1. The Vista Volunteer A Case Study
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management
SEAC Conference
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

2. XYZ School District Small Midwest school district
Shadow of a larger metro area
April 2012 Referendum
2010 Referendum failed
2006 last successful
Class project request-VISTA volunteer
Community perceptions via Focus Groups
School board and superintendent informed
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

3. Graduate Course-Organization Development
Graduate course research project-4 students
Ethics Principles
UW Stout Guidelines for In class Projects
Ethical Guidelines for OD practitioners
Ethics Case studies
Weekly project updates
Project Affiliation Agreements
Project Scope & Deliverables
Student ownership of work products
Communication boundaries
Confidentiality statement
Signed by VISTA Volunteer, Superintendent, Students & Instructor
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

4. The Project Student environmental scan 2 focus groups
Data collection process
Community surroundings
Vista Volunteer perspective
Superintendent
Not notified
Vista volunteer participant recruitment
Phone script developed
2 focus groups
Community
Business and industry
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

5. FG #1: Community Focus Group
Tuesday evening mid November
Community Fire hall
Neutral location
5 participants
Vista Volunteer stayed
Student request
Confidentiality concern
Interjections
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

6. FG #2: Business Focus Group
Following Thursday evening (November)
Students arrived early
Conversation with Vista Volunteer
Focus group questions shared with office staff
4 Business leaders attended
School board member
Concerns about the Focus Group
Strained conversations
Vista Volunteer and School Board Member
Argumentative
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

7. Ethical Dilemmas What were the ethical dilemmas?
Students
Instructor
Superintendent
Focus group participants
Vista volunteer
School board
What should be included it the portfolio?
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

8. Role Episodic Model of Ethical Dilemmas
Antecedents Process Consequences
Role of the Change Agents (students)
Role Episode
Ethical Dilemmas
Role conflict with Vista volunteer
Role uncertainty students
Vista Volunteer:
Misrepresentation of project
Misuse of Data
Coercion
Value & goal conflict
Values, Goals, Needs Skills/Abilities
Role of the Client system
(Vista Volunteer & Superintendent)
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at
Adapted with permission :Kluwer Academic publishers, Journal of Business ethics 11(1992): 665, Ethical Dilemmas in

9. Post Focus Group Students concerns
Reviewed Affiliation Agreement
Protection of student work
Ethical Guidelines for OD and HSD consultants
Learnings for students and class
Vista Volunteer
Instructor coaching session
Superintendent contacted
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

10. Client Portfolio Meeting
Students deliverable- client portfolio
Environmental Scan
Focus Group data analysis
Portfolio Recommendations
School Board Engagement
Communication
Transparency
Ethics/Confidentiality training
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

11. Recommendations for Client
Leverage School Board relationship
Community communication
Collaboration & partnership on projects
Focus on Community-School Relationship
Clear, concise, & comprehensive Information
Inform the Community
Town Hall Meetings
Newsletter
Improvements to the School District Website
Previous recommendation
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

12. Recommendations… Random selection for participant selection
Focus Groups
Community Forums
Third Party involvement
Coordination and management
Invitations
Correspondence
Location
Minimal background noise
Confidentiality
Ethical standards
Ethics/Confidentiality training for staff
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

13. Epilogue Student presentation & portfolio
Vista Volunteer interruptions
Instructor present
Complaint list Vista Volunteer (Dec. 2011)
Assigned students
Graduate course instruction
Conversation with Department of Public Instruction (DPI)
Boundary awareness and limits
Roles and Responsibilities (Vista Volunteers)
Training and role definition
Performance evaluation process
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at

14. References
Cummings, C.G. & Worley, C. G. (2008). The organization development professional. In Organization Development & Change. 9th edition, (46-73). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
White, L.P. & Rhodeback, M.J. (1992). Ethical Dilemmas in Organization Development. Journal of Business Ethics, 11 (9),
University of Wisconsin Stout Guidelines for In Class Projects
Dr. Jeanette Kersten
College of Management Inspiring Innovation. Learn more at