Ron Brown Plane Crash Accountability

Talking points … Hierarchy – Efficiency (Obedience) Hierarchy – Efficiency (Obedience) Legal – Rule of Law (Compliance) Legal – Rule of Law (Compliance) Professional – Expertise (Deference) Professional – Expertise (Deference) Political – Responsiveness (Responsive) Political – Responsiveness (Responsive) Military … C3 / Can Do / Gotcha Military … C3 / Can Do / Gotcha Goal conflict Goal conflict Accountable for behaviors or outcomes? Accountable for behaviors or outcomes?

4 After-Action Review Capture the Lessons Extract lessons learned after an event in order to apply them to future activities. Extract lessons learned after an event in order to apply them to future activities. –Emergency Response – each day –Product Development – each stage –Entering into new Business – test / reflect –Sales – learn from wins and losses –M & A – after strategy, negotiations, due diligence, and execution stages “Sustain” or “Improve” “Sustain” or “Improve” Learning in the Thick of it, Darling, 2005; HBR

The rest of the Story Rising Star – Secretary of Commerce Rising Star – Secretary of Commerce Campaign fund raiser for Clinton (three others died too) Campaign fund raiser for Clinton (three others died too) No Storm – No Plane Turning sited – power out 7 miles from crash scene (bomb on board) No Storm – No Plane Turning sited – power out 7 miles from crash scene (bomb on board) Crash announced via Pentagon (not airport) Crash announced via Pentagon (not airport) Stewardess alive at crash scene – dead after a flight (Brown too? Shot by cleanup crew) Stewardess alive at crash scene – dead after a flight (Brown too? Shot by cleanup crew)

6 Background Political Behaviour Those activities that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization. Those activities that influence, or attempt to influence, the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization. –Legitimate: normal everyday behaviour –Illegitimate: extreme political behaviours that violate the implied rules of the game

Why Do We Get Politics? Organizations are made up of groups and individuals who have differing values, different goals and different interests Organizations are made up of groups and individuals who have differing values, different goals and different interests Resources in organizations are limited Resources in organizations are limited Performance outcomes are not completely clear and objective Performance outcomes are not completely clear and objective

Factors Influencing Political Behaviour Political behaviour Low High Individual factors High self-monitors Internal locus of control High Mach Organizational investment Perceived job alternatives Expectations of success Organizational factors Reallocation of resources Promotion opportunities Low trust Role ambiguity Unclear performance evaluation system Zero-sum reward practices Democratic decision making High performance pressures Self-serving senior managers Favourable outcomes Rewards Averted punishments

What Individual Factors Contribute to Politics? High self-monitors (more aware of situations) High self-monitors (more aware of situations) Internal locus of control (can control environment) Internal locus of control (can control environment) High machs (high desire for power) High machs (high desire for power) Organizational investment (put lots of time and effort into organization) Organizational investment (put lots of time and effort into organization) Perceived job alternatives (lots of opportunity) Perceived job alternatives (lots of opportunity) Expectations of success (high belief it will work) Expectations of success (high belief it will work)

What Organizational Factors Contribute to Politics? Reallocation of rewards (change occurring) Reallocation of rewards (change occurring) Zero-sum reward practices Zero-sum reward practices Promotion opportunities Promotion opportunities Role ambiguity (unclear responsibilities) Role ambiguity (unclear responsibilities) Unclear performance evaluation system (subjective) Unclear performance evaluation system (subjective) High performance pressure (blame others) High performance pressure (blame others) Political senior managers (they watch and learn) Political senior managers (they watch and learn) Low trust Low trust

11 Types of Political Activity Attacking or blaming others Attacking or blaming others Controlling information Controlling information Forming coalitions (in and out crowds) Forming coalitions (in and out crowds) Creating obligations Creating obligations Managing impressions Managing impressions

12 Small Group Chat Describe an incident where you saw someone engaging in politics. What was your reaction to observing the political behaviour? Under what circumstances do you think political behaviour is appropriate?

13 Removing Politics Leaders Go First by: Leaders Go First by: –Sharing power –Sharing knowledge –Asking for input –Making decisions based on objective data Continually remind everyone that the competition is located outside of the organization Continually remind everyone that the competition is located outside of the organization

Next Wednesday Wednesday … Recognize Contributions (cpt. 10) Wednesday … Recognize Contributions (cpt. 10) Friday? Friday? Exam Day (following Wednesday) Exam Day (following Wednesday) Distinguished Leader Day (Thursday 3:30-5:00) Distinguished Leader Day (Thursday 3:30-5:00) No class on the Friday No class on the Friday