1. Do you think Larry’s boss, the department head, attended the O.B. Mod. program? Analyze the department head’s action in terms of O.B. Mod.

2. What do you think Larry’s reaction will be now and in the future? How do you think Larry’s people will react?

3. Given the 10 percent increase in standards, is there any way that Larry could still use the O.B. Mod. approach with his people? With his boss? How?

 

Organizational Behavior Case: A Tardiness Problem You have been getting a lot of complaints recently from your boss about the consistent tardiness of your department’s sales associates at a large retail store. The timesheet records indicate that your people’s average startup time is about 10 minutes late. Although you have never been concerned about the tardiness problem, your boss is really getting upset. He points out that the tardiness reduces the amount of time associates are providing assistance and replenishing items on display. You realize that the tardiness is a type of avoidance behavior—it delays the start of a very boring job. Your work group is very cohesive, and each of the members will follow what the group wants to do. One of the leaders of the group seems to spend a lot of time getting the group into trouble. You want the group to come in on time, but you don’t really want a confrontation on the issue because, frankly, you don’t think it is important enough to risk getting everyone upset with you. You decide to use an O.B. Mod. approach.