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

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The facts of the situation is that there is a “Fixer Upper” project for a family that the

company wants to take on but the family’s budget is not realistic to what they need. The family

consists of a husband (Andrew), wife (Kim), a wheelchair-bound 10-year-old daughter (Lily),

and 5-year-old son (Dillion). The family recently experienced a devastation from a recent

hurricane and they lost their home. They have been living with family members but they need

space for their children. The company has $500,000 available to allocate to this project and

charity for this family in need. The situation at hand is to work with the clients to find a home in

an area they want, renovate the home for the needs of the family, make sure the home is

wheelchair accessible, and stay under budget as $500,000 is the most the company can spare.

The role I will represent is being a Project Manager. The home renovation business involves

working with clients to find the “Fixer Upper” of their dreams, buy, renovate for client needs,

and reveal the final product within the client budget (Magnolia’s Blog). As the Project Manager,

I will be facilitating the housing projects and working with the clients, interior designers,

contractors, and other stakeholders to make the experience as smooth as possible. According to

ProjectManager.com, during a remodel, you’ll find that discoveries, surprises, change orders, or

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redesigns will affect scope and then budget. To remain effective, the project manager must

communicate and secure decisions or verifications as soon as possible.

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

The Symbolic Frame recognizes the importance of such symbols in a group. Exploring the

various stories, heroes, values, and vision that create the culture of an organization provides roots

to the members to be motivated in achieving the goals of the group. The frame is beneficial in

recognizing the unifying qualities of organizations and the unique symbols that motivate its

progress.

Symbolic decisions, particularly those related to resource allocation, internal promotions or

hires, job assignments, reorganization, and space allocation, often impact staff morale and

consequently, performance. The symbolic frame shows organizations as cultures and symbolic

forms and activities are the basic elements that over time shape the organization’s unique

identity. Leaders can develop the symbolic frame to affect how members connect to and identify

with the organization, and the extent to which they value and contribute to improving efficiency

and efficiency, as well as the collations to which they belong. Magnolia is commonly known for

their hardworking nature and family values. The founders of Magnolia are Chip Gaines who

grew up very poor and had unfortunate family circumstances and Joanna Gaines who was

handed down her hard work and determination from her Korean immigrant mother. They value

the importance of family which is why they use their skills to help families create their dream

home. To recreate what Chip and Joanna Gaines successfully made for themselves. The situation

regarding the family in need who are experiencing hardship, hits close to home for the founders

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of Magnolia which is why I am able to work as a Project Manager to facilitate these goals and

assist the founders in working on this project.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational symbols for an alternative course of

action regarding your case.

The Symbolic Frame is one of the four frames of Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model. It

focuses on how humans use meaning, belief, and faith to create a culture. In any organization,

there are certain values, rituals, ceremonies, and stories that make up the environment and

symbols of the group and attract members that support the cause. Symbols help us make sense of

ambiguity in the world. It allows people to see and understand events for the symbolic

interpretation of them and not their shallow occurrence. Symbols create unity and add meaning

to the culture of an organization. Members create symbols to eliminate confusion and

ambiguity. Processes and events are held with higher understanding and purpose when they are

linked to a common belief of the group.

I don’t think I would choose an alternative course of action regarding my case based upon the

organizational symbols. The symbols of the organization help provide motivation and

determination towards the situation and the symbolic framework greatly benefits the

organization overall.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned

about this frame.

The Symbolic Frame sees organizations as cultures, propelled more by rituals, ceremonies,

stories, heroes, and myths than by rules, policies, and mana- gerial authorities; the goal of this

frame is to shape a culture that gives a purpose and meaning to workers, provides organ-

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izational drama for internal and external audiences, and build team spirit through ceremony and

story.

I wouldn’t do anything differently given what I have learned about this frame. However, I

think the knowledge about the symbolic frame reinforces the situation mentioned above and

reinforces the cultural climate of Magnolia.

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 References

Construction Project Management software. ProjectManager. (2023, April 21).

Recipes, design how-tos, and stories on Magnolia’s Blog. Magnolia. (n.d.).