OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Structural Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the structural frame
2. Apply the structural 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.

I was a barista for 5 out of the 7 years I have been working at starbucks. Starbucks is my
second job ever. My previous job was for LA County. It was an easy receptionist job. My
boss at the time always told me that I would make a great manager some day. Fastforward, I
got hired at Strabucks. I was always intimidated to work there and it was my last resort. I
didn’t believe that I could multitask the way they did so reluctantly applied. I got the job
doen faster than expected and became a storng partner on my team. My boss saw my
potential before I did and started encouraging me to become a shift lead. I kept denying
because I didn’t feel ready. Over time and after many conversations with my boss about it, I
decided to apply for the position. In one month I became a shift lead. I soon realized how
difficult it was eventhough the current leads warned me about it.

I struggled to balance the task aspect and relational aspect of being a leader. It takes a certain
type of person to be a good leader and it also takes certain skills to be efficient at this job. It is
not an easy job and most of it has to do with your people skills and your team. Some skills
necessary to be proficient at are time management, soft skills, conflict resolution, multitask,
communication and doing well under pressure. I would say I am proficient at most of these skills
now but it was a rough start. However, I grew a lot and it tought me to have courage and that I
can overcome my fears and doubts about doing the job well and promoting within.
2)Describe how the structure of the organization influenced the situation.

The structure of the organization is what challenged me in the first place but also
motivated me to take leaps of faith toward ovecoming my doubts and struggles. I believe
the sturcure of starbucks is set up to give baristas the opportunity to grow and take on
more responsibility. Starbucks is always hiring and looking for new candidates due to the
high turnover. Most of the people hired are young adults in highschool or college such as
myself. Starbucks has a lot to offer as far as benefits but most of all its an organization
that values its partners and customers at its core.

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 The strucute of this organization first gave me an opportunity to overcome my doubts of
being able to do the job well. The three week training I received on the computer and on
the floor was very helpful but my trainer made the hwole experience fun. She helped me
all the way through my triang process and was a built in friend as soon as I started my
new job. I knew I could go to her for help or questions. Once I started training my fears
started to diminish as I saw behind the scense of how things really worked. Everyone was
so helpful and understading as I learned. Fastforward, In order to promote ot be a shift
lead I had to become a barista trainer myself. I trained two girls before I took the
promotion. This process helped me to get better equipped at coaching baristas on the
basics of coffee and food while following standards of the organization. This also helped
me as a shift lead beucase I had to relearn the basics of coffee such as ho wits brewed
best, different grinds and types from what regions etc.

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

One thing I would alter is how long the trianig process is for new baristas as well as shift
leads. It is evident that all the information that is being thrown at the baristas all at once is
a lot to remember and we find that many don’t want to ask because tthey are embarrassed
so they continue to make drinks wrong for a long period of time until someone notices.
This has happened way too often. Therefore I would alter the structure of training to be
longer and have more one on one time at the least buisiest day starting out.

Although I had a great training session I do wish it was longer and practiced withut the
pressure of being in front of customers or baristas as I trained. That didn tallow me to
focus on what I was learing but more so not messing up an order.Overall Satrbucks has
structured their training well to where baristas have a trainer, in order to promote you
have to take initative and take on more repsonsiblity, become a barita trainer and then a
shift lead.

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

I would have become a shift lead much earlier had I belived in myself a little more and
trusted the leadership above me. I was ready but lacked confidence which is one of the
biggest triats in leadership. People don’t want to be led by someone who is not confident
in themselves. It creates doubt within your team and will cause resistance. This is why
this situation is so important to me because I grew a lot and I am constantly being
challenged to be courageious and be okay with failure. I learned that I am afraid to fail
but in order to grow I have to fail at times. I also have ot be okay with failing to keep
taking the oportunties that come my way. Starbucsk was my second job so I didn’t know
much then but looking back I had all the tools I needed to succeed but lakced confidence.

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 Now that I have learned more about the structural frame I can identify Starbcks structural
frame within this scianrio by how they set up their training and promotional process. It is
organizaed in a way that helps barsitas succeed and stack the knowledge they have gained
to help others grow as well. I believe it was a great addition to the traing structure to
rewuier promsingi shift leads to becomea triander first ebcuase it revels your how mature
your soft skills are and commitment to bettering the team.