MEMO

TO:
ErinL.Ellsworth,Ph.D.

FROM:
KevinCaldwell

SUBJECT: CorporateResearchReport

DATE:
March29,2016

GeneralProfession/SpecificTitle

Whendecidingwhotoconductforaninterviewaligningwithmyownpersonalcareerpathset
forthefuture,Ibeganbyresearchingthegeneralprofessionregardingdirectorof
communicationsonaccountthatitisawellknownpositioninthefieldwhichmanyfirms
require.AlthoughIamstillnotforcertaininregardtowhatspecificroleofcommunicationto
pursuefollowingschool,Ifiguredthatspeakingwithanorganization'sdirectorof
communicationssuchasJustPlaySportsSolutionsMr.AustinBaronewouldprovidethe
insightofanindividualoverlookingallbranchesoperatingwithinthedivision,aswellasthe
managerialmethodologyimplementedtobetterreachorganizationalgoals.Inregardtothe
positionalgoalsexpressedbyMr.Baroneduringourinterview,characteristicsofleadership
seemedtobethemostvaluedgoalofthecommunicationdirectorposition.Itwasfurther
conveyedbyMr.Baronethatthedirectionshesetsforemployeesarenotpasseddownand
administeredinformofahierarchy,butareratherpursuedwithleaderssuchashimself
collaboratingandexemplifyingsuchdesiredbehaviors.AlthoughMr.Baroneholdsatitle
indicatingpowerandsuperiorityovercertainindividualswithinthefirm'sactivities,hemadeit
clearthatheconsidershimselfapeeramongthoseheadministersandtriestoprovethatthrough
workingcooperativelyontaskswithothers.WhenaskingMr.Baronetoidentifytheeveryday
responsibilitiesheattendstoregardinghisposition,heexplainedthatmoresothananythinghe
feelsacontinuingresponsibilitytoperformtheroleofdelegation.Inquiringfurtherofthe
delegateprocessperformed,Mr.Baroneexplainedthisprocesstypicallyincludesoverseeing
organizationalactivitiesinordertoensurethatoperationsandemployeesareattainingcorporate
goals.Morespecifically,apartfromtheleadershipqualitiesexpressedMr.Baronealsoincluded
practicesheperformswhicharesimilarresponsibilitiessharedbyemployeesheoversees.The
mostevidentexampleofthisexplainedduringtheinterviewwasthesharedprocessofMr.
Baronecallingcoachespersonally,andensuringthathefollowsuponthatleadwithina48hour
period.ThisisthebasicfunctionperformedbyMr.Baronesemployeesonadailybasis,andhis
ownparticipationwassaidtoprovidemoreofanempatheticunderstandingforthefunctions
beingperformed.DuringourinterviewMr.Baroneseemedexcitedaboutthefactthathehad
recentlyhiredafewnewemployees,andwasanticipatinganewhirewithinthefollowing
month.Mr.Baroneexplainedthatthecareerpathleadingtonewhiresmainlyincludesthe
evaluationofexperienceinthefield,lookingatindividualbackgroundsincommunication,
technologyaswellassports.GettingthejobatJustPlaySportsSolutionsthroughexperienceis
theinitialstep,butfurtheringyourselfinthecompanyreliedonanentirelynewevaluative

process.Theinternalstructureoftheorganizationismostlyset,however,therearenewjobtitles
andpositionscreatedasthe
companyexpandsintonewsectors.Whenthisoccurs,Mr.Baroneexplainedseniorityis
commonlythefirstattributeconsidered,however,ifthereisnotanyindividualwithinthe
companywhomangersfeelcannotperformthepositionwithouttakingawayfromother
importantroles,thenthecompanyismorelikelytooutsource.Outsourcingwasexplainedto
providemoresoofanexpertpertainingtospecificneedswhilekeepingthepreviousstructureof
rolesinplace.Therewerealsonegativesassociatedwithoutsourcingaswell,includingthe
potentialofdisruptingafunctionalworkenvironmentaswellascostsofacquiringanadditional
employee.DuetothefactthatMr.BaronewasalsoacofounderofJustPlaySportsSolutions,
hewasabletoassumethedirectorofcommunicationspositionsduringtheinitialgrassroots
phaseofthecompany.Withthat,Mr.Baroneexpeditedthepromotionalprocessandassumeda
morepowerfulpositionimmediatelyfollowinggraduation.Althoughthepositionisnottypically
acquiredsoquicklyandthepositionssalarycanrangedependingonvariousfactors,Mr.Barone
hintedatmakingnearto$100,000onaccountofhiscompanyscontinuingsuccess.

PersonInterviewed
/
Organization

In2013,cofounderMr.BaronepursuedaninternshipatGoogle,andduringthehistimespent
oneoftherequirementsincludedcomingupwithaninnovativeproductorideatosell.WhatMr.
BaronecameupwithinitiallywasaproductcombiningGoogleglassandavisorthatafootball
playerwouldwear.Themainideabeingthatlearninghappensbyreinforcementandfeedback.
Aftersometimeandresearch,herealizedthecostandavailabilityofmaterialswasnotgreat
enoughtoattaingoals.Atthatpoint,heconsideredthisattemptafailure.Butwithoutgivingup,
heteamedupwithapartnerandengineerwhothendecidedtodevelopasoftwareplatformthat
theproductwouldstarton,ratherthanavisor.AndthatishowtheorganizationJustPlaySports
Solutionsbegan.JustPlaygivesplayersamoreactivelearningplatformonthedevicestheyuse
everydayinordertomoreeasilyaccessandcommunicatetheirsportteamsplaysandplaybooks
throughsecureandinteractivelearningapplications.(Features,2016)Coachescancontrol
playersaccesstoplaybooks,gameplans,scoutingreports,videoquizzesandmorethroughthe
interactivesharingthecompanyprovides.Playerscanevenaskquestionsastheystudyhelping
thembemorepreparedthenexttimetheystepontothefield.Theclientsusingtheproductand
servicesofJustPlaySportsSolutionsmainlyincludecoachesandathleticdirectorsofschool
sportingteams.Althoughmostoftheseindividualsrepresenthighschoolteams,therearealsoa
numberofuniversitiesthefirmrepresentsaswell.

FunctionsAssumed

Therearetwomaindivisionsofemployeeswhichmakeupamajorityofthecompanysentire
body,consistingofbothsoftwaredevelopersandasalesteam.Intheareaofsoftware
development,employeesarerequiredtoprovidethetechnologicalaspectofthecompanyin
ordertokeepupwithothernewandinnovativeideaspresentedinthemarketplace.Alongwith
keepingupwithrequireddevicesandapplications,thesedevelopersalsoprovidecustomer
supportwhenclientsarehavingtroubleoperatingthesoftware.Therearealsoanumberofbugs
andproblemsthatarediscoveredwithintheproductastimegoeson,andwiththatsoftware

developersarealsorequiredtoprovidefrequentsoftwareupdatesandensurethatallflawsor
bugshavebeenminimized.OntheotherspectrumofemploymentwithinJustPlaySports
Solutionsincludesthedivisionofemployeesinvolvedinsalesandcommunicativeprocesses.
Themainroletheseemployeesassumeincludesdiscoveringpossibleleadsforsalesandmaking
efforttoconductatransaction.Itwasexplainedduringtheinterviewthatmanycoachesare
sometimereluctanttoadapttonewtechnologies,soacommonbehaviordisplayedwithinthe
communicationdivisionofthefirmincludescoachesunwillingnesstocallback.Whenthis
occurs,itisthesalesrepresentativesresponsibilitytofollowupwiththatindividualwithinthe
next48hours.Thereisalsoagreatneedforattentiontodetailwithinthecommunication
division,astheseemployeeshavethedutyofacknowledgingthespecificneedsofeachclient
andensuringthefirmhaspotentialtomeetthoseneeds.Theinterviewitselfwasconductedon
February23,2016,attheJustPlaySportsSolutionsmainoffice,locatedat2233RodeoDrivein
Lawrence,KS.Thecompanywasalsodevelopednearlytwoyearsago,butseriouslybegan
establishingitselfnearlyayearbeforethat.

CommunicationApplied

CommunicationusedbyboththeintervieweeMr.BaroneaswellastheJustPlaySports
Solutionsorganizationincludedadaptationoflanguage,aswellasbehavioralmodification.With
mostofthecompanysclientsbeingfootballcoaches,therewassaidtobearangeof
accommodationshavingtobemadeinordertocommunicatewithspecificcoachesthemost
effectivewaytobettermakeasale.ThemostcommoncommunicativeapproachtakenbyMr.
Baroneaswellasotheremployeeswithinthefirmincludedthestyleofbeingcasualand
approachable.Thissimplyformedcommunicationmainlyconcernedeverydaybehaviorsand
interactionswhendealingwithfootballcoaches.Themostclientstheorganizationcurrently
workswithincludeTexashighschoolfootballcoaches,makingthistheoverallmostfrequent
customersinteractedwith.However,itwasalsodescribedthatattimesclientscouldalso
potentiallybeexecutivesofsportsdepartmentsandwellfundedsportsprograms,whichwould
thenrequireindividualssuchasMr.Baronetoapproachthebusinessexchangeinamoreformal
manner.AnotherkeyelementofcommunicationexpressedthattheJustPlaySportsSolutions
firmengagesinisthefunctionalapproach,meaningthattherolesofleadershipcanbetakenby
anymemberoftheteam.Mr.Baroneexplainedthatbydividingrolesofleadershipandthe
functionsperformedthereisabettersenseofcomraderyamongemployeerelationshipsby
creatinganequalsenseofroles.Throughcommunicatingsimilarandsharedexperiences,
employeeshavethepotentialtoprovideoneanotheragreatdealofinsightandadviceregarding
situationalmatters.Mr.Baronealsoexplainedthatcommunicatingcompanybusinessaffectsthe
generalenvironmentoftheorganizationinawaywhich
allowsemployeestoengageand
communicatewithoneanotheronafrequentbasistobetterachievebothindividualand
organizationalgoals.

WorkCited

Barone,Austin.PersonalInterview23February2016

JustPlaySportsSolutionsDigitalCoachingToolsforPlayerDevelopment.(n.d.).Retrieved
February23,2016,from
http://www.justplaysolutions.com/

February23,2016

Mr.AustinBarone
Communications,CoFounder
DirectorofCommunications
2233RodeoDrive
Lawrence,KS66047

DearMr.Barone,

Iwouldliketoexpressmyappreciationforyourparticipationregardingtheinterviewconducted
concerningyouandyourpositionwithintheJustPlaySportsSolutionsorganization.The
informationprovidedthroughyourresponsesdidnotonlyeffectivelyprovideinsightintothe
typicalrolesofdirectingcommunication,butaswellasreallifeapplicationoftheroletobe
consideredandexpectedinmyprofessionalfuture.

Duringtimeswhenmajorlifedecisionsarebeingmade,itisimportanttorecognizethepath
beingpursuedbeforeengaginginitsprocess.Notonlydidtheinformationyourevealconfirm
futureaspirations,butmadethemgreaterinmyownpersonalanticipation.Followingour
interviewIlookforwardtomovingintothenextstageofmyprofessionalcareer,onehopefully
includingasimilarpositionwithinarespectedorganizationsuchasJustPlaySportsSolutions.

Sincerely,

KevinCaldwell
Student

KevinCaldwell
AustinBarone
CommunicationsDirector,
CoFounder
February23,2016
3:00p.m.

Gainingsufficientinformationconcerningtheresponsibilitieswithinthecommunication
departmentoftheJustPlaySportsSolutionsfirmisattainedprimarilythroughmeansoflearning
personal,firsthandaccountsconcerninghowthecompanyisinternallyconstructed,aswellas
theroleofthecompanyscommunicationdivision.Theinformationgainedduringourinitial
exchangeofquestionsisaimedatrevealingthelegitimatepowerheldbycompanyemployees
andgaininginsightoftheireverydaytasksandfunctions.
Mr.Barone,yourcontributionindevelopingthepremiseofthecompanyyourselfand
continuingthedutiesofoverlookingcommunicationscarriesacertaininclinationthatyouare
alsothegreatestsuitedandqualifiedtocoordinateandrecognizebusinessactivitiesinadditionto
carryingyourownvision.Duetotheoverallstabilityprovidedbyyourself,MrBarone,asthe
continuingoriginatoroftheorganization,ithasbeenmadeevidentthatyouhaveassumedthe
positionofdesignatedleadersincethebeginningofthecompanysestablishment

Understandingbackgroundinformationpertainingtothoseoperatingwithinthefirmas
wellasthegrassrootsphaseofthecompanyprovidesagreaterinsightastohowthecompany
operatesalongwithexpectationsandbehaviorsofemployees.

Thatbeingsaid,howdidyoufindyourselfintheorganizationandpositioncurrentlyinvolved
in?

WasworkingforafirmlikeJustPlaySportsSolutionssomethingyouhadalwayswantedtodo
ormoresoanopportunitywhichpresenteditselfalongtheway?

Whatwouldyouconsidertobetheoverallgoalestablishedintheworkplace?Doesthisdiffer
fromtheindividualgoalsyouhavesetforyourself?

Whetherthecauseberootedinternallyorexternally,conflictsareanunavoidableaspect
withinvirtuallyanyworkenvironment.Inquiringfurtheraboutproblematicencountersinthe
workplacecanbetterprepareindividualslikemyselfunderstandemployeeerelationshipsand
provideanarrayofpossiblesolutionstoresorttowhendealingwithsuchissues.

Whatwouldyouconsidertheprimaryexternalconflictstheorganizationfaceswhenattempting
toachievegoals?

Andwhatwouldsayarethemostprevalentinternalconflictsyourfirmtendstoface?

Whatstrategiesdoyouandemployeesengageinwhenattemptingtosolvetheseconflicts?

Beingacommunicationmajor,understandingtheformsofcommunicationyouandyour
teamuseonadailybasisprovideaprofessionaltakeofthecareerfield.Havingsaidthat,Ihope
toidentifythespecificinstancesinyourcompanythateffectivelydisplayvariousfunctionsof
communication.

Whatwouldyouconsidertobethemostfrequentformofcommunicationwithoneanother
withintheworkenvironment?

Inwhatfacetwouldyousaycommunicationtakesplacewithindividualsandfirmsoutsidethe
organization?Specificallywithclientsandandnecessarysuppliers?

Doesyourfunctionofcommunicationeverchangeasthebusinessprogresses,orhaveyour
methodsremainedconsistent?

AlthoughMr.Baronestitlebeingchiefexecutiveofficercanbeperceivedasaclear
indicationofbeingelectedasdesignatedleaderofthegroup,therewerealsobehaviorsofa
collaborativeeffortdisplayedencompassingtheoverallvisionforthecompanyappointingMr.
Baroneastheemergentleaderaswell.Althoughtherewasuniversalrecognitionofmotivation

andgenuineeffortamongcompanyemployees,thoseeffortswereseeminglyattributedunderthe
guidanceandleadershipqualitiesofthefirmsfounder,AustinBarone.