Operational Scenario

CJ503 Organizational Behavior

Unit 2 Assignment 2: Operational Scenario

Part A: The Warden

You are a new warden at a large prison somewhere in the United States. The prison

that you have been assigned to has been plagued with numerous physical

altercations and has had three small riots, two on separate cellblocks, and another in

the chow hall. Furthermore, gang-related violence has occurred in this prison and, as

is usually the case in prisons, these gang loyalties fall along racial lines.

Further still, your prison staff has had numerous problems based on racial identity.

During turnout prior to shift-change, you can see that the staff arranges themselves

according to racial groups. Also, when the prison tried to arrange diversity training

last month, an all-time high was reached in employee absenteeism and there were

more employee arguments and disagreements. The training seemed to polarize the

staff even further.

It has become a source of concern for you because you now have reason to believe

that some staff may essentially be turning a “blind eye” to inmate activities if the staff

member and the inmate are of the same race/ethnicity. This naturally compromises

the security of the institution and places everyone's safety in jeopardy.

Upon attempting to improve employee racial relations in your prison institution, you

note that there appears to be two rough “group views” within your prison staff. There

is one group who is “hard-lined” and conservative. This group takes a punitive

approach toward the inmate population. The other group is more “soft” and liberal in

approach and takes a less restrictive approach to human relations with the inmate

population. These groups seem to be at great odds with one another, and the irony

is that there

are members of each racial/ethnic background and of both genders who subscribe to

BOTH views.

Reflect on the above scenario and answer the following questions using a

350-word minimum for each answer.

1. Discuss attitudes among employees in an organization. Specifically, explain how

poor attitudes among correctional staff in a state prison might affect other aspects

of that prison.

CJ503 Organizational Behavior

2. Discuss the importance of employee satisfaction within this prison. What are

some likely indicators that can alert prison management of poor employee

satisfaction within that prison?

3. What type of plan would you implement to address the problems within the

prison? When deciding how to address these problems within the prison,

which of the three ethical decision criteria would be the best fit and why?

4. What innovative solutions could be used to address the problems within the

prison?

5. Within a prison, performance and social arrangement norms are likely to be

norms that reinforce consistency among staff. How is this likely to affect overall

job satisfaction? What effect will it have on employees who are not conforming in

personality?

Part B: Ethical Behavior

Modern Criminal Justice managers want to promote ethical behaviors in their

organizations. Considering this statement, answer the following questions using a

350-word minimum for each answer.

1. Discuss the three ways leaders can manage ethical behavior in their

organizations. Provide at least one example from a current law enforcement

agency that supports your discussion.

2. Are the management theories discussed only a U.S. concept or do other

countries manage their organizations in this way? Explain your answer and

provide examples.