OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Structural Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the structural frame
2. Apply the structural 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.

I am a student intern for the Human Resources department at ABC Enterprise Partners,

which funds ABC University. I was brought on board to create an employee handbook

for the organization. With the guidance of my business unit leader and support from my

department, I proposed a policy in the final draft of my employee handbook that

addresses alternative days to work remotely, compact work schedules, and different lunch

periods based on the department's needs. The legal team, human resources, and executive

suite have all had various opinions and everyone’s perspectives are not in alignment. The

CEO vaguely mentioned an upcoming change for our hybrid work model during a small

social event. Not many people throughout the organization, let alone the leadership team,

are aware of the situation and there is no general consensus on feelings towards it. On

September 6, the change was announced company-wide and will be implemented in

October despite the lack of consensus

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

The design of an organizational structure is contingent upon various factors within the

organization, encompassing its goals, strategy, technology, and environment (Bolman

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 and Deal, 2021). Striking a balance between strategy, rules, coordination, and

relationships is vital for achieving optimal performance in any organizational setting. The

hierarchy of offices significantly influences the situation, and different departments and

centers of excellence, including the Human Resources Department, General Council, the

Executive Suite, and Technology and Solutions, all play distinct roles. When it comes to

decision-making, some departments may be prioritized over others, potentially resulting

in sidelining certain departments and their managers, depriving them of crucial input in

the decision-making process.

Moreover, the hierarchy and organizational structure extend their influence, with

the President of ABC University holding considerable sway over the desires and

preferences of others within the organization. Additionally, the division of labor is a

critical factor affecting the outcome of various situations. Positioned at the bottom of the

organizational structure as an intern, I am directed by the Chief People Officer, granting

me a voice that, if articulated effectively, can carry significant weight in influencing

decisions and outcomes.

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

Incorporating the Structural Framing concept into my approach would have led me to

handle the situation in a different manner. Specifically, I would have chosen to await

direction from the President before presenting the policy to the General Counsel. This

approach adds weight and credibility to the decision being made. Moreover, allowing

more time before implementing the policy would afford other integral units within the

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 organization the opportunity to prepare adequately. One such critical unit is the ABC

Foundation, a substantial and bustling sector of the organization.

The ABC Foundation plays a pivotal role in ABC University's operations, responsible for

donor acquisition and utilizing those resources to fund the university's charter.

Significantly, their workforce constitutes a substantial portion of ABC Enterprise

Partners. Repositioning and framing the situation to emphasize potential benefits for the

ABC Foundation's fundraisers could have greatly influenced the outcome in a more

favorable direction. Additionally, given the foundation's substantial workforce, this

approach would allow for more comprehensive test runs of the flexible work policy

before its initial implementation.

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

Reflecting on the situation, I would approach it differently by strategically presenting the

case to the General Counsel first. Utilizing the example of fundraisers or student

fundraisers, I would emphasize the necessity of a flexible work agreement. The General

Counsel was the initial opponent of the flexible work agreement, and it's evident that

their influence could significantly shape opinions within the organization. Understanding

this, I would aim to garner their support and understanding at the outset.

In applying the knowledge of the structural frame, it becomes evident that

comprehending the audience and their communication networks is paramount.

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 Identifying key influencers and understanding the communication patterns within the

organizational structure can greatly sway opinions and decisions. Hence, it would have

been beneficial to assess who the General Counsel communicates with and anticipates

opinions from before the issue escalates. Perhaps engaging with individuals within the

ABC Foundation initially, who might align with the concept of flexible work and

advocate for different work-from-home days beyond the standard Monday and Friday,

could have provided valuable support.

By carefully navigating the organizational hierarchy and leveraging strategic

communication with influential stakeholders, we could have orchestrated a more

favorable reception of the flexible work agreement. This approach would ensure

smoother implementation and gather essential backing from influential segments of the

organization, ultimately contributing to a successful rollout.

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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