M2A1

Discussion Board !!!!

 

Background Information

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant  topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered.

For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned.

To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use  the South University Online Library. As in all assignments, cite your  sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA  format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as  early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your  classmates' initial postings. Participate in the discussion by asking a  question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of  view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or  indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the  discussion. Cite sources in your responses to other classmates. Complete  your participation for this assignment by the end of the week.

Bay Harbor has a midsized police department of around 70 officers,  including two captains, four lieutenants, and a number of sergeants. It  is among the most well-known police departments in the state, mainly due  to its progressive chief, Bill Murray. He is so popular that when he  took early retirement three months ago, he successfully ran for the  position of mayor.

When Murray was chief, the department had a friendly and accessible  image among the citizens. He encouraged informal interaction between  department employees and the public, and he streamlined department  procedures to cut down on bureaucracy and empower employees. All  officers, especially his favorite ones, enjoyed considerable  professional latitude under him. Murray, in return, was assured of their  loyalty and commitment to the team. The department appeared to be well  run, with high levels of employee satisfaction, but it was only  moderately successful in controlling crime.

Murray's designated successor, Chief Tim Johnson, came from nearby  Meadow Pines, where there was a much smaller department of only 13  officers. Yet, under him, Meadow Pines had the lowest crime rate ever.  He is known as a strong authority figure in Meadow Pines. He reinforces  that image by involving himself in every departmental decision and  implementing rules with an iron hand. He monitors his officers closely,  and they have to seek his clearance for almost all actions, except those  that arise in an emergency.

Like Murray, Johnson drove considerable policy changes as the chief  of Meadow Pines; however, he rarely requested any employee feedback on  the revisions. Generally, these policy changes were designed to increase  supervisory control and formalize the department's procedural  guidelines. This resulted in a more bureaucratic structure. Although  Johnson does not appear to be as popular as Murray was, he is respected  by his subordinates and by the public for lowering his community's crime  rate.

Many members of the hiring committee believe that Chief Johnson's  stern nature will make Bay Harbor more efficient. Other members disagree  and feel that his style of functioning might not work in a larger  department. They also fear that citizen satisfaction with the department  will decrease and that some of the more experienced officers may leave  the Bay Harbor department because they do not like Johnson's leadership  style.

• Can the leader-member exchange (LMX) theory be used to describe the  relationship that Murray and Johnson shared with their subordinates? Why  or why not?
• What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of hiring someone with Chief Johnson's style for the position at Bay Harbor? Why?
• What could be reasons for Chief Johnson's lack of delegation? Which  approach should he use to delegate and empower officers at Bay Harbor?
• Is participative leadership more effective depending on the size of  the department? Why? How does Murray's delegation and empowerment of his  subordinates benefit a police department?
• What principles of dyadic relationships should Johnson use for correcting performance deficiencies at Bay Harbor? Why?

Cite any sources using APA format on a separate page.