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.

The situation is huge in the store I am currently working in where there is a lot of finger
pointing and gossip. The culture of the company is that of being open and honest, but it
seems to be changing for the worse.

The problem seems to be that there are not enough good team members and leaders when
it comes to values, communication and trust. In fact, it seems like the team members are
more worried about their own reputation than the good of the business. They do not want
to be seen as gossipers or backstabbers. They do not want to lose their jobs because they
are not following any rules or policies set by management. This leads to a negative
environment in which employees feel trapped by their own fear of losing their jobs if
they talk negatively about someone else in fear of retaliation.

This all seems like a recipe for disaster, but the company has recently made some
changes in order for it to be more successful in the future. For example, they have started
doing surveys among partners about how satisfied they are with certain aspects of the
company's operations such as customer service or product quality; this information helps
them determine where things can be improved and which areas need more attention than
others so that they can take action quickly, there are also lots of discusións happening
between leaders and partners trying to make a healthier work environment for those in the
store. As a leader the main goal is to follow through the lens of a political leader to lead
and fix problems and disagreements between co workers. The political leader's main
responsibility is to make sure that the people who are working in Starbucks are happy and
safe. They must also make sure that they feel like they have a voice in what happens at
the company, because if they don't like something then they should be able to speak out
about it. The political leader will work with other leaders at Starbucks to help them
achieve their goals by taking away any obstacles that could stand in their way.

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

The symbols of an organization can have a significant impact on the behavior and actions
of its members. In the case of the lack of leadership in a Starbucks store, the symbols of
the company, such as its mission statement, values, and logo, may have contributed to the
situation.

For example, if the mission statement emphasizes the importance of employee

empowerment and customer satisfaction, but there is a lack of leadership in the store,
employees may feel unsupported and disengaged, leading to poor customer service.
Similarly, if the company values teamwork and collaboration, but there is no clear leader
to facilitate communication and decision-making, conflicts may arise and productivity
may suffer.

The Starbucks logo, which features a mermaid with a crown, may also influence the
situation. The crown symbolizes leadership and authority, so employees may feel that
there is a void in leadership without a clear manager or supervisor. Additionally, the
mermaid image may suggest a sense of community and connection, which could be
disrupted by a lack of leadership.

Overall, the symbols of an organization can play a role in shaping the culture and
behavior of its members, and in the case of a lack of leadership in a Starbucks store, these
symbols may have contributed to the challenges faced by employees and customers.

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

To address the lack of leadership in a Starbucks store, the use of organizational symbols
can be a powerful tool to promote a new course of action. Here are some
recommendations for how to use organizational symbols to address the situation:

Update the mission statement: The mission statement should be updated to reflect the
importance of strong leadership in the store. The updated statement should emphasize the
role of managers and supervisors in supporting employees and ensuring customer
satisfaction.

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 Redefine the company values: The company values should be redefined to reflect the
importance of teamwork, collaboration, and effective communication. These values
should be reinforced through training and development programs for employees.

Create a new logo: A new logo that incorporates the image of a strong leader can help to
reinforce the importance of leadership in the store. The logo should also feature elements
that emphasize teamwork and collaboration.

Use visual cues: Visual cues, such as posters and signs, can be used to reinforce the
importance of leadership and teamwork. These cues should be prominently displayed
throughout the store to remind employees of the new course of action.

Develop a recognition program: A recognition program can be developed to reward

employees who demonstrate strong leadership and teamwork skills. This program can
include incentives such as bonuses, promotions, and public recognition.

By using these organizational symbols, Starbucks can promote a new course of action
that emphasizes the importance of leadership, teamwork, and effective communication.
This can help to address the challenges faced by employees and customers in stores with
a lack of leadership.

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

Reflecting on what I have learned about the lack of leadership in Starbucks stores, there
are several things I would do differently to address the situation.

Firstly, I would prioritize the development of a comprehensive leadership training

program for managers and supervisors. This program would focus on developing skills
such as effective communication, conflict resolution, and team building. It would also
emphasize the importance of employee empowerment and customer satisfaction.

Secondly, I would work to create a culture of open communication and feedback. This
would involve implementing regular employee feedback sessions and creating channels
for employees to share their ideas and concerns with management. This would help to
foster a sense of trust and collaboration between employees and managers, which is
essential for effective leadership.

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Thirdly, I would make sure to regularly assess the effectiveness of the leadership in each
store. This would involve conducting regular employee surveys and performance
evaluations to identify areas for improvement. This would help to ensure that the
leadership is meeting the needs of employees and customers and that any issues are
addressed in a timely manner.

Lastly, I would make sure to regularly review and update the organizational symbols,
such as the mission statement and values, to reflect the importance of effective
leadership. This would help to reinforce the message that leadership is a top priority for
the company and that it is committed to creating a positive workplace culture.

Overall, by prioritizing leadership development, fostering open communication, regularly

assessing leadership effectiveness, and updating organizational symbols, I believe that
Starbucks can improve its leadership and create a more positive workplace environment
for employees and customers.

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 Reference
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Chapter 15. In Reframing organizations: Artistry,
choice, and leadership (7th ed.,). essay, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.