Organizations that have communication issues can improve their work flows by implementing the 6 following tactical goals. i. Reduce differing perceptions, ii. reduce the semantic difference, iii. reduce status differences, iv. evaluate consideration of self-interest, v. improve listening skills, vi. evaluate personal space.

1. Jacob Khan
Organizational Behavior
Harvard University
1
Motor parts Corporation: Communication
Majors players & Issues
The corporate team at Motor parts corporation has problems with its team members. The major
players in the corporate office are:
1. Bob Marvin: President
2. Al Shepherd: Vice president
3. Mike Jones: Consultant
In this case, Mike Jones has been assigned to solve the issues of Al Shepherd's performance. As
the case illustrates, Al has performance issues and has brought many personal matters to the
office. He is prioritizing his personal issues, such as his wife's health, more than work.
Additionally, he has not been giving guidance to lower-level regional managers. They are
underperforming due to a lack of training. Most importantly, we see that he is not taking charge
of his planning and executive leadership duties for the company.
Analysis of the issues:
Bob is not communicating directly to Ale in the case. As a result, there is a significant amount of
miscommunication doing on at the Corporate division of the motor parts corporation. The
company is underperforming because Bob cannot speak directly to Ale about his performance
and expectations. Bob is scared that Ale may leave his company to go work for a competitor.
Bob is failing to address Ale directly, which causes a lot of frustration between the two
executives.

2. Jacob Khan
Organizational Behavior
Harvard University
2
Additionally, Bob feels that Ale is using him. At one point in the case, Bob believes that Ale is
visiting family in Detroit, but instead, he has landed a company milestone. Mike, the
consultants, is told about the news but asked not to share the information. These issues can be
improved if Bob and Ale practice effective communication.
Application to theory & Recommendations:
The corporate team at Motor Parts Corporation can effectively improve their communication
issues by reducing the barriers to effective communication by controlling the following factors:
1. Differing Perceptions: Bob should spend his time trying to clarify the role of leadership.
The role of leadership should be clearly defined. Bob needs to define the expectations
from Bob. For example, he needs to clarify that delegation is not how success is
measured as a leader. Still, instead, the focus is on the development of lower regional
managers. There needs to be a clear understanding between Ale and the team. An HR or
executive coach can help create processes to improve that communication barrier.
2. Semantic Differences: Although meaning is not a significant issue at the Motor part
corporation, it is something to keep in mind when improving the companies
communication.
3. Status Differences: We see this is an issue at Motor company. It might be useful for the
two executives to create an independent committee, for example, that overseas that
operations and the company's work. These individuals can be shareholders or
independent individuals that communicate with Ale. Alternatively, Bob can also
communicate directly with Ale, but it is clear that he is not comfortable in doing that.

3. Jacob Khan
Organizational Behavior
Harvard University
3
4. Consideration of Self-interest: Bob can pay attention to how self-interest serves the
reports given to him. In case we see that Detroit, of example, is the same place where Ale
is from, it's reasonable to assume that he wants to go there more often. These can be
addressed by setting goals for visiting all sites rather than just the Deloit one. It might
even make sense to delegate Deloit to other executive members as a tactic to remedy that
issue.
5. Poor Listening Skills: Although it's not clear that poor listening skills are an issue at
Motor Parts corporation, they should consider improving the communication issues.
6. Personal Space: In the case, Ale called mike without regard for his time and disrupted his
important meeting with the planning committee. It would have made sense to send him
an agenda and set up a meeting rather than calling spontaneously.
Recommendation to Motor parts Corporation based on the case:
Hire an HR professional for the strategy division that is trained in helping individual's problems.
1. Maybe consider getting an executive coach for Al's issues.
2. Bob Marvin should consider taking classes in interpersonal relationships to become a
more effective communicator.
3. Create a clear performance review system for top-level executives.
4. Set clear expectations from everyone at the company.
Works cited

4. Jacob Khan
Organizational Behavior
Harvard University
4
1) Organizational Behavior 5th edition Chapter 9
2) Managing Organizations and people: Implementing Teams at AAL and IPS