Written Case Analysis Assignment #2
Read Jamie at the Wayfarer (pp. 164-165 in the textbook). This case describes what happened when the ownership of an inn changed.
In approximately 3-4 pages, answer the following questions, using the details of the case and applying your understanding of the course concepts of culture, organizational assimilation, organizational identification, and concertive control, where applicable.
Please label each section of your paper by number.
(1) Choose three significant communication changes that Bernard Gagnon made as the new innkeeper
of the Wayfarer Inn. For each change, explain why you think he made the change (his communication intent) and describe what you see as the result or consequence of the change (the communication impact). Be specific.
(2) From your understanding of organizational communication, (especially communication climate and culture), why would you expect that an employee like Jamie Levesque might experience difficulties making the adjustment to new management? Be specific. How could Gagnon have communicated differently to minimize this adjustment? Be specific.
(3) Do you think that Gagnon’s approach will lead to more effective communication with the staff and increased productivity (as compared with Julius Osias) once the staff gets used to Gagnon as the new innkeeper? Explain your reasoning.
