PADM 7170 Organizational Behavior
Case Study Assignment
Fall 2007

The Caves of Steel
Group Project
Identify your groups during the first evening of class, and have the group approved by the instructor.
 
Prepare a response to the assignment below in MS PowerPoint. Submit the project file by email (as an attachment) with your name in the file name (example: Gerald_Merwin_case.ppt). You may cite relevant readings from any unit in the course, but you are to concentrate on those readings dealing with organizational development and change. You may also cite material from handouts and lectures. You should also present your own thoughts concerning this assignment using observations from your own experiences (you should reach a group consensus here). You must document all material brought in from sources other than your own thinking using ASPA or APA style. Students may find Dr. Argyle's handout on APSA style by going to the VSU web site, then from the MPA homepage finding the “Resources for PA Classes” (http://www.valdosta.edu/pa/argyle/index.html). The project is due October 18 th for the OMB section and November 29th for the OMA section. Late projects will be reduced by a minimum of one full letter grade.
 
You are to discuss Caves of Steel from the perspective of organizational behavior. You should follow the suggestions below in preparing your group paper.
 
  • Discuss the system or systems involved in the book. You really have a number of systems within systems (subsystems) here.
  • Who are the key actors in the book? How would you describe their roles? (As boundary spanners, conservers, climbers, etc.)
  • What are the key dysfunctional characteristics of the systems you have identified, as well as their key strengths?
  • What changes would you recommend for the organizations involved? How would you implement these changes?
 
Find Resources (links to help with the project)
Each group will present their information as described above from October 18th to 23rd for OMB and November 29th to December 3rd for the OMA section.
 
Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck.
 
Reference http://www.valdosta.edu/~gamerwin/pa/classes/padm7170/casestudy.html
Updated 09/23/2007, contact Jerry Merwin