Ulrica Lawson

MSD 101

Organizational Behavior

10/26/2008

CASE STUDY 8.2 EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT CASES

Case 1: The Sugar Substitute Research Decision

1. To what extent should your subordinates be involved in the decision? High

Involvement When you describe the problem to subordinate. They discuss the

matter, identify a solution without your involvement (unless they invite your

ideas) and implement that solution. You have agreed to support their decision.

2. What factors led you to choose this level of employee involvement rather than the

others? The first factor was that I am the head of the research and development for

the beer company, secondly the new sugar substitute can be patented and licensed

to manufacturers in the food industry, thirdly the sugar substitute project is

beyond my technical expertise, but the scientist in my unit have the expertise to

research this project, fourthly it could help with the company’s limited budget and

bring in new revenue for the company to help with beer projects that hold promise

fro the future beer sales. You must make money to fund research.

3. What problems might occur if less or more involvement occurred in the case

(where possible)? In this case problems might occur if the employees had less

involvement, because it might cause the scientist to complain more and quit the
 research unit, also sometimes you have to give your employees more control over

their research and expand into a different research to make more money so you

can fund the research that benefits your company more.

Case 2: Coast Guard Cutter Decision

1. To what extent should your subordinates be involved in this decision? Medium

involvement. You describe the problem to one or more subordinates (alone or in a

meeting) and ask for any relevant information as well as their recommendations

on the issue. However you make the final decision, which might or might not

reflect their advice.

2. What factors led you to choose this level of employee involvement rather than the

others? The first factor is that I am the Captain of the Coast Guard center and I am

responsible for my 16 crew members and any survivors there might be, secondly

was that the crew had been searching for 20 hours and that the search operation

has been increasingly impaired by rough seas and there is evidence of a severe

storm building, thirdly the deteriorating weather has made communications with

the Coast Guard station impossible, fourthly a decision needed to be made

whether to abandon the search and protect the vessel and your crew.

3. What problems might occur if less or more involvement occurred in this case

(where possible)? In this case more involvement would might have caused the

crew to mutiny against their captain and cause more problems to arise, the crew is

conscientious about their responsibility and probably would have wanted to stay

even if could lead to their death, but captain must decide whether to leave or stay.