OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Choosing an Organization Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Identify an organization and situation you want to study over the remainder of the course.
2. Describe the organization and the 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) Name and describe your organization.

The organization I am discussing is a past employer I worked at for over 6 years. The
company was USAA, one of the largest insurance/banking companies who primarily
serviced the military. USAA was held on a pedestal with all the perks they provided their
members. For years USAA was an organization I always heard was a great place to work.
Their benefits were amazing, the offices were great, but the internal culture became
depressing.

2) Describe your role in the organization (it can be an internal or external role).

I managed a team of compliance auditors. We were in charge of reviewing and ensuring

that USAA’s lending side was being compliant with USAA policies as well as the CFPB
(Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). I regularily had internal and external meetings with
external auditors and internal leadership. I would provide feedback, trends with compliance
violations, and whatever was needed to hold USAA accountable.

3) Describe the situation, including information you think the will help the reader
understand the most important elements of the situation. (This will require
selectivity: part of the art of case writing is separating the essential facts from the
mass of information that might be included).

Prior to me leaving, USAA went through two very large layoffs that shook the entire
organization. Leadership was becoming more hostile, demanding, threatening even. The
layoffs came shortly after USAA was hit with very large penalties. Many were feeling their
jobs were on the line every day and everything they did was being scrutinized heavily. This
was also happening during the pandemic which added additional concerns in everyone.

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 Bonuses were being taken away and entire depts were being reduced. Since then, USAA has
gone through additional layoffs and the hostility seems to be growing.