Registration number - 614413439

01.What are the major behavioral issues you have identified in this case?
Analyze those issues using relevant concepts and theories.
Kingstone Company incident which is describe in assignment covers various areas of
organization behavior. So having understood about organization behavior will make
easier to analyze this case.
According to Luthan (P - 20) Organization behavior can define as
understanding, prediction and management of human behavior in organizations.
According to Huczynski & Andrezy (P 06) organization behavior is the
Study of the structure & the management of organization, their environment & the
actions & interaction of their individual members & groups.
According to Robbins & Judge organization behavior is the study of what
people do in an organization & how their behavior affect the organizations
performance.
When consider all three above definitions it is very clear that Organizational
behavior is all about human behavior & how it ultimately effects towards the
effectiveness of the organizations. So we can analyze it at individual level, group
level, as well as organizational level too. So most of the theories which fallow under
the behavioral sciences such as psychology which study individuals behavior,
Sociology which studies regarding groups & social environments, Anthropology
which studies the human cultural & environmental factors will come under the topic
of organization behavior. So to explain the behavioral issues at the Kingstone
Company most of the above sciences, concepts & theories come under them will very
useful.
At the beginning of the story it said that the Kingstone Company which
located in Ontario, was a medium size manufacturing firm, which made a line of
machine parts and marketed them to plants in the southeastern section of the province.
Mr. Kingstone who holds MBA from American university who consider education is
very important and gives his fullest support to graduate business education hired four
MBAs to his staff as think group.

Registration number - 614413439

Starting with this recruitment & hiring it seems that there is a problem.
Because as this story not give clear picture regarding pathetic or problematic situation
which Kingstone company face or either any innovative or new changes that they are
going to do, hiring a think group is a questionable. On the other hand as it is clearly
said that it is a medium size company which provide machine parts to the market in
the southeastern section of the province which consist Mr. Kingstone as president,
then his executive committee and line managers, hiring MBA holders to staff capacity
as think group may effect to the structure of organization, which can badly effect to
the behavior of organization.
Then it says that these four MBAs are from four different universities with
four different subject areas. So it is clear that these four members from four different
sub cultures which can effect hugely for the organizational behavior. What they
believe, their values, perceptions can differ and it will cause for the future of the think
group and its functions.
Then we can identify kind of personality issues in this story. Simply
personality means different ways of how a person can react or interact with others.
Further we can say that it is relatively stable and enduring characteristics that
determine our thoughts, feelings & behavior. So this personality is very important
concept in organizational behavior. As this story not mention environment, family
background, experience of four MBAs, but it says that these four MBAs from four
different universities with four different subject areas also with considerable age
differences (Youngest one Mike Norton in 23, eldest one Cy Gittinger in 35 & other
two in 27) we can assume that there may be possibility to occur the problems when
they work together. As an example we can say that Gittinger, as he is in 35 most
probably he will have good working experiences with maturity than Mike Norton who
is in teen age. Also in the mid of the story it says that while Mike Norton, Jim Throne
& Dave Knight go out to play tennis, watch football games or ice coffee with together
or have beer in local bar, Gittinger wasnt join & only games that he like is shuffle
board and croquet. So it is clear that Gitinger is kind of introvert person while others
are extraverts.
Mr. Kingstone hired this four MBAs as think group and put together to work
with purpose of their diverse knowledge and intelligence, they ought to be able to
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solve any of this company problems. When it comes to the problem solving and
decision making it is kind of good thinking of Mr. Kingstone make a team with
different subject areas to solve organizational problems. So it will easy to define the
problems, identify the available solutions, evaluate the identified alternatives in
different angles with positives and negatives as they are experts in different subjects
and implement the decision and evaluate it. They can hold brainstorming sessions and
it will help to make most suitable decision and remove the biasness. Middle and end
of the story said that they doing well and it is clear that Mr. Kingstone was in good
thinking on that case.
Also story said that at the first month they study company process, familiarize
with employees, discuss company objectives and review policy decision with Mr.
Kingstone & executive committee. Given a good induction to new hired employees is
very good thing. Because when they clear the company vision, mission, objectives it
will easy for them to do their part. But as this story not clearly said the previous
working experience of this think group, just having a MBA will not be enough to
make huge policy decisions or solve every kind of problems in the modern
organization. In the same time it can demotivate the educated, experienced exist
employees in the organization too.
Also we can identify that there is a work place atmosphere issue in this story.
Individuals general attitude towards their job or simply job satisfaction can differ
according to job contextual or job content factors. Working conditions or the
environmental factors also very important for the effective results. But it says that the
place Mr. Kingstone provides them to work was completely informal place without
good atmosphere.
Further we can identify formal, task group in this story which work together to
solve company problems. Most of the times this four able to finalize an answer within
them & when they unable to do so, they presented the various opinions and answers to
Mr. Kingstone to finalize the matter. We can say that it is good thing. As all of them
with same qualifications & status, respect each other is essential to work as a team.
Also we can identify some attitudes & perception issue too. Because it says that
Norton, Throne & Knight growing easy relationships & they were in uneasiness to
work with Gittinger. We can assume that it was occurs due to interest differences, age
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differences etc. Another problem was Throne had identify that Gittinger spent time
talking to Mr. Kingstone than others while others speak to managers, employees to
gather data regarding problems. He says that Gittinger always try to touch upper
levels of the ladder than others. But others said that it is not wrong to contact Mr.
Kimgstone. It also views those differences between the perception and attitudes of the
people which can effects the organization behavior
After ten months Mr. Kingstone called a meeting to think group with his
executive committee & appraise the works of think group and executive committee
also add their word of praise. It is good thing to apprise the people which cause for the
job satisfaction & motivate the people to be further effective. But ultimately he said
that he with Gittinger discuss last one and half month to appointed a coordinator to
the group. But at that moment Jim Throne says it is unnecessary & will be a problem
to smooth functioning of the group. Ultimately story end with this problematic
situation. As story says that group perform well after ten months we can assume that
group is in performing stage after forming, storming & norming stages. So with
making changes & uplift unnecessary problem among the group while they perform
well is not a good thinking of Mr. Kingstone.
Also appointing a coordinator to liaise with both management and group
members, prioritize the problems is good thing. Because it will build too good,
structured group. But it should do with better communication process. Because
according the story other three except Gittinger not aware regarding the decision to
appointing a coordinator until Mr. Kingstone says it at the meeting. But create and
maintain good communication system is first & main executive work of organization.
Mr. Kingstone should develop the communication process in the organization. Failure
to plan the communication process will pave the way to unnecessary problems in the
work place & it will effect very badly to the organizational behavior.
So basically we can identify the cultural differences and issues, attitudes,
perception & personality issues, issues in forming & maintaining groups,
communication problems as the major behavioral issues in this case study.

Registration number - 614413439

02.What would you suggest as a remedial course of action to deal with the
situation that has arisen due to Mr. Kingstons decision to appoint a
coordinator? Justify your answer.
Mr. Kingston suggested appointing a coordinator at the meeting with his think
group & executive committee after 10 months time he creates the think group.
As it is mention that think group perform well my view of point is this is not
most suitable time to appoint a coordinator to this think group. Mr. Kingstone says
that coordinators job would be to form of a liaison between the Kingstone &
executive committee on one hand and the group on the other hand also to guide the
group and make closer ties & establishing a set of priorities for different problem
areas.
What Mr. Kingstone except through the coordinator is good but we have think
twice as it is very small group are we need coordinator and as they are expert in
different subject areas how a one person priorities the different problem areas. In the
same time all of them with equal qualifications how we appointed the most suitable
person for that position is also quit questionable.
Also this case said that they hold a half day meeting with Mr. Kingston & his
executive committee and discussing the findings & solutions of think group and their
future plans. With that again we should think do they really need a person as a
coordinator at this moment.
Any way as Mr. Kingston president of the company if he hopes to appoint
such a person, then we can discuss how to appoint a coordinator without make
problems or conflicts. When Mr. Kingstone suggests appointing a coordinator, Jim
Throne says it will upset the structure of the team. According to my point of view
major issue of this incident is week communication. Because Mr. Kingston says that
He and Cy Gittinger had been discussing for the past one and half months to appoint
one of the group member as a coordinator. Other three didnt aware regarding this
idea up to that moment of meeting, as we can assume that they got enough and more
time to speak together within last one and half month it seems that group members are
quit week in communication within the group.

Registration number - 614413439

Also according to the case as they notify the Gittinger spend more time with
Mr. Kingstone, make such a decision without participation of others definitely can
make problems of the function of think group. Because others can assume there may
be hidden agenda of Gittinger to gain more power in the group as we can often
identify such internal politics inside the organizations which affect the organizational
behavior vitally. So with that we can assume that this group is in the possibility for a
conflict. Because we know that in the process of conflicts, first one is potential
opposition or incompatibility which means create opportunity for conflicts to arise.
Major source of this category is communication, structural & personal variables. In
this case as we discuss communication & structure matter this regard. Because of that
Mr. Kingstone should do this appointment very carefully if he needs it to do. So my
suggestions are,
Very firstly he should clearly communicate the necessity of coordinator why
& when so on. If he clearly communicates his objectives group will be able to
understand value of it and they will try to appoint the suitable person.
He should give some time to think group to come up with their suggestions &
he should explain what he expecting from a coordinator which will support to appoint
the person themselves with collaboration.
As they work as a group, come with solutions to organizational problems
without bias through better discussions, my view is they will be able to give good
selection. In the same time we remember that ones they not able to come up with one
decisions they introduce their different viewpoints to Mr. Kingstone to finalize the
matter. So as usually if they unable to finalize the matter they can give their
suggestions to Mr. Kingston to finalize the matter through comparing all suggestions.
When we consider the attributes of a coordinator he should be able to motivate
and inspire the others, process knowledge and enthusiasm, demonstrate initiative and
drive, communication clearly and should be good organizer. Considering this
attributes think group can come up with most suitable person after considerable time
period.

Registration number - 614413439

Considering above attributes my view is as Mike Norton who is in 23 in lesser
experiences and specialist in finance is not too suitable for this. On the other hand Cy
Gittinger who is in 35, specialist in marketing, matured and experience man who
touch the upper levels than the others according to the case, he is suitable for this
position in one hand but most of occasions in the case he shows kind of introvert
personality which is not suitable for a coordinator. Because of that Jim Throne or
Dave Knight may be too qualified for this position age in 27 in mid age, specialists in
operation research and organizational behavior most probably shows extrovert
personalities which is suitable to coordinators part.
So while group come up with their suggestions, Mr Kingstone and his
executive committee can consider the above factors and ultimately they can finalize
the decision with better communication through both parties. Through that he can
ignore the unnecessary horizontal conflicts that can occur in this group and get the
most appropriate out put through that.
So my ultimate suggestion is it is all about the transparency of
communication. Once Chester I Bernard had said that first and main executive work
of organization is create and continue a good communication system in the
organization. So Mr. Kingstone should get this golden message to his mind and
should communicate what, why and when he need any kind of job to done through the
think group. It will avoid unnecessary conflicts and pave the way to smooth function
of think group and success of Kingstone Company too.

Registration number - 614413439

References

Robbins, Stephen P. & Judge, Thimothy A (2013) Organizational Behavior

(fifteenth edition). USA : Prentice hall.

Huczynski, Andrzej A, & Buchanan, David A (2013) Organizational Behavior

(Eighth edition). United Kingdom : Perason Education Limited.

Luthans, Fred. (2013), Organizational Behaviour: An Evidence-Based

Approach. (Twelth Edition), USA : Mc Graw-Hill Education.