Question

Case “EXCESS”

     Stephanie Simon knew environmental manager Adam Baines would not be pleased with her report on the chemical spill. The data clearly indicated that the spill was large enough that regulations required it to be reported to the state. Stephanie perceived Adam to be someone who thinks industry is overregulated, especially in the environmental area. At the same time, he prided himself as a major player in maintaining LPC Chemical’s public reputation as an environmental leader in the chemical industry. “We do a terrific job,” he often said. “And we don’t need a bunch of hard to read, difficult to interpret, easily misunderstood state regulations to do it. We got along just fine before the regulators ran wild, and we’re doing fine now”

     When Stephanie presents her report to Adam, he loses his temper. “This is ridiculous! We’re not going to send anything like this to the state. A few gallons over the limit isn’t worth the time it’s going to take to fill out those damned forms. I can’t believe you’d submit a report like this. Stephanie, go back to your desk and rework those numbers until it comes out right. I don’t want to see any more garbage like this.”

     Stephanie refuses to rework the report. Instead she goes back to her desk, signs the report, writes a memo about her conversation with Adam, and then returns to Adam’s office. She hands him the report and says, “You don’t want to see any more garbage like this? Neither do I. Here’s my original report – signed, sealed, and delivered. I’ve had it here. I’m not fudging data for anyone. As she turns to leave, she adds, “By the way, Adam, before you get any ideas about making it hard for me to get another job, I have a nice little memo about our earlier conversation. I won’t hesitate to send it right upstairs at the slightest provocation.”

disobedience (by contrary action, by nonparticipation, by protest),

Describe these 3 different types of organizational disobedience. In what type of disobedience did Stephanie engage?. Do you think she handled the problem in the best way? If not, how should she have handled it? Why?

Answer 1

1. By contrary action - Engaging urself to the activities that are contrary to the interests of the company.It can be inside or outside the company premises which can harm the reputation of the company. As for example committing crimes, fraud or being part of any politicial activism can harm the company.

2.) By nonparticipation - Some time professional refuse to participate in certain manipulation which the company want, due to personal ethics and morality, due to responsibility towards society. They refuse to manipulate certain reports which can harm locality, environment etc. They don't participate in the wrong doing of the company.

3.) By protest - If company engage itself in certain wrong doings which can harm labours, employee and society as a whole then workers can call for a protest which includes strike, breakdown etc.

Stephanie engaged herself in the nonparticipation, she refused to manipulate the report which was hazardous. Her personal ethics and responsibilities towards society compelled her not to participate in the wrong doing which company demanded from her. She didn't manipulate the report which shows her nonparticipation in the project which company was planning to start at the cost of the environment condition.

She handled the situation very well it was the best way to protest and show disobedience towards the order which was not upto the standard.