個案總覽

Supplements the case. Designed as an in-class handout.

Lower middle-level manager is faced with the need to bring about a change in the call patterns of the sales force selling her product. Based on an earlier case by P.R. Lawrence.

Outlines events leading up to a meeting of a six-person task force which has been assigned to reduce overhead costs at a major manufacturing company. History of the company, and backgrounds of all the task force members are presented. Raises the following questions and issues for students to deal with: 1) What strategy should the task force leader take to organize the task force and accomplish its goals within the two week period? 2) What division of the labor, if any, is appropriate? 3) What should his purpose and agenda be for the first meeting? 4) Given the information in the case, what problems should be anticipated in terms of interdepartmental conflict and members' hidden agendas? 5) What should he do to deal with these problems?

An "in-basket" decision-making exercise in case form, to be used with Nuclear Tube Assembly Room (A) (Condensed). The purpose is to pose students with several related problems which require immediate analysis arriving at some decisions and planning how to implement those decisions. Includes two exhibits: 1) a process engineering proposal recommending several changes to an assembly operation; and 2) a personal note describing a conflict which has erupted between the general foreman and a process engineer regarding the proposal. Students are expected to appraise the likely consequences of the proposed changes on the department's social system, productivity, and satisfaction; and determine which of the changes are essential, which will have negative effects, and how to implement those changes which are desirable. The student is also posed with the problem of diagnosing and successfully intervening in the conflict between the two key actors. Material is relevant to the topics of group behavior, interdepartmental conflict, interpersonal conflict, and action planning and implementation.

Supervisory practices and social structure in an electronics company assembly room. To be used with the (B) case. Based on American Radiatronics Corp. (A) by M.J. Steckler and P.R. Lawrence.

Briefly describes in management terms the three social motives: Need for achievement; need for power; need for affiliation. Also briefly reviews the implications of the work of David McClelland, David Winters, and others for motivation within organizational settings. The power motive is described in terms of both "personalized power" and "socialized power."

Explains some of the dynamics of what actually happens in an effective or ineffective group. Also mentioned are a number of interventions which can be taken on by any group member to help change an ineffective group to one which operates more effectively.

Introduces the concepts of assumptions, perceptions and feelings, and applies these concepts to the problem of understanding the behavior that takes place between people in relationships. The note discusses a particular interaction that takes place between two men in a work setting in terms of how each person's point of view influences his behavior. Also discusses the topic of facilitating understanding and several assumptions that impede communications.

Supplements the (A) case. Designed as an in-class handout.

Raises the following issues: understanding another person from his/her point of view, understanding how two people can view the same situation differently, and understanding how an individual's behavior can have secondary consequences of which he/she may not be aware.

Describes the formation, selection, and experience of a task force with multidepartmental membership. The problems faced by the task force leader at the end of the case raise issues of who does the selection; the establishment of group norms, values, and goals; the leadership of a task force; confidentiality and responsibility; individual rivalry; and intergroup conflict and politics. Based on Belmont-White Co. and Vandercook Chain Stores, Inc. by E.P. Learned.

Supplements the (A) case.

Presents the problem facing a newly appointed high school principal. Raises issues about interpersonal and group behavior including lack of open conflict resolution and the need to intervene in an interpersonal conflict. Also raises the issue of intergroup conflict between headmasters and department chairmen, as well as value questions concerning the need for discipline and innovation. Discusses several structural questions concerning the existing "house system" organization.

Personality theory. The individual frame of reference.