2 Structural Frame Worksheet

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OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Structural Frame Worksheet


Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the structural frame
2. Apply the structural frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

As a youth leader volunteer at Real Life Students Ministry, part of Real Life Church, I
play a crucial role in guiding young students through their spiritual and personal
development. This involves organizing various activities and events to foster fellowship,
build community bonds, and promote growth. Recently, I was entrusted with organizing a
graduation party for senior students, recognizing their achievements and bidding them
farewell as they transition from the youth ministry. Despite expressing my enthusiasm
and having prepared several deliverables, including a senior slideshow, I encountered
challenges when my youth director unilaterally changed the party's date without
consulting me. Despite this setback, I remained committed to the project, only to find out
a month later that an impromptu, poorly executed party had been organized, leaving the
seniors disappointed. When I raised my concerns, I was accused of ineffective
communication, being the reason as to why my youth director ultimately deciding to take
over the project. This experience underscored the importance of clear communication and
trust in collaborative endeavors within our ministry.

2) Describe how the structure of the organization influenced the situation.

Within our Real Life Student Ministry, the structure of our organization significantly
influenced the outcome. As a volunteer youth leader, one glaring issue was the need for
more clarity in task allocation and division of labor. It often felt like responsibilities were
ambiguous or overlapping, leading to confusion and inefficiencies during the project's
execution. Without clear guidelines on who was responsible for what, I struggled to
coordinate our efforts, resulting in miscommunication, poor quality, and conflicting
priorities among the team. Additionally, the hierarchical decision-making processes
within our organization hindered my ability as a volunteer to make necessary decisions
promptly or adapt to unforeseen challenges during the project; I felt disempowered to
make essential decisions, restricting my ability to manage the project. Moreover, the
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inadequate communication channels within our organization worsened the situation. As a
volunteer, I often found it challenging to obtain essential information or updates related
to the project, leading to misunderstandings and frustration among the team members and
leadership. Our structure also lacked adequate support mechanisms and resource
allocation processes. Constraints in assigning budget, materials, or human resources
impeded my ability to plan and execute the party. Overall, addressing these structural
issues, such as clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving coordination mechanisms,
empowering volunteers like myself, enhancing communication channels, and optimizing
resource utilization processes, is crucial to preventing similar failures in the future and
improving the overall effectiveness of our organization in project management within the
Real Life Student Ministry.

3) Recommend how you would use structure for an alternative course of action
regarding your case.

I recommend implementing a more structured approach to project management and team


coordination to address the challenges faced in my organization, the Real Life Student
Ministry. Firstly, establishing clear roles and responsibilities within the team is crucial.
By assigning specific tasks to each team member based on their strengths and skills, we
can ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them and can contribute effectively
to the project. This could involve creating a project charter outlining key roles, and each
role should have a clear description of responsibilities and authority levels to avoid
confusion and ensure accountability. Also, recurring team meetings should be scheduled
to provide updates, address issues or concerns, and track progress toward project
milestones. By fostering a culture of communication and collaboration, we can enhance
team cohesion and ensure that everyone is aligned toward the common goal of executing
a successful graduation party. This course of action is to emphasize differentiation and
integration. Firstly, it's crucial to clearly outline roles and responsibilities within the team
to optimize resource distribution and ensure efficient task completion. This could involve
establishing specialized roles focused on different aspects of the graduation party project,
such as logistics, decorations, entertainment, and food. By assigning specific
responsibilities to specific individuals and designating a team leader or coordinator to
oversee their activities, we can enhance clarity and accountability within the
organization. Additionally, regular meetings should be scheduled to facilitate
communication and collaboration between teams, ensuring that efforts are synchronized
and aligned toward the common goal of executing a successful event. Furthermore, the
Real Life Student Ministry could benefit from creating a hierarchical structure that
enables effective decision-making and coordination across different organizational levels.
By establishing clear lines of authority and communication channels, we can streamline
the flow of information and empower leaders at each level to be confident in their
decisions within their areas of responsibility. A hierarchical structure would help prevent

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duplication of efforts, minimize conflicts, and ensure the project remains on track toward
its objectives. By applying the principles of the structural frame and implementing a more
organized and hierarchical approach to project management, we could have avoided the
challenges faced in carrying out the graduation party project and achieving a quality
party.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Given what I've learned about the structural frame, I would approach projects within my
organization with a more conscious consideration of organizational structure.
Specifically, I would prioritize establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and
communication channels. This means ensuring that every team member understands their
duties and how they fit into the larger project framework. Additionally, I would aim to
create a more streamlined decision-making process, perhaps by implementing a
hierarchical structure where critical decisions are made at higher levels but informed by
input from those on the ground. I also would work to foster a culture of collaboration and
accountability within the organization, given that I was being withheld from both in my
previous experience. This involves encouraging open communication, teamwork, and a
shared sense of purpose among team members. By emphasizing the value of collective
accountability, individuals would feel a greater sense of ownership over their work,
leading to increased motivation and commitment. On the other hand, I would avoid
falling into the trap of overly rigid or bureaucratic structures. While structure is essential
for clarity and organization, too much rigidity can suppress creativity, progress, and
adaptability. Instead, I want to find a balance between structure and flexibility to respond
to changing circumstances.

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Reference or References
(Choose appropriate Title if Applicable and Delete the Rest)

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