Case Study Essay

Read “The New Career Development Program that Ruins Careers Case” from Shockley-Zalabak’s Fundamentals of Organizational Communication from this unit’s studies. Apply the theory you learned in Chapter 9 to this situation by preparing an essay based on the discussion questions at the end of the case study. Be sure to discuss the conflict preferences, strategies, tactics, and emotions displayed by all of the participants involved in the situation.

Note: It is important that you thoroughly interpret and answer all four of the questions at the end of the case study. This applies to question three in particular. A careful reading of the case shows that any attempt to resolve the conflict has to include deciding who will run the project. If you read the case too quickly and do not analyze it, you may be apt to submit a response such as “Jane should think about it and then make a decision” or “Jane should have another meeting and then make a decision.” These types of answers for question three show a lack of careful consideration of the case, which will cost you points.

The important part to answering question three is that you suggest which individual or individuals Jane should pick to lead the project and that you provide detailed rationale for the decision. Case studies such as the one assigned here allow you an opportunity to work through difficult work decisions and make your best decision given the information available.

So, for the third question, make sure you take a stand based on what is known about the case and what you have learned from the course, and pick a leader and provide detailed ideas about why you think the person you have chosen might work best.