Overview

Write a 4–5 page analysis and a response e-mail to address a growing controversy depicted in the Riverbend City: Communication and Organizational Effectiveness scenario.

While communication (or lack of it) can often cause workplace conflict, it can also be the solution for addressing it. Knowing how to communicate in increasingly stressful environments is a skill that will serve you well both professionally and personally.

Resources

Communication and Conflict

Conflict occurs in all types of communication, whether the communication is among family, friends, or business partnerships. Therefore, it is important to understand conflict and the causes that create the conflict. Understanding how to effectively communicate with those with whom we are experiencing conflict can reduce the conflict and lead to positive outcomes.

• Kelly, S., & MacDonald, P. (2019). A look at leadership styles and workplace solidarity communication. International Journal of Business Communication, 56(3), 432–448.
  • This article explores the outcomes of upward and downward communication channels within organizations.
  • Embrace conflict. (2017). Hawaii Business, 63(1), 64–70.
    • This article considers the importance of effective communication and how conflict can lead to problems if it is not addressed properly.
  • Williamson, J. E. (2017). Managing workplace conflict in CS and beyond. Healthcare Purchasing News, 41(7), 38.
    • This article explores how a lack of communication among organizational members can cause friction that then erupts into conflict. 

• Assessment Instructions

Overview NURSING HOME HEALTHCARE ESSAY

Responding effectively to a situation rife with conflict requires a variety of communication techniques. In this assessment, you will analyze and respond to a growing controversy depicted in the Riverbend City: Communication and Organizational Effectiveness scenario by writing a team communication and subsequently analyzing your approach to devising it.

Preparation

Explore Riverbend City: Communication and Organizational Effectiveness.

(See page 4)

Scenario

Imagine you just came back from lunch and found the email string regarding the proposed EOC staff meeting related in the scenario. It’s your plan to address the situation, and it’s your intent to do it in a single email that demonstrates leadership and a keen understanding of the issue, participants, and their associated dynamics. 

Instructions

Complete both parts of this assessment.

Part 1: Analyze Your Approach to the Issue

Describe your approach to constructing your email. 

• Describe possible causes for the caustic exchange depicted in the email chain. Consider possible core organizational issues. State any assumptions that you might need to make regarding the scenario to support your assertions.
  • Justify why your message would likely be effective. Consider content, tone, style, et cetera.
  • Explain your intent for how your message might impact future communications and actions among team members.

Part 2: Write a Response Email

Write an email that effectively addresses the email chain. It should:

• Properly consider the audience, your position, and the circumstances.
  • Articulate a well-conceived solution to the problem.
  • Effectively end the thread completely and de-escalate the tension.
  • Send a message that this exchange was “sub-optimal.”

Additional Requirements

The assessment is expected to meet the following requirements:

• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
  • Length: 4–5 pages, double spaced.

Portfolio Prompt: You should consider adding this assessment to your personal ePortfolio. For more information, visit the Campus ePortfolio page.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Analyze business communication situations.
  • Describe possible causes for the caustic exchange depicted in the email chain.
  • Explain why a message would likely be effective. 
  • Competency 2: Apply fundamental principles of organizational communication.
    • Write an email that meets specified criteria.
  • Competency 3: Analyze the interrelationships of communication within organizational systems.
    • Describe likely core organizational issues that were exposed by the original email.
    • Describes how a message might plausibly affect future communications and actions among team members.
  • Competency 5: Communicate effectively and professionally.
    • Convey clear meaning with grammar, usage, word choice, and mechanics.

Riverbend City Justice in Action

Communication and Organizational Effectiveness

There’s been a major rapid onset flood in Brown Trout Bay, a rural community with a population of about 3,000, located fifty miles from the major metropolitan area of Riverbend City. Roads and bridges are out, and the water supply for much of the city has been compromised. The county’s emergency operations center (EOC) has been activated, and a Leadership Team is being assembled to address the crisis. You are in charge of this leadership team.

Leading a group of people who have a variety of communication styles can be a challenge—whether you’re leading a casual neighborhood committee meeting or a response to a citywide disaster. As you coordinate this Leadership Team, you will have to work effectively with eight people who have very different communication styles. As a leader, you will need to develop a strategy for working effectively with this group of people.

EMAIL FROM MAYOR NICOLLET

Leading the Emergency Operations Team

From: Mayor Brian Nicollet

To: undefined undefined

I’m so glad to hear that you’ve agreed to facilitate our team of emergency managers. Each member of the team represents an Emergency Support Function (ESF) as defined by FEMA. As the leader of the EOC group, your goal is to help this group leverage their collective expertise to distribute clean water efficiently to the people in Brown Trout Bay. I’m confident that with your help, this team will be able to work together efficiently to get this done.

As you work with this group of individuals, please keep in mind that this is a diverse group. As is the case with all working groups, you’re going to find these individuals have a variety of communication styles. Because this group needs to get to work immediately, you’re going to have to figure out quickly what each individual’s communication style is—and you’re going to have to come up with a strategy for working effectively with this particular group of people and their combination of communication styles.

Best of luck! I know I can count on you.

—Brian               

Important information to consider

• City and County are working together to address the issue of providing portable water to residents in affected neighborhoods
• People in affected areas have been without water for 24Hrs
• Dodd County has activated its emergency operation center to address this issue
• Evacuation order was put in place to evacuate before the flooding but many did not obey it because they either couldn’t (lack of transportation or where in a medical facility) or would not leave
• No casualties

Team Members

Melanie Cohen, Executive Director, Dodd County Transportation System

• If you ask my colleagues, I’m sure they’ll tell you that I’m very organized and thorough. I come to every meeting with a detailed agenda. Also, as a leader, it’s very important for me to set clear objectives for my employees so that they know exactly what’s expected of them. I think they appreciate that—at least, I hope they do. I wouldn’t consider myself a demanding supervisor, but it’s very important to me that people understand their roles and my expectations.

And—well, this is kind of comical—I’m so organized that I have to straighten up my desk every single day before I go home. If I don’t, I’m in a terrible mood the next morning when I come into a desk with a few loose paperclips on it. That’s kind of sad, huh? My desk is full of every kind of filing system and organizer imaginable…seriously, if I can’t find out where to put something, I’ve been known to stop at an office supply store on the way home to pick up another organizing device. (laughs) At least I can laugh at myself, huh? I guess it’s appropriate that I’m the person in charge of the bus system. Because nobody likes it when their busses don’t follow an exact schedule, right? And believe me, I’m big on schedules! I get so annoyed when people are late. Too annoyed, really. People have good reasons to be late sometimes, and I have to remind myself of that a lot.

Rodney Saunders, Chief Engineer for Dodd County

• It’s nice to meet you. You want me to tell you a little about myself? Not to be stereotypical, but most engineers don’t say more than we need to. Not a lot of small talk in my office. Don’t get me wrong—we’re always up for a good happy hour, but when it comes to work, we’re pretty heads down. I like people okay, but what I really like is figuring out how to keep bridges from falling apart. Being an engineer is like one big math problem—our challenge is to figure out the most efficient ways of doing things and then to follow through on that.

Lisa Truman, Director of Dodd County Department of Public Health

• It’s so nice to meet you. Can I get you anything? No? I’m so glad to hear that you’re going to be directing this group during the flood response. Please let me know if you need anything. The group of people we’re going to be working with—well, there’s some strong personalities in the group. They’re all great, don’t get me wrong. I truly believe that everyone in this group has the best interests of the public in mind. But not everyone agrees on how to make that happen…well, you’ll see. Like I said, if you need help figuring this group out, just let me know.

I’m glad you’re asking people to tell you a little about themselves. It’s so important for leaders to have a good sense of the people on their teams. Especially in a situation like this one, where a good deal is at stake and you have to pull together a group at the last minute.

But anyway, you asked about me. Hmmm…I guess I would say that I’m friendly. I like working with people very much. That’s one of the things I like best about my job. In public health, you get to collaborate with schools, with businesses, with other government offices. Recently we had an opportunity to collaborate with a school district that has a high incidence of childhood diabetes. I had the opportunity to talk to parents and teachers and kids and listen to them talk about their needs. It was so rewarding to work with the community to come up with some solutions together.

Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

• I guess you could say I’m a straightforward guy. Very much so. I know I get on people’s nerves sometimes because I say what I mean. I get really annoyed with passive-aggressive stuff—you know, when people beat around the bush and you have to translate what they’re really trying to say? That’s just wasting time. I actually got into trouble with that at my kid’s school. I wanted to know if he was eligible for this program, and I went to talk to a teacher about it. And the answer was actually “no,” my kid wasn’t eligible. But the teacher wouldn’t just come out and say that. She kept going on and on about policy, and finally I just said, look, lady, is my kid eligible, yes or no? And she looked at me like I hit her or something. So ridiculous.

And the thing is… I mean, I’m fine with the fact that my kid wasn’t eligible. Those are the rules and I respect that. I mean, that’s one of the things I like best about working for government. There are guidelines you have to follow because it’s the law. There aren’t a lot of gray areas—and if there are gray areas, you talk to a lawyer or some other expert to figure out what to do. I work with oil and hazardous materials. When you’re talking about an oil leak, there’s no gray area about how to deal with it. There are firm guidelines, established by the government to protect the public’s safety. I get annoyed by people who like to think outside of the box too much—I don’t even like that phrase! There’s a time and a place for being creative, like if you’re painting a mural or something. But when you’re talking about an emergency like this flood, the best thing we can do for the public is follow the guidelines for protecting them. If it turns out those guidelines aren’t effective, then you go through the proper channels to try to modify them. That’s how it works.

Sebastian Cordoza, Undersheriff of Dodd County

• Hey, it’s so nice to meet you. You want to know a little bit about me? I think I surprise people. They think that because I’m a cop, I must be gruff and no-nonsense and stuff like that. But it’s a stereotype that we’re all like that. I’m actually more of a people person. I’m a big advocate of community policing…you know, working with communities to deal with public safety issues? When you build trust and relationships with community members, then they’re way more likely to report suspicious activity. Some people think that community policing is a little wishy-washy, but it’s not. Building relationships works, and it’s a better way to get things done.

Janice Keller, Brown Trout Bay Emergency Manager

• I’d say I’m a problem solver, for the most part. Sometimes I get into trouble with friends when they come to me with problems, and I’m always trying to come up with solutions—and what they’re really looking for is just a shoulder to cry on. Not that I’m not sympathetic to their feelings. It’s just my first instinct to try to analyze the situation and try to help them fix it. And women aren’t expected to be that way, which can be frustrating. It serves me well at work though. When there’s an emergency situation, you need to be on task and figure out quickly how to solve problems. You have to keep calm when there’s chaos. And I’m pretty good at that.

Brianne Twyha, Social Worker, Dodd County

• It’s nice to meet you, and thank you for asking about me. I’m originally from Riverbend City, and I moved down to Brown Trout Bay 10 years ago to be a county social worker. I love my job. Sure, it can be exhausting and frustrating. But the best part is collaborating with people to make meaningful change. I advocate for my clients and help connect them to resources—and in a rural community, it can take some real imagination to help people find what they need. But I feel the most rewarded when I teach clients the skills they need to navigate the system for themselves. I like to empower people—that’s what really motivates me. So that’s a little about—tell me a little bit about yourself.

Emails regarding the initial meeting

Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: undefined undefined

Good morning,
We need to meet as a team as soon as possible. Protocol calls for us to meet at the Brown Trout Bay Courthouse. I’ve reserved room 224 for us. Some of you may have a long drive due to bridge outages and other problems, so let’s start the meeting at noon. That should give everyone enough time to get here.

Thanks,
Brad

Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: undefined undefined

Hi team,
Brad, I know it’s protocol for the team to meet at the courthouse, and normally I would be fine with that. But the commute could be up two hours for some of our team members because of detours. We need to be flexible. I suggest we move the meeting to a location that’s less affected by the flooding, and/or we let people call into the meeting via Skype.

Thank you,
Matthew

Re: Re: Meeting

From: Lisa Truman, Director of Dodd County Department of Public Health

To: undefined undefined

Matthew, I see your point about using Skype for the meeting. It’s really challenging to get around, and I know some members of the team are coming in from quite a distance! But I do think in this case, we need to meet in person, even if that’s a challenge. We need to work together efficiently as a team immediately, and there’s no replacement for face-to-face communication. I would say that if someone absolutely cannot get to the meeting—which is a possibility, I realize—then perhaps they could Skype in as a last resort. I am kind of worried about Rodney, since he lives quite a ways away and may have detours in his path.

I do agree that we should look into having the meeting at a different location. What does everyone think? What location would it be most convenient for us to meet? Perhaps we could meet at someone’s home, if necessary?

Warmly,
Lisa

Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Rodney Saunders, Chief Engineer for Dodd County

To: undefined undefined

Aw, don’t worry about me, Lisa. I’ve driven through worse disasters! I’ll bring my shortwave radio along to help navigate detours.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: undefined undefined

Look, I’m fine if you all want to move the meeting back to 1:00 to make sure that everyone gets there. But we have to meet at the courthouse because that’s protocol. There are all kinds of procedural problems if we meet in someone’s home or at another unofficial location.

—Brad

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Melanie Cohen, Executive Director of Dodd County Transportation System

To: undefined undefined

Hi folks,
I agree with Brad. We can’t violate protocol by holding the meeting elsewhere. Let’s keep Skype an option as a last resort in case someone absolutely cannot get there.

Thanks,
Melanie

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Janice Keller, Brown Trout Bay Emergency Manager

To: undefined undefined

Hi team,
It sounds like we really do need to meet at the courthouse, but I know it will be difficult for some people to get there because of bridge outages and detours. Would it help if we arranged carpools? That way we could reduce the number of drivers on the road, and if any of you in rural areas have four-wheel drive vehicles, that might help if there’s rocky terrain to navigate. I agree that Skype sounds like a good option if we can’t figure out a solution to get everyone to the courthouse—and yes, I think we should move the meeting back to 1:00.

—Janice

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: undefined undefined

Look, people, if you haven’t noticed, there’s a FLOOD out there!!! Why do you all keep talking about protocols? Do you really want more people out there on the roads than necessary when there’s perfectly reliable technology that we can use to have a meeting remotely? Let’s find a better place to have a meeting or LET’S DO IT REMOTELY!!! Have some flexibility, people!

—Matthew

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: undefined undefined

With all due respect, Matthew, this is an emergency. This isn’t the time for flexibility. This is the time to follow public safety protocols.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: undefined undefined

Public safety protocols? We’re not talking about the disposing of dangerous chemicals or something like that. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE TO HOLD THE MEETING!!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Sebastian Cardoza, Undersheriff of Dodd County

To: undefined undefined

I hate to add fuel to this debate, but it is really that important? Why can’t we just meet where it’s most convenient? I know there are protocols, but this isn’t a normal situation.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Matthew Chu, Executive Director, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

To: undefined undefined

Thank you, Sebastian. WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE!!!!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Meeting

From: Brad Nygard, Administrator, Dodd County Planning Division

To: undefined undefined

Matthew, why don’t you use a few more capital letters and exclamation points? That will help the situation for sure.

Email String

From: Lisa Truman, Director of Dodd County Department of Public Health

To: undefined undefined

Oh dear. I told you I was afraid there were some strong personalities in this group that might conflict. Is there anything I can do to help?

Melanie Cohen

Executive Director, Dodd County Transportation System