A640.4.4.RB - Developing a Case (Post event analysis)

After creating a case study in this module my thinking about analyzing and critical thinking has changed.  While I have always been very concrete and literal, I have tried to step out of these limitations in hopes to become a better thinker.  In the past, I have taken case studies at face value without seeing what may be lying underneath, which has cost me the ability to analyze what the real problem might be.   I see now that I may have missed some important information by only reading the surface information, which could result in making the wrong decisions in problem-solving. 

One part of my case study that I found to be helpful was to ask the reader to look at the situation from both the leader’s and the employee’s perspectives.  I think this can give the reader more insight into exactly what the issues are.  I also think it demonstrates how problems can be seen differently by each person, and it may open the reader up to multiple ways to solve the problems.  Often times only one side of the situation is seen, which can result in a skewed assessment of what is actually happening. 

It is not easy to write a case study without coming across as one sided, especially when it is a situation you have witnesses first hand.  We all have out biases and they tend to influence the way we see and respond to things.  When writing something like a case study it is important to not appear to favor one side or the other, because if that occurs the reader may not have the opportunity to make his or her own decisions regarding the case.

Writing this case brought me back to my teaching days where I had to be clear in my expectations as well as my directions.  I have found that when expectations are not labeled clearly the results obtained are not as expected.  I have learned a lot from my teaching days that apply to leadership as well.  A teacher is in many ways a leader and vice versa, they both have followers who look to them for direction and knowledge.  

After completing my case study I had a much more concise view on how to approach problem-solving in general.  The idea of looking at the issues from multiple perspectives is very helpful in finding the best solution for all involved.