Reference no: EM132936109
CASE STUDY
Mary Jane has been working at Best News Coverage (BNC), a world-renowned broadcasting news station as a Reporter for a little under two years. Before leaving for London to study abroad for the month of June, she was promised the position of a Supervisor by her Manager, Mrs Kerri Kirkpatrick. While in London, she completed her final research paper on the different perspectives of conflict and their contribution to society. She soon began to realize she was indeed living vicariously through the different theories all along. It had a major impact on her as all her life she saw conflict as something to be avoided at all cost, traditionally speaking. Never did she recognize otherwise.
When Mary Jane returned home to London 2 weeks before the results of the final research paper handed in, she recognized that things have changed drastically at BNC. It was not the same open, team-oriented and caring atmosphere that she was used to.
One of the supervisors, Bill, quit the company due to stress and inconsistencies with one of the managers he was assigned. Over four (4) employees were fired due the change in the organizational structure and only a few originals remain including one of Mary Jane's best
friends, Allison. Mary Jane's promise of a supervisory promotion was placed on hold as she was asked to coach a newcomer, Mallory, into the role of Reporter. Mallory is extremely rude and seemed to care nothing about maintaining a friendly work environment or obeying the code of ethics that governs the employees at BNC. All the employees disliked her work attitude and what made matters worse was the preferential treatment she received above the rest of employees because she was the cousin of the present Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
With the drastic change in the organization, many employees including Mary Jane had come to realize that though several differences arose, it challenged them individually and as teams to produce some of their best work. However, employees like Mallory became the source of many disagreements, as she would constantly get on the nerves of several employees except for Mary Jane. Her best friend, Allison, would gaze in awe at how she remained so unaffected by the attitudes of her understudy.
Several weeks had passed and Mary Jane's promotion from Reporter to Supervisor finally came through. She purposed to apply all that she had learnt in school within her current organization, making sure that if conflicting situations arose, they could be resolved or properly managed.
A. Mary Jane discovered while writing her research paper in London that there are several theoretical perspectives to conflict. For a long time she was exposed to a truth that conflict should be avoided at all cost, traditionally speaking. As she is now in her new role as Supervisor, describe to her of THREE (3) perspectives of which she should be mindful.
B. Organizational structure became a pivotal role in the loss of employees at BNC. This affected the remaining employees, as they were unprepared for such changes. Outline TWO (2) other sources of organizational conflict that influence organizations like BNC? Give a description of these and provide an example each.
C. The impact of conflict on the organization varies in different degrees. However, many times over, situations need not to become blown out of proportion as demonstrated by Mary Jane with her understudy, Mallory. Describe ONE (1) possible technique that Mary Jane may have used to resolve conflict with Mallory.
D. Bill quit his job due to stress and inconsistencies he faced with his manager. Advise him of how he could deal with the stress without quitting his job.