Analysis Assignment Instructions
You will need to first purchase the case from Harvard Business Review Website www.hbr.org and search for the case “Henry Tam and the MGI Team” by Jeffrey T. Polzer, Ingrid Vargas, and Hillary Anger Elfenbein , 17 pages. Publication date: Oct 20, 2003. Prod. #: 404068-PDF-ENG
Overview
This case exemplifies typical dysfunctions that can occur in a team. Unclear leadership in this case has put the team in danger of not fulfilling its two main goals of developing a business plan and submitting an entry to the business plan competition. The case requires you to address interpersonal conflict, unclear roles and unclear processes, lack of conflict resolution and how de facto leaders on the team are/or are not displaying the appropriate approaches to help the team be effective.
The focus of this assignment is to demonstrate that you can:
- Accurately apply four key tools to analyze the major leadership and team dynamics causing dysfunction
- Apply each concept accurately and credibly based on the specific definitions upon which it is constructed.
- Recommend 3-4 actions that could help to the team move past the dysfunction and reach its goals
- Use the insights from your analysis to be pragmatic in accounting for lingering effects of what has happened so far so that
your actions work
- Write in a clear, logical, and persuasive manner
Required Format
This paper should be between 4-6 pages long double spaced not including a cover sheet if used and the reference page. The headers that are underlined below should appear as headers in organizing your paper.
Section 1- Situational Analysis
This section shows that you understand how theory applies to this complex situation and establishes the basis for why your recommendations will work. In this section you will apply the following concepts to explain the dynamics of the players (Sasha, Henry, and Dana) and to some extent the rest of the team. The questions under each concept are solely there as a guide to help you as you formulate your analysis.
Overall Tips for this section: Remember that the concepts are based on specific definitions. Keep those dimensions in mind as you analyze the situation. The more you use “observable” behavior vs speculation to support you points, the more likely your analysis will be accurate.
A)DISC Styles
Use this concept to explain the interpersonal styles of the three major characters so we understand their perspectives and how they may contribute to the conflict/dysfunction.
- What are the DISC styles of Sasha, Henry, and Dana?
- Provide evidence in terms of their behavior patterns
- What are the natural differences in perspectives/priorities and the related tensions between styles?
- how do these insights about style differences help explain where/why Sasha is not connecting well with Henry and with Dana?
Tip: When considering their behavior think carefully about what each person seems to be emphasizing/focused on. For example, you may see directive or assertive behavior in more than one person, but consider what they seem to be emphasizing, what are they reacting to, or what are they trying to achieve.
- B) Thomas Kilmann Conflict Model
Use this concept to explain the differences in how characters are approaching conflict and how it contributes to the dysfunction of the team.
- Which of the five approaches to conflict is Sasha taking with the overall team on most decisions?
- Which of the five approaches to conflict do you see Henry and Dana taking with the overall team on most decisions?
- Which of the five approaches to conflict do you see Henry and Dana taking with Sasha?
- How do some of the other characters (Alex, Roman, Igor and Dav) seem to be approaching conflict?
- Support your insights with behavior described in the case
- Are there factors such as interpersonal style that might influence their choice of approach to conflict?
- C) Normative Decision Making Matrix (Vroom-Yetton Model)
Use this concept to explain the degree to which Sasha, Henry and Dana are engaging the team in decision making to the appropriate degree
- What approach(es) does Sasha take on key decisions: With the overall team? With Henry and Dana?
- What approach(es) do Henry and Dana take on key decisions: With the overall team? With Sasha?
- Are the approach(es) each is taking appropriate given the criteria (speed, risk, quality, and commitment?) Please j
justify/explain why
- How are the approaches you describe making the team ineffective?
- D) Situational Leadership
Use this concept to explain the degree to which Sasha is applying the appropriate leadership support to individual team members based on the task they are assigned.
- What 2-3 major tasks assigned to:
– Henry and Dana?
– Russian team members Alex, Roman and Igor
– Dav
- What is each person’s readiness level compared to her/his assigned task? As you answer this take in consideration why the
individuals were brought onto the team. That can give you insights as to what the standing members skill capabilities
were, the gaps and what other members brought to the team
- To what degree was Sasha providing the most appropriate of the four Situational Leadership approaches to each team member?
Section 2 – Actions to Fix the Dysfunctions and Move Forward
In this section explain 3-4 of the most important actions you think Henry and Sasha can take to address the problems from your analysis the team can move forward in a timely manner and accomplish their two goals.
- Between Sasha and Henry, who would you like see take the central role as leader to get the team through this period?
- What steps would Henry or Sasha need to take to assume the leadership role?
- What would they need to do so the team rallies around and supports the main leader?
- What steps would you suggest to ease the interpersonal conflict between Sasha and Dana , and to some extent between Sasha and Henry?
- How might you change how decisions are made and who is involved in them?
- How would you help the team members redirect themselves from being in one of the less effective conflict modes to
start acting one of the more effective ones?
Tip: The reader will naturally ask how history, past unclarity or mistrust will impact your recommendations. The more you recognize and account for these concerns in your actions, the more credible your recommendation will be
