Pesco Case

Human Behavior in Organizations

Tuesday Night Class

Individual Case Study #3 PESO

10/27/2010

The problem in the PESO case is the conflict and deterioration of the relationships within the PESO Executive Committee. This problem is primarily Laura Smith’s since she is the main confidant of Helen Black regarding her relationship with an employee. The disagreement on what to do about Helen is creating the conflict in the Executive Committee. The emergent behavior leading to the relationship erosion is the defensive climate created by the interpersonal communications between Laura and Helen. The defensive climate is set up first, by Laura’s definite and certain point of view, second, her judgmental tone in the discussion, and third her control oriented focus of the discussion.

The emergent behavior of Laura unfolds in her July 1993 meeting with Helen. In the conversation in this meeting, Helen explains that she is living with Susan (an employee) in a lesbian relationship using the term “life partner” indicating this is a long term relationship. Laura’s immediate reaction is to declare the relationship a conflict of interest and that Helen or Susan should resign. This presents a point of view that is definite and certain, and creates a defensive climate that Helen responds negatively to, disagreeing that she or Susan should resign and defending her own position as an elected board member. In response, Laura again adds to the defensive atmosphere by responding to this in a judgmental way stating “But they did not know you had an intimate relationship with an employee when they elected you.” By phrasing this to Helen in terms of “you did this, then…”, it makes the judgment that Helen created the problem and of course Helen is going to try and defend her position. In the end of this discussion Helen parts believing there is no problem and Laura believes there. They are only farther apart in their convictions. It is apparent by both of their...