Business case # 1. Adaptation of a New Employee
Goal: Make a video business case providing a methodological, analytical and teaching
support for managerial disciplines.
Purpose: The video can be used as teaching and analytical material for such disciplines
as Introduction to management, HR-management, Motivation in management,
Conflictology, Psychology and Sociology in Management, Knowledge Management,
Managerial Analysis, Process Analysis, Communication in Management, Organizational
Behavior and other managerial disciplines.
Estimated video time: 15 minutes.
Technical provision and equipment:
1. Video cameras – 3 pieces.
2. Microphones – 5 pieces.
3. Lighting equipment.
Estimated production time: 1 month, including 3 video days, editing and post production.
Staff needed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Actor staff: 5 leading roles, 1 episode role – 6 people.
Cameramen – 3 person.
Sound editor – 1 person.
Editor – 1 person.
Props needed:
One office single room (with 1 table), one office room without cubicles. Fully equipped
working places, including computers and telephones.
BEGINNING OF ANALYTICAL PART
Leading Acting roles:
New employee – Jacob Tyro
Leading HR-Specialist – Ella Noggin
Chief of Marketing Department – Darvin Marshall
Leading specialist of Marketing Dept. – Natalie Malice
Chief Specialist of Sales Department – Amelia Tramp
Episode role:
Determined during the shooting.
SCENE 1. Marketing Dept. Office. Darvin Marshall’s desk. Noggin
goes to the desk and sits in front of Marshall.
ELLA NOGGIN: I think you are not fair with him… He is a good worker and has good
recommendations; you will be able to see his possibilities yourself.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Pass me his documents! [Looks through] Let’s see… I cannot tell
right now… I am not sure…
ELLA NOGGIN: Let’s do the following. He will come on Monday, and you will sign all his
documents.
DARVIN MARSHALL: I cannot meet him on Monday. I have an appointment, and I will
be at the office no earlier than 12 pm.
ELLA NOGGIN: Fine, let’s arrange the meeting on Tuesday then.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well... Let him come on Monday, at 12 and we shall involve him
into our new project immediately.
ELLA NOGGIN: Ok. Fine.
SCENE 2. Marketing Dept. Office. Security desk.
[Telephone call]
NATALIE MALICE: [answers telephone] Hello?
JACOB TYRO: Good afternoon, I am seeking for Chief of Marketing Department, Mr.
Marshall, may I ask you how to get to your Unit?
NATALIE MALICE: Director? He is not available at this moment. Give him a call later.
JACOB TYRO: You know, we agreed to arrange an appointment at 12 pm, I am standing
here, downstairs, next to security desk.
NATALIE MALICE: What is your question?
JACOB TYRO: Yeah… I am a new employee of your Department.
NATALIE MALICE: Ah, here you go… Then you need to contact your responsible HRmanager, so she will make you a pass.
JACOB TYRO: Well, you see. She is not at the office today, and she told me that she
would be able to make all the documents tomorrow only.
NATALIE MALICE: All right, I will let you through, please, wait for a moment, I am going
downstairs for you.
JACOB TYRO: Ok, I am waiting.
NATALIE MALICE: [puts the telephone tube down] Awesome news, guys, we have a
freshman here!.. But where will be his desk?
SCENE 3. Marketing Dept. Office. 1.30 pm [plate on the screen].
DARVIN MARSHALL: [has a meeting at his desk] All right, people, good afternoon to
everybody. We need to discuss some news…
[Jacob comes in]
DARVIN MARSHALL: [looks at Jacob] Are you to me?
JACOB TYRO: Yes, sir, I am to you. We had an appointment…
DARVIN MARSHALL: [interrupts] Sorry for delay, but could you wait a bit, half an hour,
no more.
JACOB TYRO: Half an hour more? All right, as you say, half an hour more.
DARVIN MARSHALL: [Jacob sits in front of Marshall at his desk] All right, we spoke
enough, is everything clear? Return to work… So, about you… We are going to solve all
issues with you now. We have an exhibition in two weeks. We need a catalogue of our
product line. It seems to me that you were dealing with that in your previous experience.
JACOB TYRO: Yes, sure, not only catalogues. I was responsible for corporate
newspapers, was responsible for…
DARVIN MARSHALL: [interrupts] Hold on.. Speaking pretty words is just shaking the air.
No doubt that it is good, but can you show yourself in action? Do you understand that we
need a catalogue and urgent?
JACOB TYRO: Yes, sir, sure. Where can I have a look at the products samples or
experimental products?
DARVIN MARSHALL: [interrupts, pushing] You don’t need them! You are a professional.
JACOB TYRO: Ok, fine. Who can introduce me in the Sales Department?
DARVIN MARSHALL: You are not the outsider, you can manage it by yourself.
JACOB TYRO: Hmmm…. Where can I put my belongings?
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well, you can have that desk now.
JACOB TYRO: If I have any questions, who can help me answering?
DARVIN MARSHALL: Any employee of our Department can answer your questions,
[passes him a pile of documents] proceed to work.
JACOB TYRO: All right, fine, as you say.
SCENE 4. Sales Department.
[Amelia sits in the cellphone and expressing full boredom, simulating of doing something
very important]
[Jacob comes in]
JACOB TYRO: Hi, I am new employee of Marketing Department. May I ask anybody to
help me with our production line? I need to get familiar with it. I am making a catalogue.
AMELIA TRAMP: [cold, non-greeting] Yeah, everybody can help you.
JACOB TYRO: Excellent, maybe you can help me then.
AMELIA TRAMP: You know, we will have a long conversation, therefore, come back
tomorrow; I have too many customers today.
JACOB TYRO: No.. Unfortunately, I will be very busy tomorrow too. Maybe you could
help me right now.
AMELIA TRAMP: You know, that is not my responsibility to familiarize you with the
assortment of our product line. So, tomorrow, in the first part of the day. Now, you can
read the pricelist [passes a bunch of documents], learn it, tomorrow we might discuss it.
JACOB TYRO: Well, thank you for that. By the way, I am Jacob…
AMELIA TRAMP: Nice to meet you, and I am Amelia.
[Jacob walks away and Amelia returns to her cellphone]
SCENE 5. Marketing Dept, Marshall’s desk.
[Marshall writes something in a diary at his desk]
JACOB TYRO: Excuse me, sir; I made the working plan for catalogue, when we can
discuss it?
DARVIN MARSHALL: What? What do we need to discuss? When you will have the
results, then we will discuss it.
JACOB TYRO: Uh, oh, you see, Mr. Marshall… I’ve just… I’ve just don’t want my vision
of the plan to diverge with yours.
DARVIN MARSHALL: [distracted] So, what do we need to discuss?
JACOB TYRO: Look, I made a draft plan of actions, variants of the vision, and have some
questions.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Did you print it?
JACOB TYRO: Yes, I did.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well, pass it over to me, I will read it and then we shall discuss it.
JACOB TYRO: As you say, sir.
SCENE 6. HR-Department.
ELLA NOGGIN: Jacob, how are you? Did you get up to date?
JACOB TYRO: Yeah, I got the task, started to work it up.
ELLA NOGGIN: Excellent, let us fill your admission documentation. How did you pass
yesterday?
JACOB TYRO: Well, I went to Sales Department, got acquainted with Marketing
Department…
ELLA NOGGIN: So, it means that you are fully oriented… Marvelous. Here you go…
[Passes the documents]
JACOB TYRO: So, this is the full package of the documents for me, right?
ELLA NOGGIN: Yeah, there are safety instructions, job description, company’s
mission… You may not read it; just sign it, so we will consider that you have learnt it…
All instructions you will get from your direct supervisor.
[Jacob sighs]
ELLA NOGGIN: What is it, Jacob? Did something happen?
JACOB TYRO: Well, no, really, Ella, thank you, everything is fine, just a small conflict.
ELLA NOGGIN: Yeah, he can be rude a little. He doesn’t like somebody who was
recommended by the superior management. So, he waits how you will show yourself. He
is strict but fair.
JACOB TYRO: I got it. But, you know, I asked him today, like, did you manage to read
my proposals. He said that he didn’t, but he will read them at all costs. I am telling him,
that until I will get his opinion, I cannot work further on the catalogue. He tells me, don’t
wait, just go on, keep working. And he said that in such a manner…
ELLA NOGGIN: Don’t worry, everything will be brilliant.
JACOB TYRO: I hope so.
SCENE 7. Sales Dept.
JACOB TYRO: Amelia, I need to take photos of our production line. Who can help with
that?
AMELIA TRAMP: One more time?
JACOB TYRO: What do you mean by “one more time”?
AMELIA TRAMP: To take photos…
JACOB TYRO: Hold on, when was the last time somebody was making photos of our
production?
AMELIA TRAMP: A month ago, people came and made photos of everything that we
could provide…
JACOB TYRO: All right, fine, where are these photos now?
AMELIA TRAMP: Why should I know about it?
JACOB TYRO: Got it... When we can discuss our production line?
AMELIA TRAMP: I don’t know… Probably, tomorrow at first part of the day. Though…
[Jacob stands up, annoyed, walks away]
SCENE 8. Stairwell, Natalie goes upstairs…
JACOB TYRO: Hey, hi, Natalie! Excuse me… May I ask you… Do you know who
organized the photography of the production line a month ago?
NATALIE MALICE: Well, me, of course…
JACOB TYRO: Uh.. Why, of course?
NATALIE MALICE: You might know nothing about it, but Marshall promised your position
to me.
JACOB TYRO: Ah, now it is getting clearer. Fine, how much did you manage to do?
NATALIE MALICE: Hah, much more than you within two days, and without any plans
and visions!
JACOB TYRO: Natalie! Look, I don’t want our Chief’s decision to stand between us. It is
not my fault that when I was invited here, other people were waiting for that position. You
see, we are the team, we need to work together.
NATALIE MALICE: Marvelous! So, go and speak with the management about it.
SCENT 9. Marketing Dept. Natalie and Jacob are working together. A
phone call.
NATALIE MALICE: [answers the phone] Hello! Yes? Good, thank you. [To Jacob] Pack
up immediately!
JACOB TYRO: And what happened?
NATALIE MALICE: Barbara returned from the vacation.
JACOB TYRO: Aha, and who is it?
NATALIE MALICE: It is another employee of our department.
JACOB TYRO: Beyond fabulous!
[Pause, next sub-scene]
DARVIN MARSHALL: [enters the room] So! Good afternoon, everybody! What are you
doing at my desk?
JACOB TYRO: I have no place to work, so I decided to take a small edge of your desk,
sir.
DARVIN MARSHALL: I see… We will move to another office building in two months, and
now I ask you to go to our neighbors, next Department, and ask for the permission to
work there. And, by the way, I read your plan and concept, they are absolutely
unacceptable and they need to be remade.
JACOB TYRO: Fine. I’ve already got the situation, and prepared another version of plan
and vision. Please, sir, here are the documents; I am ready to discuss it.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Uh. Put them on my desk, I will read it. Read it, by all means…
But now, I recommend you to visit HR-Department and tell them my proposals about your
new working place.
JACOB TYRO: Fine… As you say.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Agreed. Move on.
[Jacob in absolute despair and annoyed, camera takes his expression for several
seconds]
SCENE 10. HR Department.
JACOB TYRO: Ella, look, Marshall offers me to work in the Logistics Department.
ELLA NOGGIN: Well, you can try, but the boss there is not an easy person. Speaking
frankly, he is very hard, and I am afraid that it is not a good idea.
JACOB TYRO: Look, does the company need creative specialist?
ELLA NOGGIN: Of course, why did we invite you then?
JACOB TYRO: There are other people, like Elijah, for instance, he was the first who
started to work on the catalogue, and he was gathering information about our products,
made all the photos of it.
ELLA NOGGIN: Not exactly so. Elijah is the analyst, and it is not his job.
JACOB TYRO: As far as I can understand, he wanted it to be his job.
ELLA NOGGIN: But it is not his business, I think it is some undercover games of Mr.
Marshall. Elijah will not make any creative jobs. And you should work calmly.
JACOB TYRO: That is it! I need to work with him, and I need to use his materials.
ELLA NOGGIN: Then use his materials. What is the point? If he made the materials good
– use it.
JACOB TYRO: Use it! He doesn’t even want to speak with me.
ELLA NOGGIN: What does your boss say?
JACOB TYRO: My boss waits until I show myself in action.
ELLA NOGGIN: Then show yourself. Show that you have gathered the needed
information, and ready to work with such push and spirit, and so on, and so on. You are
smart and educated person, what’s the point?
JACOB TYRO: All right. When I will get my working desk?
ELLA NOGGIN: Oh… I am going to find something out about it… And you – work hard,
work, work…
JACOB TYRO: I am wondering – where?
SCENE 11. Elevator area.
JACOB TYRO: [camera outside the elevator cabin] Hi! Are you going up or down? It
doesn’t matter, I am going with you, there is nothing to do here. At all!
SCENE 12. Near HR office.
ELLA NOGGIN: Darvin, how is your newcomer doing?
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well, he is running permanently to somewhere, says that he is
gathering information, quite brash and unblushing to me.
ELLA NOGGIN: And so? There is nothing good to say about him, isn’t it?
DARVIN MARSHALL: No, why? He made a nice vision, somewhere we could edit a bit,
somewhere to add… Well, in general, we can show it to our commercial Director, put
some data into it.
ELLA NOGGIN: And are you helping him?
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well, you see, he doesn’t ask, Ella. Judge yourself, he has no
contacts with colleagues, writing some plans all the times, doesn’t respect the superior
management.
JACOB TYRO: So, do you think that he is not the employee we need?
DARVIN MARSHALL: Well, I would look a little more, and would not make any rapid
conclusions.
ELLA NOGGIN: Where will be his working place? Did you think where he would sit?
DARVIN MARSHALL: It looks simpler to me to arrange a transfer to new office building.
Right?
ELLA NOGGIN: I am afraid there will be a delay on that issue.
DARVIN MARSHALL: Then your desk is the best place for him!
ELLA NOGGIN: You must be joking, right?
SCENE 13. HR Dept. Corridor. HR-Department office.
ELLA NOGGIN: Oh, Jacob, may I ask you for a minute?
JACOB TYRO: Yes, sure, what is it?
[Going together inside the room, subscene]
ELLA NOGGIN: Jacob, why are you setting me up? You were speaking rude with the
superior management.
JACOB TYRO: Rude? Me?
ELLA NOGGIN: Yes, you.
JACOB TYRO: When?
ELLA NOGGIN: Just now, Mr. McCallister came to me and told your direct supervisor
and me that you were speaking rude with him!
JACOB TYRO: McCallister? Is it that dude from the elevator? Who is he?
ELLA NOGGIN: What do you mean – who is he? He is your commercial director. And
your department is under his direct supervision. Didn’t you know?
JACOB TYRO: How could I know?
ELLA NOGGIN: Didn’t your supervisor have talk to you about that?
JACOB TYRO: Nope.
ELLA NOGGIN: Quite strange. All right, I will speak with him. And, yeah, I am here to
help you with something…
JACOB TYRO: Help? Great! I don’t have a working place. Please, help me!
ELLA NOGGIN: Well, yeah, we have problems with that issue for the moment. I will do
my best with that.
JACOB TYRO: Listen, maybe we should not…
ELLA NOGGIN: What do you mean: “We should not”?
JACOB TYRO: I am speaking about the cancellation of the contract.
ELLA NOGGIN: How? Your supervisor is glad about your job results, but if you have any
issues, well, show me the person who doesn’t have any issues?
JACOB TYRO: I get it clear, but I am no good with that.
ELLA NOGGIN: What is “no good” for you? Can you tell me?
JACOB TYRO: I am no good with the fact that I don’t have a working place, I need to go
to the lunch to expensive café…
ELLA NOGGIN: Expensive café? We have our own canteen!
JACOB TYRO: Ha-ha, “your own canteen”, beyond fabulous! How could I know about
that?
ELLA NOGGIN: So, do you want to tell me that I am the only person to blame for?..
[Jacob silently walks away]
End of analytical part.
Educational tasks.
1. Propose the appropriate solution of the tasks given by your course instructor.
2. Describe the mistakes of HR-manager and Director of Marketing Dept. in
adaptation procedure of new employee. Divide the process into the parts and
describe each part separately. Propose your vision of adaptation process
according to analytical part of the business case. . Write an essay on more than
360 words, describing the adaptation process and mistakes found.
3. Make an analysis of corporate culture of the company presented in the analytical
part of the business case. Find out the main peculiarities in business
communication and collaboration between the workers. Describe your vision in the
360 words essay.
4. Propose your actions plan from the point of view of HR-Manager. Write the
analytical note on no more than 500 words.
5. Estimate actions of each character in organization, using the appropriate conflict
assessment tools.
6. Propose your behavioral model from the point of view of Director of Marketing
Department. Write the analytical note on no more than 500 words.
7. Make an analysis of business and/or binding processes, which are requiring
significant optimization in the presented organization. Write your vision, using the
appropriate analytical software. Your course instructor provides reference model.