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 team is currently facing a challenge in reconciling our customer-oriented change

goals with the evolving business needs of a long-established international corporation.
The corporation, having honed its manufacturing and hardware engineering over 180
years, adheres to a traditional sequential, or waterfall project management approach.
However, the team believes we need to function as a start-up to accomplish our
objectives, entailing a faster, agile method for product discovery, development, and
delivery. Despite our extensive experience in software development and delivery, the
team is finding it difficult to persuade the larger organization to accept this new process
while simultaneously meeting financial reporting responsibilities and addressing strategic
demands. My goal as a software product manager within the organization is to not only
help be the voice of the customer, but also to help drive innovation and the adoption of
modern project management frameworks.

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

The symbolic frame, as defined by Bolman and Deal, emphasizes the power of culture,
symbols, and shared meanings within an organization (2021). In the context of Schneider
Electric and the situation at hand, a few key symbols and cultural elements come into
play. The company's legacy as a leader in energy management, distribution, and
automation is a potent symbol. For over 180 years, Schneider Electric has been honing its
manufacturing and hardware engineering processes, establishing itself as a reliable and
traditional entity. This symbol of longevity and success can both impede and encourage
change. On one hand, it reinforces the historical approach to project management,
making it a symbol of reliability and proven success. On the other hand, it symbolizes the
company's ability to adapt and remain relevant over the years, which could be leveraged
to support the proposed shift to agile methodologies.

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 The company's mission statement, "Life Is On", is another significant symbol. It
represents Schneider Electric's commitment to sustainability, progress, and empowering
its customers, which can be a powerful tool for aligning the organization around new
approaches like agile project management that could further these goals. The very notion
of software development within a traditionally hardware-focused company is a symbol of
change and innovation. This could be seen as a representation of the organization's
willingness to evolve and take on new challenges, which could potentially encourage
support for the agile approach.

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

Aligning the shift towards agile methodologies with the company's mission statement,
"Life Is On", holds significant promise. This mission embodies Schneider Electric's
commitment to progress, sustainability, and empowering customers. The mission
statement acts as a powerful symbol that permeates the organization, shaping its identity
and guiding its actions. By framing the shift to agile methodologies as a means to further
embody this mission, we can leverage this symbol of power to gain broader
organizational support for the change.

We can emphasize how agile methodologies align with the pursuit of progress by
enabling quicker adaptation to market changes and more efficient product development
cycles. We can highlight the sustainability aspect by showcasing how agile
methodologies foster sustainable work environments with consistent pace, regular
reflections, and adjustments for optimal productivity. Finally, by underlining how agile
can make us more responsive to customer needs, we can show alignment with the
commitment to empowering customers. By aligning the agile transformation with these
key elements of the mission statement, we would not only validate the shift within the
context of Schneider Electric's core values but also build a compelling narrative around
the change that resonates deeply with the organizational culture.

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

Reflecting on the symbolic frame, it becomes evident to me that the power of symbols
and shared meanings can profoundly impact organizational dynamics. In retrospect, I
would place even more emphasis on understanding and leveraging these symbols when
introducing change into the organization. For instance, I would invest more time in
aligning the shift to agile methodologies with the company's values, such as its
long-standing legacy and mission statement. Framing the change in the context of these
symbols could help mitigate resistance and foster a sense of continuity, even as we
innovate and evolve.

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There are also areas where I believe my initial approach aligns well with the insights
gained from the symbolic frame. For example, the proposed introduction of a small-scale
agile project could serve as a new symbol representing what's achievable through the
agile approach. Maintaining open communication and transparency around the benefits
and successes of this new approach can help to gradually shape a new shared
understanding and acceptance of agile methodologies within the organization. In
conclusion, the symbolic frame underlines the importance of navigating not just the
practical, but also the symbolic and cultural aspects of change within an organization.

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 References

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and
Leadership. Wiley.