reflection

Learning objective

To link the personal experience in working in term project team to the OB concepts.

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Title

Student’s name

Instructor

Course

Date

TROUBLE AT CITY ZOO

Teamwork

Inventory facts

City Zoo is a well-known tourist destination that started in 1905. The zoo has a stellar reputation for caring for its animals and letting visitors view them in their natural habitat while teaching them about wildlife. It is a top tourist attraction that by 2004 had recorded more than one million visitors. 157 full-time employees and 550 part-time and seasonal workers comprise City Zoo’s workforce.

Statement of the problem

The Zoo in the city has several operational issues. An operational issue had arisen, and Emma was tasked with identifying and solving it. When the former director was in charge, there was an investigation into the deaths of a female sloth bear, a giraffe, and a hippopotamus. Poor communication between workers and their supervisors say City Zoo staff, may have been the cause of the three animals’ deaths.

Analysis of causes

The staff at the zoo lacked teamwork. The chain of command was unclear. The COO was in charge of the veterinarians, while the CEO was in charge of the rest of the animal care employees. Employees could not carry out their assigned duties because of a lack of clarity in the job description. In several departments, such as zookeepers and curators, there was a lack of confidence. They were not encouraging one another. Instead of curators, zookeepers answered Dr. Tim Bernardino instead of curators who made all of the decisions at the institution.

Some staff members felt that William Lau, the executive director, was ineffective in his leadership (Johnson, 2018). Workers said he was abusive, often yelling at them, and never acknowledged their contributions. When raising concerns about the animal’s well-being, staff were frightened to the point of hesitation. Disputes among staff and a lack of flexibility on the part of senior members were also brought up, according to the reports. In addition, one of the zoo’s more senior staffers complained that he felt marginalized and excluded from decision-making. In other words, the example illustrates a scenario in which bad decision-making and a lack of leadership are prevalent. The City Zoo’s difficulties may be traced to various factors, including a lack of openness to change, poor job design, and a climate of fear.

Theory application

· Team analysis theory involves looking at falling apart and analyzing the situation about what went wrong.

· strength theory- this theory is about the idea of the best teamwork that one has to continue and become strong

· leadership theory -this is about the importance of proper leadership to the team

List of possible solutions

The new Executive Director, Emma Breslin, had a monumental challenge in recovering staff morale and confidence. Improving the efficiency of internal communications is the first step Emma should take in reestablishing employee confidence and morale. Employee morale and motivation are boosted when managers communicate effectively.

 Employees and supervisors must have solid connections for communication to be successful, and effective communication is a fantastic way to improve those ties. The workforce’s morale is boosted by developing an atmosphere where employees can work together and inspire each other. Everyone should be included in the communication and decision-making processes to enhance communication.

Emma should look into ways to increase cooperation and collaboration among the personnel. Her job is to establish and execute a system in which an employee may report any issues directly to a designated person. Employees should be able to convey particular issues or concerns in a way that is easy to understand. Implementing horizontal organizational structures, in which top-level executives are ranked according to rank, is also a consideration. Emma should address the zoo’s internal structure and devise ways to convey the improvements to the public. With the help of the marketing staff, she may communicate with the outside world via advertising and promotion.

Justification of preferred solution

Leaders at City Zoo should begin implementing their rebuilding of the association by recruiting more head working officers and a general caretaker. An identification test may be required as part of this process, which will help them ensure that they choose the best possible candidates. Recognizing and rewarding good teamwork is an important part of every workplace. A team’s accomplishments are more important than any one person’s.

Evaluation of the preferred solution

Workers completing and passing an identification exam and attending a seminar to understand how they will fit in with the group will help improve teamwork. To transform the organization, they must be charismatic leaders, and their team must have the traits of a transformational management style and be well-versed in their field.

Theory application (solution)

One of the major theories that can be applied in this case is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Hopper, 2020). There are five stages in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs that enable a person to be satisfied. Finding out whether your requirements are being satisfied at work and how you may better satisfy the needs of your team will be easier if you understand this psychological notion well.

Implementation

Employees should be asked for their thoughts and ideas every month, so management may make choices that are helpful for the zoo’s management by listening to their concerns. Additionally, departmental meetings should be held weekly to address any issues that need to be raised, and quarterly gatherings of all representatives should be held to explain what happened in the last quarter and what the association plans to accomplish in the upcoming year. Lastly, a cross-practical group should be formed to describe issues in the entirety of their abilities. After that, they’ll report to their areas of expertise on what’s happening inside the organization for criticism.

References

Hopper, E. (2020). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explained. ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 24.

www.christianworldmedia.com/client/docs/603_1585079540_17

Johnson, I. (2018). Communication huddles: the secret of team success. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(10), 451-453.

Communication Huddles: The Secret of Team Success | The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (healio.com)