Political Frame

Running head: PCA POLITICAL
Module Four: PCA Polictical
Alicia Alvarez
OGL 481: Organizational Leadership Pro-Seminar 1
Dr. McCain
February 28,2021
Arizona State University
1
Module Four: PCA Political
I currently fill the role of a shift supervisor at Starbucks in a Southern California store. I
have worked at the same location for almost four years and have experienced five
different store managers within that time frame. The constant change in leaders and
leadership styles has caused many different reactions from the baristas and customers.
Within these shfits the store has experiencd customer disastification, confused team
members, and many other frustrations. Under the leadership of two specific store
managers the partners felt belittled, unheard, and at various times isolated by the
treatment of these managers. In these cases the mangers were asked to resign or take a
leave of absence.
Politcal Frame Influence
In many ways Starbucks operates under a bureaicratic and hierarchal manner, with
corporate making the final decisions on products, regional managers overseeing the
decisions of district managers, and district managers appoint store managers to essentially
manage the baristas in each store. With this type of structure and no direct
communication between baristas and the top managers, the political structure of
individual stores is very underbounded system, loosely controlled and power diffused.
(Bolman & Deal, p.194). This can increase the amount of leverage that politics has within
a district and even individual stores.
In identifying the role of politics in the situation I have described, I have determined that
with this underbounded system it was easy for managers to play power games.
2
Throughout my time at Starbucks there were two specific managers who abused their
power, led with fear, and made themselves unavailable. During the time these leaders
were in leadership positions, I spoke to the district manager multiple times about the
feelings of myself and my fellow partners. Each time I spoke to the district manager he
would have a meeting with the manager, the behavior would change momentarily, and
then it would begin again. The reputation of the district manager was at stake if he fired
these managers, along with the money put into getting these managers to where they
were. In the end, the politics were what mattered, not the feelings and voices of the
baristas under these leaders.
Course of Action Recommendation
Through the lens of a political framework in this situation I would recommend a two
different course of actions that can be taken within the store and Starbucks. I would first
ask that in situations like these, district managers ask and answer honestly, questions
regarding the morality within the politics. This will help determine if there intervention is
necessary, what needs to be reframed, and how this is impacting all levels of an
organization and what can be done differently.
The second recommendation that I would make is to consider the four princples of moral
judgment, “mutuality, generality, openness, and caring” (Bolman & Deal, p.216).. In an
attempt to create positive politics within an organization, I think that it is important to
foster the needs of an organizations members. To question these principles of moral
judgement would hold every level of the organization accountable for how they choose to
move forward and handle situations.
3
Do Differently Observation
During the timeframe of what I woud consider “unethical” leadership, there were many
days that I struggled to find motivation to go to work and to perform my job without
feeling the burdens of these leaders actions. If I had been more aware and informed of the
influence that politics may have on an organization, I would have ultimately held these
leaders more accountable. The team spent many months under these leaders and
corrective actions were not taken for almost two years, had I known that our voiced
would be unheard I would have went to higher ups.
I would also use the political framework to my advantage, questioning my own moral
judgment based on these principles and assessing my own behavior and leadership. If I
had taken personal inventory over my own political agenda within the store and partners,
could I have led the team differently in the midst of such angst? I would say that it is safe
to assume that this was a learning experience. I did not have the knowledge or experience
that I have developed over the years, and I was not in a position to question the politics of
the very organization that I am part of.
4
Reference:
Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership
(6th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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Running head: PCA POLITICAL

Module Four: PCA Polictical

OGL 481: Organizational Leadership Pro-Seminar 1

Arizona State University

Module Four: PCA Political

Politcal Frame Influence

a district and even individual stores.

baristas under these leaders.

Course of Action Recommendation

organization and what can be done differently.

attempt to create positive politics within an organization, I think that it is important to

foster the needs of an organizations members. To question these principles of moral

move forward and handle situations.

would be unheard I would have went to higher ups.

the very organization that I am part of.

(6th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

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