A640.4.4.RB_DiazBrian

I found developing a case study to be more challenging than I had expected.  However, I found it rewarding to have the opportunity to prepare a case study and learn what could be done to improve on it.  The organization I wrote about was the first job I had out of college.  It was a crash course experience on what an organization should not be.  Particularly one that has been in existence for nearly 30 years.  There was a resistance in the organization to change, technology, and a lack of culture, all of which are embraced by my current organization.  The experience was not without benefit as I made some personal relationships I am grateful for that I have today.   

Some of the things I felt I did well in my case study were:

• Describing the organization and the services it provided.
• Describing the leadership roles and how they affected the organization and its members.
• Identified the challenges and the outcome.
• Identified the importance of strategic planning.

Some of the things I could have done better were:

• Discuss which relationship theory applied to the case study.
• Introduce path-goal theory of leadership to the readers.
• Make a clear connection between the case and the leadership style it corresponded to.
• Challenge the reader to reach a conclusion.

Some of the issues I found to be applicable to case study development were:

• Organizing the sections of the case.
• Setting the scene for the readers.
• Providing insightful details of the organization and its key players.
• Outlining the problems and/or challenges.
• Describing the issues affecting the goals.
• Describing who or what contributed to the outcome of the challenges.
• The importance of relating the theory to the case study.

My case study was meant to focus and correlate with the path-goal theory of leadership.   Rowe and Guerrero (2013) wrote "The path-goal theory of leadership is similar to the situational and contingency theories of leadership in that it prescribes appropriate leadership styles for interacting with subordinates.  It is different from the situational and contingency theories in that path-goal theory adds more variables to what leaders need to consider in their relationships with employees" (p. 176).  Basically path-goal theory of leadership is how leaders can motivate others to accomplish certain goals (Northouse, 2013).

I learned that presenting a case study sets the framework for analysis.  That being said, in order to draft an effective case study, it is important to make connections to the ideas you want others to learn about.  I like that I was able to write about an experience I had, that others may not be familiar with, and can be used as a learning tool.  I would be interested to know how my classmates would have responded to the learning outcomes and questions I posed.  My case study identified how certain leaders behaved, the effect their behavior had on their subordinates, and how in turn those relationships effected the task at hand.  I think we all learn best through experience so having the opportunity to share some of my own personal experiences was very satisfying and I found the process to be insightful.  Moving forward in the course I think this assignment will give me a better understanding of what to look for in a case, how it connects to the material, and be a better problem solver. 

Rowe, W. Glenn and Guerrero Laura. (2013). Cases in Leadership. (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA. : Sage Publications, Inc.