#1
Describe the culture for an organization you are familiar with. Identify the
physical artifacts and discuss what underlying values and assumptions these
suggest. What did you learn?
#2
Name one or two companies in the news that seem to have strong corporate
cultures, and describe whether the results have been positive or negative.
Discuss how a strong culture could have either positive or negative
consequences for an organization.
#3
What is a culture gap? What are some techniques leaders might use to
influence and change cultural values when necessary?
#4
What is meant by the idea that culture helps a group or organization solve the
problem of internal integration?
#5
Relate a story of how you have seen followers respond to organizational
change.
What did the followers/members of the organization do?
How did the leader position the change?
How did the leader respond to the resistance?
Did they employ any of these solutions (education and communication,
participation and involvement, facilitation and support, negotiation,
manipulation and cooptation, or coercion)?
#6
Over the years, many leaders have had to deal with unplanned changes.
What hospitality leaders have you read/heard about as it relates to their need
to deal with unplanned change? Or have you had an experience in the
industry dealing with unplanned changed?
In 1889, the Savoy became the first London hotel with en-suite
bathrooms to every room. Think of how the managers of other hotels had to
respond to this new amenity and differentiator (external change).
In 1997, a fire at the Pattaya Royal Resort Hotel in Thailand killed 88
people. Think about how the GM had to respond to the public, the employees,
and the affected families and guests.
The 2009, H1N1 flu pandemic that began in the state of Veracruz,
Mexico, and severely impacted tourism to all of Mexico. Think of how the
Executive Director of Mexico’s Tourism Bureau would need to respond to this
unplanned changed.
In February 2010, a Celebrity Cruise ship reported that 326 of over
1,800 passengers complained of upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea. Also
27 of the nearly 850 crew members reported symptoms. Think of how the
captain of the ship would need to respond.
What hospitality leaders have you read/heard about as it relates to their need
to deal with unplanned change? Or have you had an experience in the
industry dealing with unplanned changed? Describe the unplanned change
and assess how the leader responded. This may require some research on
your part if you are not familiar with a specific situation.
Hint: Although somewhat macabre, think about disasters as an easy source of
unplanned changed.
#7
What type of leadership practices would you follow if you were trying to
establish each of the following culture types?
Adhocracy culture (Use this culture if your birthday is between
January and April)
Clan culture (Use this culture if your birthday is between May and
August)
Market culture (Use this culture if your birthday is between September
and December)
In other words, what actions would you take as a leader to help instill the
specific type of culture you are assigned to. Discuss three or four actions and
your reasoning for each action in your post.
#8
Describe what type of organizational characteristics would be necessary to
support the change.
Using information from this class, what you know about Google apps (like
Gmail), and what you know about the restaurant industry, extrapolate on what
two or three organizational conditions were necessary to allow this change
intervention to be successful.
