Business Ethics Discussion
Influencing employees to undertake new tasks requires a thoughtful approach that considers the individuals’ motivations, concerns, and the overall context of the situation. In the given scenario, where two senior prosecutors are being tasked with building a new database and performing data analysis on death penalty cases, several strategies can be effective.
1. Rational Persuasion: Rational persuasion involves using logical arguments and facts to convince employees of the value and importance of the task. This strategy can be effective when employees have concerns about the task’s relevance or their own capabilities. In this case, the chief prosecutor can explain the significance of the new tracking program in addressing issues of racial and economic disparity in death penalty cases. They can emphasize how accurate data collection and analysis can lead to better-informed decisions and potentially lead to positive changes in the criminal justice system. The advantage of rational persuasion is that it appeals to employees’ intellect and can help them understand the purpose behind their tasks.
2. Exchange Strategy: The exchange strategy involves offering incentives or rewards in return for compliance with the task. Since the scenario mentions that the project is an unfunded mandate, the chief prosecutor could negotiate with the prosecutors to provide them with additional resources or support for their ongoing cases in exchange for their commitment to the new database project. This strategy can work well when employees are concerned about the workload or time commitment. The advantage of the exchange strategy is that it provides tangible benefits that can motivate employees to take on the new task.
Combining Strategies: In this scenario, a combination of both rational persuasion and the exchange strategy might be effective. The chief prosecutor could start with rational persuasion to explain the importance of the new database and the potential impact on the justice system. Once the prosecutors understand the significance, the exchange strategy can be introduced, offering additional resources or support to help them manage their existing caseload while working on the database project.
Inspirational Appeals vs. Pressure Tactics: Inspirational appeals can be more effective than pressure tactics in this situation. Inspirational appeals involve appealing to employees’ values, ideals, and sense of purpose. The chief prosecutor could highlight the moral and ethical aspects of working towards a fair and just criminal justice system. This approach is likely to foster a sense of ownership and commitment among the prosecutors, encouraging them to take on the task willingly. Pressure tactics, on the other hand, may lead to resentment or resistance among employees, which could ultimately hinder the quality of their work.
Leaders’ Selection and Volunteers: In this context, it was appropriate for the chief prosecutor to select senior prosecutors with experience in capital cases for the task. Their familiarity with the data and the legal context makes them well-suited for the project. Requesting volunteers might have been an option, but it could have created challenges in terms of expertise and commitment. The use of paralegals could indeed change the dynamic and ease the workload for the senior prosecutors, allowing them to focus on overseeing the project rather than being deeply involved in data collection.
Employees’ Expressions of Concern: Leaders should give credence to employees’ expressions of concern, as these concerns might be valid and impact their performance. It’s important to address these concerns and provide reassurance. However, there are circumstances where resistance might be inappropriate, such as when the task is a critical part of the employees’ job responsibilities or when it’s mandated by higher authorities due to legal or ethical reasons.
Successful Influence Tactics Combination: The most successful combination of proactive influence tactics would likely involve starting with rational persuasion to highlight the significance of the task and its potential impact on the justice system. Once the prosecutors are on board with the importance, the exchange strategy can be introduced to provide them with the necessary resources and support to balance their workload. Inspirational appeals can be woven throughout the process to connect the task to their values and ideals, fostering a sense of purpose and commitment.
It’s important to note that these strategies are not mutually exclusive, and their effectiveness can vary based on the individuals and the organizational culture. Effective communication, active listening, and understanding the concerns of the employees are crucial aspects of successfully influencing them to undertake new tasks.
QUESTION
Description
Scenario
You are the chief prosecutor heading an office with a number of assistant prosecutors, support staff, including paralegals and interns. Your paralegals are well-trained in legal research and in building databases for trials. You have to compile data on cases relating to the death penalty as part of a new tracking program that has been implemented by the state’s attorney general’s office. This is an unfunded mandate that does not provide any additional funds or resources to your office to establish a database. The project requires that you analyze cases prosecuted by your office over the previous 50 years, focusing on issues of racial and economic disparity.
Your assistant prosecutors seem to feel that data collection is mechanical work, fit only for fresh interns. However, you view it as an activity that is too important to delegate to your part-time interns or your paralegals without strong supervision.
Therefore, you decide to assign this duty to two of your senior prosecutors. They will have to devote 50 percent of their time to building the new database and performing the required analysis. You have chosen two prosecutors with the most experience prosecuting capital cases, knowing that they will be most familiar with the data. However, neither prosecutor has a strong background in data collection or computer-based statistical analysis. Both have expressed reservations about overseeing the project.
Which strategies do you think are most effective for influencing employees to undertake new tasks? Why? Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies in the context of this scenario.
Should you use rational persuasion or the tactic of exchange strategy to influence the attorneys you selected for creating and maintaining the new database? Why? Explain how you might combine both, if necessary, to achieve the desired objective.
What are the inspirational appeals you could make to the attorneys? Explain. Will inspirational appeals work better than pressure tactics? Why?
As a leader, was it appropriate for you to select the two attorneys who would be assigned to this project? Would it have been better to request volunteers? Do you think this would lessen the need to persuade employees to take on this additional responsibility? Would the use of the paralegals change the dynamic as well as the work assignments?
How much credence should leaders give to employees’ expressions of concern over assigned tasks? Under what circumstances might it be inappropriate for a leader to continue to apply persuasion tactics with employees who appear resistant to performing certain tasks?
Which combination of the various proactive influence tactics would be most successful in influencing the staff? Why?
Support your responses with adequate research and supporting data. Review and comment on the submissions of at least two of your classmates by the end of the week.