Case Analysis Worksheet:1. What are the key issues or problems of the case?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Adherence to key principles without practicing them

Nicks lack of integrity
Both Mary and Nicks lack of leadership skills
Nicks tendency to focus on status quo and resistance to change
Marys autocratic attitude and lack of empathy towards subordinates

2. Prioritize the issues or problems

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Adherence to key principles without practicing them

Nicks lack of integrity
Both Mary and Nicks lack of leadership skills
Marys autocratic attitude and lack of empathy towards subordinates
Nicks tendency to focus on status quo and resistance to change

3. Is it necessary to identify the cause of the problem?

Ans.: - Yes; it is indispensable to get to know what the problem is and the nature of problem
and mostly it is done in the exploratory stage of a research or case study. Next, an in detailed
study of the problem is done. Finally, solutions are developed based on all of these. So,
identification of the cause of a problem is vital.

4. Brainstorm the options available:

Participative management and knowledge sharing

Training programs entailing needs

Focusing on long term supervisory activities

Creating an environment of creating and disseminating learning throughout the

organization.

5. Evaluating the options:-

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Participative management

Increase in Productivity, job Slower of decision making,

satisfaction,
motivation, security issue.
improved quality, lower
cost.

Appropriate training

Improving skills, morale, Costly

knowledge

Focusing on long term Making supervisors more Wastage of time.

supervisory activities
committed
to
the
organization.

6. Select the optimum solution

Ans. Decentralization, allowing flexibility and change, creating an environment of learning.

7. Describe how the solution should be implemented.

Ans. Making clear cut goals of employee learning program that are closely connected to
organizational objectives. Assigning power of taking decisions such that the decision making
activity becomes proactive rather than reactive. And finally integration that is, linking among all
activities such that the all collectively actuates towards achieving common organizational purpose.

Case Questions:1. Was the training effort that Mary went through a success or failure? How do you know?
Ans: - Absolutely, the training program is failed here. Because it could not alter the behavior
of Mary; so her supervisory behavior still become prevalent and therefore the production and
turnover problem still persisted.
2. Identify all the factors that contributed to the result (either success or failure).
The cause of the training failure is mostly due to Nicks attitude toward training and his lack
of vision or leadership competency. While he had the opportunity to encourage and guide the
changes Mary wanted to try, instead he stopped them. He set up an environment also, that

devalued the importance of personal and professional development. In short, he preferred

status quo. What a huge mistake!

3. What actions can be taken before, during and after a training program to increase the chances
for a successful training experience?
Ans: Training is not an event, its a process. Because of this, Nick could have taken the opportunity
to spend time with Mary before the training course, discussing what his expectations were for her
development. He could have helped her work through some of the pre-work concepts, leading her
focus so that it would incorporate some of Marys weaknesses. After the training, Nick should
have talked with Mary again, identifying actionable solutions to the weaknesses previously
identified and then followed-up on Marys progress.