Communication breakdowns in three organizational and professional dilemmas

Communications Dilemmas

Post Response #1 -- Donnie

Dilemmas and Most Prominent Dimensions at Issue

The dilemma presented by this situation is that, on one hand, Donnie believed that he was following his supervisor's instructions; but on the other hand, his supervisor was responding to his work as though Donnie did something wrong even though Donnie believed that he did exactly what was requested. The supervisor was attempting to improve the quality of the product but Donnie misread that situation as blaming him for not following instructions that were incomprehensible because they were not clearly or effectively communicated.

This particular dilemma does not closely adhere to any of the seven dilemma classifications. However, it is closest to the dilemma of universalism vs. particularism and individualism vs. communitarianism. That is because the conflict between Donnie and his supervisor could be considered a function of the fact that Donnie was unaware of the need to follow certain standardized rules or, alternatively, the fact that Donnie's work conformed insufficiently to organizational and industry consensus about communications.

Suggested Approach for Reconciliation and Resolution

The suggested approach for reconciliation and resolution would consist of the supervisor holding off on the use of authority and trying to apply more of an instructional element in briefing Donnie so that the finer distinctions and criteria will be recognizable to Donnie at the time he receives his instructions instead of only retroactively when his supervisor criticizes his performance.

Post Response #2 -- Mika

Dilemmas and Most Prominent Dimensions at Issue

The dilemma presented by this situation is that, on one hand, professional modeling presents a fortunate opportunity for young women to establish a career and earn a sufficient income to improve their lives tremendously; but on the other hand, professional modeling can also sometimes expose vulnerable individuals to potentially exploitative situations and relationships and the fact that many new foreign models also experience language and cultural barriers only exacerbates those negative situations and vulnerabilities when they occur. This particular dilemma most closely relates to the specific vs. diffuse classification because it arises in connection with importance of making professional progress in modeling through the process of building new relationships through existing relationships and associations and through establishing new relationships with other stakeholders in the industry. Inexperience, youth, language barriers and cultural barriers all contribute to the dilemma.

Suggested Approach for Reconciliation and Resolution

The suggested approach to reconciliation and resolution would, as in the case of Donnie, also rely primarily on someone influential in the industry taking responsibility for assisting aspiring international models learn what to expect from their involvement with the industry. Ideally, that would include awareness training and instruction about how to manage their careers and how to make sure that they have appropriate management personnel, and to enable them to better overcome some of the more common language and cultural barriers they will typically encounter working abroad within the modeling industry.

Post Response #3 -- Tyrrell

Dilemmas and Most Prominent Dimensions at Issue

The dilemma presented by this situation is that, on one hand, Tyrrell knows that his Board of Bishops and Church Fellowship is in dire need of adopting more up-to-date communications media and practices to allow optimal growth and sustenance of the organization; but on the other hand, the principal members of the Board are all extremely elderly and very resistant to begin learning about the types of communications and informational platforms that are routinely used in virtually every industry in the modern digital age. The Bishops hold the authority to reject incorporating those modern communications and information media but the future of the organization likely depends on their allowing the organization to upgrade its communications and information systems and processes. This particular dilemma has elements of the universalism vs. particularism dimension because the Bishops are stuck to a set of outdated standards and processes and have exhibited a reluctance to allow a more flexible approach to improving those systems.

Suggested Approach for Reconciliation and Resolution

The suggested approach to reconciliation and resolution would, as in the cases of Donnie and Mika also rely primarily on the process of educating the individuals involved to better understand certain information that they would need to understand to achieve their common objective. More specifically, Tyrrell should attempt to develop a method of helping the Bishops understand the positive elements of modern communications and information media and to overcome their existing reluctance based on ignorance and fear of something new.

Post Response #4 -- Cleveland

Suggested Approach for Reconciliation and Resolution

The suggested approach to reconciliation and resolution would, (again), also rely primarily on the process of educating the individuals involved (i.e. Navy personnel) to better understand the specific distinctions and lines separating Navy policies and values from areas of life where the individual is permitted to adhere to and uphold personally held cultural identities and values at the same time. In that regard, training should provide explicit instruction to help sailors honor their sworn obligation to the Navy while still expressing their autonomous beliefs and values from their own cultures and backgrounds.

Post Response #5 -- Karly

Dilemmas and Most Prominent Dimensions at Issue

The dilemma presented by this situation is that, on one hand, the fashion company for which Karly works must be able to avoid negative press and public relations; but on the other hand, the Public Relations (PR) department has been repeatedly left out of the information loop in the organization. As a result, the PR department has been unable to perform some of its most important functions optimally. To do so, it would be necessary to establish better information sharing to enable the PR department to respond as timely and as effectively as possible to situations affecting the public image of the organization. United States Navy promotes, supports, and encourages all enlisted individuals to respect cultural diversity and individuality of all persons; but on the other hand, the U.S. Navy also

Suggested Approach for Reconciliation and Resolution

The suggested approach to reconciliation and resolution in this case would involve communicating to management the importance of establishing communications and information-sharing protocols, policies, and procedures to ensure that the PR department is included in the operational loop within the organization. Presently, it appears that the other business units are preoccupied with issues that affect them directly and that information is shared among different business units on a needs basis. Since no other business unit requires input from PR, the task of updating the PR department falls to the wayside. The optimal solution to this dilemma would involve increasing the understanding among the other business unit management that every organizational component shares an obligation to the organization to provide all possible assistance to the PR department to enable the PR department to protect the organization against potential public relations threats.