CASE STUDY – MYERS-BRIGGS, Number 2
You have been hired as the station manager for the brand new WKEY, an NBC affiliate
located just outside of Keyser, West Virginia. You have a keen insight about television and you are
eager to put your education and skills to the test. You promised the owner that you would make the
station run smoother and enhance the news coverage and department. You have run into some
unexpected problems. Fortunately, programming is not a concern since it is provided by the network.
In your first month on the job, you find:
Carl Manders (age 44), is an SP type and in charge of the news department. Carl will not listen
to anyone and every chance he gets he broadcast about all he knows and has done. He is
arrogant and moody. The real problem in the department centers on Carl’s marriage to Sylvia
Wainright. Now it seems as though Sylvia gets the choice news stories and there are many
grumblings about the favoritism. Carl becomes extremely agitated and defensive when anyone
suggests nepotism is a problem in the department.
Sylvia (age 29) is an NF type and is very passionate about her work. She shows up well on
camera and is very articulate. She is shrewd and even though she was pursued by every guy in
the station, she knew it was to her advantage to marry Karl. Karl seems to get tips about
breaking news and sends Sylvia out to get the story. She has been noticed by other big market
stations and she makes it clear that this is only the beginning.
The camera team is led by Ralph Sweitzer (age 37) and an SJ type. Three other men work in
the field getting news stories on camera. Although Ralph passed the entry drug screening test,
he failed a random test given at the station 4 months ago. Water cooler talk suggests he jumped
from marijuana to crack cocaine. He prides himself in doing it all. You wonder if he is using
uppers to work 10 to 12 hour shifts. Ralph insists on doing his own editing and refuses to turn
things over to production.
The production team is led by Miles Lund. He is an NT type and 51 years old. He has two full
time staff, one female, Margaret Crowe and one male, John Harris. There are seven part timers.
Although Miles is experienced, he has not kept up with the industry. John Harris (age 25) is an
SP type and constantly argues with Miles because of the knowledge gap. Margaret Crow (age
31) is another NF type, but lets the guys do the arguing and the work. She eats all day long and
loves to surf the net. She is a great graphic designer and when she works, she outshines
everyone else. The part time staff complains that they do not have a schedule, or assuredness of
future employment. They frequently sit and wait for Miles to organize assignments, especially
for advertising department.
There is no written policy or procedure book. Looking around the station, you see piles of
paper, and one room has mounds of old equipment. There are three boxes of new equipment
that remain unopened.
How will you proceed? What are the assumptions in the case? What are your priorities at the
station?