West Coast Transit Case Study – ONLINE

The purpose for this assignment is analyze methods of poor communication and its effect on motivation, teamwork, and effective conflict management and resolution.

Write a paper (1,600-1,800 words) in which you address the following based on the information provided in the “West Coast Transit Case Study” resource.

1. Describe the three criteria for evaluating effective team/group work (as stated in the textbook) and use the criteria to analyze the effectiveness of the team.
2. Review each of the five stages of group formation. Determine what stage(s) are evident in the case and provide a justification of your response.
3. Apply Schein’s three behavioral profiles to specific members of the team. Identify how the profiles are demonstrated in the case.
4. Evaluate whether the communication among the participants in the case was effective or not. Justify your answer by considering any existing barriers to communication.
5. Review the two main types of conflicts described in the textbook. Explain how each type of conflict is evident in the case.
6. Propose how Denson should resolve the conflict in this case using one direct conflict management approach. Justify your response as to why this is the most realistic direct conflict management approach given the existing dynamics between and among team members. 
7. Identify one specific leadership activity and one specific maintenance activity that should be encouraged. Identify the most significant disruptive behavior that should be discouraged.
8. Identify a significant motivational problem experienced by each individual: Jing, Mahonney, and Tanney. Describe how Denson should motivate each person. Be sure to provide a specific motivational suggestion for each person based on their motivational needs. Ensure that you have at least one suggestion from each of the motivational theory/techniques: content theories, process theories, and reinforcement strategies.

You are required to use at least two external scholarly sources in addition to the textbook and the case study resource.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide.

West Coast Transit Case Study

West Coast Transit Company Profile

West Coast Transit began as a small charter airline in

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005. Its initial vision was providing affordable, on-the-hour flights from California-based airports to its three adjacent states: Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon. West Coast Transit recognized that the need for affordable and convenient flights out of California was high enough to sustain a business. The company began its success using smaller commuter planes to transport customers to surrounding airports. There was no flight longer than 2 hours and there was minimal service during the flight. The company’s mission was customer-focused, to provide an opportunity for companies to fly their employees at an affordable rate and whole families to travel affordably.

West Coast Transit tripled in size after its first year. Growing demand required the addition of flights, employees, and larger airplanes. The founders of the company reevaluated the vision and future of West Coast Transit. The company was determined to maintain an emphasis on convenient, affordable flights and keep its focus on customer needs. This strategy proved successful. The company has established itself as a dominant regional competitor. West Coast Transit has over 10,000 employees and continues to see growth in its future.

Most employees at West Coast Transit rave about the company and appreciate its friendly and employee-centered culture. The company’s leadership cares about its employees and makes every effort to provide them with satisfactory benefits. Most employees are enthusiastic about the impact they make on customers, their salaries and benefits, and the advancement opportunities the company provides. They feel valued and respected. One major complaint that a majority of the employees has is the turnaround demand. Employees are given very little time and support to complete a project. There is just too much work to be done. Most employees are successful under pressure but would appreciate an environment that provides adequate time to complete projects productively.

West Coast Transit Marketing Project

Pete Denson, a manager in the marketing department, has been handed a last-minute project to lead a team consisting of other managers to develop a campaign. The team must complete the project swiftly and flawlessly. Failure is not an option. West Coast Transit’s biggest competitor just released 50 new flight plans at highly competitive fares. This has caused a significant decrease in sales for West Coast Transit. You and your team have been given the task to develop a marketing strategy to drive up sales. West Coast Transit was planning a release celebration for their new Boeing-747 in 6 weeks. The vice president of marketing, Bernie Hollis, demanded a new marketing campaign that will be introduced to the public simultaneously with the new aircraft. This task will require the team to collaborate effectively in a short timeframe.

You and three other managers must work under demanding conditions. There is a significant time crunch. Your employees are already overburdened by their daily tasks. Staffing has not kept pace with the recent growth of the company. Many employees are relatively new and are not yet fully trained in all aspects of their jobs. While leadership is empathetic to the demands placed on employees, the simple fact is that additional staffing is not an option at this time and the work must get done to support the ongoing success of the company.

This project is critical for the future of the company. The company is at risk of laying off hundreds of employees. With the release celebration for the new jet only 6 weeks away, employees need to be prepared to put in significant amounts of unpaid overtime to complete the project before the deadline. The project budget is adequate but could fall short considering the impressive results the company is hoping to achieve. This assignment requires a team that can work together for the good of the company and produce the needed results.

Denson calls a meeting of the managers at 4:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, made up of Lea Jing, Jon Mahonney, and Katarina Tanney. The first meeting turns out very different from what you envisaged. Lea Jing is the only participant who had reviewed the agenda, printed it, and came with some suggestions. Jing has always been conscientious, so it is no surprise that she is scheduled to be transferred to another department to head up a high-profile task within West Coast Transit in a month. Mahonney and Tanney acknowledge the receipt of the agenda, but immediately note that the agenda and proposed plan are “massive and unattainable,” considering the constraints of time and workloads. Tanney comments, “It doesn’t help when one does not get paid for doing this. How am I supposed to get my team on board?” You try to refocus the team by referring back to the agenda.

Although Lea Jing had been quiet and observant all the while, she notes that she had approximately a month left in the department before being relocated to another department. You reply that “one month is a lot of time to get the project done, considering it is a high priority for the organization anyway.” Once again, you proceed to refocus the team, but Tanney interjects by saying it is common knowledge that she has personal family problems, many of which stem from her spending more time at work rather than at home, and she feels that this new project will place an undue stress on her already fragile family life. She mentions that she is in counselling and has to leave right after work every day, so working overtime is out of the picture for her. Frustrated by all the negativity, Denson states abruptly, “We all have problems, we all have complaints. Let’s just all get it out now! Are there any other complaints?” There is an uneasy silence, Jon Mahonney finally speaks up: “C’mon guys, we have been selected to work on this project because the organization feels we are the only ones who can make this happen… Lea, Katarina, you ladies are the best at what you do….I know that the conditions are not ideal, but we have to pull together.” At this point, Tanney stands up and heads towards the door while muttering, “It’s 5 p.m., and I have counseling in half an hour.” She stops just shy of the door, turns around, and says to Denson, “Pete, I take exception to your condescending remarks and addressing my personal issue as a ‘complaint.’ Until you apologize and promise to treat me with the respect I deserve, I am not willing to work with you!”

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West Coast Transit Case Study

Type your Name Here

Colangelo College of Business, Grand Canyon University

MGT-420: Organizational Behavior and Management

Prof. Craig St. John

Type the Assignment Due Date Here

West Coast Transit

Your introduction should be typed here. It should be at least four sentences and include a thesis statement. Please note that you should follow all APA writing rules within your essay. This means avoid first and second person, do not use contractions, and use citations throughout your paper! For the highest grade, you should have numerous citations in each section. The body of the paper should be between 1600 and 1800 words. The final sentence in your introduction must be a strong thesis statement that introduces every key topic that will be introduced in the paper. Here is an example: In the pages to follow, management of effective teams at West Coast Transit will be explored with particular focus on the stages of group formation, behavioral roles, communication, conflict and conflict management, and the application of motivational theories.

Effective Teams

Define the three criteria for evaluating effective teams
(hint, we covered this in Topic 4 DQ2) with citations from your academic research. Academic research includes the textbook, additional course materials, articles from the GCU library, or Google Scholar. Websites like business.dictionary.com are not acceptable. Once you have defined each criteria, analyze whether the “team” in the WCT case study was effective based on the three criteria. Be sure to provide detailed examples and insight to support your conclusion. For the highest grade, you should have numerous citations on each section. All main terms should be defined, cited, then applied.

Five Stages of Group Formation

Discuss all five stages of group formation and cite your academic sources. Evaluate the WCT Case Study and determine which stage the assembled group is in, and be sure to provide detailed examples and insight to support your findings. Each stage should be defined and discussed with numerous citations.

Behavioral Roles

Define Schein’s three behavioral roles with citations from your academic research
(hint, this is in the textbook). Analyze the WCT case study and identify how each role is evident. Be sure to include detailed examples and insight to justify your position. Strengthen and support your claims with citations. Include numerous supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Effective Communication

Define effective communication with citations from your academic research. Include examples from the case study and define/cite the barriers to effective communication that are present. Be detailed in your examples and conclusions. Strengthen and support your claims with citations. Include numerous supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Two Types of Conflict

Describe and define the two main types of conflict identified in the textbook (hint – you can find this in Chapter 16.1). Determine the type of conflict(s) evident in the WCT case study. Include examples and insight. Strengthen and support your claims with citations. Include numerous supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Direct Conflict Management Approach

Define and recommend a specific direct conflict management approach from the textbook. Make sure you define it and cite your source. Explain why you chose this approach to manage the conflict with examples and insight, as well as why it is the most realistic considering the team dynamics. Include numerous supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Leadership, Maintenance, and Disruptive Activities

Define leadership and maintenance activities and cite your academic research. Identify a specific leadership and maintenance activity present in the WCT case study that should be encouraged (Hint – review chapter 12 and the term distributed leadership within section 12.7). Next, define disruptive activities and cite your academic research. Identify a specific disruptive behavior present in the WCT case study that should be discouraged. Provide detailed examples and insight to increase validity. Include numerous supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Motivation Problems and Solutions

Identify the most significant individual motivational problems experienced by each of the three members of the WCT team. Strengthen and support your claims with citations. Please remember that each paragraph in your essay needs to be at least 3 sentences. Include supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Content Theory

Suggest a specific Content Theory from the textbook that Denson could utilize to motivate a member of the team. Be sure to define the specific theory and cite the textbook. Provide examples and insight to justify your choice. Please remember that each paragraph in your essay needs to be at least 3 sentences. Include supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Process Theory

Suggest a specific Process Theory from the textbook that Denson could utilize to motivate a member of the team. Be sure to define the specific theory and cite the textbook. Provide examples and insight to justify your choice. Please remember that each paragraph in your essay needs to be at least 3 sentences. Include supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Reinforcement Theory

Suggest a specific Reinforcement Theory from the textbook that Denson could utilize to motivate a member of the team. Be sure to define the specific theory and cite the textbook. Provide examples and insight to justify your choice. Please remember that each paragraph in your essay needs to be at least 3 sentences. Include supporting citations to strengthen your claims.

Conclusion

The conclusion is the last paragraph. It should not introduce any new information; it should simply be a summary of your introduction, with a restatement of your thesis. Please remember that each paragraph in your essay needs to be at least three sentences.

**Additional notes: use this template, keep the topic headings in place and erase everything that is in red and replace it with your information. Do not use 1st person (ex. I, me, us) or 2nd person (ex. you). I am looking for a minimum of three academic sources and your textbook counts as one source. The case study is not an academic source, but you should cite it as needed and include it in your references. Make sure you create a separate reference page and format your sources according to APA requirements. The word count for this paper is between 1600 and 1800 words. Your LopesWrite Percentage must be under 20% with no more than two direct quotes. Please proof-read and run your paper through spell-check and follow the template and you should do very well on your paper**

References

Oke, M. (n.d.). West Coast Transit case study.
 Grand Canyon University. Retrieved from Course Materials: https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html

Uhl-Bien, M., Piccolo, R.F., Schermerhorn, J. R. & Bachrach, D.G. (2021). MGT-420 organizational behavior and management with WileyPLUS. Wiley & Sons.