When being the boss isn’t enough
Week 4 Case study: When being the boss isn’t enough
1. What types of power and what influence tactics are Ms Chan and Dr Gosling using?
Ms Chan uses the legitimate power. Ms Chan utilises her position as the CEO of Central Health Aged Care Service to give authority to her staff.
Both Ms Chan and Dr Gosling use the expert power. Ms Chan relies on her 20+ years’ experience and knowledge on finance and human resources management to make decisions and considerations.
On the other hand, Dr Gosling uses his many years’ experience working at CHAC and as a well-known doctor, to influence the staff to agree and support his belief when he believed that he and the other medical staff were capable of treating the patient.
Dr Gosling also uses referent power. His personality and as a respected doctor, many of his staff compiles his request instead of obeying Ms Chan’s.
When Dr Gosling wanted to terminate one of the senior nurses for being disobedient and has no ability in doing her job well, therefore he used the “assertiveness” influence tactic on Ms Chan. He was essentially threatening Ms Chan when he said “that nurse will kill someone one day and you will be responsible”. Dr Gosling was being forceful and self-assured manner to satisfy his need. Besides that, Dr Gosling also used coalition formation influence when he pooled resources of many people so the strength of influencing Ms Chan on not transferring the very ill patient to another facility is much stronger than operating alone.
Lastly, Ms Chan used the silent authority influence tactic as she utilises the legitimate power and followed requests from Dr Gosling without obvious influence.
2. Dr Clark has arranged separate meetings with both Ms Chan and Dr Gosling to discuss the situation. What advice should he give both of them? The advice to each of them may be different.
Dr Clark should start by explaining that he has realised the discontent between Ms Chan and Dr Gosling. After that, explain that he
1. What types of power and what influence tactics are Ms Chan and Dr Gosling using?
Ms Chan uses the legitimate power. Ms Chan utilises her position as the CEO of Central Health Aged Care Service to give authority to her staff.
Both Ms Chan and Dr Gosling use the expert power. Ms Chan relies on her 20+ years’ experience and knowledge on finance and human resources management to make decisions and considerations.
On the other hand, Dr Gosling uses his many years’ experience working at CHAC and as a well-known doctor, to influence the staff to agree and support his belief when he believed that he and the other medical staff were capable of treating the patient.
Dr Gosling also uses referent power. His personality and as a respected doctor, many of his staff compiles his request instead of obeying Ms Chan’s.
When Dr Gosling wanted to terminate one of the senior nurses for being disobedient and has no ability in doing her job well, therefore he used the “assertiveness” influence tactic on Ms Chan. He was essentially threatening Ms Chan when he said “that nurse will kill someone one day and you will be responsible”. Dr Gosling was being forceful and self-assured manner to satisfy his need. Besides that, Dr Gosling also used coalition formation influence when he pooled resources of many people so the strength of influencing Ms Chan on not transferring the very ill patient to another facility is much stronger than operating alone.
Lastly, Ms Chan used the silent authority influence tactic as she utilises the legitimate power and followed requests from Dr Gosling without obvious influence.
2. Dr Clark has arranged separate meetings with both Ms Chan and Dr Gosling to discuss the situation. What advice should he give both of them? The advice to each of them may be different.
Dr Clark should start by explaining that he has realised the discontent between Ms Chan and Dr Gosling. After that, explain that he