Week 3 Group Alpha Chapter 6 Case Study Cami Machado and Listo Systems Digital Information Services Team
am A recent incident involving hacking and data theft prompted the implementation of a new data security system at Listo Systems. A black box system will be installed on every PC in the company and will not only affect the way data moves but also who has access to sensitive files. Nearly everyone at Listo Systems will be doing things very differently once the black boxes are in place. Cami Machado has worked with Listo Systems for eight years. She is involved in a variety of projects related to traffic the receipt and delivery of clients jobs. Her work also involves the training and support of the technical staff at Listo Systems. Cami has expressed interest in spearheading the implementation of the new black box data security system. Because she has effectively managed traffic flow at Listo for years, she is excited about the opportunity to move into this critical and visible new position. Her responsibilities would be similar to those that she has had in the past, but the implementation of this new system will dramatically affect nearly every aspect of Listos service. The technology is different from what she has used in the past, and the projects scope is much larger. Cami has an excellent track record of implementing new hardware and software. She is looking forward to leading this project and the new business opportunities it will help create. However, with this radical change in traffic flow, Cami will have to deal with challenges arising from people issues. Many technical staff members think that this change is unnecessary. Staff artists worry that it will hinder the creative process. Cami feels confident that she knows how to handle the scheduling and transition aspects of the new security system, but is worried about dealing with employees resisting the change. She is also concerned about losing key creative staff to other agencies where they wont have to put up with all this black box technology. As we look at effective influence, we find that people have different needs depending on the task at hand leadership should be task-specific. Additionally, effective leadership depends on a number of other influence variables ranging anywhere from identifying desired outcomes to considering the needs of the follower. 1. What are the causal variables in this situation? The casual (independent) variables are Camis determination and that she has worked for 8 years with Listo Systems. She is included on a different set of projects that are traffic related to the delivery and receipt of the jobs of clients. Camis work also includes encouragement and training of the Listo Systems technical staff. Camis interest concerns are in leading the improvement of the new data of the black box system of security. Why? Because Cami has efficiently managed flow of traffic and she has excitement about the chance to move into this danger and seeable new state. Camis responsibilities would be the same as she has had in her past and the new systems improvement will desperately affect each visible feature of service for all aspects of Listo.
2. What are the intervening variables in this situation? The intervening variables are an incident that recently happened with theft data and hacking incited the improvement of a security system of new data for Listo Systems. On each PC a black box system will be setup in the company. It will not change the way that the data moves but who has access to sensitive files. Cami has a good track record of developing new software and hardware. Cami is admiring to develop this project; also she is hopeful for the new opportunities of business this might bring? With the change of radical in flow of traffic, Cami will need to work with the challenges appearing from issues of people. 3. What is the output or potential output variables in this situation? The output or potential output variables in this situation are: 1. Whether or not the "black box data security system will work. 2. If Cami Machado gets the job spearheading the implementation of the new black box data security system. 3. If Cami Machado is not hired, then will the person hired be as qualified? 4. Will leadership be able to remedy any of the people issues. (dealing with employees resisting the change) 5. Determining if the task at hand should be task-specific. 6. Staff artists worry that it will hinder the creative process. 7. Losing key creative staff to other agencies where they wont have to put up with all this black box technology. 4. What is the task at hand? For the organization's leadership, the task at hand is to successfully implement a security system at Listo Systems that protects from data theft and hacking. For Cami Machado, the task at hand is to acquire the job of successfully implementing the "black box" security system at Listo Systems that protects from data theft and hacking. The overall task at hand is to educate the organization on the need for the security system, explain ways to avoid anything that would hinder the creative process, acquire someone to implement the security system, and finally provide avenues for feedback from both the employees and leadership.
5. If you were Cami, where would you want help?
If I were Cami, I would want help with the integration of goals with the employees. If the employees feel management cares about their concerns and works with them to bridge the gap between their goals and the goals of management, the employees will be more likely to adopt this new program without such resistance.
6. If you were Camis boss, where would you focus your time?
For this scenario, combining a mix of casual, intervening and output variables would be best suited. Casual variable of communicating the organizational philosophy, objectives, and policies could help her in implementing the system. Also, offering backup to communicate and enforce these in the event that some employees are overly resistant to the change. Intervening variable would be reinforcing his/her commitment on the new system to both Cami and the affected working group would lessen the burden on Cami with reluctant employees and allow the manager to field much of the conflict resolution and problem solving associated with the black box technology. Output variable could be a joint effort with Cami to establish a measurement system by which the progress of her efforts can be monitored and goals would be tracked.
