Case Study 07: Open Plan Office - Leadership and Communication

This case study examines the implementation of an open-plan office in a law firm, highlighting the resistance from employees due to issues like communication barriers, lack of privacy, and perceived unfairness. The study analyzes the reasons behind this resistance, including concerns about personal discussions, lack of structured space, and perceived inequalities. The partners attempt to mitigate resistance through team motivation and improved communication, but face challenges related to salary discrepancies, rumors, and the use of influence tactics. The case study explores the sources of power held by the partners and their impact on employees, as well as the effectiveness of influence tactics used by both partners and employees. It emphasizes the importance of addressing communication issues, fostering an open-minded environment, and selecting appropriate communication tools to overcome barriers and improve employee satisfaction and productivity. The study concludes by highlighting the need for effective leadership and communication strategies in managing organizational change and maintaining employee morale.

CASE STUDY 07
OPEN PLAN

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1........................................................................................................................................................3
A) Reasons for workers resisting change to an open plan office approach................................3
b) Partners adapted to minimize the resistance...........................................................................4
2. ......................................................................................................................................................5
a. Barrier of communication.......................................................................................................5
b. How to overcome the communication barrier.........................................................................5
3. ......................................................................................................................................................6
a) Sources of power of partner and the impact which they have on employees.........................6
b) Influence tactics used by partners and employees and their effectiveness.............................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
This case study is based upon open-plan in which two partners Owen Cheetham and Jack
Wynne carry certain transaction which determined the interest and disinterest of the employees
at the work premises. Two new partner also joined their law firm and carrying the business
activities to engage employees interest in longer time period. In this case study, the various issue
are examined which is relating to communication gap, lack of facilities in company premise and
also termination of employees on the bases of not following the company norms. In such
perspective various sources are identified in respective of power which they can avail to maintain
the interest of the employees in work premises.
MAIN BODY
1
A) Reasons for workers resisting change to an open plan office approach
Open plan office space is the office floor plan that eliminates business and meeting
spaces, Cheethan and Wynne organization decide to design open plan approach for their office
which has been resisting by their employees due to some personal reasons. Firm want to
implement plan within their business but due to workers resistance they cannot be able to work
on it which affect the overall performance of company (Cloutier and et.al., 2015). Some senior
make complains against this plan and they also provide information about failure in online
booking systems which is not working effectively. In new open plan, each and every department
has their own space where they need to follow some rules, which is not been expected by some
female workers because accordant to this they cannot talk to their boyfriends while working. The
door of office is revolting, people are unable to find their place. Few workers complained that
how they can talk without every one listening to them it is totally impossible. The structure of
new open plan office does not structured well and according to the employees needs, some
people feel stuck in workplace like they cramped in coffin. Issue regarding personal discussion
with consumer is one of the reason behind resisting change, consumers need to discuss some
private matters with other over phone, according to new structure they need to take calls in
meeting rooms which is typically not possible for them. Staff cannot be able to feel happy within
new structure of business, they all are unhappy and unsatisfied which affect on their performance
and productivity as well.

b) Partners adapted to minimize the resistance.
In this case study, parter chooses certain aspect through which they can minimize the
change in better perspective. This can be done through motivating employees to work as a team.
As through effective team, they can accomplish the task easily and also it reduces risk by
achieving goal in right way. The changes also to be made in perspective of enhancing more
communication skills as they not limit any person to not communicate with any person. They
provide free communication to person so that they can easily talk with each other and also use
phones to avail proper facilities of the company (Adler, Rodman and Du Pré, 2016). The
boundation are to be made in respective of using limited phone or appropriate time is set to use
mobile phone in work premises. As the work which they are carrying carry very important
matters and thus private space is needed to each employee to accomplish the task in batter
manner.
The another aspects which the company can initiated in respect of providing better
resistances is relating to giving adequate space so that each employee feel comfortable to carry
the work. As if the employees are not comfortable with the company infrastructure, they cannot
accomplish the task in better way. They need accurate space to work in the company and for that
the issue arise with other person sitting near them. Resistance can also be done through fulfilling
their expectation regarding providing the particular facilities. As the expectation arises in respect
of getting equivalent facilities which is given to other employees in the work premises. As every
employee are equal for the company and differentiate occurs in respect of their job position. But
at the time of sitting in the same place they all are to be treated equally. Thus, resistance of
employees occurs in respect of creating a feedback loop among the employee's so that they can
share their reviews and thoughts directly without any mediator.
The major irresistible situation occurs in respect of not getting accurate information
regarding the company decision and also the employees are not involved in any of the meetings.
Thus, it is the duty of the partner to initiate in this activity regarding providing the accurate
opportunity to the employees to participate in every meeting (Carruthers and et.al., 2015). This
brings more interest among the employees and also they feel that they are the part of the business
and also liable to carry various decision which brings benefits to company.

2.
a. Barrier of communication
As per the case study, there are different barrier of communication such that one of the
staff said that at the time of interview, she get a salary increase if perform better but she got only
4 percent increment which is not fair. Though, this reflect that there is communication issue. On
the other side, the same employee suspected that she had given her brother some of the
confidential information to their competitors who are the client of firm but the owner did not
provide such. Moreover, two of the staff is also asked to go out to have a conversation with
boyfriend because it may disturb other people as well. Therefore, this is another barrier of
communication for an open-plan. Beside this, this type of things were not told at the time of
interview and that is why, most of the employees faces issues related to miss- communication
(Exley, Coffman and Schwartzstein, 2019).
In addition to this, the accountant of the low firm, John Carlton was also pondering with
his future and when he was hired, Jack promised him to pay the entire fees of MBA when he was
enrolled. But after 9 months, when Jack saw the cost, he said he had never pay such a high cost
and said that the firm will only pay $6000 per annum. Therefore, it is also consider as a barrier of
communication. Moreover, another big barrier of miss communication is such that one of the
employee think that due to having a fiery red-headed , Mia sent most cartoon to their friends and
also uploaded the same into social sites which is just a part of their fun. But actually it should not
be done. Further, there was a rumour that Candy had to pay a fine for driving over the alcohol
limit and that is why she had fired from her previous job because of drinking at lunchtime.
Therefore, this senseless rumour create negative impact upon the reputation of firm and as a
result, the growth may also be affected as well.
b. How to overcome the communication barrier
In order to avoid the communication barrier, there are different methods which are as
mentioned below:
Avoid slang: casual language may be fun for their friends but when an individual
working in the company, it may be a significant barrier (Rohm, Stefl and Saint Clair, 2019).
The same is done with Open plan as well. Because Mia make fun of Candy and this may cause

personal clashes among employees. That is why, these Slang may creates confusion and as a
result, it may be a source of alienation as well as frustration.
Stay open minded- It is another solution to overcome the barrier in which every
employee must be open minded and can easily ask question to their seniors so that it will not
mead to miscommunication and frustration. Instead of being frustration, be willing to help the
co-workers in order to get solutions. Through this, they may lead to right path and correct
conclusion as well. In order to remove communication barriers, organization management need
to be open minded that helps to communicate with their team effectively. They need to answer
each and every questions of its co-workers regarding any thing that helps to build strong
connection between them. They do not put any one off just because they do not like them,
instead management need to be willing to communicate and support staff and give some time to
understand requirement of their staff. Senior consistently make themselves available for
employees and communicate with them about new plan in existing business that helps to build
up good relationship between both of them. Before implementing any plan or create strategies,
companies needs to discuss with their team members and take their opinions as well. By making
always available to communicate they can boost up morale of talented workers rather than before
and also conveyance them to adopt change within business structure which is appropriate for
them.
Select communication app- By selecting appropriate and suitable communication app
company can overcome barriers related to same effectively. With the help of this system they can
text message across, and contact any time with manager and workers working at each and every
level. Crew app support management contact their employees faster than every, it helps to
overcome potential barriers in virtual communication or interaction by keeping conversation
organized.
3.
a) Sources of power of partner and the impact which they have on employees.
The partner considered to be the main owner of the company and thus, they carry certain
right and duties regarding managing the overall activity of the company. In this case study,
partner uses the sources in respect of increasing the salary of the employees by reviewing their
performances in respect of accomplish the task within the stipulated time. Thus, partner carry
this right as opportunities is given to every person to perform better but the increment is salary is

resulting to only capable person. The impact through this strategy arises in respect of
demotivating employees by viewing the salary increment of other employees which is further
resulting to less productivity (Giles, 2016). As every employee accomplish the task in better
manner and if they are at same post and one employees salary is increased and the other
employees is suffering from no increment than it result in facing issue between the employees
only. Partner motivate each other to work as team and thus through their power it results in
causing crucial impact among the employees working together to accomplish the common goal.
The another power which they carry is relating to discussing any confidential information
with the important employees of the company which are linked with the matters. In such
manners they carry various power to discuss certain aspects and carry decision which is useful
for all employees. The impact of these techniques arise among the lack of interest of employee in
any business activity. Employees are interest if they are involved in any decision which is taken
by company for their benefits (Mehrabian, 2017). Their decision are appreciated and also
undertaken to bring more productive results. Through this process it results in misusing their
own power by not interacting with employees regarding their own benefits.
b) Influence tactics used by partners and employees and their effectiveness
From the above case study it is evaluated that some partners: Cathy Wynne and Mark
decided to reform and change the ambiance and environment of new office and building. They
interpreted some problems which they have seen in the office. The main problem which was
related to communication. For solving the problem of communication, employees and some
partners made an effective use of “Playpen” as a communication tool. They said the reason of
using this communication tool is to talk any time with clients. It can help them out in solving the
problem of miscommunication (Niazi and et.al., 2017). Some partners argued and said that
employees can take misuse of this tool as they can talk with their friends while working. But it is
analysed that this tool proved effective and solve the problem of miscommunication.
In addition, it is also analysed from the above case study that open-plan form is also
being recommended and used by partners as a influence tactics. The main aim of this tactic is to
make an effective and economical use of office space for making working environment effective.
It was all about for office design. Some benefits which were being suggested and seen in office
was flexibility and opportunities for teamwork. By making an effective use of open-plan they
also reduce cost of rebuilding of new office (Snider, Ellins and Flynn, 2019).

The another business tactics which they can use is in responses of increasing some
percent of their salary based on their performances review. Through these tactics they can
motivate the employees to commit more productive work and also initiate their interest towards
the work for longer time period. Through the performance review, it also helps partner to
determine the working criteria of the employees and then accordingly the salary is to be
increased. Further, in such perspective, the business tactics is to be undertaken in respective of
never underestimating the capability of the person. In this case study one of the employees is
happy with the tactics which the company uses to motivate their employees. As they never judge
employees on the bases of their knowledges they judge by endeavour the capability to grab the
working criteria (White, 2015). They engage employee through organizing picnic or any outing
through which they provide chances to employees to interact with each other. In outings, they
didn't carry any official work which related to any of their clients, its just the fun and the main
reason of conducting this outing to get refreshment to employees from daily routine work.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it is concluded that employees are happy with the partner tactics
which they use to enhance their skills and capability in business. They are also engages in
providing the business activities through involving every employee in taking company decision
and also their ideas are to be initiated to bring more innovative results. The partner takes the
decision of the employee in respect of designing their new infrastructure building through which
they can make comfortable to employees regarding providing the accurate services. In this study
it is also examined that employees are motivated if they allow communicating freely and also use
cell phones in work premises. The limitation occurs in respect of bounding people to work
according to the set instruction and also not convey any of the thoughts to any person without
company permission. Thus, it result in motivating employees to engages for giving better results.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Carruthers, T. R. and et.al., 2015. Performance review of simple management procedures. ICES
Journal of Marine Science. 73(2). pp.464-482.
Exley, C. L., Coffman, K. B. and Schwartzstein, J., 2019. Legal Time-Confidential Information
for the Prosecution (AUSA Prescott).
Giles, H., 2016. Communication accommodation theory. The International Encyclopedia of
Communication Theory and Philosophy, pp.1-7.
Mehrabian, A., 2017. Nonverbal communication. Routledge.
Niazi, M. and et.al., 2017. Storm water management model: Performance review and gap
analysis. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. 3(2). p.04017002.
Snider, J. G., Ellins, H. A. and Flynn, M. S., 2019. Corporate privileges and confidential
information. Law Journal Press.
White, N., 2015. System and method for detecting confidential information emails.
Rohm, A. J., Stefl, M. and Saint Clair, J., 2019. Time for a marketing curriculum overhaul:
Developing a digital-first approach. Journal of Marketing Education.41(1). pp.47-59.
Cloutier, O. and et.al., 2015. The Importance of Developing Strategies for Employee
Retention. Journal of Leadership, Accountability & Ethics.12(2).