Human Resource Frame

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

To recap the situation, I used the rebranding project that my current organization

went through in November 2021. When the organization decided it was time for the

rebrand, the executive team created a team of individuals with experience in a specific

area. I was asked to be a part of the rebranding committee and serve in the uniform

department. This was because of my knowledge and expertise in ordering uniforms for

the organization. My role on the uniform team provided some obstacles as there were a

few risks that needed to be taken more seriously, and we needed to problem-solve a

solution appropriately. The committee for the rebrand met weekly, and during the weekly

meetings, we would discuss specific successes and setbacks in our department. Deciding

on uniforms was difficult because the supply chain was a significant issue the team lead

should have considered. Despite meeting and discussing our success and setbacks, the

supply chain issue was pushed to the side.

Also included in the rebrand was the launch of our new e-commerce websites.

Because I am the retail supervisor, the launch of the e-commerce website was a project

given to me. This was an impactful yet challenging situation as there were a variety of

challenges that came into play. Since the retail website fell into my domain, I was

responsible for the creation and launch of the website at the same time the organization

launched the new main website and at the same time, we launched the new logo. The

challenges and obstacles that occurred were a need for more communication with my

director regarding a specific responsibility, a timeline of due dates or milestones, and a

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 need to specify who was responsible for creating the webpage. With a lack of

clarification, it did leave me to believe that all responsibility is up to me despite my

efforts to obtain more information. So, I started working on the website, only to find that

website design was not my responsibility.

2. Describe how the human resources of the organization influenced the situation.

When reflecting on how my current organization's human resources frame is set

up, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) does a fantastic job in this area. AHS takes the

time to invest in employees by providing opportunities for learning and development, the

opportunity for growth, and focusing on promotion from within. In addition, the

organization focuses on diversity and inclusion. It encourages employees and leaders to

be honest and open and to ask questions that help further an individual's understanding

and development. When reflecting on the human resource frame and how it influenced

the situation, it was easy to see that the project manager focused on bringing in those with

experience and expertise within the specific department they were designated to focus on.

Again, I was tasked to be part of the uniform committee, whose goal was to bring in a

new uniform for all the employees and volunteers within the organization. Being on the

rebranding committee was an excellent opportunity for me. I was eager to learn and

excited that the organization wanted me to be a part of this because of my experience.

However, I found that I only learned a little from this experience, and I was left

wondering why I was even asked to serve on the committee.

When the committee was formed, the different groups had a leader selected and a

team member or two. The leaders of the groups were typically those in higher-level

leadership roles and team members from lower-level leadership roles. Again, I was very

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 excited to be able to contribute my expertise in this area, especially my supply chain

experience, but I could not provide anything. My leader should have allowed me to

contribute my knowledge and instead took over the project. I was only tasked with the

need to order the uniforms. Due to this, we ran into issues later down the line, which

ended up delaying the uniform's arrival and created the need to change the uniform style

and color after launching the logo. After the rebranding committee ended, I felt very

unsatisfied with the outcome of the uniforms and needed clarification about my purpose

for being on the committee. I had no fundamental part in this project that would have

been an excellent opportunity for me to shine. In our reading, Reframing Organizations,

Bolman & Deal discuss that leadership is essential within groups; however, it does not

have to come from one person. "Leaders who over-control or understructure tend to

produce frustration and ineffectiveness. On the other hand, effective leaders help group

members communicate, work together, and do what they are there to do" (Bolman &

Deal, 2021, pg. 182). Working with my leader during our rebranding was a frustrating

experience that involved very little communication and working together, which did not

benefit me in the long run. Despite my frustration, I still had the opportunity to learn. I

strengthened my knowledge of running a project, the importance of communication, and

the importance of utilizing those who have what is needed to make the project successful.

Also included with the organizational rebrand was the creation of our new website

and the launch of the new e-commerce website. I was in charge of creating the e-

commerce website, a great learning opportunity. However, when it was time to work on

the e-commerce website, I needed help with communication and guidance from my

director regarding who I was working with, a website timeline, and project expectations.

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 Having a clear understanding of the project did not hold me back; however, I did have to

reach out to my director if I wanted to do anything for the e-commerce store, and I had to

obtain permission to work with a different department. In this case, it would be our

marketing team. Working with my director provides additional frustration and confusion

on how to succeed in my role, which could be better. Working on this project was a great

way to develop my skills, learn new skills, and work with new team members. When I

was finally able to determine a timeline and who I was working with, creating the e-

commerce website was smooth, and I was able to be successful when it came time for the

launch.

3. Recommend how you would use the human resources for an alternative course of

action regarding your case.

After learning about the human resource frame and how it applies to the situation,

my recommendation would be to change how projects are structured and stress the

importance of utilizing all team members for their experience and expertise and work to

develop everyone's skills. In addition, I encourage the use of egalitarianism. This can help

ensure that those working on the project have a part in the decision-making process.

Being a part of making decisions can be beneficial for a person's growth and

development. In this situation, the rebranding committee was set up to have higher-level

leaders as leads; the same went for the e-commerce website. I worked with my director

on both projects. My director's leadership and decision-making could have been better, as

there were communication barriers, unclear timelines and guidelines, and over-

controlling behaviors.

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 For the rebranding committee, being set up based on a hierarchical manner

created a blur on the level of knowledge that I could offer for this project. When working

on the rebrand, I knew project management, a strong understanding of supply and

demand issues, and vendor management. Still, I was not utilized in any of these areas

because of the level of my director. When the project manager was creating the teams and

those who would lead the teams, it would be beneficial to learn more about each person's

experience. My director needed to understand better the supply chain and the issues

occurring, along with minimal knowledge of project management and leading teams on

projects. Utilizing the already accrued skills of team members can strengthen those skills

and develop new ones. Leading this project would have been a fantastic opportunity!

My recommendation for how I would use the human resource frame for the e-

commerce website would be similar to the rebranding project and utilize the skills and

knowledge of the team rather than in a hierarchical manner. Again, I worked on this

project with my director, who had minimal experience with e-commerce, little interaction

with retail, and minimal experience with project management. Once I had direction, I was

still working with a manager with minimal experience in the same areas as my director,

which still needed clarification and frustration. I understood what I was doing well but

still had to connect with my leaders before moving forward with what I thought was best.

4. Reflect on what you would do or not do differently, given what you have learned

about this frame.

After learning about the human resource frame, there are a few things that could

be done differently and one area that does not need to be done differently. First,

everything is the same for the organization. The Arizona Humane Society as an

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 organization does a great job focusing on meeting the needs of its employees and striving

to create an open, inclusive, diverse culture while focusing on learning and development,

leadership skills, and developing current skills for employees. What I would have done

differently for the rebranding project is to emphasize how important it would be for me to

be part of the decision-making and to have an active part in all areas of the project. Being

more open and communicative could have allowed me to express the desire to grow and

develop essential skills and how being a part of the decision-making and other areas can

benefit me in the long run.

The same can be said when reflecting on the e-commerce website and what could

be done differently. What could be done differently was my being more open and

communicative with my desire to lead this project and highlight the skills that would

make me successful in this role. My director and manager had minimal experience with

the e-commerce website, and with me taking the lead, I could have avoided any

confusion and frustration, and it would provide me with a deeper level of development. I

could have enhanced what I already knew, learned new things, and fulfilled my need for

growth and development to make a difference and contribute to the overall goal.

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 Reference

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and

leadership (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass