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.

My role is an external consultant. They are looking to improve the Diversity, Inclusion,

Equity & Belonging department. The company is looking for innovative ideas that

would lead them to the future.

Paypal believes that “Embracing the diverse backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives that

make up PayPal makes us better.” The company has achieved 100% in pay equality in the

U.S. and would like to explore other opportunities to continue to champion inclusion.

They are currently supporting Veteran Jobs Mission, AfroTech, Lesbians Who Tech

Summit, and Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement. Paypal is looking for other

opportunities to partner with the community.

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

The author refers to the symbolic frame myths and symbols that help humans make sense

of the world. Stating that “Meaning is not givn to us; we create it (Bolman & Deal,

2021)..” The authors also reminds us that “symbols cut deeply into the human psyche and

tap the collective unconscious (Bolman & Deal, 2021).”Merriam-Webster defines a

symbol as, “an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to

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 excite or objectify a response.” A good example of this is Coca-Cola. As soon as I see the

symbol on a bottle or a shirt it takes me to a happy place. I remember being a teenager

and loving the commercials. I can hear the jingle, “Always coca-cola.” It was the best

feeling in the world. I can still find that feeling of happiness today. Although I

unconsciously get excited about the brand, I think it's bizarre that I don’t drink soda and

never buy the organization’s products. It is an unconscious response I have to the symbol.

Creating and promoting a symbol for the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging

department can help employees find meaning in the department and become more

invested in the cause. This can influence employees to participate in activities

surrounding the department.

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

Encourageing positive change using the organizational symbol would be a great way to

influence the culture around the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging

department.To do this recommendations would be to encourage open communication

and collaboration within employees. This can create a culture of innovation and

identify new ways of doing business. Promote learning and development opportunities

for employees to acquire new skills that can be applied to their department. Encourage

diversity and foster a culture that values diversity, unique perspectives, and experience

to the organization.

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

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 Considering what I have learned in this frame I would look at the culture of PayPal more

and look at how we can create a cohesive culture. I would encourage diversity and the

competitive advantage that comes with it. Creating an award system for contributions

would be advantageous to change the culture. This can be a simple recognition for doing

something to promote diversity.

The author refers to “leaders as a deeper and more durable function if they recognize that

team building at its heart is a spiritual undertaking.” It would be important for the leaders

at PayPal to be believers in that because it is the essence of high performance (Bolman &

Deal, 2021).

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 References

Bolman, L.G., & Deal, T.E. (2021). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership
(7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass