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.

ComNet Communications is a privately held company recognized as an industry leader in

structured cabling. ComNet's structure is hierarchical. In the past five years, the company
expanded its operations to include Audio-Visual integration projects. The AV division's
structure operates as a separate division and shares the human resources that support both
units' operations and business administration. The company has grown to 300 employees
with business units in CT, TX, MD, and Fl. Annual Revenue is $47M. The privately held
company operates with a family-like feel.

The architecture of the company's structure divides structured cabling and AV integration
into two separate business units. They are siloed and are expected to operate that way.
However, the AV side is not mature and requires administrative and operational
resources, which causes conflict. The current issue is the availability of a warehouse clerk
as a shared resource. Because AV is expected to operate as its own entity, resources are
not always readily available. Yet, some projects need support.

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

ComNet is a mature company 35+ years. The company earns top rankings in Engineering
news. The culture is established where several key figureheads have been with the
company for more than 10 years—over 20 years for some. The company's core values
include detailed customer service, quality projects, and a family-oriented work
environment.
Last week, the company sat at a long table enjoying the annual potluck dinner. It is a
ritual shared by all. It symbolizes the family culture at Comment. The CFO and
operations manager prepared the main parts of the meal, the turkey and the ham. Both are
long-time employees. The CFO and the Ops Manager are at the apex of the political
landscape. And they symbolize the culture and structural frame of the organization,
which influences the process and the conflict over resources in the warehouse. The CFO
and the OPS manager can be considered the guiding heroes of the organization. The

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 position and their contribution to the central part of the company potluck dinner, where
we were all seated at one table, were symbolic. And the sentiment permeates the
organization.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational symbols for an alternative

course of action regarding your case.

The human resource structure has an all-for-one type feeling. The organizational structure
needs some adjustments to include the AV division as part of business operations, not
treated as a separate entity. Therefore, I would capitalize on the holiday dinner where all
are present and invoke the idea the AV division is rapidly growing, and we all shall pitch
it and provide support when needed. A message from the company heroes, the CFO, and
Ops Manager, would symbolize unity. The company operates as it was meant to be,
based on its structure, political landscape, human source, and symbolism. The expected
outcome would be better resource access and maintaining the company's core values.

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

The symbolic frame has a good structure. The company pulls together to get the work
done. When a client is onboarded, it is handed off by sales, estimating prices. It estimates
a job requirement, engineering designs system integration, CAD makes the blueprints,
and project management assigns resources. I mapped the process out to demonstrate that
it takes the entire village to support the quality of the project. What I would do differently
here is look closer at the political landscape and influence members who would, in turn,
influence the company's heroes. Getting them on board to support the needs of AV is
needed to maintain quality.

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 Reference or References
(Choose appropriate Title if Applicable and Delete the Rest)