Evan Watkins

OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Symbolic Frame Worksheet
Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the symbolic frame
2. Apply the symbolic frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The situation from module 1 that I chose was in an Amazon distribution warehouse and
how the strict monitoring of employees is unjustified and unsafe. The employees are observed
constantly throughout their shift and timed on breaks regardless of reason for that break whether
it be a normal lunch break or a restroom break. The role I chose to undertake was as an employee
in the distribution warehouses so I may understand what working in them would be like from an
internal role.

2) Describe how the symbols of the organization influenced the situation.

A symbol that Amazon uses that you can see almost everywhere from there transport
trucks to their airplanes is a smile. The smile is an arrow and is to promote their Amazon
Prime service. Amazon’s logo being a smile symbolizes happiness and joy from receiving a
package from them and it being exactly what you wanted. They also shifted their colors from
orange and black to blue and gray to possibly symbolize calmness and peace of mind when
ordering from them.

This symbol influences the situation by hiding what is really going on in the “basement”
of there organization. The symbol would cause one to think that they are a happy company
and would be fun to work for and perhaps at higher levels in the organization that would be
true, but underneath that smile logo are warehouses full of unhappy employees working
under strict monitoring to earn just above minimum wage.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational symbols for an alternative course of
action regarding your case.

In my opinion and I am sure many others also share this thought; but a symbol should
actually symbolize what your company stands for and sets by example…crazy right?
“Symbols are basic elements of culture that pop up to fit unique circumstances. Symbols and

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symbolic actions are part of everyday life and are particularly perceptible at weekly,
monthly, or seasonal high points” (Bolman & Deal, 2003, pg. 240). This may be the case for
Amazon’s customers however not the backbone of the organization being the blue-collar
workers.

I believe an alternative course of action that Amazon could take would be to actually
promote their symbol of happiness in their work environment. Perhaps implanting strategies
to reduce monitoring of employees and making their work experience happier for them
which in exchange would promote more productivity with them. They could then perhaps
make advertisements showing the happy and safer conditions of the warehouse distribution
centers on TV and show what a happy company they have created and make people want to
work for them.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Given what I have learned about this frame, there isn’t too much more I would change
with Amazons current use of symbols in advertising and their company logo. I think their use
of symbols in an organization is fantastic and makes sense for their consumers. The use of
the smile shows happiness towards each purchase made. The use of colors of blue and gray
shows peace of mind and tranquility for the customer purchasing through Amazon or who
hold and Amazon Prime subscription.
What I would do differently however is attempt to make Amazons symbolism stand for
its organization as well as its customers. They should make an attempt to use their symbols to
make their workers happy rather than just their customers. After all we have learned how
important happiness in workers is as it boosts productivity and therefore increases cash flow
which would result in less monitoring of employees as it shouldn’t be needed.

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Reference or References

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2003). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and
leadership