she appeals and inform her about the need to have the policy supported and gives her instructions never to attempt appealing as well as persuading her to understand the basis of the policy.

The tactic I would involve for this discussion is reasoning. Through reasoning, I will lay down facts to Washington on the needs of adopting the new policy. In this I will highlight the pros and cons connected with the policy.

The discussion represent diplomacy as a way of putting things right (Darling-Hammond et al., 2007). If this is not addressed effectively, the worry would that Washington might be frustrated for having failed to influence other colleagues and she may finally opt out of the institution.

I would not directly write the letter as the policy has not been adopted by all members. I would hold another meeting to have members support to the policy (Cavallo & Brienza, 2006). It would not influence my answer in above as I will still be the one holding talks with Washington.

4- If you were Washington, knowing you had no verbal supporters during the meeting, would you have continued to defend your position or agreed to stop using a graduate assistant? What do you think of Washington sending the memo? As a tenured full professor, Washington is secure in her job. Would your answer change if you (as Washington) had not received tenure or promotion to the top rank?

If I were Washington, failing to get support would never bar me from continuing with my demand. This is because I know the truth about what assistant graduates are supposed to do.

Washington sending the memo would not illicit any reaction from the department members. However, it might give the dean a humble moment to review the basis of the policy.

I do not would change my response. My answer would remain because she was still on demand and would land another job.

5- If you were Washington, and Carl drafted a policy and department members agreed with it, what would you do? Would you appeal the decision to the dean? Again, would your answer change if you had not received tenure or promotion to the top rank?

If Carl drafted the letter and received support from the department members, I would seek exclusive right from the dean of being allowed to use the assistant graduates. I would elaborate why I needed the services of these assistant graduates (Cummings & Worley, 2014). I will again extend my appeal to the Vice president of the institution demanding answers as to why it was not allowed in my department yet other departments allowed it.

My answer would not change even if I was not a fully fledged professor of this institution. Acting in a cowardly manner to please another person’s interest would never work with me (Day et al., 2014). I would lose my job for this because the institution did not provide for any policy, whether departmental, general or personal policies.

6- If you were the dean of the School of Business (SB), knowing that the vice president does not want to set a college-wide policy, and Washington appealed to you what would you do? Would you develop a school-wide policy for SB?

If I were the dean, after receiving the appeal from Washington, I would summon her and listen to why she had to oppose the policy. I would way the limitations associated with her complaints and verify against the terms of the policy. I will in a separate term summon Carl and check on the implications connected with the policy. I will finally call individual members to enquire why they adopted the policy. After this I would consult with the vice president of the institution.

The moment I would learn the policy was partially adopted or some pressure was used to manipulate its adoption, then I would initiate a meeting suspending the policy as I waited for amicable solution to the looming differences at the marketing department (Wang D et al, 2014). However, if the motive behind the adoption of the policy is genuine and not showing trace of personal interest, then I would allow the policy to apply across the school of business.

7- At what level (college-wide, by schools, or by departments within each school) should a graduate assistant policy be set?

The graduate assistant policy should be set at the college level. This will indicate it is a decision from the college management and not individual department. When confined to the department level, the school is likely to be affected and the step may raise eyebrows pertaining to the adoption of such policies.

Should Eddie Accorsi have spoken up in defense of Washington during the meeting? If you were Accorsi, would you have taken Washington’s side against the other seven members? Would your answer change if you were or were not friends with Washington, and if you were or were not a tenured full professor?

Eddie Accorsi ought to have spoken during the meeting in defense of Washington because this would give a backup view to Washington’s stance on the policy (Darling-Hammond et al., 2007). He acted as though he had pressure.

If I were Accorsi, I would have taken sides with Washington because I would act in defense of the institution’s culture which operates with no serious policy assigned.

My answer would never change because if I got employed into the institution, I was never served with any policy regarding the assistant graduates (Glatthom A et al., 2005). That would mean intimidation to the workers and non-professionalism.

References

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