INDIVIDUAL CASE TWO PREPARATION CHART use bullet points

Please read Green Trees School in the Content section of the course
Due by Friday 28 October 2016
Case Title: Green Trees School
Your full name: Andrea Barnes

Main Characters:
Name

Position

Who: Nicola Murray Current principal of Green Trees School

Malcolm Tucker Head of Special Education
Terry Coverley EA at Green Trees School for 25 years
Robin Murdoch New EA to Green Trees School
Choose One Main Issue (not a symptom of the issue)
What: Poor teamwork and communication amongst the EAs.
Why:
1. Overlapping of schedules and students. Students are being two different things.
2. Ultimately, students arent getting the proper care because of the feud between the
EAs. Teachers are withholding information from each other.
3. Forcing a hostile work environment for everything. Everyone has been forced to take
sides.
4. Inappropriate and rude gestures are being made towards one another. EAs were also
not speaking to one another and/or talking about one another to coworkers.
When: The problem first arose when Robin set a child in the room to have an one-on-one
session and left briefly. Terry came in and saw the child alone in the class room and took him
to a supervised area. When Robin came back the child was gone.
Is the issue of low or high importance and urgency?
Importance:
Urgency:

L
I

H
II

quality
L
H

II
I

This issue is of high importance and high urgency. Simply

because the severity of the problem has affected the
of the childrens education and care is in jeopardy.

I
V

Course Concepts with references:

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1. Job Specialization Chapter 6

2. Social Characteristics Chapter 6
3. Empowerment - Chapter 6 (Self determination).
4. Decisive leadership. Chapter 7
5. 5 Cs - Chapter 8
6. Team Building Chapter 8
Alternatives:
1. Nicola could make up a combined schedule for the two EAs, and sit them down and
explain to them why they have to work together. Explain how they have created a divide
amongst the teachers. Basically tell them they have to work as a team and learn to work with
one another.
2. Nicola could make up two separate work schedules and divide the kids amongst the EAs.
Each EA will be responsible for certain children so no mix ups happen. Also have the two EAs
sit together and talk about their problems with one another so that they are civil with one
another.
3. Termination of Robin. Terry has been there the longest and has more sonority at the school
and experience. Robin is new the school and could adjust going somewhere else easier. This
would solve the problem of the hostile environment.
Decision Criteria
Alternative 1
Advantages:
1. The two EAs can work as a team and can
get tasks done more efficiently.
2. If Children require extra help the two of
them can assist one another.
3.It would be a great example for the children
to see two grown adults working together as
a team. To show to children that you need to
share and care about one another.

Alternative 1
Disadvantages:
1.If they really do not like it each other, by
putting them together might cause even more
problems if their stuck with one another all
day long.
2. The emotional labour for both of them will
grow and grow until their job suffers because
of it. Then it will be the care and education of
the children that suffer.

Decision Criteria
Alternative 2
Advantages:
1. If each EA has their own children to care
for then that will lower misunderstandings
and confusion between the two.

Alternative 1
Disadvantages:
1.Teamwork is a necessary part of the work
environment. This alternative does not reflect
that.
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2. They arent forced to work with someone

they dont want too.
3. They have the freedom to do what they
think is best for the child. Which will increase
motivation.

Decision Criteria
Alternative 3
Advantages:
1. Terry can go back the way she was doing
things. Which was working well for the school
since she has been there for the last 25
years. The kids know her well.
2. This eliminates the problems between
Robin and Terry completely.

2.Some kids may be on different routines that

others. Some parents may not be okay with
different kids getting different treatment.
3. The EAs may think that their approach is
better than the others. The tension between
the two EAs may never get better.

Alternative 1
Disadvantages:
1.This is not fair to Robin. She could argue
wrongful termination.
2. This looks bad on the school. It shows that
they dont have good problem solving skills
and cant control their own.
3. A severe punishment for something she
wasnt totally at fault for.

Assessment of Decision Criteria:

Without a doubt, the third alternate is a very severe action. I think the other two alternates
should be considered and implemented before the third one. It could also be careful
considered. Robin could file for wrongful termination on the terms that she wasnt properly
given an orientation of the school. The first alternative is probably the best solution. If during
the meeting and discussion with each other, the EAs show that they can properly and
effectively work together, they should be given the chance to do so. It looks better on the
school, and gives a better example for the children. However, in the circumstance that they
cannot work together, they can be given different schedules and children to work with.
Preferred Alternative:
The preferred alternative would be the first one. Every job you have, you are subjected to
teamwork. In a school environment, you have to show the children that we, as adults, can do
it. Its the fundamentals of life. Tasks can get done more efficiently and effectively if they both
work together. This alternative isnt as harsh as the third alternative. It also has more benefits
than having the two EAs work separately.

Action & Implementation:

1. Have the two EAs sit down and talk with one another. Have everyone voice
their concerns and opinions. Determine whether or not if they can work
together as a team or work separately.
2. Create schedules (divide students if needed) so each EA knows what their
tasks are and what is expected.
3. Review after a week or two weeks if the schedules need adjusting or if further
action news to be taken place (Alternative 3). Discuss who is at fault.
Assumptions (if any)
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There was no division of tasks between the two EAs beforehand or had any training on
norms of the school.
Robin was allowed to schedule one on one sessions with kids.

Roberta Wheeler wrote this document under the supervision of Professor Michel R
Leenders and Louise Maufette-Leenders. It is prepared solely to provide teaching
materials for class discussion. The writer does not intend to illustrate either
effective of ineffective handling of a managerial situation.
Copyright 2016, Roberta Wheeler and Lawrence Kinlin School of Business
Fanshawe College.

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