Jake Wade

Mrs. Ashlyn
09/05/14
Observational analysis of The Office

Note: This observation took place over the course of a 25-minute episode of the hit TV series The
Office. As each scene changed, I paused the show and wrote down the events that transpired in that
specific scene. I also wrote down each and every one-on-one interview between an employee and the
camera crew. The notes are taken in chronological order and mirror the episode.
Relevant Background Information: Michael Scott, The regional manager of Dunder Mifflin, Scranton
Branch, has invited a camera crew to come document every moment inside his office. Dunder Mifflin is a
mid sized paper supply company based out of pennsylvania and it has its quirks. Life at the Scranton
Branch is a party. There seems to be zero rules and everything goes in this office. Which calls for mass
chaos on multiple levels.
Figured World: A widespread social environment in which social norms(acceptable or expected behavior
in a social environment) are applied.

Literacy Practices: A practice within a community that has to do with all forms of communication.
- Memo: Michael frequently receives memos from corporate which he throws out every time.
- Verbal: Conversations between employees.
- Written
- Telephone
- Camera Crew: Sometimes the camera crew will tell the employees things that should know but
dont know. They will also tell employees things they shouldnt know in order to stir up drama.

Summary of Social Norms: The Figured World that I am observing is Dunder Mifflin Paper
Company. I am going to be taking a look at the social norms within Dunder Mifflins work environment.
Generally in a workplace, a company has a high standard of behavior set for their employees. Employees
shouldnt: play work disrupting practical jokes on one another (Jim, Pam, and Michael); frequently leave
for personal reasons (Michael); bring weapons into the workspace (Dwight); purposely set the workplace
on fire (Dwight); drink at office parties (Everyone); date fellow employees (Pam and Jim; Michael and Jan;
Ryan and Kelly; Dwight and Angela; Andy and Angela; Jim and Karen; Michael and Holly???); belittle
other employees (Dwight); drink on the job (Meredith); Sing and Dance in the office (Andy); hit other
employees with their car (Andy); date the boss (Michael and Jan); sexually harass their employees
(Michael); flaunt their pay (Michael); crack racist jokes (Michael); etc. These are only a few of the many,
many office violations that happen at the Scranton Branch each and every day. But somehow, the
Scranton Branch of Dunder Mifflin finds all of these mishaps socially acceptable. That somehow is
Michael Scott, the king of socially unacceptable behavior. Michael spends more time playing practical
jokes than he does managing the branch. If it were not for Michael Scott, less shenanigans would be
tolerated in the office.
Actors: A key role within a community of practice. Someone who adds onto the learning process of the
community in a major way.
Michael Scott: Regional Manager and self-declared office prankster of Dunder Mifflin Paper
Company, Scranton Branch. Michael was a top paper salesman at the company in his younger days until
he got promoted to the regional manager position. Since his promotion he has spent his days trying to
find various ways of entertaining his employees. Although Michaels humor is a little dry and offensive, he
still attempts to put smiles on the faces of his employees.

Jim Halpert: A young salesman at Dunder Mifflin who is stuck in the same old day job, doing the
same old thing, and he couldnt tell you why. In between sales calls, Jim spends most of his time at the
reception desk and playing pranks on his desk neighbor (Dwight). Usually he is at the reception desk
planning the prank he is about to pull on Dwight. The rest of the time he spends up their is used to flirt
with the engaged receptionist, Pam.

Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [1]: -I liked how you included
each one on one interview seen in The
Office but I think you could expand on
each. Maybe you should explain how each
interview is significant to the observation.
If you find that some of the one on one
interviews may not be significant, I would
just leave them out. (Erin E.)
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [2]: -Overall you have given
excellent detail in many areas, particulary
the observation itself and the summary of
social norms. I do believe that more
attention could be given to the figured
world explanation and consolidating the
summary of social norms into that
definition could help since you somewhat
explain the figured world within that
paragraph. (Justin H)
-I thought you did a pretty good job of
describing the events that occurred
throughout your observations. The way the
actors behaved in the events that you
described were very accurate to how they
should act according to your actor
descriptions. I also thought your relevant
background information tied in well with
your observations. (Erin E.)
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [3]: -I liked your summary of
the actors. Your description of each of the
characters is very detailed and spot
on. Someone whos never seen the show
could read this and have a perfect idea of
who the characters are and what their
quirks and habits are. (TR)
-There are many characters mentioned in
this show that arent described
beforehand. Assuming they are minor
characters, maybe give a very brief
summary of who they are so it may be
easier to distinguish them as a reader. The
characters mentioned already are well
detailed. (Justin H)
-I really liked your descriptions of the
actors seen in The Office. I liked how you
explained the relationships between the
actors because it helped me understand
how they interact with one another. I would
like to see you try to incorporate the detail
you used to describe the actors throughout
the rest of your analysis. (Erin E.)
Dwight Schrute: The Assistant to the Regional Manager. Although this title does not exist in the
office, Dwight seems to do the job very well. Everything Michael needs done, from organizing his paper
clips to picking him up after he burns his foot on a George Foreman grill, Dwight does it. Outside of
helping Michael, Dwight is a top notch salesman at the branch and the best beat farmer in the region.
Dwight grew up on a beet farm away from civilization and has yet to fully adjust to the social expectations
of society. Many problems are started in the office because of Dwight and the only person he will listen to
is Michael. Bears, Beets, and Battlestar Galactica are Dwights favorite things.

Pam Beasley: Pam is the receptionist at the Scranton Branch and frequent victim of Michaels
sexual harassment jokes. She is Jims Best Friend in the office.

Artifacts: Materials and abstract thoughts within a community of practice.
- Michaels Coffee Mug:
- Lazy Scranton
-
Communities of Practice: The different learning communities within the figured world. Has to be more
than three people involved within each community.
- Sales
- Accounting
- HR
- Reception
- Management and Corporate
- Warehouse
- Camera Crew
Practices of the Community: The ways that a community of practice goes about achieving its goals.
- Meetings in the Conference Room:
- Sales calls:
- Office Parties?:
Domain: The subject under discussion within a community of practice. Goals of the community of
practice.
-
Observation One:
- michael scott is talking to one of his employees, Jim halpert, about how one of Jims clients is
doing. Jim says that he lost the contract with the client and Micahel call them back to make this
right.
- Michael brings a camera crew into the office. He introduces them to Pam Beasley, the
receptionist, and mentions something about how she used to look better but is still very good
looking. Which is not something an average boss would say.
- Michaels one-on-one interview: He claims he is the worlds best boss and even has a coffee mug
that has the words worlds best boss written on it.
- Dwight annoylingly play the little drummer boy with his mouth and Jom stares at the camera with
a, Youve got to be kidding me look.
- Jims one-on-one Interview: He starts talking about the responsibilities of being a paper salesman
and cuts himself short because he is boring himself to sleep just talking about it.
- Jan Levinson-gould, who is michaels corporate boss, stops by to check up on things. She asks if
he read the agenda that she faxed over but Michael threw it away trying to be funny. Then she
goes on to mention that either the Stamford or Scranton branch while be closing and in the
meantime there will be downsizing.
- Todd Packer, a long time friend and fellow employee of michaels calls during michaels chat with
Jan. Packer goes on to say some very innapropriate things and michaels has to end the phone
call. Jan then asks micahel to not tell anyone about the downsizing to prevent panic.
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [4]: -It seems like you could
expand the first section of your paper
more. It would be nice to see you explain
the significance of the artifacts or
communities of practice and tidy up
whatever loose ends there are. For
instance, finding an example of the
domain. (TR)
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [5]: -In the domain section
nothing has been listed, maybe if their
doesnt seem to be a clear one explain
why that may be, or in general add some
detail as to what some could possibly be.
Within the previous key terms you have
also listed some interesting and thoughtful
items or ideas, perhaps briefly explain
these things, like why Michaels coffee mug
is an artifact. (Justin H)
-I think it is really important that you
expand on the domain section of your
analysis. The domain has a lot to do with
the overall analysis. Try thinking about
what the common goal of the actors in the
Office are. Is a common goal between
them to be humourous? (Erin E.)
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [6]: -Overall, that was a pretty
dope observation. I think you went into
great detail with all three observations. I
like how you introduce each event with a
separate bullet point. You also do a good
job explaining the significance and effect
of each characters actions. (Tyler R)
-First things first, I think it is crucial that
you record the time for which each of your
descriptions occurred. It is a bullet point on
the Assignment One Guidelines sheet and
will be greatly beneficial to the reader. The
Example Observation Notes is a great
example to use to get an idea of Ashlyns
expectations for the observation part of the
analysis. (Erin E.)
- Everyone immediately finds out and tarts to panic.
- Ryan Howard, a temp sent to work for the scranton branch show up for his first day of work.
Michael then introduces himself as a student of comedy, put a nametag under his nose, and
begins to walk around with his army raised like Adolf hitler. Michael is the only one that finds this
funny.
- Pams one-on-one interview: She says she wouldnt mind being downsized. She also says she
likes to do illustrations and Jim thinks that theyre good.
- While jim is on the phone with a client, Dwight begins pushing jims papers back onto his desk
which is very disruptive.
- Then while dwight is gone, Jim sets up a pencil blockade. He places sharpened pencils around
the border of his desk. This infuriates Dwight and he begins smashing said pencils with his
phone.
- Michael calls a meeting in the conference room. But before Michaels has a chance to say
anything in this meeting, Dwight shoots up and asks if he should know the information because
he is the assistant regional manager. Michael then looks at dwight and says, Assistant to the
Regional Manager. Michael makes the announcement that their may be some downsizing.
Directly after that he promises there will not be downsizing at the Scranton branch. Stanley, an
African-American salesman, wants to makes sure his job is secured so he asks Michael. Towhich
Michael replies, You aint gon be messin with my Children (In a black womans voice) Stanley
looks rather offended and the comment is followed by an awkward silence.
- Jims one-on-one interview: He said if he left then he would not know what to do with all of the
useless information in his head. He mentions Pams favorite flavor of yogurt which is Mixed
Berries.
- Pams one-on-one interview: The Camera Crew tells her Jim said Mixed Berries.
- Michaels introduces dwight to Ryan and Dwight goes to show ryan pictures of his car. He then
screams because instead of the pictures, he finds his stapler encased in jell-o. He blames Jim for
what happened. Michael laughs at first but gets serious and tells Jim to stop doing it. Jim then
cracks a desert joke which Ryan follows with another desert joke. Dwight starts complaining
about the situation but Michael ignores him because he is thinking about another desert joke.
- Jim and Pam are talking about going out to get drinks with their coworkers but Pams Fiance and
warehouse worker, Roy, does not want to go so neither does Pam.
- Pams one-on-one interview: She says that her and Roy have been engaged for three years now.
- Jims one-on-one interview: Do I think Im invited to the wedding?
- Michaels tries to show Ryan the ropes of comedy by fake firing Pam with him in the room.
Michaels reasoning for firing Pam was that she stole too many post-it notes.

Observation Two:
- Michael one.on one interview- Michael gets all excited that the sundries are today. The dundies is
an award show that Michael made up to give his employees a sense of worth. He talks about how
some employees will never receive an award in their life and that he is basically doing them a
favor.
- pams one on one interview: she states how that the Dundies are basically a huge train wreck and
everyone is forced to go for michaels amusement.
- michael approaches Jim and Pam at the reception desk and says, "hey hey hey it's fat halpert."
Jim did not seemed amused so Michael broke the awkward void by taking the camera crew on a
dundies winners recap. Dwight states that he keeps his in a display case over his bed which
shows the odd dedication that Dwight has to his job.
- michael walks up to Stanley and tells him to show his awards but stanly says he threw them out.
- Michael asks Pam to watch previous dundie awards in order to find highlights.
- Dwight walks up to Pam Phyllis and Kelly, and asks what's so funny. He thought they were
laughing at him but thy were actually laughing at something someone wrote about Michael in the
girls bathroom.
- Michael calls jan to see whether or not she is coming to the dundies and she tells him the award
shoe is not in the budget. He is very upset over the matter.
- michaels one on one: he blew what could be his comedic downfall on jan because now no one
will be drunk at the awards show.
- Dwight walks into the ladies restroom to try and see what's on the stall. Phyllis catches him in the
act.
- Michael gave Pam "the longest engagement award" at the last show and she seemed upset
when that segment came on in the past tapes.
- Jim asks Michael to not give out the longest engagement award because he is concerned about
Pam. He tells Michael that using the same jokes makes him look lazy.
- Dwight announces that he is taking away the women's bathroom priveledges and Michael says
that is rediculous. Michael then announces that even though the dundies has no funds and bad
jokes, it will still be a good show. He then says that everyone can bring their friends and family for
the first time at the dundies.
- Dwight announces the start of the dundies at chillis.
- Michael starts rapping as the intro to the dundies and the waitress trips ok the stereo chord
cutting him short.
- Oscar one on one interview: he mentions how the only person that has fun at the dundies is
Michael and everyone else is basically forced to go.
- Michael announces that there will be no group tab and that everyone will be on seperate checks.
Stanley seems upset and Michael asks him why he didn't bring his family. But his wife terry who
is white was sitting at the table with him.
- Roy and Darrell decide to leave the show and Pam goes with them. Michael looks upset that pal
is leaving.
- the first award: the busiest beaver award goes to Phyllis. The award actually says bushiest
beaver.
- Pam and Roy fight about why their leaving and Pam decides to stay.
- second award; "hottest in the office" which is given to Ryan the temp. The song sexy thing is
playing on the background. Michael then slaps Ryan's butt.
- Ryan's one on one interview: he is asks what he will do with the award and Ryan says that is the
least of his concerns at this point considering Michael just have him an award for being sexy.
- Pam finished her second drink and she seems very drunk. Her and jim exchange a few laughs
about it.
- third award: "spicy cury" this goes to Kelly who is the only Indian worker at the branch.
- some of the guests at chillis start messing with Michael, tell him he sucks and basically boo him
off stage. This discourages Michael from giving out the rest of the awards except for one last one.
- fourth award: "don't go in there award" Michael gives kevin this award because he walked into the
bathroom after Kevin and it stunk.
- Pam applauds the award and tries to get Michael to finish the show through some positive
encouragement.
- fifth award: "fine work award" this one goes to Stanley for all of the fine work he's done... He
mentions that the previous year he got great work.
- Sixth award: "whitest sneakers award" Michael gives this to Pam in lue of the longest
engagement award. Pam is drunk and she thanks god for her dundie award.
- Pam comes back from accepting the award and kisses Jim out of excitement.
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:53 PM
Comment [7]: -One thing that confuses
me a little bit in the second observation is
when you say Michael got booed off stage,
leading him to not want to give all but the
last award. Immediately after this, he
gives out three more awards. It would be
cool to know if and when Michael changes
his mind, or why he still felt like giving out
an award after being booed off stage. (TR)
- Jim recaps on the dundie awards while Pam drunkenly listens. She then falls off the barstool.
Dwight rushes to the fallen Pam screaming that she has had a seizure. He then starts ripping his
shirt off to try and help her and the manager of chillis tells him to put it back on.
- chillis manager one on one interview: he states that because Pam got too drunk she is banned
from chillis.
- Michael tells Dwight great work for helping him with the audio.
- Jim walks Pam to Angela's car so that she can make it home.

Observation Three:
- The Stanford branch of Dunder mufflin is closing which means the Scranton brown did not get
closed down.
- Toby walks in and starts to talk to Pam about his run. Dwight then chimes in saying that he could
beat Toby's 7:00 mile time on a skateboard which is irrelevant.
- Dwight's one on one interview: he says his speed lies somewhere between a snake, mongoose,
and Panther...
- Pam has Dwight run around the building to prove his speed and mentions that Dwight tried
putting meters on the bathroom stall in order to make the company more money.
- michaels one on one interview: mentions that his branch is absorbing the Stamford branch and
his family is getting bigger.
- Dwight tells Michael that he should fire someone on the first day and he says no.
- Dwight's one on one interview: Dwight says he would have been good at which prisoner died on
the first day at a Chinese POW camp.
- the new employees begin to show up and Michael gives each of them a gift bag full of pencils and
coupons.
- Karen shows up and starts talking to Pam and then Michael says she looks exotic and proceeds
to ask if her father was a GI.
- Andy's one on one interview: Andy says he will be the number two guy at the Scranton branch in
two weeks due to his methods.
- michaels one on one interview: He says he really likes Andy.
- Jim comes back with another employee named Nash who is African American. Michael tells him
that he will show him where the rest of the slaves work. Which was unintentional but still wrong.
- Pam runs up and hugs him welcoming him back
- Jim's one on one interview: he says him and Pam are just friends.
- Jim stares at Dwight's forehead and Dwight freaks out.
- Jim and Ryan have an awkward encounter over who sits at his desk.
- Ryan's one on one interview: Says he got the desk because Jim is a nice guy.
- Dwight and Andy confront one another and have what seems to be a subtle quarrel over who's
the number two guy.
- Dwight runs into michaels office trying to figure out who has more power, him or Andy.
- Kelly runs up and hugs Jim welcoming him back. She then tells him about two celebrity babies
and he asks her what's need with her, to which she replies I just told you.
- Michael invited everyone to the conference room for a guest only breakfast. He then puts on an
orientation video called "lazy Scranton"
- michael says the video was an A++.
- Karen is setting up her voicemail and him starts messing with her about it.
- Dwight and Andy have another small confrontation.
- Andy's one on one interview: States that he is trying to get Dwight angry so he takes his mind off
the prize.
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:54 PM
Comment [8]: -In the observations, you
distinguish the mood of the situations very
well, such as the parts about Michael
offending other employees. I do think more
attention could be given as to details of
situations and why some characters are
reacting the way they are, such as Dwight
freaking out at Jim staring at him, or
Dwight and Andys small conversation.
(Justin H)
Jake Wade 9/20/2014 4:54 PM
Comment [9]: -I would like to know more
about Lazy Scranton. You list it as an
artifact and later its mentioned in the third
observation. While understand its an
orientation video and that Michael liked it, I
would like to know more about the content,
including what other actors thought of it
and the meaning of the title Lazy
Scranton. (TR)
- Pam and Jim are catching up in the break room and Michael walks in asking if he's interrupting
anything. It makes things rather awkward.
- one of the new female employees start pumping milk out of her breast in the office and Ryan
glances over. She is not amused by all the wondering eyes.
- creed took a picture of her left breast and put it as his background.
- Karen picks up a small whiff of something and she thinks it is Phyllis' perfume. Phyllis gets all
defensive over her perfume because Bob Vance bought it for her.
- Stanley says he's been next to Phyllis's stinky perfumes for a while now and he never said
anything.
- michaels one on one interview: he wants to bring the two branches together because there are
obviously some differences.
- michaels puts the new staff member on a table because it shows that they are not below the old
staff. He then tries to get Gardner to get on the table which results in him quitting on the first day.
It's funny because Dwight said they should have fired him before he got there.
- michaels tried blaming the quitting on Toby. He then fires Gardner!
- Dwight stands up and says it was his idea to fire Gardner and that they should also fire Andy.
- michael tries bringing the office together by deflating everyone's tires and blaming it in Vance
refrigeration. He then suggests that they steal their refrigerators and Toby says no. Michale then
tells Toby to just go home.
- Michael brings his employees together through their mutual dislike of him.
- jan calls Michael and tells at him for firing Gardner while he was trying to quit because now they
have to pay severance.
- Jim is made the new number two and Dwight is upset.
- Jim talks to Karen about meeting up later.
- Pam and him then see one another in the parking lot when they are going to leave and him tells
her he is seeing someone. She then says they will always be friends.
- Andy and Dwight have a fight about their cars and call one another idiots for the full length of an
elevator ride.