OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

Personal Case Analysis (PCA) -Ethical Communities

CONFIDENTIAL

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

Phoenix-Metro Public College (PMPC) is the organization I have chosen to focus on for
my Personal Case Analysis (PCA). I had the opportunity to experience this organization
in both internal and external capacities for no less than two years and my observations
have given me plenty of data to analyze the strengths and weaknesses based on current
structure and desired strategic goals. PMPC considers itself to be a “learning”
organization, both for the customers it serves as well as the nearly thousand employees
staffed there. Based on the current structural frame, “learning” is not always the outcome.
In fact, I would argue that the current structure enforces barriers to learning, especially
for employee development.

As an independent consultant, I have been tasked with analyzing PMPC’s organizational

structures based on the Four Frames (Bolman, 2022) to determine how they may better
reach their strategic goals in providing exemplary service to all stakeholders.

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

Phoenix-Metro Public College has done an extraordinary job of finding balance in the
four ethical metaphors in their day-to-day operations. Therefore, I do not believe the
ethics of the organization has played a significant role in the situation in a negative way,
nor has it contributed to their forgetting their original strategic vision and mission.
Oftentimes, we may see that an organization represents one or more of these metaphors;
however, I can identify positive characteristics in the PMPC structural frameworks that
speak to their continued success in their role of educating those in our communities.

For example, PMPC can be seen to represent a factory; an organization that excels in
receiving individuals seeking to develop into well-rounded, well-educated professionals
through academic leadership that empowers them to become efficacious authors of their
own lives and careers. The excellence observed here demonstrates a high level of ethical
cognizance (Bolman, 2022). In many ways, this organization can be seen to represent
family. Where some individuals lack support in their families of origin, many students
who attend PMPC feel welcomed, cared for, and a resultant deep sense of belonging.
This allows students to grow in confidence and a desire to contribute, in every capacity,
with a greater sense of purpose and intention to foster partnerships that support well-
being within their communities (Bolman, 2022).

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 Serving over ten thousand individuals in multiple capacities, PMPC has worked to
continually refine its ability to influence others while using its power softly to set an
example of how effective stewardship leads to social justice. In the bustling jungle of
campus life, we can see how this stewardship supports and includes all of its diverse
characters in a way that creates space for innovation and exponential growth (Bolman,
2022). Finally, the significant role that PMPC plays in the lives of those who cross its
campus every day is evidenced in the aspirations that play out as students see their hopes
and dreams for their lives begin to manifest through hard work and determination. The
campus is a place where people go for a sort of spiritual support as they create
opportunities for themselves born through faith in themselves and others, and where real
miracles are seen as each student crosses the stage to receive their degrees (Bolman,
2022).

3) Recommend how you would apply one of the ethical communities for an alternative
course of action regarding your case.

There is not much I could recommend that would improve the way PMPC’s strategic
goals align with these ethical communities. The vision and the endeavor to be the conduit
by which people begin to see their own sparks of authentic spirit already speaks to its
own excellence. The implications of such an endeavor ripple out through our
communities, as well as time, as each one of the students begins to make their mark in the
world. There is something remarkably noble about observing educators and witnessing
the impact that they have in others’ lives. It is a joy to witness and experience.

The rituals and chronicles of the student life experience are beyond understanding when
one has not experienced this for themselves. The providence of being given the
opportunity to get to fully know oneself through the formal higher education system is
one that ought to be experienced by all. It is truly life changing. PMPC has undertaken
and excelled in the academic discipline, and the many services and resources they
provide for students who attend their courses and specific academic and professional
programs. I know that there is no greater soul reward for all involved than to see each
student thrive (Bolman, 2022).

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

In regard to the situation, I feel that PMPC focuses all of its efforts on students. As such,
I believe they are missing a key factor in achieving all of their strategic objectives, as
their staff and faculty are equally deserving of the same educational and developmental
opportunities as the students. They do offer tuition waivers for employees and their
dependents; however, I believe there needs to be an additional level of support and
encouragement to facilitate the very best outcomes for all on campus. Mentorship and

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 succession plans will set PMPC up for long term excellence in academia and perpetuate
their reputation of maintaining an exemplary model of sustainability.

My Personal Case Analysis has given me the opportunity to investigate how the Four
Structural Frames have played a role in PMPC’s consistently observable objectives,
operations, and outcomes. As I reflect on what I have learned, I am pleased to be able to
report that this organization ensures that their actions align with their values in most
situations. These findings are encouraging and inspiring as they are evidence of a highly
ethical organization that will continually strive to make strategic decisions that prioritize
their commitment to their values, to people, and to their greater community (Bolman,
2022).

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 References

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2022, September 17). Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice,

and Leadership (7th ed.). Perusall. https://app.perusall.com/courses/ogl-481-org-

leadership-pro-seminar-i-2022-fall-b-795852759/reframing-organizations-artistry-choice-

and-leadership?chapter=Acover